Empire township, Michigan
Empire township profile, demographic data, and geographic information.
Empire township is a geographic entity located in Leelanau County, Michigan. As of official census estimates, it has a reported population of 1,168. The land area covers 35.26 sq mi. [1]
Demographics & Population
| Demographic Metric | Estimate / Count | Margin of Error | Survey Period / Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Population (2025 PEP Estimate) | 1,168 | — | 2025 / Census |
| Median Age | 64.8 yrs | ±2.4 | 2020-2024 / Census ACS 5-Year 2024 |
| Total Households | 595 | ±72 | 2020-2024 / Census ACS 5-Year 2024 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (PEP, ACS 5-Year).
Housing & Real Estate Profile
| Housing Metric | Estimate / Value | Margin of Error |
|---|---|---|
| Total Housing Units | 1,168 | ±113 |
| Occupied Housing Units | 595 | ±72 |
| Vacant Housing Units | 573 | ±91 |
| Median Home Value | $452,500 | ±$30,102 |
| Median Gross Rent | $1,034 | ±$507 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2020-2024).
Economy & Workforce
| Economic Metric | Estimate / Value | Margin of Error |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $94,821 | ±$14,428 |
| Per Capita Income | $59,624 | ±$10,250 |
| Poverty Rate | 10.3% | ±6.5% |
| Population Below Poverty Level | 121 | ±78 |
| Unemployment Rate | 0.7% | ±0.9% |
| Civilian Labor Force, Employed | 436 | ±79 |
| Broadband Internet Rate | 96.5% | ±16.5% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2020-2024).
Local Government & Public Administration
Authoritative general-purpose local government units serving this area
U.S. Census Bureau GUS (2026) / GMAF
| Government Unit | Unit Type | Jurisdiction Role | Contact / Address |
|---|---|---|---|
|
GUS Population: 1,163 (2024)
ID: 106515
|
Township | Official Local Government |
Contact: EMPIRE TOWNSHIP CLERK
PO BOX 234, EMPIRE MI 49630-0234
|
|
GUS Population: 22,871 (2024)
ID: 166595
|
County | Official County Government |
Contact: CLERK
8527 E GOVERNMENT CENTER DR, STE 103, SUTTONS BAY MI 49682-9742
|
Education
Listing 10 local institutions (NCES 2024-2025)
External reference via K12Guides
| Institution | Type | Grades | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular School Nearby | 06-12 | BENZONIA, MI | |
| Regular School Nearby | 06-08 | BENZONIA, MI | |
| Regular School Nearby | 09-12 | BENZONIA, MI | |
| Regular School Nearby | PK-05 | FRANKFORT, MI | |
| Regular School Nearby | 06-12 | FRANKFORT, MI | |
| Regular School Nearby | PK-12 | MAPLE CITY, MI | |
| Regular School Nearby | PK-05 | BENZONIA, MI | |
| Regular School Nearby | PK-05 | INTERLOCHEN, MI | |
| Regular School Nearby | PK-06 | LAKE LEELANAU, MI | |
| Regular School Nearby | PK-12 | LELAND, MI |
Source: k12guides.com.
Community Facilities & Infrastructure
Displaying 10 civic institutions across 2 datasets queried
CMS • IPEDS • IMLS
| Facility Name | Category | Relationship | Address / Location | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Northwestern Michigan College
|
College | 21.1 mi away | 1701 E Front St, Traverse City, MI, 49686 |
2319951000
|
|
GLEN LAKE COMMUNITY LIBRARY
|
Library | 2.6 mi away | 10115 WEST FRONT STREET, EMPIRE, MI, 49630 |
(231) 326-5361
|
|
DARCY LIBRARY OF BEULAH
|
Library | 13.8 mi away | 7238 COMMERCIAL STREET, BEULAH, MI, 49617 |
(231) 882-4037
|
|
BENZONIA PUBLIC LIBRARY
|
Library | 14.4 mi away | 891 MICHIGAN AVENUE, BENZONIA, MI, 49616 |
(231) 882-4111
|
|
INTERLOCHEN PUBLIC LIBRARY
|
Library | 16.9 mi away | 9411 TENTH ST., INTERLOCHEN, MI, 49643 |
(231) 276-6767
|
|
BENZIE SHORES DISTRICT LIBRARY
|
Library | 17.0 mi away | 630 MAIN STREET, FRANKFORT, MI, 49635 |
(231) 352-4671
|
|
LELAND TOWNSHIP PUBLIC LIBRARY
|
Library | 18.6 mi away | 203 EAST CEDAR STREET, LELAND, MI, 49654 |
(231) 256-9152
|
|
TRAVERSE AREA DISTRICT LIBRARY
|
Library | 20.1 mi away | 610 WOODMERE AVENUE, TRAVERSE CITY, MI, 49686 |
(231) 932-8500
|
|
SUTTONS BAY-BINGHAM DISTRICT LIBRARY
|
Library | 20.8 mi away | 416 FRONT STREET, SUTTONS BAY, MI, 49682 |
(231) 271-3512
|
|
BETSIE VALLEY DISTRICT LIBRARY
|
Library | 20.9 mi away | 14744 THOMPSON AVENUE, THOMPSONVILLE, MI, 49683 |
(231) 378-2716
|
Distances calculated from authoritative source coordinates. Source: CMS, IMLS, NCES IPEDS.
Climate & Weather Observations
NOAA Monthly Climate Normals
Observation Station: Climate data reflects NOAA 1991–2020 standard normals recorded at MAPLE CITY 1E, MI US, located 8.9 miles from Empire township. Local microclimates, topography, and elevation may cause municipal conditions to differ.
| Month | High (°F) | Low (°F) | Mean (°F) | Precip (in) | Snow (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 28.7° | 15.9° | 22.3° | 2.76" | 44.5" |
| February | 31.0° | 15.7° | 23.3° | 1.89" | 27.5" |
| March | 40.8° | 21.6° | 31.2° | 1.97" | 14.3" |
| April | 52.9° | 31.1° | 42.0° | 2.92" | 6.4" |
| May | 66.8° | 41.7° | 54.2° | 3.09" | 0.2" |
| June | 75.6° | 51.5° | 63.6° | 2.94" | 0.0" |
| July | 79.9° | 57.4° | 68.6° | 2.71" | 0.0" |
| August | 78.3° | 57.0° | 67.6° | 2.94" | 0.0" |
| September | 71.0° | 50.1° | 60.6° | 4.08" | 0.0" |
| October | 58.3° | 40.0° | 49.2° | 4.46" | 0.5" |
| November | 44.7° | 30.3° | 37.5° | 3.24" | 13.9" |
| December | 34.1° | 22.2° | 28.2° | 2.67" | 36.0" |
Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020).
Local Weather Forecast
Weather forecast data is currently unavailable in the local cache.
Nearby Cities & Communities
Listing adjacent communities by spatial proximity (miles)
Proximity discovery
| Community Name | Classification | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empire village | Village | 2.5 mi | — |
| Glen Arbor CDP | CDP | 5.3 mi | — |
| Maple City CDP | CDP | 7.9 mi | — |
| Lake Ann village | Village | 10.2 mi | — |
| Honor village | Village | 10.5 mi | — |
| Cedar CDP | CDP | 10.7 mi | — |
Sources & Data Provenance
- Geographic Classification & Identifiers: U.S. Census Bureau Gazetteer (2026) and TIGER/Line Shapefiles. GEOID: 2608926000. • Official Source Dataset →
- Socioeconomic & Housing Metrics: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates and Population Estimates Program (PEP). Margin of Error (MOE) intervals are reported where published; suppressed values are never estimated or replaced with false zeros.
- Civic Directory Datasets: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS Hospital Directory), National Center for Education Statistics (NCES IPEDS Postsecondary Directory), and Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS Public Libraries Survey). Airport landing facilities are provided by airport-data.com.
- Weather & Climate Observations: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 and National Weather Service (NWS) point forecasts.