Livingston County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan, and is part of the Detroit-Warren-Livonia Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2000 census, the population was 156,951, with a 2003 Census estimate placing the population at 181,517. The county seat and most populous incorporated city is Howell. As one of Michigan's "Cabinet counties", a group of counties whose names honor members of President Andrew Jackson's Cabinet, it is named after former U.S. Secretary of State Edward Livingston.

Geography

Genesee County (northeast)
Shiawassee County (northwest)
Washtenaw County (south)
Oakland County (east)
Ingham County (west)
Jackson County (southwest) Adjacent counties
As of the census² of 2000, there were 156,951 people, 55,384 households, and 43,531 families residing in the county. The population density was 107/km² (276/mi²). There were 58,919 housing units at an average density of 40/km² (104/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.13% White, 0.46% Black or African American, 0.43% Native American, 0.57% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.32% from other races, and 1.06% from two or more races. 1.24% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 96.8% spoke English and 1.1% Spanish as their first language.
There were 55,384 households out of which 39.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.50% were married couples living together, 6.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.40% were non-families. 17.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.18.
In the county the population was spread out with 28.80% under the age of 18, 6.60% from 18 to 24, 31.70% from 25 to 44, 24.60% from 45 to 64, and 8.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 102.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.70 males.
With a median household income of $67,400, and a median family income of $75,284, Livingston county is one of the Highest-income counties in the United States. Males had a median income of $54,358 versus $32,073 for females. The per capita income for the county was $28,069. About 2.40% of families and 3.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.60% of those under age 18 and 4.50% of those age 65 or over.
Livingston County has been the fastest growing county in the state for the past decade and also through the 1970s. More than 50% of all the population of Livingston County is located in the southeastern communities of Brighton Township, Genoa Township, Hamburg Township, Green Oak Township, the Village of Pinckney, Putnam Township and the City of Brighton.
The US Census Bureau in 2000 identified Brighton, Howell, and the nearby city of South Lyon to be a contiguous, urbanized area, one of the newest such areas in the United States.
By 2006 the county population had grown 17.6% to 184,511. Livingston County is the fastest-growing county in Michigan.
In 2006, non-Hispanic whites made up 95.7% of the county population; African-Americans made up 0.7%; Asians 0.8%; and Native Americans 0.4%. Hispanics were 1.6% of the population.

Location
There are two local newspapers, The Livingston Community News, a relatively new free weekly that is part of the Booth newspaper chain (which also owns The Ann Arbor News), and the The Livingston County Daily Press & Argus. Published Sunday through Friday, the "Daily Press & Argus" was launched in 2000 through the combination of two weekly newspapers -- The Livingston County Press and The Brighton Argus -- which served the communities for many decades. The Web site for the "Daily Press & Argus" was launched in 2005 and is located at www.livingstondaily.com.
Other media in the county includes WHMI-FM, a Classic Hits radio station that has local news on the hour. Local news and other station information is located at www.whmi.com

Media
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 county board of commissioners controls the budget but has only limited authority to make laws or ordinances. In Michigan, most local government functions — police and fire, building and zoning, tax assessment, street maintenance, etc. — are the responsibility of individual cities and townships.

Government
(information as of September 2005)

Prosecuting Attorney: David L. Morse
Sheriff: Robert J. Bezotte
County Clerk: Margaret M. Dunleavy
County Treasurer: Dianne H. Hardy
Register of Deeds: Sally Reynolds
Drain Commissioner: Brian Jonckheere Livingston County elected officials

Cities, villages, and townships

Brighton
Howell Cities

Pinckney
Fowlerville Villages

Brighton Township
Cohoctah Township
Conway Township
Deerfield Township
Genoa Township
Green Oak Township
Hamburg Township
Handy Township
Hartland Township
Howell Township
Iosco Township
Marion Township
Oceola Township
Putnam Township
Tyrone Township
Unadilla Township Census Designated Places (CDP)

Hell, unincorporated community
Parshallville
Hartland