Lake Michigan, 1900
Empire’s story
175 years in pictures
Census counts: 609 in 1900, 362 in 2020. The archive holds 10 old photos and papers going back to 1900 and 3 maps from 1957 on.
- 1851Empire is founded
EmpireMI
Photo: Rachel Kramer · CC BY 2.0
Population
355
2025 Census estimate · +2.6% since 2020
Median home value
$456K
Census ACS
Household income
$84K
median
Median age
63.6
years
Jobs based here
128
A job hub
Is Empire a good place to live?
56% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree or more in Empire, above both Michigan’s towns (26%) and U.S. towns (29%). No town among the 702 in Michigan we compare has a higher median age than Empire. 25% of the land in Empire is conserved, against 4.4% in Michigan’s towns and 4.3% across U.S. towns. The biggest park or preserve is Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, at 93 acres. Empire has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
What makes Empire stand out
Where Empire beats most towns.
Small town
355 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Nearby attractions
All 3 attractions →Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and 1 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Empire. Close and well known come first.
in town National LakeshoreSleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore1.6M visitors a year20 mi MuseumMichigan Legacy Art ParkSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore: en:User:Grod028, Public domain
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Empire: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Empire, and how to reach them.
PowerDTE20.2¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterVillage of Empire water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet4 providers95% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Empire’s trash rules yet
Register to voteOnlineIn Michigan you can register online until 15 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 15 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereEmpire Township ClerkEmpire Township; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Nov 2025
ZIP code4963049630 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 12, 2025.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Empire.
Work & commute
A job hub: Empire has 1.5 jobs for every working resident and draws in 128 commuters
Most working residents leave Empire for work: only 0% work in town. 15% of residents live below the poverty line in Empire. Since 2011, Empire has lost 37 jobs, to 128 in 2021.
0%work in town
| Empire | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 15% | 8.9% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $84,000 | $77,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Empire0%
Glen Arbor Township22%
Traverse City16%
Empire Township10%
Frankfort2%
21 mi
median commute distance
128
jobs based in Empire
A job hub
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2021 · ACS
Outdoors
Empire has set aside nearly a quarter of its land for conservation
1.6 miles of trail in 6 parks and preserves. The trail density in Empire is 1.5 miles per square mile.
25.3%conserved
25.3%
conserved · 181 of 713 acres
1.6 mi
of trails · 1.5 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Chippewa Run Natural Area | 1.4 mi | 67 |
| 2. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore | 0.1 mi | 93 |
| 3. Shalda Park | — | 12 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Natural hazards
Low risk in Empire, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 76% of U.S. communities.
24risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold waves
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
In Empire, a typical July afternoon runs cooler than in the typical Michigan or U.S. town
Empire’s July high is 77°F. Empire has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers.
93″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter19–30°
Spring33–50°
Summer57–75°
Fall42–56°
Oct 26
typical first frost
May 2
typical last frost
+2.5°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
Empire stands out in Michigan and nationally, with fewer of its adults who report frequent mental distress
11% of Empire adults report frequent mental distress. No town among the 702 in Michigan we compare has a higher share of adults who had a checkup this year than Empire. 14% of Empire adults say their health is fair or poor.
| Empire | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 11% | 18% | 17% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 88% | 80% | 79% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 12% | 17% | 16% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 28% | 34% | 36% |
32 measures vs. Michigan
19 better8 too close to call5 worse
| What stands out | Empire | MI |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 5.4% | 15.4% |
| Fewer adults facing housing insecurity | 4.3% | 11.9% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 16.5% | 8.9% |
Paul Oliver Memorial Hospital
15.1 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
$509Kmedian sale price
1
homes sold in April
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Empire
18pages on Empire
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Empire; the nearest are
Northwestern Michigan CollegeCommunity college · Public · Traverse City23.5 mi$5,860 in-state tuitionWest Shore Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Scottville57.2 mi$4,470 in-state tuitionFerris State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Big Rapids82.8 mi$14,778 in-state tuition
About 1 of every 100 Empire residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Michigan.
A job hub
Every workday, about 128 people come to Empire for work
Where Empire’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
128jobs based in Empire
0%of working residents work in town
21 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2021
About Empire
Village in Michigan, United States
Empire is a village on Lake Michigan in the northwestern Lower Peninsula of Michigan in the United States. Located in southwestern Leelanau County, its population was 362 at the 2020 census. The village is located within Empire Township, and is famous for its proximity to the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Empire is home to the lakeshore's headquarters, the Philip A. Hart Visitor Center.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1895
- Area
- 1.2 sq mi
- Elevation
- 610 ft
- ZIP code
- 49630
Questions about Empire
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Empire, MI a good place to live?
Empire has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.