Part of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is located within the county.

The Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore extends into the northwest portion of the county.

The Betsie River State Game Area is located just east of Elberta.

50 miles (80 km) of the Betsie River is a state-designated Natural River from Grass Lake, just west of the Grand Traverse County line, to its inlet into Lake Betsie just east of Elberta.

Previously, an additional highway, M-168, ran in the village of Elberta, serving the former Ann Arbor Railroad ferry docks.

[9] By land By water Source:[10] As of the 2000 census,[16] there were 15,998 people, 6,500 households, and 4,595 families residing in the county.

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.