[3] Mason County comprises the Ludington, MI Micropolitan Statistical Area.

[7] [8] By land By water As of the 2000 United States Census,[14] of 2000, there were 28,274 people, 11,406 households, and 7,881 families in the county.

24.5% were of German, 10.4% Polish, 8.8% English, 8.5% Irish, 7.7% American and 5.0% Swedish ancestry.

Since 1884, the county's voters have selected the Republican Party nominee in 83% (30 of 36) of the national elections through 2024.

Mason County operates the county jail, maintains rural roads, operates the major local courts, records deeds, mortgages, and vital records, administers public health regulations, and participates with the state in the provision of social services.

The county board of commissioners controls the budget and has limited authority to make laws or ordinances.

In Michigan, most local government functions – police and fire, building and zoning, tax assessment, street maintenance etc.