Elberta is a village located in Benzie County, Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the village had a total population of 457. The village located in the east of Gilmore Township, on the south side of Lake Betsie, which is formed by the Betsie River before flowing into Lake Michigan. The village is on Michigan State Highway 22 just south of Frankfort. Michigan State Highway 168, one of the shortest state highways in Michigan, extends 0.95 miles from a junction with MI-22 in downtown Frankfort to the former Ann Arbor Railroad ferry docks in Elberta.

Elberta was first settled in 1855 and incorporated as South Frankfort in 1894. It was renamed Elberta in 1911 for the local Elberta peach.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 2.5 km² (1.0 mi²). 1.9 km² (0.8 mi²) of it is land and 0.6 km² (0.2 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 23.47% water. The downtown is at 44°37'10" north latitude, 86°13'35" west longitude.

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there are 457 people, 190 households, and 124 families residing in the village. The population density is 235.3/km² (612.9/mi²). There are 237 housing units at an average density of 122.0/km² (317.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the village is 95.62% White, 0.66% African American, 1.31% Native American, 0.00% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.22% from other races, and 2.19% from two or more races. 0.88% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 190 households out of which 31.6% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.2% are married couples living together, 15.8% have a female householder with no husband present, and 34.7% are non-families. 28.9% of all households are made up of individuals and 10.0% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.41 and the average family size is 2.90.

In the village the population is spread out with 29.3% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 20.1% from 45 to 64, and 15.1% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 36 years. For every 100 females there are 96.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 94.6 males.

The median income for a household in the village is $28,403, and the median income for a family is $31,250. Males have a median income of $27,159 versus $21,806 for females. The per capita income for the village is $13,594. 10.7% of the population and 9.0% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 13.6% of those under the age of 18 and 6.7% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.