Charlevoix County Information & Demographics

Charlevoix County is located in the northern part of the lower peninsula, east of Lake Michigan and traversed by US-31 and US-131. In addition to the mainland, the county includes the Beaver Island group of islands some 25 miles offshore in Lake Michigan.  The county is 421 square miles and is the state's third smallest. Lake Charlevoix, the third largest in the state with a surface area of over 17,200 acres, is in Charlevoix County.  The county seat is Charlevoix. The retail and service industries dominate this tourist economy, though there is some manufacturing of automotive stampings, wiring devices, and engineering and scientific instruments. Fisherman's Island State Park and the Mackinaw State Forest occupy much of the land. Skiing, hunting, fishing, and boating are all offered in abundance in the county.