Grand Traverse County, Michigan

Grand Traverse County is a county located in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the population was 86,986.[2] The county seat is Traverse City.[3]

Not to be confused with Traverse County, Minnesota.

Grand Traverse County
U.S. county
Grand Traverse County Courthouse in Traverse City
Flag
Logo
Location within the U.S. state of Michigan
Michigan's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 44°44′N 85°33′W
Country United States
State Michigan
Founded1851[1]
Named forGrand Traverse Bay
SeatTraverse City
Largest cityTraverse City
Area
 • Total601 sq mi (1,560 km2)
 • Land464 sq mi (1,200 km2)
 • Water137 sq mi (350 km2)  23%%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2018)
92,573
 • Density198/sq mi (76/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district1st
Websitewww.co.grand-traverse.mi.us

According to the United States Census Bureau, it is estimated that the population of Grand Traverse County in July 1, 2018 was 92,573.

Grand Traverse County is part of the Traverse City, MI Micropolitan Statistical Area, which also includes Benzie, Kalkaska, and Leelanau counties.

Interlochen, home of the Interlochen Center for the Arts is located in Green Lake Township.

Grand Traverse County was originally known as Omeena County.

History

Early history

In 1840, the county was separated from Mackinac County and originally named Omeena County, later to be renamed Grand Traverse County, after Grand Traverse.

Grand Traverse County was organized by an act of the state legislature on April 7, 1851.[1] Grand Traverse is derived from a French phrase meaning "long crossing" and the county is so named because it is situated at the Grand Traverse Bay.[1][4] The first permanent settlement in the county was the mission now known as Old Mission. The county was initially divided into two townships: Peninsula Township, which was coterminous with the Old Mission Peninsula, and Traverse Township, which took up the rest of the county.

Over time, Traverse Township was divided into Garfield and Whitewater townships. Later on, Garfield Township was further divided into Silver Lake and Mayfield townships, and Whitewater Township was divided into Acme, East Bay, and Paradise townships. Over time, lines were redrawn, and the townships evolved into today's configuration.

Historical markers

There are 12 recognized Michigan historical markers in the county:[5] They are:

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 601 square miles (1,560 km2), of which 464 square miles (1,200 km2) is land and 137 square miles (350 km2) (23%) is water.[7] Grand Traverse County is considered to be part of Northern Michigan. The highest point in Grand Traverse County is Exodus Hill in Long Lake Township, and the lowest point is the Grand Traverse Bay. Power Island, the largest island in Grand Traverse Bay, is part of Peninsula Township.

Adjacent counties

Lakes
Bass Lake

(not including Lake Michigan)

  • Arbutus Lake
  • Bartlett Lake
  • Bass Lake
  • Bellew Lake
  • Bellows Lake
  • Boardman Lake
  • Brewster Lake
  • Bridge Lake
  • Bullhead Lake
  • Bumphrey Lake
  • Cedar Hedge Lake
  • Cedar Lake
  • Chandler Lake
  • Christmas Tree Lake
  • Coffield Lake
  • Coon Lake
  • Denzer Lake
  • Dollar Lake
  • Lake DuBonnet
  • Duck Lake (Wahbekaness)
  • Dyer Lake
  • Elk Lake
  • Ellis Lake
  • Lac des Étoiles
  • Fenton Lake
  • Fern Lake
  • Fife Lake
  • Fish Lake
  • Green Lake (Wahbekanetta)
  • Hay Lake
  • Heniser Lakes
  • High Lake
  • Hunter Lake
  • Huellmantel Lake
  • Larch Lake
  • Long Lake
  • Lost Lake
  • Mayfield Pond
  • Mirror Lake
  • Mud Lake
  • Muncie Lake
  • Noren Lake
  • Page Lake
  • Petobego Pond
  • Pickerel Lake
  • Prescott Lake
  • Pyatt Lake
  • Question Lake
  • Rahe Lake
  • Rennie Lake
  • Return Lakes
  • Roots Lake
  • Rush Pond
  • Saunders Lake
  • Lake Scandinavia
  • Silver Lake
  • Skiver Lake
  • Smith Lake
  • Spider Lake
  • Lake Skegemog
  • Strombolis Lake
  • Stricker Lake
  • Lake Swainston
  • Tonawanda Lake
  • Truax Lake
  • Twin Lake
  • Vandervoight Lake
  • Whelock Lake
  • Wistrand Lake

Creeks
  • 22 Creek
  • Acme Creek
  • Angell Creek
  • Bancroft Creek
  • Beitner Creek
  • California Creek
  • Campbell Creek
  • Carpenter Creek
  • Cedar Run
  • Coleys Creek
  • Dipley Creek
  • Desmond Creek
  • Dyer Creek
  • East Creek
  • Fife Lake Outlet
  • Gens Creek
  • Grasshopper Creek
  • Harris Creek
  • Headquarters Creek
  • Jaxon Creek
  • Kids Creek
  • Kesner Creek
  • Kingsley Creek
  • Leffingwell Creek
  • Mitchell Creek
  • Neal Creek
  • No Name Creek
  • Orchard Creek
  • Parker Creek
  • Prescott Creek
  • Pyatt Creek
  • Rennie Creek
  • Rudhardt Creek
  • Sands Creek
  • Sucker Creek
  • Swainston Creek
  • Spider Creek
  • Sundowner Creek
  • Taylor Creek
  • Tobeco Creek
  • Treasure Creek
  • Vanderlip Creek
  • Williamsburg Creek
  • Woodland Creek
  • Yuba Creek

Rivers

Transportation
Fall in Grand Traverse County

Airports

Grand Traverse County is served by Cherry Capital Airport, which is located near Traverse City. It serves the 21-county Northern Michigan area, and has destinations around the country. Below are the other airports in the county

All of these airports are unpaved, except for Cherry Capital.

Formerly, there was an airport on the south side of Traverse City called Ransom Field.[8] This was located on Rennie Hill. This airport closed sometime in 1969.[9]

Map of Grand Traverse County's highways

Major highways

The county contains about 103 miles (166 km), about 1.07% of the Michigan State Trunkline Highway System. These highways include the ones listed below.

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18601,286—
18704,443245.5%
18808,42289.6%
189013,35558.6%
190020,47953.3%
191023,78416.1%
192019,518−17.9%
193020,0112.5%
194023,39016.9%
195028,59822.3%
196033,49017.1%
197039,17517.0%
198054,89940.1%
199064,27317.1%
200077,65420.8%
201086,98612.0%
Est. 201892,573[10]6.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]
1790-1960[12] 1900-1990[13]
1990-2000[14] 2010-2018[2]

As of the census[15] of 2000, there were 77,654 people, 30,396 households, and 20,730 families residing in the county. The population density was 167 inhabitants per square mile (64/km2). There were 34,842 housing units at an average density of 75 per square mile (29/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.51% White, 0.40% Black or African American, 0.93% Native American, 0.49% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.54% from other races, and 1.09% from two or more races. 1.49% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 25.1% were of German, 11.3% English, 10.7% Irish, 8.4% American and 7.4% Polish ancestry, 96.4% spoke English and 1.6% Spanish as their first language.

There were 30,396 households out of which 32.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.70% were married couples living together, 9.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.80% were non-families. 25.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the county, the population was spread out with 25.40% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 29.70% from 25 to 44, 24.00% from 45 to 64, and 13.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $43,169, and the median income for a family was $51,211. Males had a median income of $34,796 versus $24,139 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,111. About 3.80% of families and 5.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.30% of those under age 18 and 5.90% of those age 65 or over.

Religion

Grand Traverse County is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Gaylord.[16]

Government

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. — are the responsibility of individual cities and townships.

Elected officials
  • Prosecuting Attorney: Noelle Moeggenberg
  • Sheriff: Thomas Bensley
  • County Clerk: Bonnie Scheele
  • County Treasurer: Heidi Scheppe
  • Register of Deeds: Peggy Haines
  • Drain Commissioner: Steve Largent
  • County Surveyor: Office dissolved in 2016
  • Chancellor of Mental Health: Graph McCain

(information as of March 2019)

Politics
Presidential election results
Presidential Elections Results[17]
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2016 52.7% 27,413 40.3% 20,965 6.9% 3,607
2012 55.1% 26,534 43.3% 20,875 1.6% 788
2008 50.6% 24,716 47.6% 23,258 1.8% 869
2004 59.4% 27,446 39.5% 18,256 1.1% 489
2000 58.5% 22,358 37.6% 14,371 3.9% 1,500
1996 49.1% 16,355 39.0% 12,987 12.0% 3,987
1992 39.6% 13,629 32.4% 11,148 28.1% 9,684
1988 62.5% 17,191 36.7% 10,098 0.9% 236
1984 70.8% 18,036 28.6% 7,271 0.6% 157
1980 58.6% 14,484 28.9% 7,150 12.4% 3,072
1976 63.9% 13,505 34.3% 7,263 1.8% 382
1972 64.8% 11,421 33.0% 5,810 2.2% 390
1968 61.5% 8,960 32.6% 4,741 6.0% 866
1964 45.3% 6,198 54.6% 7,475 0.2% 20
1960 63.7% 8,618 36.1% 4,886 0.3% 36
1956 73.5% 9,102 26.3% 3,256 0.2% 30
1952 77.1% 9,034 22.5% 2,639 0.3% 38
1948 68.3% 5,473 29.5% 2,365 2.2% 177
1944 67.0% 5,413 32.3% 2,607 0.7% 55
1940 64.3% 5,620 35.4% 3,095 0.3% 30
1936 46.1% 3,676 48.0% 3,827 6.0% 477
1932 45.7% 3,442 51.9% 3,907 2.4% 182
1928 74.6% 4,429 25.1% 1,489 0.4% 22
1924 74.9% 4,011 10.4% 558 14.7% 789
1920 74.0% 4,056 21.1% 1,158 4.8% 264
1916 45.8% 1,917 44.2% 1,848 10.0% 420
1912 23.3% 899 24.2% 937 52.5% 2,031
1908 65.9% 2,811 30.2% 1,289 3.9% 167
1904 81.4% 3,383 14.3% 594 4.3% 179
1900 68.4% 3,127 28.1% 1,286 3.5% 160
1896 57.2% 2,533 39.4% 1,745 3.4% 150
1892 54.7% 1,734 29.2% 924 16.2% 512
1888 63.1% 1,859 31.4% 925 5.5% 162
1884 64.6% 1,645 31.7% 808 3.7% 94

Grand Traverse County is a highly Republican county; it voted for the Republican candidate in almost every presidential election since the Civil War,[18] excluding only the Democratic landslides of 1964, 1936, 1932 and 1912.

In the 2008 presidential election, Republican candidate John McCain received 24,716 votes in the county (50.60% of the total) to Democrat candidate Barack Obama's 23,258 (47.62%), even as Obama carried the state of Michigan by a double-digit margin.[19] McCain's margin of victory in the county was narrower than usual for a Republican candidate.

In 2004, Republican president George W. Bush received 27,446 votes in the county (59.42%) to Democrat John Kerry's 18,256 (39.52%).[20]

In 2000, Bush received 22,358 votes in the county (58.48%) to Democrat Al Gore's 14,371 (37.59%).[21]

Education

Grand Traverse County has many schools. TCAPS is by far the most used school district in the area, with its headquarters in Traverse City. All of its schools are located within the county, although some of the district itself extends into nearby Kalkaska County, Benzie County, and Leelanau County. Other districts in the county are Forest Area, GTA, Benzie, and Elk Rapids. There are independent catholic schools in the county as well.

Economy

According to the Grand Traverse Economic Development Corporation, the largest employers in Grand Traverse County, as of 2017, are:[22]

# Employer # of full-time employees
1 Munson Healthcare 3100
2 Traverse City Area Public Schools 1800
3 Northwestern Michigan College 750
4 Grand Traverse Resort and Spa 550
5 Hagerty Insurance Agency 500
6 Grand Traverse County 500
7 Interlochen Center for the Arts 475
8 Grand Traverse Pavilions 415
9 Britten Banners 380
10 Tyson Foods 300
11 Cone Drive 250

Communities

City

Villages

Townships

Charter townships in italics.

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Ghost towns
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See also

References
  1. "Bibliography on Grand Traverse County". Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
  2. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved August 27, 2013.
  3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Government Printing Office. p. 141.
  5. "Michigan Historical Markers". michmarkers.com. Archived from the original on April 12, 2018. Retrieved January 9, 2008.
  6. "Old restaurant may take on new owners". Traverse City Record-Eagle. record-eagle.com. Archived from the original on July 12, 2012.
  7. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved September 21, 2014.
  8. "Timeline". Traverse Area Historical Society. August 4, 2016. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
  9. "Timeline". Traverse Area Historical Society. August 4, 2016. Retrieved March 2, 2018.
  10. "American FactFinder". Archived from the original on February 14, 2020. Retrieved April 19, 2019.
  11. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 21, 2014.
  12. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved September 21, 2014.
  13. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 21, 2014.
  14. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 21, 2014.
  15. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  16. "The Diocese of Gaylord, Michigan: A Diocese of the Roman Catholic Church - Diocese of Gaylord". dioceseofgaylord.org.
  17. http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS
  18. Menendez, Albert J. (2005). The Geography of Presidential Elections in the United States, 1868–2004. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company. pp. 222–227. ISBN 0786422173.
  19. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections - State Data". uselectionatlas.org.
  20. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections - State Data". uselectionatlas.org.
  21. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections - State Data". uselectionatlas.org.
  22. Grand Traverse Economic Development Corporation: Director's Report.

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