Situated on the southern shore of the West Arm of the Grand Traverse Bay, extending to the southwest shore of the East Arm of Grand Traverse Bay, Traverse City is the county seat of Grand Traverse County, Michigan.
A small portion of the city in the northwest extends into Leelanau County. Traverse City is the largest of the twenty-one counties in the Northern Michigan region.
US-31, M-22, M-37, and M-72 are the chief routes to and from the city.
Cities and villages within twenty-five miles include Lake Ann, Kingsley, Elk Rapids, Suttons Bay, Buckley, Fife Lake, Kalkaska, and Empire, while the unincorporated communities of Archie, Keystone, Greilickville, Crystal Spring, East Bay, Beitner, Chum's Corner, Acme, Grawn, and Yuba are within ten miles.
Traverse City and the surrounding region are known for cherry production. The area was the largest producer of tart cherries in the United States in 2010, and the city hosts the National Cherry Festival annually. The festival was founded as the Blessing of the Blossoms Festival in 1925 and was originally held in early May to take advantage of the cherry blossoms. However, the Michigan Legislature renamed the festival and moved the event to the summer in 1931.
The area is also recognized for viticulture and is a center for the production of wine in the Midwest.
Located near the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, as well as several freshwater beaches, ski areas, and forests, Traverse City attracts tourists and travelers throughout the year.
At various times before its settlement by European-Americans, the area was home to the Ojibwe, Ottawa, and Potawatomi people, who inhabited the area surrounding the Great Lakes. The Traverse City area was known to Native Americans as Kitchiwikwedongsing, which was sometimes shortened to Wequetong, which means "at the head of the bay," a reference to its position on Grand Traverse Bay.
The Grand Traverse Bay was named by 18th-century French explorers, who were referring to the long crossing across the mouth of the bay. The region was controlled by the French, followed by Great Britain, before the Americans gained control as a result of their success in the American Revolution.
William Boardman purchased land along what is now known as Boardman River in 1847 and his son, Captain Horace Boardman became the first American settler when he began logging on his father's land that same year. He and his father, along with a number of employees, build a home and a sawmill near the mouth of the river.
In 1851, Hannah, Lay & Company purchased the Boardman's sawmill. Under the management of Perry Hannah, Albert Tracy Lay, and James Morgan, the sawmill was improved. The expanded mill brought additional settlers to the area, and a community was formed.
The settlement was known as Wequetong until a post office was established on February 7, 1854, with Dr. David C. Goodale as postmaster. Prior to that time, the only post office in the Grand Traverse Bay region was at Old Mission, which was then known as Grand Traverse. The original plan was for the post office to be named Grand Traverse but, as another post office already had that name, Albert Lay, who had lobbied for the post office, agreed to use Traverse City as the name for the new office.
Traverse City was incorporated as a village in 1881, and became a city in 1895.
The Traverse City Railroad, a spur from the Grand Rapids & Indiana line, came through in late 1872, running along the Boardman River and Boardman Lake into Traverse City, where it terminated at a station along the Grand Traverse Bay. Boardman Lake is located partly in the southern part of Traverse City.
Later, the Chicago & West Michigan Railroad (Pere Marquette, Chesapeake & Ohio), and a third railroad came through. The Chicago & West Michigan came up from Grand Rapids through Baldwin and then headed east and north to Elk Rapids and Petoskey, while the third railroad, which had several owners over the years, including the Manistee & Northeastern, extended north from Traverse City into Leelanau County.
Ransom Field, the city's first airport, opened in 1929, offering flights to Grand Rapids. It closed when the new Traverse City Airport was opened in 1936. Ransom Field is now the grounds of Memorial Gardens Cemetery, while Traverse City Airport is now known as Cherry Capital Airport.
Traverse City is laid out in a grid pattern, with major streets running east-west and north-south, the latter being named for people, trees, and geographical locations, while the former are named for numbers and people.
Traverse City neighborhoods include Boardman, Central, Downtown, East Bay, Fernwood, Kids Creek Common, Midtown Centre Condominiums, Oak Park, Oakwood, Old Towne, Orchard Heights, Slabtown, and Traverse Heights.
Topics related to, or located in, Traverse City are the focus of this category.
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Recommended Resources
Representing a watercraft rental service in Traverse City, Michigan, the site includes a profile of the business, which rents jet skis, jet boats, water trampolines, pontoon boats, kayaks, and paddleboards. Details about its rental products, hourly rental costs, and online bookings are set forth, along with its rental policies, and links to area lodging facilities, fishing charters, boat and RV storage, and restaurants. With several rental locations, its equipment is available for delivery.
https://www.bluesky-tvc.com/
Opened in 1936 as Traverse City Airport, the public-use airport is situated two nautical miles southeast of the Traverse City, Michigan business district. The airlines operating out of the airport are featured, arrivals and departures are announced, and a flight tracker and air traffic map are included. Other resources include airport security and travel tips, a parking map and directions, and an overview of the airport facilities. TSA PreCheck sessions are scheduled on the site.
https://tvcairport.com/
The largest city in the Northern Michigan region of the Lower Peninsula, Traverse City is the county seat of Grand Traverse County. The official municipal website publishes reports and information about active projects of the city, its master plan, meeting schedules, agendas, minutes, and other meeting materials, maps, and other reports. Recreational opportunities within the city are highlighted, and contacts for city departments and administrative offices are included.
https://www.traversecitymi.gov/
Located on the campus of Northwestern Michigan College in Traverse City, Michigan, the fine art museum and cultural center is known for its collection of Inuit art. An overview of its collections, upcoming exhibits, educational programs, community programs, and other events are discussed, and its submission guidelines for exhibition inquiries are determined. The facility's history, location, hours of operation, memberships, and an online shopping area are included.
https://www.dennosmuseum.org/
Downtown TC offers a guide to the Traverse City, Michigan region, including local shopping venues, places to eat or drink, and services, as well as local events, and other businesses. Sponsorship and volunteer opportunities are highlighted, and gift certificates may be purchased online or at the TC offices. A map of the downtown area is provided, showing parking areas, and the location of public restrooms. Membership information, job listings, office hours, and contacts are provided.
https://www.downtowntc.com/
Land Information Access Association
Founded in 1993, and based in Traverse City, Michigan, the LIAA offers a range of community planning services, particularly in multi-jurisdictional planning, as well as a range of media production and editing services, website design, graphic design, and web hosting services, data mapping and geographic information systems (GIS), and other support services to municipal governments and non-profit organizations. Its staff, board of directors, and contacts are posted.
https://www.liaa.org/
Owned by Dow Jones & Company, the daily morning newspaper, and newspaper of record for Grand Traverse County, is based in Traverse City, Michigan. Access to the content of the e-edition of the publication requires the purchase of a subscription, day pass, or individual article, which may be accomplished online. However, local events and celebrations, obituaries, opinion columns, and public notices may be viewed online, along with selected content, including videos.
https://www.record-eagle.com/
Created in 1981 at the Traverse City Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, TCT is a non-profit corporation serving as the official destination marketing organization for the Traverse City, Michigan area. Its website offers a guide to attractions, events, shopping venues, tours, and other services within the city, as well as ecotourism-responsible outdoor adventures, restaurants, guest lodging facilities, and meeting venues. A free printed visitor's guide is available on request.
https://www.traversecity.com/