Grand Traverse County, Michigan
Grand Traverse County (/ˈtrævərz/ TRAV-ərz) is a county located in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 census, the population was 95,238, making it the largest county in Northern Michigan. Its county seat is Traverse City. The county is part of the Traverse City metropolitan area, which also includes neighboring Benzie, Kalkaska, and Leelanau counties.
Grand Traverse County | |
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Grand Traverse County Courthouse in Traverse City | |
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Logo | |
| Nickname: "GTC" | |
Location within the U.S. state of Michigan | |
Michigan's location within the U.S. | |
| Coordinates: 44°44′N 85°33′W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Michigan |
| Founded | 1840 1851 (organized) |
| Named for | Grand Traverse Bay |
| Seat | Traverse City |
| Largest city | Traverse City |
| Area | |
| • Total | 601 sq mi (1,560 km2) |
| • Land | 464 sq mi (1,200 km2) |
| • Water | 137 sq mi (350 km2) 23% |
| Population (2020) | |
| • Total | 95,238 |
| • Density | 205/sq mi (79/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 1st |
| Website | www |
Long a part of territory under the Council of Three Fires (comprising the Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi), Grand Traverse County's first European settlement was established in 1839. It was originally created in 1840 as Omeena County, however it was reorganized in 1851 as Grand Traverse County. The county itself and Traverse City are named after Grand Traverse Bay, a bay of Lake Michigan.
Interlochen Center for the Arts, a prestigious boarding school, is located within the county.