Community
Welcome to the Grand Traverse County website! In this section you can find general information about the county and community, locations of county facilities, and information about the county’s organizational structure and purpose.
About County Government
About the Community
Grand Traverse County is located in the northwest part of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan on beautiful Grand Traverse Bay. With its numerous lakes and rolling hills, the County is a major tourist destination and known for its peaceful quality of life. The county seat, Traverse City, is well known as the Cherry Capital of the World. Traverse City is joined by 13 townships and 2 villages, Kingsley and Fife Lake, within the County. The County covers 466 square miles in size by spanning 24 miles east/west and 26 miles north/south.
Resort Community
Grand Traverse County is northern Michigan’s most popular resort community. Centered near the 45th parallel, the area enjoys a temperate climate, moderated by the Great Lakes and other bodies of water. The climate, rolling hills, and predominately sandy loam soils are ideal for growing fruit crops such as cherries, apples and wine grapes. Hops, berry crops, vegetables, field crops, livestock, dairy production and agri-tourism are also part of the very diverse and vibrant agricultural scene in the county. The spectacular natural environment, neighborly communities that are among the safest in the nation, miles of Lake Michigan shoreline, many small lakes, and rural areas minutes from town, offer living at its best.
Local Activities
Grand Traverse County abounds with cultural and social activities. The
Interlochen Center of the Arts attracts students from around the world and provides quality performing arts entertainment. Other cultural facilities include the
Old Town Playhouse , the
Traverse Symphony Orchestra , and the
Dennos Museum . Traverse City is home to
Northwestern Michigan College and hosts the
University Center of major universities from around the state offering degree completion and advanced degrees in virtually any subject. Residents of the County enjoy high quality medical care and services from
Munson Medical Center , which is often named as one of the top hospitals in the country.
The
recreational opportunities are unlimited in this all-seasons community. From swimming, sailing, fishing, and golfing, to canoeing, kayaking, and hiking during the spring, summer, and fall, and cross-country and downhill skiing, snow shoeing, ice fishing, and snowmobiling in the winter, the opportunities are unsurpassed.
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