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Grand Traverse County, Michigan

46 topographic sheets cover 30 settlements here, and 12 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Research this county

From the record

12 National Register listings published here.

Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service

Michigan within the United States
Grand Traverse County within Michigan

What the record shows

  • 381 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
  • 12 properties here are on the National Register of Historic Places: 7 buildings, 3 districts and 2 structures.
  • 5 of the 12 listings were added during the 1970s.
  • The Geographic Names Information System records 30 populated places in this county; 30 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.

Places on the National Register

12

Every property in this county listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with the year it was listed and the federal nomination document.

Photograph PropertyType ListedReference
American Legion Memorial Bridgestructure200099001650
Boardman Neighborhood Historic Districtdistrict197878001498
Central Neighborhood Historic Districtdistrict197979001154
City Opera Housebuilding197272000616
Dougherty Mission Housebuilding201111000176
Fife Lake-Union District No. 1 Schoolhousebuilding198787001433
Perry Hannah Housebuilding197272000617
Hedden Hallbuilding198282002834
Northern Michigan Asylumdistrict197878001499
John Pulcipher Housebuilding200000001484
South Union Street-Boardman River Bridgestructure200099001651
Stickney Summer House-Bowers Harbor Innbuilding201111000178

Wildfire, 1992 to 2020

234 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 234 of them, burning about 1,136 acres. 13 started naturally and 24 were recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause Fires
Missing data/not specified/undetermined78
Debris and open burning35
Equipment and vehicle use34
Arson/incendiarism24
Recreation and ceremony18
Misuse of fire by a minor17
Natural13
Smoking8
Fireworks5
Power generation/transmission/distribution2

The five largest, by the area the report gives. One of them was set deliberately.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
23 April 1994Debris and open burning148 acresMichigan Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
28 April 2019Missing data/not specified/undetermined140 acresMichigan Department of Natural ResourcesGRAND TRAVERSE 01 - KARLIN ROAD
14 April 2003Debris and open burning115 acresMichigan Department of Natural ResourcesSCHARMEN RD FIRE
23 April 1994Arson/incendiarism105 acresMichigan Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
14 April 2003Debris and open burning89 acresMichigan Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
2 May 2013Missing data/not specified/undetermined42 acresMichigan Department of Natural ResourcesGRAND TRAVERSE 01 - SCHARMEN ROAD
6 May 2018Missing data/not specified/undetermined28 acresMichigan Department of Natural ResourcesGRAND TRAVERSE 01 - HOOSIER VALLEY RD FIRE
10 June 2012Missing data/not specified/undetermined28 acresMichigan Department of Natural ResourcesGRAND TRAVERSE 04 - BROOMHEAD

Every settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it - see the settlement index below.

Storms, 1955 to 2026

60 of 173 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 173 reports for this county, causing 1 death, 3 injuries and about $16,649,500 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event Reports
Thunderstorm Wind91
Hail52
Flash Flood13
Lightning7
Tornado5
Flood5

The most serious of them, by death, then injury, then recorded damage. The accounts are quoted exactly as the forecast office filed them.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
September 2000LightningTraverse City1 killed, 1 hurtA father and son were struck by lightning. See narrative below.
October 1989Thunderstorm Windnot stated2 hurtno account filed
August 2015Thunderstorm WindTraverse City$7,800,000The most concentrated damage in Grand Traverse County occurred on the Old Mission Peninsula. Many trees were down, and multiple vineyards and orchards suffered substantial damage. Vehicles and buildings were also damaged by felled trees. Across Grand Traverse County, nine buildings were considered destroyed, and nearly 400 were damaged in some way.
August 2015Thunderstorm WindGrawn$5,200,000Considerable wind damage occurred in central Grand Traverse County, including near and just south of Traverse City. Many trees were downed, causing damage to vehicles and homes. Some roads were difficult to travel for a day or two after the storm.
October 2012Flash FloodGrawn$1,800,000A temporary dam and de-watering structure was in place alongside the Brown Bridge Dam on the Boardman River. This temporary dam was to assist in drawing down the small lake (Brown Bridge Pond) behind the dam, prior to the permanent removal of Brown Bridge Dam. This temporary dam failed on the morning of the 6th, and by late afternoon, most of the remaining water in Brown Bridge Pond had been released downstream. Within an hour, road closings occurred along Garfield and River Roads, and homes were evacuated along the river between Garfield and Keystone Roads. Eventually, 53 homes were impacted, with varying degrees of damage. Docks, small footbridges, and a number of smaller outbuildings were destroyed. Environmental damage, related to sediment deposition and fish kills, was possible but still being evaluated.
May 2020Flash FloodTraverse City$310,000Munson Hospital measured 3.12 inches of rain during the day on the 28th. Most of this was dumped in a short period of time, early in the afternoon. This resulted in a small area of flash flooding, in downtown Traverse City and on the near west side. Water rose up to three feet high on some roads and parking lots, and in a few spots the water was higher. Some people were trapped in vehicles and required rescue. Numerous vehicles were heavily damaged. The basement of Munson Hospital flooded. Kids Creek rose out of banks, flooding roads and some buildings.
June 1969Tornado (F3)not stated$250,000no account filed
May 1964Tornado (F2)not stated$250,000no account filed
April 1956Tornado (F4)not stated$250,000no account filed
April 2002LightningOld Mission$125,000Home destroyed by fire caused by lightning strike.
June 2020Flash FloodTraverse City$90,000Training thunderstorms brought heavy rain to parts of Traverse City. Munson Hospital measured 2.45 of rain during the afternoon and evening. Quick-hitting flash flooding developed in the area, and in particular on the near west side of the city. Kids Creek overflowed its banks. Cedar Street and other roads near Munson Hospital were flooded. This event was extremely similar, though not quite as hard hitting, as the flash flood event in the same location back on May 28 2020.
April 2014FloodGrawn$75,000The Boardman River flooded a few homes near Boardman Plains Road. In addition, Townline Road south of South Airport was closed by floodwaters.
September 2005Thunderstorm WindTraverse City$45,000Trees were downed onto Parsons Road. A home in East Bay Township was heavily damaged when a tree fell through its roof.
October 2020FloodTraverse City$35,000Road flooding occurred in a number of places in the Traverse City area. Logans Landing along the Boardman River saw the parking lot flood. Eleventh St and Division St saw flooding, as did West Front St and Madison Dr. Flooding also occurred in the Three Mile Rd area, near Mitchel Creek.
July 2006Thunderstorm WindTraverse City$35,000Several trees downed southeast of Traverse City, and a school fence was knocked over. Large swath of trees, 20 yards wide and over 100 yards long, downed near east shore of Long Lake. Over 200 trees were downed.
June 2009Thunderstorm WindInterlochen$30,000Five trees and one power pole were snapped off. One tree was downed onto a home, and another onto a garage, damaging a boat inside the garage.
September 1961Tornado (F2)not stated$25,000no account filed
March 2000LightningCountywide$20,000Lightning sparked a huge explosion at a Northern Michigan Oil Company. The explosion happened at KCS Oil Company in Blair Township. More than 70 fire fighters from seven fire departments rushed to the scene. Fire fighters believe the lightning bolt struck an oil tank holding more than four hundred gallons of residue oil in it. Crews evacuated nearby houses and contained the fire, thereby preventing it from spreading to other tanks.
September 2000LightningTraverse City$20,000Lightning struck the garage of a residential home and set it on fire.
June 2024Thunderstorm WindWilliamsburg$18,000Grand Traverse 911 Facebook page reported powerlines down resulting in closure of Williamsburg Road between Crisp Road and Supply Road.
August 2021Thunderstorm WindInterlochen$15,000Approximately 15-20 trees blown down or significantly damaged. Three falling trees damaged a house, garage, and shed. Utility lines and an underground gas line were also damaged.
July 2020Flash Flood(Tvc)Traverse City A$15,000A quick downpour of 1 to 2 inches of rain produced flooding in and just south of Traverse City. Widespread street flooding occurred, and some streets were briefly closed.
July 2013Thunderstorm WindFife Lake$15,000Numerous trees were downed, one roof had shingles removed, and an awning was ripped off of a camper trailer.
April 2002Thunderstorm WindKingsley$15,000Roof blown off building
November 2013Flash FloodTraverse City$14,000Rainfall amounts of just over two inches in an hour produced short-lived urban flooding in Traverse City. Numerous streets were impassible, including Veterans Drive, Garfield Road, and South Airport Road.
June 2025Lightning(Tvc)Traverse City A$12,000Multiple reports of lightning damage in the Traverse City, MI metro area, including significant damage to a large oak tree leading to some structural damage, and a possible structure fire caused by lightning near Long Lake west of Traverse City.
August 2013Thunderstorm WindMonroe Center$11,000Tents were blown down and camper awnings were damaged at the Northwest Michigan Fair.
August 2023Thunderstorm WindTraverse City$10,000Various reports of wind damage, including downed trees and power poles, from mping and social media in this area. Time estimated from radar.
August 2021Thunderstorm Wind(Tvc)Traverse City A$10,000Widespread tree and powerline damage countywide between approximately 1030 and 1100 PM.
August 2018Thunderstorm WindTraverse City$10,000Several trees were downed near Seventh Street. The power was knocked out in much of Traverse City. A 56 mph gust was measured at Cherry Capital Airport.
June 2012Thunderstorm WindMonroe Center$10,000Winds downed trees and caused property damage along Red Cardinal Lane and Adam Lane off of Blair Town Hall Road. Windows were blown out of a home, where the roof was damaged and lost an antenna. Fencing was also blown over.
July 2016Thunderstorm WindBates$8,000Multiple trees were downed, briefly closing streets near Bunker Hill Road and Supply Road.
July 2006Thunderstorm WindInterlochen$8,000Falling tree destroyed camper.
June 2015Thunderstorm WindFife Lake$7,000Trees were uprooted along US-131 near Fife Lake, as well as in a yard in the community.
June 2014Thunderstorm WindKingsley$6,000Approximately eight trees were downed by thunderstorm winds.
June 2024Thunderstorm WindAcme$5,000Thunderstorm wind gust recorded at mesonet station MC112 MDOT site near Acme.
August 2023HailTraverse City$5,000Report of quarter size hail near Front and Division in Traverse City. Spotter also reported lots of tree damage in the area. Time estimated from radar.
August 2023Thunderstorm WindTraverse City$5,000Picture relayed from broadcast media. Trees down in vicinity of 500 block of 8th Street in Traverse City. Broadcast media also relayed additional pictures of downed trees from the Traverse City area. Time estimated from radar.
July 2019Thunderstorm WindInterlochen$5,000Multiple trees were downed.
July 2018Thunderstorm WindInterlochen$5,000Trees were downed over Riley Road, blocking traffic until they were cleared.
June 2017Thunderstorm WindInterlochen$5,000Trees were downed, some onto power lines.
September 2014Thunderstorm WindGrawn$5,000Multiple trees were downed along Beitner Road.
June 2007Thunderstorm WindKingsley$5,000Several trees down in Kinglsey and the surrounding countryside.
July 2006LightningWilliamsburg$5,000Home damaged by lightning strike.
July 1994Thunderstorm WindGrand Traverse$5,000Large tree limbs and power lines were downed by the wind. At the Cherry Festival, a beer tent that was supported by steel poles and large stakes, was lifted completely off the ground and carried about 100 feet.
August 2018Thunderstorm WindGrawn$4,500One large tree was downed, blocking Hoch Road west of Rusch Road. Another tree was downed on Prouty Road near Five Mile Road.
June 2022Thunderstorm WindAcme Skyport$4,000A few trees down near Bates and Sayler Rd. Reported by law enforcement.
June 2012Thunderstorm WindMapleton$4,000Two large trees were downed on M-37 near Chateau Grand Traverse.
April 2010Thunderstorm WindHannah$4,000Trees were downed on West County Line Road southwest of Kinglsey, and on Voice Road northeast of Kingsley.
October 2007Thunderstorm Wind(Tvc)Traverse City A$4,000A few large trees along Hammond Road were downed.
June 2009Thunderstorm WindKarlin$3,500Trees downed on Wilson Road near Davis Road.
September 2021Thunderstorm WindTraverse City$3,000Multiple trees downed.
September 2021Thunderstorm WindInterlochen$3,000Power lines down on road. Time of damage estimated from radar.
September 2021Thunderstorm WindOld Mission$3,000Power lines down on road. Time of damage estimated from radar.
August 2021Thunderstorm WindWilliamsburg$3,000Trees downed in Williamsburg.
July 2012Thunderstorm WindTraverse City$3,000Trees were downed across a road.
May 2011Thunderstorm WindHannah$3,000Four large, live maples were downed.
July 2006Thunderstorm WindTraverse City$3,000Five trees downed in Bryant Park.
August 2021Thunderstorm WindTraverse City$2,000Tree down across Hartman Rd near US-31. Report from TV 7/4.
August 2018Thunderstorm WindKingsley$2,000One tree downed on Fenton Street near George Street.

Mines and quarries

11 recorded

The Survey's mineral resources record lists 11 workings inside this county. 9 still produce and 2 are closed or unrecorded. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.

Commodity Workings
Sand and Gravel, Construction8
Clay2
Iron1

The least common of them first, because a county's hundredth gravel pit says nothing its first ten did not.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Traverse City PlantIronProducer
Unnamed Clay ProspectClayProspect
Unnamed Clay ProspectClayProspect
Beeman Pit & MillSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Grand Traverse Co PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Harris PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Haywood Pit & MillSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Kidder PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Peters PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
The Concrete Service MillSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Walton Pit & MillSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer

Every populated place in the county

30

Named settlements recorded in the Geographic Names Information System, each with the topographic sheets covering it. Villages, hamlets and abandoned places alike. Each is shown with the nearest named watercourse or landform and the survey quadrangle it falls on.

Provenance

  • Topographic sheets. USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection, county index, measured from the bulk metadata.
  • Fire insurance maps. Library of Congress Sanborn collection, faceted to this county.
  • Photographs. Each place queried individually against the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs search.
  • Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
  • Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
  • Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.