Hillsdale County, Michigan
Use this county page to find the right government office or narrow down to a city or township. The service directory covers common county jobs; the local pages add property-tax context, school-district rate ranges, nearby places, and Porch Notes tied to each community.
County snapshot
Cities
4
Townships
18
School districts
14
Primary home (PRE) rates, for homes with Michigan's Principal Residence Exemption, range from 21.153 mills to 45.3694 mills.
Other property, often called non-homestead, usually means rentals, vacation homes, and second homes. Those rates range from 39.153 mills to 63.3694 mills.
Rate rows come from the official Michigan Treasury millage-rate reports . Data used: 2025 Michigan Treasury Total Property Tax Rates. Last reviewed July 12, 2026.
Use this carefully: Michigan Porch uses the statewide published rates as a planning aid. The local assessor or treasurer controls parcel-specific values, due dates, and special assessments.
County service directory
Find the office before you make the trip
Some questions stay with the city or township. Others move to the county, a health district, or a court. Start with the job you need done, then confirm hours, fees, and forms with the office.
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Marriage licenses, local vital records, and elections
Hillsdale County clerk
Start with the clerk for a marriage license, a county-filed birth or death record, election information, and other county records.
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Deeds, mortgages, and recorded land documents
Hillsdale County register of deeds
Use this office for recorded property documents. It does not decide ownership disputes or tell you whether a deed is legally sufficient.
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Delinquent real-property tax and foreclosure questions
Hillsdale County treasurer
Current bills usually begin with the city or township treasurer. After the local collection period, delinquent real-property tax moves to the county or the state foreclosing unit.
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Private wells, septic systems, and local health services
Local health department
Michigan has county and multi-county health departments. Use the state finder to see which department serves this county before applying or making an appointment.
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District, circuit, probate, or family-court business
Michigan trial courts serving this county
The court depends on the case type and sometimes the city or district. The judiciary directory lists court locations, websites, and contact information by county.
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Countywide assessment data and equalization
Hillsdale County equalization
Your local assessor and Board of Review handle an individual parcel first. County equalization studies values across local units and supports assessment administration.
County websites are checked against the State of Michigan county website directory . State and court finders are used where one office or district can serve more than one county. Directory reviewed July 12, 2026. Office roles were checked against Michigan Vital Records, Michigan Treasury taxpayer resources, and State Tax Commission guidance.
Local pages
Places in Hillsdale County
City
Hillsdale
1 school district available.
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City
Jonesville
1 school district available.
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City
Litchfield
1 school district available.
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City
Reading
1 school district available.
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Township
Adams Township
4 school districts available.
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Township
Allen Township
5 school districts available.
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Township
Amboy Township
2 school districts available.
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Township
Cambria Township
3 school districts available.
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Township
Camden Township
2 school districts available.
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Township
Fayette Township
3 school districts available.
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Township
Hillsdale Township
2 school districts available.
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Township
Jefferson Township
3 school districts available.
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Township
Litchfield Township
4 school districts available.
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Township
Moscow Township
3 school districts available.
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Township
Pittsford Township
2 school districts available.
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Township
Ransom Township
3 school districts available.
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Township
Reading Township
1 school district available.
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Township
Scipio Township
2 school districts available.
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Township
Somerset Township
4 school districts available.
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Township
Wheatland Township
4 school districts available.
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Township
Woodbridge Township
3 school districts available.
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Township
Wright Township
3 school districts available.
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Porch Notes
Local notes from Hillsdale County
Stories, practical notes, and local details tied to places in this county.
Hillsdale County · Outdoors
A rock garden built stone by stone by a botany professor
Slayton Arboretum at Hillsdale College grew from a 14-acre 1922 gift into a hand-built landscape of rock gardens, waterfalls, and an amphitheater carved out of an old gravel pit.
Read this note ->Hillsdale County · History and culture
Annie Oakley slept here: Hillsdale's Keefer House
The 1885 Keefer House on Hillsdale's main corner put up railroad-era travelers from Buffalo Bill Cody to Annie Oakley, sat empty for two decades, and reopened as a boutique hotel.
Read this note ->Hillsdale County · Home and property
Buying on Lake Diane? It's a lake somebody built in the 1960s
Lake Diane in Amboy Township is a private developer-built reservoir from the mid-1960s, held back by a dam and ringed with small platted lots — facts worth knowing before you buy on it.
Read this note ->Hillsdale County · History and culture
Camden got its name out of a hat
The village of Camden in southern Hillsdale County was first called Cranbrook; settlers later picked the new name at random by drawing it from a hat in 1840.
Read this note ->Hillsdale County · History and culture
Jonesville: the county's first town, and its first county seat
Founded in 1828 where the Sauk Trail crossed the St. Joseph River, Jonesville was Hillsdale County's first settlement and earliest county seat before the title moved to Hillsdale.
Read this note ->Hillsdale County · History and culture
Litchfield got its name over a few drinks in Detroit
Litchfield was nearly named Columbus until a settler rode to the Michigan Legislature in Detroit and, by 'free use of liquid and other arguments,' got it called Litchfield instead.
Read this note ->Next steps
What to check next in Hillsdale County
Start with a local page, then move into the Michigan rule or tool that matches the question in front of you.
- Tool Estimate a buyer tax bill Use the Michigan homebuyer tax calculator when you have a price, place, and school district. Open calculator ->
- Question Understand uncapping See why a buyer's first full-year tax bill can differ from the seller's old bill. Read the guide ->
- Places Search statewide Look up another city, township, village, county, or school district. Browse places ->
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