Benzie County, Michigan: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Almira Township, Benzonia Township and Inland Township
Benzie County is not a build-out site today. It feels the boom through the grid it shares, the utilities that serve it and the work nearby. Construction employs 504, up 57.0% since 2019, and construction is 1.9 times as concentrated here as in the U.S. economy. Benzie County is home to Almira Township, Benzonia Township, Inland Township and Homestead Township. Electrical contractors employ 31, up 47.6% since 2019 against up 23.2% statewide, at an average $54,268 a year. Employers here counted 5,028 jobs in 2025, up 14.2% from 2019 (the 6th fastest growth of 83 Michigan counties). Unemployment was 4.2% in August 2026, against 5.3% in 2019.
Cities and towns in Benzie County
Benzie County is home to Almira Township, Benzonia Township, Inland Township and Homestead Township.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Bendon, Crystal Downs Country Club, Crystal Mountain, Hardwood Acres, Maple Grove, Nessen City, Pilgrim.
Residents are 2025 Census estimates for the part of each city, town or township inside this county. Census publishes no annual estimate for unincorporated communities.
What changed in Benzie County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Michigan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 18,002 | 18,568 | ▲ 3.1% | 66th of 83 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 4,403 | 5,028 | ▲ 14.2% | 6th of 83 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $34,668 | $46,346 | ▲ 33.7% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 321 | 504 | ▲ 57.0% | 2nd of 69 by growth |
| Electrical contractor jobs (2019 → 2025) | 21 | 31 | ▲ 47.6% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 5.3% | 4.2% | ▼ 1.1pts | — |
Consumers Energy Co - (MI) is the largest utility serving Benzie County, one of 3 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 19.11¢/kWh in 2024, above the 16.89¢ median for Michigan utilities. 18,568 people live here, up 3.1% since 2020.
Who powers Benzie County
Utilities with service territory in Benzie County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Consumers Energy Co - (MI) | Investor Owned | Bundled | 1,657,843 | 19.11¢ | 36% |
| Cherryland Electric Coop Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 35,100 | 16.36¢ | 28% |
| Wolverine Power Supply Coop | — | — | — | — | — |
Customer counts, prices and sales shares cover each utility's whole system in the state, not only this county. Commercial sales include data centers.
No operating power plant is located in Benzie County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Benzie County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 5,028 | $46,346 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 504 | $65,250 | 1.89 |
| Electrical contractors | 31 | $54,268 | 0.85 |
Concentration is the BLS location quotient: 1.0 means the industry holds the same share of local jobs as it does nationally. Industry rows count private employers; cells BLS suppresses are left out.
Data centers and local rules in Benzie County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Benzie County. Michigan has 91 local measures on record statewide.
Benzie County and its neighbors
Of the 4 counties that border Benzie County, Manistee County carries the most build-out activity: data centers, planned generation and operating plants combined.
| County | Population | Jobs since 2019 | Operating MW | Planned MW | Data centers | Local measures |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benzie County | 18,568 | ▲ 14.2% | — | — | — | — |
| Grand Traverse County | 96,729 | ▲ 3.1% | 1 MW | — | — | — |
| Leelanau County | 22,982 | ▲ 13.1% | 3 MW | — | — | — |
| Manistee County | 25,656 | ▲ 3.7% | 110 MW | — | — | — |
| Wexford County | 34,445 | ▼ 7.2% | 61 MW | — | — | — |
More of Michigan
Benzie County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Benzie County, Michigan?
3 utilities have service territory in Benzie County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Consumers Energy Co - (MI), Cherryland Electric Coop Inc, Wolverine Power Supply Coop. The largest, Consumers Energy Co - (MI), charged residential customers 19.11¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Benzie County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Benzie County.
Is Benzie County adding jobs?
Employers counted 5,028 jobs in 2025 against 4,403 in 2019 (+14.2%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 321 to 504.
Does Benzie County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Benzie County. Michigan has 91 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.