Overview Of Traverse City Michigan's History

A trip to Traverse City 49684 in Michigan might be precisely what you need. It is a destination that many people enjoy, regardless of when they travel to this small city. A population of 15,000 people increases dramatically during July during the National Cherry Festival. This festival, along with boating activities, is some of the many reasons that people travel to this region of the state. If you are heading north into Michigan, here is what you should know about the history of this unique city that so many people visit on an annual basis.

Origins Of Traverse City

Traverse City was not initially occupied by the Europeans. The Ojibwe and Ottawa tribes had been there for hundreds of years if not more. Once the colonists arrived, coming down through Grand Traverse Bay, they began to colonize the area throughout the next couple of centuries. It was not until the 1920s that the National Cherry Festival was started. It is this, more than anything else, that put Traverse City on the map.

The Beginnings Of Modern Traverse City

Similar to many other cities across America, it was not until the railroad began to expand across the United States that it started to grow in large numbers. It was seen as an excellent place to be because of its proximity to the lake, and its ability to both ship and receive shipments from neighboring communities. However, as time went by, it became a place that was more of a tourist attraction than a location that relied upon the docks. This led to the development of many different neighborhoods that are occupied by permanent residents.

Neighborhoods In Traverse City

As the city began to grow, neighborhoods began to develop. The city landscape started to form in a grid like pattern. All of the streets are aligned with cardinal directions, allowing the many communities to create an asynchronous model. Some of the neighborhoods include Kids Creek, Midtown, and Willow Hill. There is also Airport, the Civic Center, and Orchard Park. As with many communities, some of them are more highly coveted than others.

The Demographics Of Traverse City

The demographics of the city, once the Europeans began to settle the area, began to change remarkably. Starting with a population back in the 1880s of just under 2000 people, it began to multiply up until the early 1900s. It is at that point that the growth of the community started to slow down. In fact, there are times when the population has diminished significantly. It was in the 1970s where it peaked at about 18,000 people, and today there are just 15,000 people that live there continuously.