Benzie County is a county in Michigan. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 17,970. The county seat is Beulah. The county was initially set off in 1863 and organized in 1869.[ At 321 square miles (830 km2), Benzie County is the smallest of the 83 counties in Michigan in terms of land area.
Benzie County is part of the Traverse City micropolitan area. Part of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is located within the county. It is also home to Crystal Mountain, one of Michigan's top-rated ski resorts.
Today's Benzie County was originally part of Leelanau County. Leelanau County was separated from Michilimackinac County in 1840, and was attached to Grand Traverse County. In 1863, The northern section of Leelanau County was organized, and the southern section, now named Benzie County, was left attached to Grand Traverse County. Benzie County was organized in its own right in 1869.
The name "Benzie" is derived from the French la rivière aux Bec-scies, "the river of sawbills", bec-scie ("bill-saw") being a type of ducks. Americans altered the pronunciation of the river's name, which became known as the "Betsie River". A similar alteration in pronunciation produced "Benzie".
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 860 square miles, of which 320 square miles is land and 540 square miles (63%) is water. It is the smallest county in Michigan by land area.