Luce County, Michigan

Major highways

• M-28 is Michigan's longest state trunkline highway. An east–west route, M-28 can be used to access Sault Ste. Marie to the east, and Munising and Marquette to the west.
• M-117 is a north–south connector between M-28 west of Newberry to US 2 in Mackinac County.
• M-123 is a u-shaped highway, beginning at M-28 south of Newberry. Motorists also use M-123 to access Tahquamenon Falls and Whitefish Point.
• H-33
• H-37
• H-44
• H-58

Airport

Luce County Airport (KERY), provides service for the county and surrounding communities.

Adjacent counties

• Chippewa County (east)
• Mackinac County (south)
• Schoolcraft County (southwest)
• Alger County (west)
• Thunder Bay District, Ontario (north)
• Algoma District, Ontario (northeast)

Village

• Newberry (county seat)

Civil townships

• Columbus Township
• Lakefield Township
• McMillan Township
• Pentland Township

Unincorporated communities

Indian reservations

• Luce County contains one very small portion of the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians tribal community, which is headquartered in Sault Ste. Marie in Chippewa County. This small plot of land is located within Pentland Township but is administered autonomously.

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 5,339. The median age was 49.1 years. 20.1% of residents were under the age of 18 and 25.9% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 102.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 99.3 males age 18 and over.^[11]

The racial makeup of the county was 84.9% White, 0.2% Black or African American, 6.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, <0.1% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.3% from some other race, and 7.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.4% of the population.^[12]

<0.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.^[13]

There were 2,344 households in the county, of which 22.9% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 46.5% were married-couple households, 21.3% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 23.5% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 31.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.^[11]

There were 4,065 housing units, of which 42.3% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 79.0% were owner-occupied and 21.0% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 14.7%.^[11]

2010 census

The 2010 census indicated Luce County had a population of 6,631.^[14] This is a decrease of 393 people from the 2000 United States census. This is a -5.6% change in population. In 2010 there were 2,412 households and 1,542 families residing in the county. The population density was 7 people per square mile (2.7 people/km²). There were 4,343 housing units at an average density of 5 per square mile (1.9/km²).

There were 2,412 households, out of which 24.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.2% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.1% were non-families. 31.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.77. In the county, the population was spread out, with 17.9% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 29.6% from 45 to 64, and 17.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. The population was 57.7% male and 42.3% female.

At the 2010 census, the racial makeup of the county was 80.4% White, 11.1% Black or African American, 5.0% Native American, 0.3% Asian and 3.1% of two or more races; of them, 1.2% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race). In 2010 among its population, 14.5% were of German, 7.6% French, French Canadian or Cajun, 7.4% Irish, 6.8% English, 6.3% American and 5.5% Finnish ancestry.^[15]

In 2010, the median income for a household in the county was $42,083, and the median income for a family was $49,948. The per capita income for the county was $18,294. About 12.6% of families and 16.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.7% of those under age 18 and 12.5% of those age 65 or over.

2017–2021 American Community Survey

From 2017–2021, its median household income was $49,667.^[2]

2022 American Community Survey

At the 2022 American Community Survey, its racial makeup was 87.6% non-Hispanic white, 1% Black or African American, 6.9% Native American, 0.2% Asian American, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 4.2% multiracial, and 2% Hispanic or Latino of any race.^[2]

Religion

Religiously, the Association of Religion Data Archives in 2020 determined Christianity was the dominant religion. Roman Catholicism and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America were the largest Christian groups in the county.^[16]

Elected officials

• Prosecuting Attorney: Cameron Harwell
• Sheriff: Eric Gravelle
• County Clerk/Register of Deeds: Sharon J. Price
• County Treasurer: Belinda Bridges

(information as of March 2024)^[19]