Garfield Township, Grand Traverse County, Michigan
Garfield Township, Michigan | |
---|---|
Charter Township of Garfield | |
![]() Garfield Township's largest lake, Silver Lake | |
![]() Location within Grand Traverse County | |
Coordinates: 44°43′17″N 85°38′28″W / 44.72139°N 85.64111°W | |
Country | United States |
State | Michigan |
County | Grand Traverse |
Organized | 1857 (Traverse Township) |
Renamed | 1882 |
Government | |
• Supervisor | Chuck Korn |
• Clerk | Lanie McManus |
Area | |
• Total | 27.7 sq mi (71.7 km2) |
• Land | 26.7 sq mi (69.1 km2) |
• Water | 1.0 sq mi (2.5 km2) |
Elevation | 702 ft (214 m) |
Population (2020) | |
• Total | 19,499 |
• Density | 730/sq mi (282/km2) |
Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
ZIP code(s) | 49684, 49685, 49686, 49696 |
Area code | 231 |
FIPS code | 26-31580[1] |
GNIS feature ID | 1626337[2] |
Garfield Township, officially the Charter Township of Garfield, is a charter township of Grand Traverse County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 census, the township had a total population of 19,499.[3] This makes it the most populous municipality in Northern Lower Michigan.
Due to its location adjacent to Traverse City, the township is largely urbanized. It is one of three charter townships in Grand Traverse County, the others being East Bay Township and Long Lake Township.
History
Grand Traverse County was organized in 1851, comprising two townships: The Old Mission Peninsula was Peninsula Township, with its present boundaries, and the remainder of the county, including what is now Garfield Township, was included in Traverse Township.[4] However. it was renamed in 1882 to Garfield Township, in honor of recently assassinated president James A. Garfield.[5] It is one of six townships named Garfield in Michigan, but the only one that is a charter township.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 27.7 square miles (72 km2), of which 26.7 square miles (69 km2) is land and 1.0 square mile (2.6 km2) (3.54%) is water. The Boardman River runs north–south through the center of the township. Its largest lake is Silver Lake, which is shared with neighboring Blair Township.
Adjacent municipalities
All townships listed are part of Grand Traverse County, unless otherwise stated.
- Elmwood Charter Township, Leelanau County (north)
- Traverse City (northeast)
- East Bay Charter Township (east)
- Blair Township (south)
- Green Lake Township (southwest)
- Long Lake Township (west)
Major highways
US 31 &
M-37 run concurrently through the west–center township, north–south. This highway is one of the busiest in Northern Michigan.
M-72 forms the northern border of the township with Leelanau County.
Communities
- Brookside is small community off Franke Road between Traverse City West Middle School and Meijer.
- Kratochvil's Plat is a ghost town on the northwestern shore of Silver Lake on Silver Lake Road (CR 633) near Secor Road
- Traverse City is northeast of Garfield Township, also bordering East Bay and Peninsula townships in Grand Traverse County, and Elmwood Township in Leelanau County.
Demographics
As of the census[1] of 2010, there were 16,256 people, 7,367 households, and 4,040 families residing in the township. The population density was 609 per square mile (235/km2). There were 8,194 housing units at an average density of 307 per square mile (119/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 93.87% White, 0.80% African American, 1.18% Native American, 1.06% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.67% from other races, and 2.37% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.45% of the population.
There were 7,367 households, out of which 22.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.8% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 45.2% were non-families. 37.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.16 and the average family size was 2.83.
In the township the population was spread out, with 20.1% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 23.1% from 25 to 44, 27.3% from 45 to 64, and 20.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.7 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $41,712, and the median income for a family was $55,977. Males had a median income of $30,167 versus $23,672 for females. The per capita income for the township was $26,390. About 10.1% of families and 14.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.9% of those under age 18 and 5.6% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Traverse City Area Public Schools (TCAPS) serves the entirety of Garfield Township. The district operates two high schools, with one, Traverse City West Senior High School, located within the township. Multiple TCAPS elementary schools are located within the township.
References
- ^ a b "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Garfield Township, Grand Traverse County, Michigan
- ^ "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Garfield charter township, Grand Traverse County, Michigan". www.census.gov. Retrieved 2022-02-24.
- ^ Sprague, Elvin L.; Smith, Mrs. George N. (1903). "Organized Townships in Grand Traverse County". Sprague's History of Grand Traverse and Leelanaw Counties, Michigan Embracing a Concise Review of Their Early Settlement, Industrial Development and Present Conditions. [Indianapolis]: B.F. Bowen. p. 308. Retrieved July 12, 2007 – via University of Michigan Libraries.
- ^ "History in Grand Traverse County, Michigan". genealogytrails.com. Retrieved 2022-11-09.