8/14/2019 Hometown Brochure - Week 9 Homework

1/2

Traverse City, Michigan

Traverse City (pronounced /trvr s?ti/) is

a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is the

county seat of Grand Traverse County, al-

though 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 estimat-

ed to have a population of 142,075. Despite itsmodest population, Traverse City functions

as the major commercial nexus for a seven-

county area totaling over 2,700 square miles

(7,000 km2) and, along with cross-peninsula

counterpart Alpena, is one of Northern Lower

Michigans two anchor cities.

Traverse City is the Cherry Capital of the

World, holding an annual week-long Cherry

Festival the rst 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, pro-

digious snowfall, nearby ski resorts and thou-

sands of square miles of s urrounding forests

make Traverse City (based on AAAs 2005

TripTik requests) the second most popular

tourist destination in the state behind Macki-

naw City. In addition, the historic downtown

area of Traverse City is the home of many

shops, restaurants, and ofces. 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 commission-

ers 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.

Geography

The city sits at the head of Grand Traverse

Bay, a long protected water of Lake Michi-

gan. 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.

Arts and culture

The Interlochen Arts Festival, held at various

venues at the campus of the Interlochen Cen-

ter for the Arts, features c oncerts, plays, art

exhibits, readings, and dance productions bystudents and guest artists. The Arts festival

has both a summer and winter s eries.

The Traverse City Film Festival, founded by

Michael Moore, takes place every summer.

The ve day event showcases notable rare

independent lms and documentaries, as well

as discussion boards with directors, actors

and others involved with the lm industry.

In 2007, the lm festival acquired the historic

State Theater, which it fully r

ing on November 17, 2007 fo

screenings.

The Dennos Museum Center

campus of Northwestern Mic

is home to a collection of Inui

sculpture, drawing and print

also home to a childrens mu

various ongoing exhibitions.

Two major arts groups are ac

City. The Traverse City Art C

classes, a small exhibition spa

round member art shows. Th

Art Works Alliance is a mem

group, founded by local artis

in 2005.

www.VisitTraverseCity.c

8/14/2019 Hometown Brochure - Week 9 Homework

2/2

Historical markersThere are thirteen recognized Michigan his-

torical markers in Traverse City. They are:

Bingham District No. 5 Schoolhouse

City Opera House

Congregation Beth El

Grand Traverse Bay

Grand Traverse County Courthouse

Great Lakes Sport Fishery Greensky Hill Mission

Ladies Library Association

Novotnys Saloon

Park Place Hotel

Torrent House

Perry Hannah House

Traverse City State Hospital

WelcometoTraverseCityM

ichigan Traverse City is named after Traverse Bay, which the city

earned its name from 18th ce

voyagers who made la grand

the long crossing across th

Grand Traverse Bay.

In 1847, Captain Boardman o

Illinois, purchased the land athe Boardman River at the he

arm of the bay. During that y

his son, and their employees

and sawmill near the mouth

1851 the Boardmans sold the

nah, Lay & Co (Perry Hannah

Lay and James Morgan), who

mill greatly. The increased in

mill attracted additional settl

community.

As of 1853, the only operatin

in the Grand Traverse Bay reone located at Old Mission, w

known as Grand Traverse.

ington, D.C. in 1852, Mr. Lay

in getting the U.S. Post Ofce

new post ofce at his newer s

the newer settlement had bec

Grand Traverse City, Lay p

name for its post ofce, but th

suggested dropping the Gra

name, as to limit confusion b

ofce and the one at nearby O

Lay agreed to the name Trav

the post ofce, and the villagname.

Visiting Traverse City

The National Cherry Festival, held during

the rst full week of July every year, is the

main tourist draw to Traverse City. The fes-

tival features parades, reworks, live music,

and cherries. It is estimated that the Grand

Traverse region produces up to 360,000,000

pounds of cherries annually.

The Old Mission Peninsula is a great place

to sea kayak. One gets close to shore, light-

house, 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.

There are over 50 wineries in the Traverse

City/northwestern lower Michigan area.

Most offer free wine tasting. Due to the sandy

soil with its good drainage, several vintners

have produced award winning Reislings and

Pinot Grigios.