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Hillsdale County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the population was 46,688. The county seat is Hillsdale. The Hillsdale County Courthouse was built by Claire Allen, a prominent southern Michigan architect.

Geography
According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 607.14 sqmi, of which 598.84 sqmi (or 98.63%) is land and 8.30 sqmi (or 1.37%) is water. Hillsdale is the only county in Michigan to border two other states. Within the county also exists the head waters of two St. Joseph Rivers, the St. Joseph River (Lake Michigan) and the St. Joseph River (Maumee River).
 * The county is named for its rolling terrain. It was set off in 1829, and organized six years later.  See List of Michigan county name etymologies.

Adjacent counties

 * Jackson County (northeast)
 * Calhoun County (northwest)
 * Lenawee County (east)
 * Branch County (west)
 * Fulton County, Ohio (southeast)
 * Williams County, Ohio (south)
 * Steuben County, Indiana (southwest)

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 46,527 people, 17,335 households, and 12,550 families residing in the county. The population density was 78 people per square mile (30/km²). There were 20,189 housing units at an average density of 34 per square mile (13/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.56% White, 0.43% Black or African American, 0.35% Native American, 0.33% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.34% from other races, and 0.98% from two or more races. 1.20% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 28.4% were of German, 15.0% American, 13.2% English and 9.3% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000. 97.0% spoke English, 1.2% Spanish and 1.2% German as their first language.

There were 17,335 households out of which 32.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.90% were married couples living together, 8.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.60% were non-families. 22.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the county the population was spread out with 26.30% under the age of 18, 10.00% from 18 to 24, 26.80% from 25 to 44, 23.50% from 45 to 64, and 13.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 99.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $40,396, and the median income for a family was $45,895. Males had a median income of $35,349 versus $23,718 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,255. About 5.20% of families and 8.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.80% of those under age 18 and 8.60% of those age 65 or over.

Government
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 &mdash; police and fire, building and zoning, tax assessment, street maintenance, etc. &mdash; are the responsibility of individual cities, villages and townships.

Hillsdale County Elected Officials

 * Prosecuting Attorney: Neal A. Brady
 * Probate Judge: Michael Nye
 * Sheriff: Stanley W. Burchardt
 * County Clerk: Marney Kast
 * County Treasurer: Gary A. Leninger
 * Register of Deeds: Bambi L. Somerlott
 * Drain Commissioner: Bill Word
 * County Surveyor: Michael Lodzinski


 * Board of Commissioners:
 * District One: Parke D. Hayes
 * District Two: Alan E. Ringenberg, Chairman of the Board
 * District Three: Gearldine Spieth
 * District Four: Brad Benzing
 * District Five: Brad Densmore
 * District Six: John Burtka
 * District Seven: Andy Welden

Cities, villages, and townships
Cities
 * Hillsdale
 * Litchfield
 * Reading

Villages
 * Allen
 * Camden
 * Jonesville
 * Montgomery
 * North Adams
 * Waldron

Unincorporated
 * Amboy Center
 * Austin
 * Bankers
 * Betzer
 * Buckeye
 * Cambria
 * Church's Corners
 * Fields Corners
 * Fowlers Mill


 * Frontier
 * Jerome
 * Lickley Corners
 * Locust Corners
 * Moscow
 * Mosherville
 * Osseo
 * Pittsford
 * Ransom
 * Somerset
 * Somerset Center
 * Squawfield Corners

Townships


 * Adams Township
 * Allen Township
 * Amboy Township
 * Cambria Township
 * Camden Township


 * Fayette Township
 * Hillsdale Township
 * Jefferson Township
 * Litchfield Township
 * Moscow Township


 * Pittsford Township
 * Ransom Township
 * Reading Township
 * Scipio Township


 * Somerset Township
 * Wheatland Township
 * Woodbridge Township
 * Wright Township

Climate
Hillsdale County experiences four distinct seasons. July is the hottest month with an average high of 82 degrees (f) & January the coldest month with an average high of 29 degrees (f). June is the wettest month with 4.29 in of rain on average.