92-529: Grand Traverse Bay ( / ˈ t r æ v ər s / TRAV -ərss ) is an arm of Lake Michigan , located along the west coast of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan . The bay is separated from the rest of Lake Michigan by the Leelanau Peninsula . The bay is some 32 miles (51 km) long, ranges from 7 to 10 miles (11 to 16 km) wide, and up to 620 feet (190 m) deep in spots. It is
184-409: A mastodon with a spear in its side. Confirmation that the markings are an ancient petroglyph will require more evidence. The stone can be seen in a TV documentary, and is pictured on page 9 of New Scientist Magazine of July 19, 2008. The Grand Traverse Bay is home to the following shipwrecks: Lake Michigan Lake Michigan ( / ˈ m ɪ ʃ ɪ ɡ ən / MISH -ig-ən )
276-584: A village . This began the major commercial growth of the town. In 1890, another rail line was extended to Traverse City, this one from Baldwin via Copemish and Interlochen . This line primarily served lumber companies, such as the Buckley & Douglas Lumber Company, and was used to transport logs from the vast forest of Northwest Michigan to sawmills in Manistee and Traverse City. Two years later, new railroads were extended out of Traverse City. One line
368-533: A bird rookery, and is sometimes locally called Gull Island . There are several marinas on the bay, including the large marinas in Northport , Greilickville , Traverse City , and Elk Rapids . The Grand Traverse Bay is divided by the Old Mission Peninsula into two arms: The East Arm of Grand Traverse Bay (colloquially known as "East Bay") is the deeper of the two arms. The arm is flanked to
460-581: A central government until 1851, when it was reorganized as Grand Traverse County . The newly designated county government was assigned a county seat at Boardman's Mills , a location in present-day downtown Traverse City. 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
552-575: A designated scenic road system, connects all of the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River. The lake is a great place to view ice volcanoes, which typically occur at the start of the winter season. Traverse City, Michigan Traverse City ( / ˈ t r æ v ər s / TRAV -ərss ) is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan . It is the county seat of Grand Traverse County , although it partly extends into Leelanau County . The population
644-513: A federally protected sand dune on Lake Michigan, is located about 20 miles (32 km) west-northwest of Traverse City, in the southwest of Leelanau County. Traverse City is laid out in a grid plan , with major streets running east–west and north–south. The tallest building, at 10 stories, is the Park Place Hotel . The City of Traverse City officially recognizes the following neighborhood associations : The city also recognizes
736-494: A few years prior in 1951. The former high school building was converted to Traverse City Junior High. In 1997, the high school split into Traverse City Central and Traverse City West High Schools due to extreme overcrowding at the 1960s building. In 1989, the Traverse City State Hospital closed, leaving hundreds without jobs, massive abandoned buildings, and many homeless former patients. Since 2000,
828-678: A line of waterways leading from the Saint Lawrence River to the Mississippi River and thence to the Gulf of Mexico . French coureurs des bois and voyageurs established small ports and trading communities, such as Green Bay, on the lake during the late 17th and early 18th centuries. In the 19th century, Lake Michigan was integral to the development of Chicago and the Midwestern United States west of
920-472: A peninsula, and dividing it from the Grandview Parkway . The river terminates at Grand Traverse Bay northeast of downtown Traverse City. The river's 287-square-mile (740 km ) watershed contributes one-third of the water volume to the bay and is one of Michigan's top-ten fisheries, with more than 36 miles (58 km) of its 179 miles (288 km) designated as a Blue Ribbon trout fishery. It
1012-509: A pie-eating contest, and cherries. The Traverse City Film Festival was held in July and August from 2005 to 2019. The Great Lakes Equestrian Festival features jumping, show hunting and equestrian competitions. Traverse City State Park , with about 250 campsites, is located east of the city, and features a beach on the East Bay arm of Grand Traverse Bay. The Boardman River Nature Center
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#17327650573771104-466: A point between Milwaukee and Racine to a point between Grand Haven and Muskegon, divides the lake into northern and southern basins. Each basin has a clockwise flow of water, deriving from rivers and winds. Prevailing westerly winds tend to move the surface water toward the east, producing a moderating effect on the climate of western Michigan. There is a mean difference in summer water temperatures of 5 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit (2 to 5 degrees Celsius) between
1196-600: A prominent Michigan Republican , used his political influence to secure its location in Traverse City. Under the supervision of prominent architect Gordon W. Lloyd , the first building, known as Building 50, was constructed in Victorian - Italianate style according to the Kirkbride Plan . The hospital opened in 1885 with 43 residents. Under Dr. James Decker Munson, the first superintendent from 1885 to 1924,
1288-498: A result of improvements to the Welland Canal in 1918, an invasion of sea lampreys and overharvesting , there has been a decline in native lake trout populations, ultimately causing an increase in the population of another invasive species, the alewife . As a result, salmonids, including various strains of brown trout , steelhead ( rainbow trout ), coho and chinook salmon , were introduced as predators in order to decrease
1380-530: A row in 2020. Lake levels tend to be the lowest in winter. The normal low-water mark is 1.00 foot (30 cm) below datum ( 577.5 ft or 176.0 m ). In the winter of 1964, Lakes Michigan and Huron reached their lowest level at 1.38 feet (42 cm) below datum. As with the high-water records, monthly low-water records were set each month from February 1964 through January 1965. During this twelve-month period, water levels ranged from 1.38 to 0.71 feet (42–22 cm) below Chart Datum. The all-time low-water mark
1472-421: A small portion of the city extends northwesterly into Leelanau County. This portion was annexed by the city in 1989. Traverse City is located in the northwest of Michigan's Lower Peninsula , and is located at the head of Grand Traverse Bay, a long, natural harbor separated from the waters of Lake Michigan by the Leelanau Peninsula . The bay is divided into an East Arm and West Arm by the Old Mission Peninsula ,
1564-478: A spring festival. Also in 1925, Munson Medical Center opened, and has since grown to serve much of Northern Michigan and serves as one of Traverse City's largest employers. In 1929, Traverse City's first airport, Ransom Field, opened, offering flights to Grand Rapids . It closed in 1936, when the new Traverse City Airport (now called Cherry Capital Airport ) was opened. In 1953 the grounds of Ransom Field were redeveloped as Memorial Gardens Cemetery. In 1934,
1656-497: A thin strip of rolling hills and farmland known for its cherry crop and viticulture industry. As Traverse City contains shores on both of Grand Traverse Bay's East and West Arms, one cannot access the Old Mission Peninsula without entering Traverse City. The Boardman River is a prominent river bisecting Traverse City from south to north. It also snakes through Traverse City's downtown district, effectively forming
1748-683: Is 105 °F (41 °C ), recorded in 1936, and its low temperature is −37 °F (−38 °C), recorded on February 17, 1979. - Of Traverse City's 15,678 residents in 2020, 15,341 lived in Grand Traverse County, with 337 (about 2.1%) in Leelanau County. Traverse City is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Gaylord . The city is part of the Episcopal Diocese of the Great Lakes and
1840-430: Is 46 fathoms 3 feet (279 ft; 85 m), while its greatest depth is 153 fathoms 5 feet (923 ft; 281 m). It contains a volume of 1,183 cubic miles (4,932 km ) of water. Green Bay in the northwest is its largest bay. Grand Traverse Bay in its northeast is another large bay. Lake Michigan's deepest region, which lies in its northern half, is called Chippewa Basin (named after prehistoric Lake Chippewa ) and
1932-470: Is a part of the 37th senate district . Companies headquartered in Traverse City include Hagerty Insurance Agency and Oilgear , and 20Fathoms, a technology incubator, is there. Most of Traverse City's economy is based on tourism. In November, Beer Week offers tours of breweries, samplings, and workshops. The National Cherry Festival , held annually in July, features parades, fireworks, an air show, carnival rides, election of festival royalty, music,
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#17327650573772024-590: Is about 10 mi (16 km) long and 4 miles (6.4 km) wide. Northport Bay open to the east, except inside the arms at each end, with the Leelanau Peninsula on the West side. There are several shoals in Northport Bay marked by buoys. Bellow Island , a low gravel island covered by shrubs and located near the middle of Northport Bay, is owned by the Nature Conservancy ; it is primarily known as
2116-752: Is also a state-designated "Natural River". As of 2023, only one of the five dams constructed on the Boardman River remains. Traverse City is surrounded by a substantial suburban ring, especially within Garfield Township , to its southwest. Garfield Township is the largest municipality in Northern Michigan by population. Other adjacent townships, East Bay , Elmwood , and Peninsula , and nearby Blair and Long Lake townships, boast significant suburban populations dependent upon Traverse City. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore ,
2208-547: Is also known for its wine production . Two American Viticultural Areas are adjacent to the city. Traverse City is home to the Traverse City State Hospital , a former state psychiatric institution , and Coast Guard Air Station Traverse City . Prior to European settlement, what is now Traverse City was part of the territory of the Council of Three Fires , an alliance of three Anishinaabe tribes,
2300-639: Is attached at its base to Traverse City. The city borders four townships– East Bay , Elmwood , Garfield , and Peninsula –all of which contain substantial suburban sprawl. Traverse City is nicknamed "the Cherry Capital of the World", as the area surrounding Grand Traverse Bay is a hotspot for cherry production . The city hosts the National Cherry Festival , attracting approximately 500,000 visitors annually. The Traverse City area
2392-805: Is controlled by the locks operated by the bi-national Lake Superior Board of Control . Lake Michigan is the only Great Lake that is wholly within the borders of the United States; the others are shared with Canada. Lake Michigan has a surface area of 22,404 sq mi (58,030 km ); (13,237 square miles (34,280 km ) lying in Michigan, 7,358 square miles (19,060 km ) in Wisconsin, 234 square miles (610 km ) in Indiana, & 1,576 square miles (4,080 km ) in Illinois) making it
2484-706: Is in Michigan's 1st congressional district , represented by Jack Bergman ( R – Watersmeet ). Like the rest of Michigan, it is served by Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters (both Democratic ) in the United States Senate . It is represented in the Michigan House of Representatives by Betsy Coffia (D–Traverse City), and is a part of the 103rd district . It is represented in the Michigan Senate by John Damoose ( R – Harbor Springs ) and
2576-627: Is located within parts of the Michigan counties of Antrim , Charlevoix , Grand Traverse , and Leelanau . Grand Traverse Bay earned its name from 18th-century French voyageurs who made la grande traverse , or "the long crossing", across the mouth of bay. The area was owned by the French, followed by Great Britain as the Province of Quebec . After 1776, the area was owned by the Americans. On Old Mission peninsula, Rev Peter Dougherty started
2668-447: Is one of the five Great Lakes of North America . It is the second-largest of the Great Lakes by volume (1,180 cu mi (4,900 km )) and depth (923 ft (281 m)) after Lake Superior and the third-largest by surface area (22,405 sq mi (58,030 km )), after Lake Superior and Lake Huron . To the east, its basin is conjoined with that of Lake Huron through the wide and deep Straits of Mackinac , giving it
2760-564: Is separated from South Chippewa Basin by a relatively shallower area called the Mid Lake Plateau. In the mid 20th century, construction of the Saint Lawrence Seaway and Great Lakes Waterway opened the Great Lakes to ocean-going vessels. But the wider ocean-going container ships that were developed later do not fit through the locks on these routes, which limits shipping on the lakes. Lake freighters are used on
2852-651: Is served by Grace Episcopal Church . 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 compose a seven-member legislative body. The commission appoints a city manager who serves as chief executive for city operations. As of 2023, the city commission consists of mayor Amy Shamroe, mayor pro tem Mark Wilson, and commissioners Jackie Anderson, Heather Shaw, Mi Stanley, Mitch Treadwell, and Tim Werner. Traverse City
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2944-485: Is supported by tourism , with large seasonal populations attracted by Lake Michigan. Many seasonal residents have summer homes along the waterfront and return to other homes for the winter. The southern tip of the lake near Gary, Indiana, is heavily industrialized. Cities on the shores of Lake Michigan include: Illinois Indiana Michigan Wisconsin The National Park Service maintains
3036-405: Is the center of cherry production in Michigan . The most notable feature of the bay is that it is bisected into East and West arms by the Old Mission Peninsula . In addition, Grand Traverse is divided further into several important smaller bays, including Northport Bay, Suttons Bay, Omena Bay, Bowers Harbor, and Old Mission Bay. Northport Bay, located at the northwest corner of Grand Traverse Bay
3128-737: Is the interpretive center and management headquarters for the Grand Traverse Natural Education Reserve, a 505-acre local park and natural area. Traverse City is located immediately adjacent to two American Viticultural Areas , the Leelanau Peninsula AVA and the Old Mission Peninsula AVA . There are over 50 wineries near Traverse City. Located in the harbor of the Great Lakes Maritime Academy
3220-592: The Cadillac area. Grand Traverse Bay was named by 18th-century French voyageurs who made la grande traverse , or "the long crossing", across the mouth of bay, from present-day Norwood to Northport . The area was French territory at first, and then part of the Kingdom of Great Britain as the Province of Quebec . The area was ceded to the United States in 1783 following the Treaty of Paris , becoming part of
3312-599: The Chicago Lakefront Trail . Where there are no beaches or marinas, stone or concrete revetments protect the shoreline from erosion. The Chicago lakefront is accessible for about 24 miles (39 km) between the city's southern and northern limits along the lake. Twelve million people live along Lake Michigan's shores, mainly in the Chicago and Milwaukee metropolitan areas. The economy of many communities in northern Michigan and Door County, Wisconsin ,
3404-595: The Conference of Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Governors and Premiers , intergovernmental organization led by the governing chief executives of the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Québec , and by the governors of the U.S. states of Illinois , Indiana , Michigan , Minnesota , New York , Ohio , Pennsylvania , and Wisconsin . The Conference came into force, in December 2008, with the enactment of laws in all of
3496-546: The Fox River , nearly to its headwaters , in their search for the Mississippi River . By the late 18th century, the eastern portions of the straits were controlled by Fort Mackinac on Mackinac Island , a British colonial and early American military base and fur trade center, founded in 1781. With the advent of European exploration into the area in the late 17th century, Lake Michigan became used as part of
3588-704: The Illinois Confederation of tribes), in addition to that of "Michigan". During the 1640s and 1650s, the Beaver Wars (over the fur trade with the European colonies), initiated by the Iroquois , forced a massive demographic-shift, as their western neighbors fled the violence. The Iroquois sought refuge to the west and north of Lake Michigan. The Straits of Mackinac were an important Native American travel corridor and fur-trade route. Located on
3680-666: The Northwest Territory . In 1847, Captain Horace Boardman of Naperville, Illinois , purchased the land at the mouth of the Boardman River (then known as the Ottawa River) at the head of the west arm of the bay, which at the time was still inhabited by Native Americans. In 1847, the captain, his son, and their employees built a dwelling and sawmill near the mouth of the river. In 1851 the Boardmans sold
3772-644: The Odawa , Ojibwe , and Potawatomi . The Odawa, who were particularly prevalent in the area, called the area Kitchiwikwedongsing , a name which was often shortened to Wequetong , meaning "place at the head of the great bay". The area was the northern end of what is today known as the Old Indian Trail , a trail which serviced travel for the Hopewell , and later the Anishinaabe, coming to and from
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3864-725: The Ojibwe ᒥᓯᑲᒥ ( michi-gami or mishigami ), meaning "great water". Some of the most well-studied early human inhabitants of the Lake Michigan region were the Hopewell Native Americans . Their culture declined after 800 AD, when, for the following few hundred years, the region was the home of peoples known as the Late Woodland Native Americans . In the early 17th century, when Western European explorers made their first forays into
3956-947: The Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and Indiana Dunes National Park . Parts of the shoreline are within the Hiawatha National Forest and the Manistee National Forest . The Manistee National Forest section of the shoreline includes the Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness . The Lake Michigan division of the Michigan Islands National Wildlife Refuge is also within the lake, as are the Green Bay National Wildlife Refuge and
4048-535: The Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary . There are numerous state and local parks located on the shores of the lake or on islands within the lake: Lake Michigan is home to a small variety of fish species and other organisms. It was originally home to lake whitefish , lake trout , yellow perch , panfish , largemouth bass , smallmouth bass and bowfin , as well as some species of catfish . As
4140-400: The Boardman River and along Boardman Lake into Traverse City, and ended at a station along the Grand Traverse Bay, at the corner of present-day Grandview Parkway and Park Street. This new line of transportation from Southern Michigan opened up the area to settlement and industrial development. Many more people started flocking to the small community, and in 1881, Traverse City was incorporated as
4232-572: The Grand Traverse Bay region is a popular vacation destination. In September 2007, Mark Holley , an underwater archeologist with the Grand Traverse Bay Underwater Preserve Council who teaches at Northwestern Michigan College in Traverse City, said that they might have discovered a boulder 3.5 to 4 feet (1.1 to 1.2 m) high by 5 feet (1.5 m) long) with a prehistoric carving in the Grand Traverse Bay. The granite rock has markings that resemble
4324-739: The Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission, which harvest 50 percent of the Great Lakes commercial catch in Michigan waters, and 45 state-licensed commercial fishing enterprises. The prime commercial species is the lake whitefish. The annual harvest declined from an average of 11 million pounds (5,000,000 kg) from 1981 through to 1999 to more recent annual harvests of 8 to 9.5 million pounds (3,600,000 to 4,300,000 kg). The price for lake whitefish dropped from $ 1.04/lb. to as low as $ 0.40/lb during periods of high production. Sports fishing includes salmon, whitefish, smelt , lake trout and walleye as major catches. In
4416-736: The Great Lakes by way of the Erie Canal and Hudson River in New York. The Erie Canal connects to the Great Lakes at the east end of Lake Erie (at Buffalo, New York ) and at the south side of Lake Ontario (at Oswego, New York ). The lake fluctuates from month to month with the highest lake levels typically occurring in summer. The normal high-water mark is 2.00 feet (0.61 m) above datum ( 577.5 ft (176.0 m) ). In October 1986, Lakes Michigan and Huron reached their highest level at 5.92 feet (1.80 m) above datum. The monthly average high-water records were broken for several months in
4508-505: The Michigan state stone, can be found. The beaches of the western coast and the northernmost part of the east coast are often rocky, with some sandy beaches. The southern and eastern beaches are typically sandy and dune-covered. This is partly because of the prevailing winds from the west (which also cause thick layers of ice to build on the eastern shore in winter). The Chicago city waterfront has been developed for parks, beaches , harbors and marinas, and residential developments connected by
4600-559: The Minervini Group has undertaken the project of renovating the entire property into a social center, including many restaurants, retail spaces, office space, and residential space. On November 3, 2015, Traverse City elected Jim Carruthers, its first openly gay mayor . After serving as mayor of Traverse City for six years, in June 2021 Jim Carruthers announced he would not run for his fourth mayoral term. May 18, 2020, served as
4692-481: The Port District, Calumet Harbor , is maintained by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers . Two passenger and vehicle ferries operate ferry services across Lake Michigan, both connecting Wisconsin on the western shore with Michigan on the east. From May to October, the historic steamship, SS Badger , operates daily between Manitowoc, Wisconsin, and Ludington, Michigan, connecting U.S. Highway 10 between
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#17327650573774784-479: 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 ", after the Grand Traverse Bay, Lay proposed this name for its post office, but the Post Office Department clerk suggested dropping the "Grand" from the name, as to limit confusion between this new office and the one at nearby Old Mission. Mr. Lay agreed to
4876-406: The U.S. states of Wisconsin , Illinois , Indiana , and Michigan . Ports along its shores include Chicago , Illinois, Gary , Indiana, Milwaukee and Green Bay , Wisconsin, and Muskegon , Michigan. To the north, the lake is flanked by long bays , including Green Bay in the northwest, and Grand Traverse and Little Traverse bays in the northeast. The word michigan is believed to come from
4968-414: The Wisconsin and Michigan shores. Hydrologically Michigan and Huron are the same body of water (sometimes called Lake Michigan-Huron ) but are normally considered distinct. Counted together, it is the largest body of fresh water in the world by surface area. The Mackinac Bridge is generally considered the dividing line between them. The main inflow to Lake Michigan from Lake Superior, through Lake Huron,
5060-446: The aftermath of the backlash, the resolution was edited by TCAPS school board officials. No date for consideration of the revised resolution has been set. According to the United States Census Bureau , Traverse City has a total area of 8.66 square miles (22.43 km ), of which, 8.33 square miles (21.57 km ) are land and 0.33 square miles (0.85 km ) is water. Most of the city is located within Grand Traverse County, though
5152-486: The area's diverse coastal weather patterns, which occasionally consist of sudden and/or large amounts of precipitation during the seasonally active periods. Lake-effect snowfall constitutes a large percentage of the total annual snow accumulation, which averages around 80 inches (203 cm). Periods of snowfall typically last from November to April, although light snow as late as May or as early as late September sometimes occur. Traverse City's record high temperature
5244-424: The blooming season. With the exception of the years before and during World War II, this tradition has been carried on since in Traverse City. The legislature moved the date of the festival to the summer, and it attracts tourists from around the state. During the week the festival takes place, the population of Traverse City rises from about 15,000 to about 500,000. In 2004 the legislature added "Blossom Days", again as
5336-422: The bottom via submersible as part of a research expedition. The warming of Lake Michigan was the subject of a 2018 report by Purdue University . In each decade since 1980, steady increases in obscure surface temperature have occurred. This is likely to lead to decreasing native habitat and to adversely affect native species survival, including game fish. The Milwaukee Reef , running under Lake Michigan from
5428-457: The city's 125th anniversary of Traverse City's incorporation as a city in 1895, and was known as the "quarantine quasquicentennial". In April 2021, a group composed mostly of White students from two Traverse City area school districts held an online mock slave auction via social media app in a private group chat titled "Slave Trade", wherein they traded their Black student peers for monetary amounts while using derogatory language. After
5520-428: The elderly, served as a rehab for drug addicts, and was used to train nurses . On May 18, 1895, Traverse City was incorporated as a city . Perry Hannah served as the first mayor of Traverse City, after also serving as first and third village president. The first National Cherry Festival was held in Traverse City in 1925. It was first called "Blessing of the Blossoms" and held in the spring to attract people during
5612-599: The first permanent settlement in 1839. This was called "Grand Traverse", but was later renamed to Old Mission . Traverse City is situated at the south end of the bay where the Boardman River empties into the west arm. Cherry orchards line the bay region, giving rise to Traverse City's claim to be the Cherry Capital of the World . Several nationally known companies offer cherry-based products made with Northern Michigan tart cherries including Traverse Bay Farms, Cherry Central, Fruit Advantage, American Spoon, Cherry Republic and Old Mission Traders (formerly Cherry Stop). The region
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#17327650573775704-423: The following commercial districts : The city employs two tax increment financing (TIF) districts: TIF 97, overlapping with the Front Street District, and Old Town TIF in the Old Town District. Traverse City has one superfund site , according to the Environmental Protection Agency . This is the Avenue E Groundwater Contamination Site. At this location, toxic runoff from the Coast Guard Air Station contaminated
5796-588: The groundwater along Avenue E. Traverse City has a warm-summer continental climate (Köppen Dfb) close to being a hot-summer continental climate (Dfa). Its location near the 45th parallel is tempered by the strong and moderating effects of Lake Michigan and Grand Traverse Bay, which have a particularly noteworthy effect on the peninsulas that branch north of the city. As a result, they have viticulture and cherry orchards . Consequently, it generally experiences warm, mild summers and severe winters. Lake Michigan especially, but also Grand Traverse Bay, greatly impact
5888-424: The head of the West Arm. The arm is flanked to the west by the Leelanau Peninsula , and to the east by the Old Mission Peninsula. Power Island is located within the West Arm. The primary inflow of the West Arm is the Boardman River . Besides cherries , the surrounding countryside produces grapes and is one of the centers of the Michigan wine industry. Known for its shimmering blue water and golden sand beaches,
5980-432: The institution expanded. Twelve housing cottages and two infirmaries were built between 1887 and 1903 to meet the specific needs of male and female patients. The institution became the city's largest employer and contributed to its growth. While the hospital was established for the care of the mentally ill, its use expanded during outbreaks of tuberculosis , typhoid , diphtheria , influenza , and polio . It also cared for
6072-402: The lake. For example, 90% of the grain shipped from Chicago traveled by ships east over Lake Michigan during the antebellum years. The volume rarely fell below 50% after the Civil War even with the major expansion of railroad shipping . The first person to reach the deep bottom of Lake Michigan was J. Val Klump , a scientist at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee in 1985. Klump reached
6164-431: The lakes that are too large to pass the locks and enter the ocean. Despite their vast size, large sections of the Great Lakes freeze in winter, interrupting most shipping. Some icebreakers ply the lakes. Lake Michigan is connected by the Illinois Waterway to the Gulf of Mexico via the Illinois River and the Mississippi River. Commercial tug-and-barge traffic on these waterways is heavy. Pleasure boats can enter or exit
6256-419: The largest lake entirely within one country by surface area ( Lake Baikal in Russia is larger by water volume) and the fifth-largest lake in the world. It is the larger half of Lake Michigan–Huron , which is the largest body of fresh water in the world by surface area. It is 307 miles (494 km) long by 118 miles (190 km) wide with a shoreline 1,640 miles (2,640 km) long. The lake's average depth
6348-405: The late 1960s, successful stocking programs for Pacific salmon led to the development of Lake Michigan's charter fishing industry. Like all of the Great Lakes, Lake Michigan is today used as a major mode of transport for bulk goods. In 2002, 162 million net tons of dry bulk cargo were moved via the Lakes. This was, in order of volume: iron ore, grain and potash . The iron ore and much of
6440-443: The local community was made aware of this event, a coalition of community members and Traverse City Area Public School (TCAPS) Board of Education officials drafted in response a resolution which denounced the behavior. The draft of the resolution itself led to community backlash initiated largely by White conservative parents and community members who regarded the planned resolution to be "...interlaced with critical race theory ". In
6532-446: The lower water levels in 2013 were a combination of the "lack of a large snowpack" in the winter of 2011/2012 coupled with very hot and dry conditions in the summer of 2012. Since then water levels rebounded, rising more than 6 feet (1.8 meters) to historical record high levels. Lake Michigan, like the other Great Lakes, supplies drinking water to millions of people in bordering areas. The Great Lakes are collectively administered by
6624-575: The mid-19th century. Several ferries currently operate on the Great Lakes to carry passengers to various islands, including Beaver Island and Bois Blanc Island (Michigan) . Currently, two car ferry services traverse Lake Michigan from around April to November: the SS Badger, a steamer from Ludington, Michigan, to Manitowoc, Wisconsin, and the Lake Express , a high speed catamaran from Milwaukee to Muskegon, Michigan. The Great Lakes Circle Tour ,
6716-505: The new, shortened name of "Traverse City" for the post office, and the village took on this name. Also around this time, the first cherry trees were being planted on the Old Mission Peninsula, something the peninsula is widely known for today. In December 1872, rail service arrived in Traverse City via a Traverse City Railroad Company spur from the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad line at Walton Junction . The railroad tracked along
6808-582: The original Traverse City High School building burnt down, with no casualties. For three years, while the high school was being rebuilt, classes were moved to the Perry Hannah House , the former residence of the city's founder. Classes were moved back to the new school building in September 1937. In 1960, the high school was moved from downtown Traverse City to a new college-style campus on the grounds of Northwestern Michigan College , which opened
6900-513: The region, they encountered descendants of the Late Woodland Native Americans, mainly the historic Chippewa , Menominee , Sauk , Fox , Winnebago , Miami , Ottawa and Potawatomi peoples. The French explorer Jean Nicolet is believed to have been the first European to reach Lake Michigan, possibly in 1634 or 1638. In the earliest European maps of the region, the name of Lake Illinois has been found (named for
6992-406: The same surface elevation as its easterly counterpart; geologically, the two bodies are a single lake that is, by area, the largest freshwater lake in the world. Lake Michigan is the only Great Lake located fully in the United States; the other four are shared between the U.S. and Canada. It is the world's largest lake , by area, located fully in one country, and is shared, from west to east, by
7084-454: The sawmill to Hannah, Lay & Co (made up of 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. Perry Hannah today is known as the founding father of Traverse City. Traverse City was originally part of Omeena County, which was originally set off in 1840 from Michilimackinac County . The county remained unorganized, lacking
7176-474: The second-largest bay of Lake Michigan, behind Green Bay . Grand Traverse Bay is further divided into an East Arm and West Arm by the 18-mile-long (29 km) Old Mission Peninsula . At the head of both arms of the bay is Traverse City , the largest city in Northern Michigan . The area surrounding the bay is renowned for its fruit production, especially for cherries and viticulture . The bay
7268-524: The shoreline, the dunes rise several hundred feet above the lake surface. Large dune formations can be seen in many state parks, national forests and national parks along the Indiana and Michigan shoreline. Some of the most expansive and unique dune formations can be found at Indiana Dunes National Park , Saugatuck Dunes State Park , Warren Dunes State Park , Hoffmaster State Park , Silver Lake State Park , Ludington State Park , and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore . Small dune formations can be found on
7360-462: The southern side of the straits sits the town of Mackinaw City, Michigan , the site of Fort Michilimackinac (a reconstructed French fort founded in 1715); on the northern side is St. Ignace, Michigan , site of a French Catholic mission to the Indians (founded in 1671). In 1673, Jacques Marquette , Louis Jolliet , and their crew of five Métis voyageurs followed Lake Michigan to Green Bay and up
7452-412: The states and the two provinces, and the enactment of a United States federal law. Environmental problems can still plague the lake. Steel mills and refineries operate near the Indiana shoreline. The Chicago Tribune reported that BP is a major polluter, dumping thousands of pounds of raw sludge into the lake every day from its Whiting, Indiana , oil refinery. In March 2014 BP's Whiting refinery
7544-620: The stone and coal are used in the steel industry. There is also some shipping of liquid and containerized cargo, but most container vessels cannot pass the locks on the Saint Lawrence Seaway because the ships are too wide. The total amount of shipping on the lakes has been on a downward trend for several years. The Port of Chicago , operated by the Illinois International Port District , has grain (14 million bushels) and bulk liquid (800,000 barrels) storage facilities along Lake Calumet . The central element of
7636-502: The two cities. The Lake Express , established in 2004, carries passengers and vehicles across the lake between Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Muskegon, Michigan. Tourism and recreation are major industries on all of the Great Lakes. A few small cruise ships operate on Lake Michigan, including a couple of sailing ships. Many other water sports are practiced on the lakes, such as yachting, sea kayaking, diving, kitesurfing and lake surfing. Great Lakes passenger steamers have been operating since
7728-496: The vitality of native fish populations. Fisheries in inland waters of the United States are small compared to marine fisheries. The largest fisheries are the landings from the Great Lakes, worth about $ 14 million in 2001. Michigan's commercial fishery today consists mainly of 150 tribe-licensed commercial fishing operations through the Chippewa-Ottawa Resource Authority and tribes belonging to
7820-418: The water is usually clear and cool, between 55 and 80 °F (13 and 27 °C), even in the late summer months. However, because prevailing westerly winds tend to move the surface water toward the east, there is a flow of warmer water to the Michigan shore in the summer. The sand dunes located on the east shore of Lake Michigan are the largest freshwater dune system in the world. In multiple locations along
7912-510: The west by the Old Mission Peninsula , the south and southeast by mainland Grand Traverse County , and to the east by southwestern Antrim County . The arm's primary inflow is the Elk River , which drains the Chain of Lakes . The West Arm of Grand Traverse Bay (colloquially known as "West Bay") is the shallower and more urbanized of the two arms. The urban core of Traverse City is located at
8004-662: The western shore of Lake Michigan at Illinois Beach State Park , and moderate-sized dune formations can be found in Kohler-Andrae State Park and Point Beach State Forest in Wisconsin. A large dune formation can be found in Whitefish Dunes State Park in Wisconsin in the Door Peninsula . Lake Michigan beaches in Northern Michigan are the only place in the world, aside from a few inland lakes in that region, where Petoskey stones ,
8096-625: The wildlife population. This program was so successful that the introduced population of trout and salmon exploded, resulting in the creation of a large sport fishery for these introduced species. Lake Michigan is now stocked annually with steelhead, brown trout, and coho and chinook salmon, which have also begun natural reproduction in some Lake Michigan tributaries. However, several introduced invasive species, such as lampreys, round goby , zebra mussels and quagga mussels , continue to cause major changes in water clarity and fertility, resulting in knock-on changes to Lake Michigan's ecosystem, threatening
8188-475: Was 15,678 at the 2020 census , with 153,448 residents in the four-county Traverse City metropolitan area . Traverse City is the most populous city in the Northern Michigan region. Traverse City is at the head of the East and West arms of Grand Traverse Bay , a 32-mile-long (51 km) bay of Lake Michigan . Grand Traverse Bay is divided into arms by the 18-mile-long (29 km) Old Mission Peninsula , which
8280-605: Was eclipsed in January 2013. In January 2013, Lake Michigan's monthly mean water levels dipped to an all-time low of 576.2 ft (175.6 m), reaching their lowest ebb since record keeping began in 1918. The lakes were 29 in (0.74 m) below their long-term average and had declined 17 inches since January 2012. Keith Kompoltowicz, chief of watershed hydrology for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers ' district office in Detroit , explained that biggest factors leading to
8372-642: Was extended along the bay into Leelanau County, and curved south to a preexisting spur at Lake Ann . Another line was extended east into present-day Williamsburg , and to Charlevoix and Petoskey . This railroad was largely to serve tourists. In 1881, the Northern Michigan Asylum, later the Traverse City State Hospital , was established as the demand for a third psychiatric hospital in Michigan, in addition to those established in Kalamazoo and Pontiac , began to grow. Perry Hannah, by then
8464-633: Was responsible for spilling more than 1,600 US gallons (6,100 L) of oil into the lake. Lake Michigan has many beaches. The region is often referred to as the " Third Coast " of the United States, after those of the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean . The sand is often soft and off-white, known as " singing sands " because of the squeaking noise (caused by high quartz content) it emits when walked upon. Some beaches have sand dunes covered in green beach grass and sand cherries , and
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