|
|
|
|
Traverse City, Michigan
|
| |
|
| |
Traverse City is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is the county seat of Grand Traverse County, although a small portion extends into Leelanau County. It is the largest city in the 21-county Northern Michigan region. The population was 14,532 at the 2000 census. In 2007, the Traverse City micropolitan area was estimated to have a population of 142,075. Despite its modest population, Traverse City, especially its , functions as the major commercial nexus for a seven-county area totaling over and, along with cross-peninsula counterpart Alpena, is one of Northern Lower Michigan's two anchor cities.
Traverse City is the self-proclaimed "Cherry Capital of the World," holding an annual week-long Cherry Festival the first full week in July to celebrate.
Discussion
Ask a question about 'Traverse City, Michigan' Start a new discussion about 'Traverse City, Michigan' Answer questions from other users |
Encyclopedia
Traverse City is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is the county seat of Grand Traverse County, although a small portion extends into Leelanau County. It is the largest city in the 21-county Northern Michigan region. The population was 14,532 at the 2000 census. In 2007, the Traverse City micropolitan area was estimated to have a population of 142,075. Despite its modest population, Traverse City, especially its , functions as the major commercial nexus for a seven-county area totaling over and, along with cross-peninsula counterpart Alpena, is one of Northern Lower Michigan's two anchor cities.
Traverse City is the self-proclaimed "Cherry Capital of the World," holding an annual week-long Cherry Festival the first full week in July to celebrate. Besides cherries, the surrounding Tuscany-like countryside produces grapes, and is one of the centers of wine production in the Midwest. Tourism, both summer and winter, is another key industry. Freshwater beaches, a mild summer climate, upscale golf resorts, vineyards, a nearby National Lakeshore, prodigious snowfall, nearby ski resorts and thousands of square miles of surrounding forests make Traverse City (based on AAA's 2005 TripTik requests) the second most popular tourist destination in the state behind Mackinaw City. In addition, the historic downtown area of Traverse City is the home of many shops, restaurants, and offices. Traverse City is a home rule charter city under the Home Rule Cities Act, incorporated on May 18 1895. The city is governed by six commissioners and a mayor, elected at-large. Together they comprise a seven-member legislative body. An appointed city manager serves as chief executive for city operations.
History
Traverse City is named after the Grand Traverse Bay, which the city heads. The bay earned its name from 18th century French voyagers who made la grande traverse or "the long crossing" across the mouth of the bay
In 1847, Captain Boardman of Naperville, Illinois, purchased the land at the mouth of the Boardman River at the head of the west arm of the bay. During that year the captain, his son, and their employees built a dwelling and sawmill near the mouth of the river. In 1851 the Boardmans sold the sawmill to Hannah, Lay & Co (Perry Hannah, Albert Tracy Lay and James Morgan), who improved the mill greatly. The increased investment in the mill attracted additional settlers to the new community.
As of 1853, the only operating post office in the Grand Traverse Bay region was the one located at Old Mission, which was then known as "Grand Traverse." While in Washington, D.C. in 1852, Mr. Lay had succeeded in getting the U.S. Post Office to authorize a new post office at his newer settlement. As the newer settlement had become known as "Grand Traverse City," Lay proposed this name for its post office, but the USPS clerk suggested dropping the "Grand," in the name, as to limit confusion between this new office and the one at nearby Old Mission. Mr. Lay agreed to the name "Traverse City" for the post office, and the village took on this name.
Climate
Traverse City has the typical northern Michigan climate: Cold winters and warm summers. Traverse City can have snowfall as late as May or as early as September. Traverse City's record high temperature is , and its record low temperature is , on February 17, 1979. Traverse City also gets a lot of lake-effect snow.
Geography
The city sits at the head of Grand Traverse Bay, a long protected water of Lake Michigan. The city sits at the base of the Leelanau and Old Mission Peninsulas. The Boardman River forms Boardman Lake in the city before draining into the Bay.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.7 square miles (22.5 kmē), of which, 8.4 square miles (21.8 kmē) of it is land and 0.3 square miles (0.8 kmē) of it (3.45%) is water.
It is considered to be part of Northern Michigan.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 14,532 people, 6,443 households, and 3,485 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,728.7 per square mile (667.2/kmē). There were 6,842 housing units at an average density of 813.9/sq mi (314.1/kmē). The racial makeup of the city was 96.00% White, 0.65% African American, 0.98% Native American, 0.50% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.48% from other races, and 1.36% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.67% of the population.
| White | Black | Other |
|---|
| 96.00% | 0.65% | 3.35% |
There were 6,443 households out of which 24.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.7% were married couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 45.9% were non-families. 35.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.15 and the average family size was 2.82.
In the city the population was spread out with 20.3% under the age of 18, 10.8% from 18 to 24, 29.6% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 15.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 90.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $37,330, and the median income for a family was $46,912. Males had a median income of $31,587 versus $22,512 for females. The per capita income for the city was $22,247. About 4.8% of families and 8.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.2% of those under age 18 and 7.9% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Media
Print
The Traverse City Record-Eagle is northwest lower Michigan's daily newspaper. It is circulated in the thirteen counties surrounding the city. In December 2006 it was sold by Ottaway Newspapers Inc., the community newspaper subsidiary of Dow Jones & Company to Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc. (CNHI). It is the newspaper of record for Grand Traverse County.
Daily editions of the Detroit Free Press, Detroit News, and Grand Rapids Press also are available on news stands throughout the region (Northern Express Weekly) is the largest weekly newspaper in Northern Michigan, with distribution of up to 30,000 copies in 13 counties. It is owned and published by George Foster and Robert Downes.
The Grand Traverse Area's only women's magazine Grand Traverse Woman Magazine serves women who live, work and play in Northern Michigan. ]
The Northern Michigan Men's Magazine has content for both men and women and is distributed free throughout the region to its 25,000 readers monthly.
The Traverse City Business News, a monthly newspaper and news email service, serves readers throughout the Grand Traverse region.
Traverse, a monthly covers nature, food, events, restaurants, recreation and lifestyle in Northern Michigan.
At least seven national magazines are published in Traverse City, including Thirdeye Magazine, a bi-monthly periodical focusing on social and political issues as well as art, and Traverse, published monthly with a focus on regional interests. Village Press Inc. is based in Traverse City. It publishes the Home Shop Machinist, Live Steam and Outdoor Railroading, Machinists' Workshop, Just Labs, Pointing Dog Journal, Retriever Journal and Twin and Turbine Magazines.
Television
Traverse City is the largest city in the Traverse City-Cadillac-Sault Ste. Marie Designated Market Area, the largest television market in area east of the Mississippi River. Accordingly, most stations in this vast region are broadcasted simultaneously on widely-spaced transmitters on separate channels.
Traverse City has two television stations licensed directly to the city:
- Channel 7: WPBN-TV "TV 7&4" (NBC) (simulcasted on channel 4, Cheboygan)
- Channel 29: WGTU "ABC 29&8" (ABC) (simulcasted on channel 8, Sault Ste. Marie)
Additionally, WGTU operates a CW Plus station on its second digital subchannel and Northern Michigan cable television systems:
- Channel 61: WGTU-DT2 "Northern Michigan's CW" (The CW)
The city also has a low power rebroadcast transmitter of Mount Pleasant's PBS affiliate, WCMU-TV, operating on channel 46 (W46AD).
Stations licensed to nearby Cadillac are considered local to Traverse City:
- Channel 9: WWTV "9 & 10 News" (CBS) (simulcasted on channel 10, Sault Ste. Marie)
- Channel 33: WFQX-TV "Fox 33" (Fox)
Fox's sister network, MyNetworkTV, did not have an affiliate in the region when it launched back in September 2006. That changed at some point in 2008 when WLLZ-LP channel 12 added the network. This station also airs programming from America One and The Sportsman Channel.
Cable television service is provided within Traverse City and many outlying communities by Charter Communications. Public access programming is provided on channel 2.
Radio
The Traverse City area is the primary target of nearby Interlochen Center for the Arts's NPR member station Interlochen Public Radio. IPR is one of the largest and furthest-broadcasting stations with a town the size of Traverse City's as its base; it serves a large portion of Northwest Lower Michigan via two stations:
- IPR Music Radio (WIAA-FM 88.7)
- IPR News Radio (WICA-FM 91.5)
Northwestern Michigan College also boasts a volunteer community radio station, WNMC-FM 90.7. The station plays mostly jazz and blues during the day, switching to rock and electronic genres at night. The station manager is Eric Hines. Also on WNMC is the community radio program Radio Anyway, where individuals can produce their own stories and features.
Tourism
The National Cherry Festival, held during the first full week of July every year, is the main tourist draw to Traverse City. The festival features parades, fireworks, live music, and cherries. It is estimated that the Grand Traverse region produces up to 360,000,000 pounds of cherries annually. The largest variety of cherry produced is the Montmorency cherry, or the "pie cherry". Other cherries grown in the region include the Ulster, or sweet cherry, and the Balaton (from Lake Balaton in Hungary), a cherry situated between the Montmorency and Ulster in terms of color and taste.
Traverse City is also a popular destination for boating, sailing, kayaking, wine tasting, and tourists wishing to see autumn colors in bus-driven "color tours." Numerous golf and ski resorts nearby bring in large numbers of tourists. Among these are Mt. Holiday and Hickory Hills. Mt. Holiday has two chair lifts, while Hickory hosts only tow ropes.
The locale and topography is conducive for bicycling. A map with routes, different trips, advice and local knowledge is available.
The Old Mission Peninsula is a great place to sea kayak. One gets close to shore, lighthouse, picnic grounds and parks. The bay offers a shelter from the prevailing westerly winds and from the Lake Michigan waves. Maps, rentals and guided tours are available.
The small Traverse City State Park, with about 250 campsites, is located some three miles (4.8 km) east of downtown on 47 acres (19 hectares) including a quarter mile beach on the East Bay arm of Grand Traverse Bay.
The Leelanau Peninsula north of Traverse City contains many attractions and areas of interest, including the Leelanau Sands Casino in Peshawbestown, Fountain Point and the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.
The inaugural Traverse City Film Festival was held July 27–31, 2005, in venues around downtown Traverse City, including a theater renovated by film festival volunteers. First-run feature and documentaries were screened, panel discussions were planned and free family movies at the Open Space were scheduled. A driving force of the Traverse City Film Festival is Oscar-winning filmmaker Michael Moore. The following two years have seen a significant increase in the popularity of the film festival.
The city was also home to Clover, a Christian dance music festival, in August 2006.
The city is also home to , a Native American run casino with hotel.
Interlochen, a small town about 19 miles from Traverse City, is the home to the world-famous Interlochen Arts Academy, which many celebrities have attended. The town is mainly forest, with a few lakes. A variety of activities such as color-tours, White-Tail deer hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, biking, boating, scenic drives, sunsets, bird-watching, swimming, diving, snorkeling and others are possible.
Psycho Path was named the wackiest street name according to a 2006 poll by Car Connection website.
Shopping
Traverse City's central business district is located along Front Street downtown. Another major shopping district is on US-31 southwest of town, where several big box stores are located, as well as two shopping malls: the Grand Traverse Mall, anchored by Target, JCPenney, Macy's and TJ Maxx, and the Horizon Outlets, a factory outlet center. Another mall, Cherryland Center, is located on Garfield Avenue on the south end of town; this mall features Kmart, Younkers, and Sears.
Professional sports
Traverse City is home to a minor league baseball team, the Traverse City Beach Bums, who play at Wuerfel Park. The Beach Bums are a member of the independent Frontier League. The Traverse City North Stars are Junior "A" level hockey club (member of the North American Hockey League), and they play at the hockey arena. Traverse City also hosts the training camp for the Detroit Red Wings NHL hockey team. Traverse City is the home of the , established in 1973.
Arts and culture
The Interlochen Arts Festival, held at various venues at the campus of the Interlochen Center for the Arts, features concerts, plays, art exhibits, readings, and dance productions by students and guest artists. The Arts festival has both a summer and winter series.
The Traverse City Film Festival, founded by Michael Moore, takes place every summer. The five day event showcases notable rare independent films and documentaries, as well as discussion boards with directors, actors and others involved with the film industry. In 2007, the film festival acquired the historic State Theater, which it fully restored, re-opening on November 17, 2007 for year round screenings.
The beginning of fall brings about the , a city-wide festival with events designed to stimulate all five of the senses. The festival features art exhibitions, music and theater. A centerpiece of the festival is the , an event which includes classes, wine and cheese tasting, dinner and the opportunity to mingle with some of Americas most influential chefs, wine experts and cookbook authors.
The City Opera House, located in downtown Traverse City features plays, movies, and other performances.
The Dennos Museum Center, located on the campus of Northwestern Michigan College, is home to a collection of Inuit art including sculpture, drawing and prints. The center is also home to a childrens museum, as well as various ongoing exhibitions in their large exhibition space.
Two major arts groups are active in Traverse City. The offers art classes, a small exhibition space, and year-round member art shows. The Traverse City is a member-based arts group, founded by local artist Charly Hansen in 2005. The goal of the Art Works Alliance is to organize events and shows which feature the talents of the regions artists.
Traverse City is also home to many notable and eclectic galleries. , located in the recently restored Building 50 of the former Traverse City State Hospital, highlights the work of many new and emerging artists from across North America. The , located in Traverse Citys warehouse district, focuses on Midwest urban, underground and Lowbrow art, as well as having an excellent venue for film and musical performances. Located in downtown Traverse City, the showcases more contemporary art work, including glass and metal work, fine art, pottery, and more.
Historical markers
There are thirteen recognized Michigan historical markers in Traverse City. They are:
Transportation
Planes
Ships and boats
- Adjacent to the airport is Coast Guard Air Station Traverse City , responsible for both maritime and land-based search and rescue operations in the northern Great Lakes region.
- Located in the harbor of the Great Lakes Maritime Academy is the T/S State of Michigan, a 224' former Navy submarine surveillance vessel. The vessel is used as a classroom and laboratory while cadets of the Academy are underway and shore side.
- A tall ship, the Schooner Manitou is berthed at Traverse City, and offers passages to the public.
- Near Traverse City are two other tall ships, the Schooner Madeline and the long replica of the sloop Welcome, an 18th century British warship) sloop, which was built for the 1976 Bicentennial of the American Revolution. They are the only two boats recognized by the State of Michigan for their Historic Significance. From May through October, trained volunteers conduct tours (when in port), and give a history of the boats and Great Lakes sailing. The Madeline is berthed at Elmwood Township "Coal Dock" (Heritage Harbor) - West Bayshore, just south of the Elmwood Township Marina Both are maintained by the Maritime Heritage Alliance.
- The Nauticat, a 43 passenger catamaran books passages on Grand Traverse bay.
Public transportation
Traverse City also has a public transportation system, the (BATA) which serves most of the Grand Traverse region with dial-a-ride services and a bus service, called the Cherriot, serves Traverse City and the urbanized areas of Garfield Township. BATA recently revealed its first hybrid bus in December, 2005. BATA recently completed a downtown bus transfer terminal on Hall St. , which opened July 21, 2006. The terminal is used to transfer riders to different buses on different routes.
Major highways
| | US-31 runs for in a northerly direction from the Indiana-Michigan state line southwest of Niles to its terminus at I-75 south of Mackinaw City. From Traverse City, it runs west across the base of the Leelanau peninsula to Benzonia before continuing south to Muskegon and other points on the Lake Michigan shore. Northwards, it continues along the east shore of Grand Traverse Bay to Charlevoix and Petoskey, ending just before reaching Mackinaw City and the Mackinac Bridge. | | | M-22 follows the Lake Michigan shoreline around the Leelanau Peninsula, providing a scenic drive. | | | M-37 runs almost due south through the Manistee National Forest to Grand Rapids. It continues north up Old Mission Peninsula to end at Old Mission Point in the middle of Grand Traverse Bay. | | | M-72 passes east-west through the city and is one of three true highways that crosses the lower peninsula from Lake Michigan to Lake Huron. M-72 connects with Empire and the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore west and with US-131, east in Kalkaska. |
Railroads
The Tuscola and Saginaw Bay Railway (TSBY) provides freight rail service to the Traverse City area on track owned by the state of Michigan. The tracks were once owned by the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway (ex-Pere Marquette Railway) and the Pennsylvania Railroad (ex-Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad) but were purchased by the state in the late 1970s and early 1980s to preserve rail service in the area. Current freight traffic includes fruit/perishables, scrap metal, and lumber.
Regular intercity passenger train service ended on October 29, 1966, after the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway (C&O) discontinued Grand Rapids - Traverse City - Bay View service. Since then, excursion passengers trains have operated in and out of Traverse City on an irregular basis. Recently, Lake Central Rail Tours has operated a summer excursion during the Cherry Festival. On May 11, 1996, the Grand Traverse Dinner Train began year round service from the Traverse City depot to Williamsburg and to Walton Junction. Unfortunately, dinner train service was suspended in 2004 after a derailment and the company entered into a bitter contract dispute with the Tuscola and Saginaw Bay Railway. The train itself was removed to Owosso in mid-July 2006.
Other affiliations
Notable people
Traverse City is the birthplace of several celebrities:
- Mark Brammer, Michigan State University football player who received the All-America accolade in 1978 and later played in the NFL.
- Jeremy Davies, an actor featured in Saving Private Ryan, Solaris, and CQ.
- Dan Majerle, former NBA basketball player who played for the Phoenix Suns, Miami Heat and the Cleveland Cavaliers
- William G. Milliken, Republican Governor of Michigan from 1969 to 1983
- Matt Noveskey, musician in the bands Blue October and (a+) machines.
- Kenny Olson, guitarist for the pop music artist Kid Rock
- Carter Oosterhouse, carpenter on reality TV show Trading Spaces
- Martha Teichner, CBS News correspondent
- Craig Thompson, cartoonist and graphic novelist best known for Blankets
- Barry Watson, an actor whose credits include the television programs 7th Heaven and Samantha Who?
- David Wayne, Hollywood film and Broadway theatre actor
- posthumous Medal of Honor winner Demas T. Craw
It also is, or has been, the residence of:
- Dallas Drake, recently retired NHL player played who last played for the Detroit Red Wings. Previously, Drake played for the Winnipeg Jets/Phoenix Coyotes, and St. Louis Blues.
- Composer and producer Jeff Gibbs, "Fahrenheit 9/11" and "Bowling for Columbine," has a residence in Traverse City.
- Documentary Filmmaker and Traverse City Film Festival founder Michael Moore, lives near Traverse City. Mr. Moore also reopened and renovated the historic State Theater in downtown Traverse City.
- Human Rights Commissioner, global environmental advocate/consultant, and founder of "We Are Traverse City," M'Lynn Hartwell, has a residence here. Rev. Hartwell was a recipient of the NMEAC Environmentalist of the Year award in 2008.
- Robert P. Griffin, Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court from 1987 to 1994; United States Senator from 1966 to 1979; Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1957 to 1966. The Grand Traverse County Robert P. Griffin Hall of Justice was dedicated in his honor on November 13, 2006.
- Jazz musician Bob James, who created the instrumental theme song Angela for the sitcom Taxi and has been sampled by numerous hip-hop artists, is a resident of Traverse City.
- Although not a resident, the singer-songwriter Jewel performed in Traverse City's coffeehouses during the time she attended high school at the nearby Interlochen Center for the Arts.
- Wendy Judson, President/General Manager of Cherry Central/Ocean Spray Co. has a house in Traverse City
- Doug Mirabelli, MLB baseball player who played for the Boston Red Sox, San Diego Padres, Texas Rangers and the San Francisco Giants
- Bernard F. ("Bunnie") Oakes, head football coach at the University of Colorado at Boulder from 1935 to 1939, who during that period compiled a 25-15-1 (.622) record.
- Pat Paulsen, Actor/comedian, owner of the Cherry County Playhouse theater during the 1970s
- Suzy Merchant, basketball coach coaches for Michigan State University women's basketball.
See also
Further reading
- Bogue, Margaret. Around the Shores of Lake Michigan: A Guide to Historic Sites. Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin Press, 1985.
- Reed, Earl H. The Dune Country. Berrien Springs, MI: Hardscrabble Books, 1979. Reprint of 1916 Edition.
- Ruchhoft, Robert H. Exploring North Manitou, South Manitou, High and Garden Islands of the Lake Michigan Archipelago. Cincinnati, OH: Pucelle Press, 1991.
- Wood, Mable C. Scooterville, U.S.A. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1962.
External links
|
| |
|
|
