Ingham County

Lansing is the only state capital in the United States located in a county of which it is not also the seat of government. The county is home to Michigan State University, Lansing Community College, and the Class A minor league baseball team Lansing Lugnuts. Included in the Lansing–East Lansing metropolitan area. It is considered to be a part of Mid Michigan.

• County — Ingham County • State — Michigan • Founded — October 29, 1829 (created) 1838 (organized) • Seat Wl — Mason • Largest City Wl — Lansing • Area Total Sq Mi — 561 • Area Land Sq Mi — 556 • Area Water Sq Mi — 4.6 • Area Water Percent — 0.8% • Population As Of — 2020 • Population Total — 284900 • Pop Est As Of — 2025 • Population Est — 289709 • Population Density Sq Mi — auto • Time Zone — Eastern • Named For — Samuel D. Ingham • Website — ingham.org • District — 7th

Ingham County was established by an act of the Michigan Territorial Legislature on October 29, 1829, from portions of Shiawassee County, Washtenaw County and unorganized territory. It was attached for administrative purposes to Washtenaw County until 1838 when county government was established for Ingham. The county was named for Samuel D. Ingham, the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury under President Andrew Jackson, making Ingham one of Michigan's so-called Cabinet counties.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 561 sqmi, of which 556 sqmi is land and 4.6 sqmi (0.8%) is water. The county consists of gently rolling hills with an elevation ranging between 800 and 1,000 feet above sea level. The highest point in the county is the top of Teaspoon Hill rising to a height of 1,056 feet above sea level 1.5 miles north of Leslie. The Grand River winds northward along the western boundary of the county and the Red Cedar River flows west across the northern section into the Grand River in Lansing. Most of the midsection of the county drains to the north into the Red Cedar River and the northern tier of townships drain to the south into the Cedar. The Sycamore Creek, flowing northwest into the Red Cedar in Lansing, drains much of the midsection of the county. Most of the southern portion of the county drains south or west into the Grand River. The southeastern corner drains to the southeast into the Huron River via the Portage Creek and Portage River and a series of small lakes.

• Shiawassee County (northeast) • Livingston County (east) • Washtenaw County (southeast) • Jackson County (south) • Eaton County (west) • Clinton County (north)

• Illustration — 2020 population density of Ingham County MI by census block

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 284,900 and a median age of 33.4 years. 19.9% of residents were under the age of 18 and 14.6% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 95.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 94.0 males age 18 and over. The population density was 512.4 PD/sqmi, and there were 125,251 housing units at an average density of 225.3 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the county was 69.7% White, 12.5% Black or African American, 0.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 5.8% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 2.9% from some other race, and 8.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 8.6% of the population. 85.4% of residents lived in urban areas, while 14.6% lived in rural areas. There were 115,591 households in the county, of which 25.7% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 37.5% were married-couple households, 23.1% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 31.4% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 33.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. Of these units, 7.7% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 57.9% were owner-occupied and 42.1% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.2%. According to the 2018–2023 American Community Survey 17.6% identified as having German ancestry, 12.0% English, 10.4% Irish, and 4.9% Polish ancestry. 86.6% spoke only English at home, while 4.0% Spanish, 3.5% another Indo-European language, and 3.4% spoke Asian languages.

As of the census of 2010, there were 280,895 people, 111,162 households, and 62,674 families residing in the county. The population density was 502.3 PD/sqmi. There were 121,281 housing units at an average density of 216.8 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the county was 76.2% White, 11.8% Black or African American, 0.6% Native American, 5.2% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 2.3% from other races, and 4.0% from two or more races. 7.83% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. According to the 2007–2010 American Community Survey 22.8% were of German, 13.2% Irish, 12.5% English and 5.6% Polish ancestry. 88.2% spoke only English, while 3.9% spoke Asian languages and 3.8% Spanish at home.

As of the 2000 Census, there were 108,593 households, out of which 29.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.00% were married couples living together, 12.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.30% were non-families. 30.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.04. In the county, 23.40% of the population was under the age of 18, 18.50% was from 18 to 24, 28.60% from 25 to 44, 20.10% from 45 to 64, and 9.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.10 males. The median income for a household in the county was $40,774, and the median income for a family was $53,063. Males had a median income of $40,335 versus $30,178 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,079. About 8.30% of families and 14.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.60% of those under age 18 and 6.60% of those age 65 or over.

For most of the 20th century, Ingham County was rather conservative for an urban county. From 1900 to 1988, it voted Republican all but three times, in the national Democratic landslides of 1932, 1936 and 1964. However, the Republican edge narrowed in the 1980s, and the county has gone Democratic at every election since 1992. In recent years, only Washtenaw County has been more Democratic. Democratic The county government operates the jail, maintains rural roads, operates the major local courts, keeps files of deeds and mortgages, maintains vital records, administers public health regulations, and participates with the state in the provision of welfare and other social services. The 14-member county board of commissioners controls the budget, but has only limited authority to make laws or ordinances due to Michigan's large devolution of local power to cities, villages, and townships. The county board of commissioners also hires a county administrator/controller who serves as the chief fiscal and administrative officer of the county.

• Prosecuting Attorney: John Dewane (D) • Sheriff: Scott Wriggelsworth (D) • County Clerk: Barb Byrum (D) • Register of Deeds: Derrick Quinney (D) • County Treasurer: Alan Fox (D) • Drain Commissioner: Patrick Lindemann (D)

15 members, elected from districts (12 Democrats, 3 Republicans) • District — Commissioner — Party • 1 — Randy Maiville, Vice Chair Pro Tem — Rep • 2 — Karla Ruest — Rep • 3 — Chris Trubac, Vice Chair — Dem • 4 — Todd Tennis — Dem • 5 — Myles Johnson — Dem • 6 — Rachel Willis — Dem • 7 — Thomas Morgan — Dem • 8 — Robert Peña — Dem • 9 — Ryan Sebolt, Chair — Dem • 10 — Gabrielle Lawrence — Dem • 11 — Mark Grebner — Dem • 12 — Irene Cahill — Dem • 13 — Tanya Pratt — Dem • 14 — Mark Polsdofer — Dem • 15 — Monica Schafer — Rep

2 judges (non-partisan) • Judge Donald Allen, Jr. • Judge Richard Hillman

9 judges (non-partisan) • General Trial Division • Judge Joyce Draganchuk, Chief Circuit Judge • Judge Rosemarie Aquilina • Judge James Jamo • Judge Wanda Stokes • Family Division • Judge Lisa McCormick, Presiding Judge • Judge Shauna Dunnings, Chief Circuit & Probate Judge Pro Tempore • Judge Richard Garcia, Judge of Probate • Judge Carol Koenig • Judge Morgan E. Cole

• Ingham County is served by Lansing Capital Region International Airport and Mason Jewett Field.

• Amtrak • Canadian National Railway • CSX Transportation • Jackson & Lansing Railroad

• Capital Area Transportation Authority (CATA) • Greyhound Lines • Indian Trails

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• Lansing River Trail

• Illustration — U.S. Census data map showing local municipal boundaries within Ingham County, as well as CDP boundaries. Shaded areas represent incorporated cities.

• East Lansing (part) • Lansing (part) • Leslie • Mason (county seat) • Williamston

• Dansville • Stockbridge • Webberville

• Delhi Charter Township • Lansing Charter Township • Meridian Charter Township

• Alaiedon Township • Aurelius Township • Bunker Hill Township • Ingham Township • Leroy Township • Leslie Township • Locke Township • Onondaga Township • Stockbridge Township • Vevay Township • Wheatfield Township • White Oak Township • Williamstown Township

• Brutus Township, Michigan

• Edgemont Park • Haslett • Holt • Okemos

• Columbia • Fitchburg • Onondaga

School districts include: • Dansville Schools • East Lansing School District • Eaton Rapids Public Schools • Fowlerville Community Schools • Haslett Public Schools • Holt Public Schools • Lansing Public School District • Leslie Public Schools • Mason Public Schools • Morrice Area Schools • Northwest School District • Okemos Public Schools • Perry Public School District • Springport Public Schools • Stockbridge Community Schools • Waverly Community Schools • Webberville Community Schools • Williamston Community Schools The Michigan School for the Blind, a state-operated school, was formerly in Lansing. Michigan State University is in the county.