Williamsburg, Michigan

Williamsburg is an unincorporated community in the northwestern Lower Peninsula of Michigan. It is located in central Whitewater Township, which is part of Grand Traverse County. M-72 runs directly through the town.

Williamsburg, Michigan
Unincorporated community
Sign on eastbound M-72 (March 2018)
Williamsburg
Location within the state of Michigan
Coordinates: 44°46′25″N 85°24′14″W
CountryUnited States
StateMichigan
CountyGrand Traverse
TownshipWhitewater
Founded1810
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code(s)
49690
Area code(s)231

History

There is evidence that three different cultures of people have lived in this area since 10,500 BC, especially on Skegemog Point in Lake Skegemog and Elk Lake. Records show that a branch of the Algonquin people, known as the Mascoutin, lived in the area until around 1630s. The Ottawa and Chippewa peoples came in after this, until the early 1800s, when white settlers moved in, calling their new settlement Dunbar. It was later renamed to Williamsburgh, and soon after the "h" was removed.[1]

In 1973, many sinkholes opened up around the town due to natural gas leaks.[2]

There has been a recent proposal to incorporate the town into a village, as it once was.

Geography

Williamsburg is located at the top of the Skegemog Valley, a depression between here and Kalkaska County, caused by Lake Skegemog, approximately 4.7 mi (7.6 km) northeast of Williamsburg. The town is situated on Williamsburg Creek, which flows into Elk Lake.[3].

Williamsburg sits between the Traverse City State Forest, Elk Lake and Grand Traverse Bay. This area is a hotspot for cherry growers.

The town is located about halfway between Traverse City and Kalkaska on M-72.

Transportation
  • M-72 runs east-west directly through the down, providing access to Traverse City and Kalkaska. Old M-72 also serves as a Main Street in the northern section of the town.
  • CR 605 runs north-south through the town as Elk Lake Road and Williamsburg Road, providing access to Fife Lake and Elk Rapids.

See also

References
  1. "History: Whitewater Township". Whitewater Township Historical Society. Retrieved 2017-11-19.
  2. "Natural gas leak nearly destroyed Michigan village this week in 1973". MLive. Booth Newspapers. Retrieved 2018-03-19.
  3. Grand Traverse County Map
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