Garfield Township, Grand Traverse County, Michigan

{{Hatnote|There are five other [[Garfield Township, Michigan (disambiguation)|Garfield Townships]] in Michigan.}} {{Use American English|date=January 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox settlement | name = Garfield Township, Michigan | official_name = Charter Township of Garfield | settlement_type = [[Charter township]] | nickname = | motto =  | image_skyline = Garfield Township Hall.jpg | imagesize = | image_caption = Garfield Township Hall near [[Traverse City, Michigan|Traverse City]] | image_flag = | image_seal = | | pushpin_map = Michigan | pushpin_label_position = left | pushpin_label = Garfield Township | pushpin_map_caption = Location within the state of Michigan | pushpin_mapsize = | image_map = Garfield Charter Township (Grand Traverse), MI location.png | mapsize = 250 | map_caption = Location within [[Grand Traverse County, Michigan|Grand Traverse County]] | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = {{Flagu|United States}} | subdivision_type1 = [[U.S. state|State]] | subdivision_name1 = {{Flag|Michigan}} | subdivision_type2 = [[List of counties in Michigan|County]] | subdivision_name2 = {{Flagicon image|Flag of Grand Traverse County, Michigan.svg}} [[Grand Traverse County, Michigan|Grand Traverse]]

| population_as_of = [[United States Census, 2020|2020]] | population_footnotes = | population_total = 19499 | population_density_km2 = 282 | population_density_sq_mi = 730 | timezone = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]] | utc_offset = -5 | timezone_DST = EDT | utc_offset_DST = -4 | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = 214 | elevation_ft = 702 | coordinates = {{coord|44|43|17|N|85|38|28|W|region:US-MI|display=inline,title}} | postal_code_type = [[ZIP Code|ZIP code(s)]] | postal_code = 49684, 49685, 49686, 49696 (Traverse City) | area_code = [[Area code 231|231]] | blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]] | blank_info = 26-31580<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=2014-08-24 |title=U.S. Census website |df= }}</ref> | blank1_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID | blank1_info = 1626337<ref>{{gnis|1626337}}</ref> | website = https://www.garfieldmi.gov/ | footnotes = | established_title1 = Renamed | established_date1 = 1882 | named_for = [[James A. Garfield]] | population_est = 19698 | pop_est_as_of = 2025 }}

'''Garfield Township''', officially the '''Charter Township of Garfield''', is a [[charter township]] of [[Grand Traverse County, Michigan|Grand Traverse County]] in the U.S. state of [[Michigan]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the township had a total population of 19,499.<ref>{{Cite web|title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Garfield charter township, Grand Traverse County, Michigan|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/garfieldchartertownshipgrandtraversecountymichigan/POP010220#POP010220|access-date=2022-02-24|website=www.census.gov|language=en}}</ref>

Garfield Township is the largest municipality in [[Northern Michigan|Northern Lower Michigan]] by population. Much of the township is [[suburb]]an, due to its proximity to [[Traverse City, Michigan|Traverse City]]. It is one of four charter townships in the [[Traverse City metropolitan area]]; the others being [[Elmwood Township, Leelanau County, Michigan|Elmwood Township]] in [[Leelanau County, Michigan|Leelanau County]], and [[East Bay Township, Michigan|East Bay]] and [[Long Lake Township, Michigan|Long Lake]] townships in Grand Traverse County.

[[File:Robbins Bridge Traverse City.jpg|thumb|Robbins Bridge, which carries Cass Road over the [[Boardman River|Boardman–Ottaway River]] in Garfield Township. The bridge was constructed in 2016.]]

== History == The first two townships of Grand Traverse County were organized in 1853; the [[Old Mission Peninsula]] was assigned to [[Peninsula Township, Michigan|Peninsula Township]], with its present-day boundaries, and the rest of the county, including [[Traverse City, Michigan|Traverse City]], was assigned to '''Traverse Township'''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History in Grand Traverse County, Michigan |url=http://genealogytrails.com/mich/grandtraverse/history_county8.html |access-date=2022-11-09 |website=genealogytrails.com}}</ref> However, it was renamed in 1882 in honor of recently assassinated president [[James A. Garfield]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Romig |first=Walter |title=Michigan Place Names: The History of the Founding and the Naming of More Than Five Thousand Past and Present Michigan Communities |publisher=[[Wayne State University Press]] |year=1986 |isbn=0-8143-1838-X |location=[[Detroit]] |pages=218}}</ref> In 1977, Garfield Township became a [[charter township]].<ref>{{Cite book |author=Charter Township of Garfield|date=February 14, 2024 |title=Master Plan |type = Final draft |url=https://www.garfield-twp.com/downloads/final_draft_master_plan_document_full_website_version_02_14.pdf |publisher=Charter Township of Garfield |page = 9 |access-date=March 15, 2024 }}</ref>

==Geography== According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the township has a total area of {{convert|27.7|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|26.7|sqmi|km2}} is land and {{convert|1.0|sqmi|km2}} (3.54%) is water.

The [[Boardman River]] flows from south to north in the east of the township. [[Kids Creek]], a south to north stream, also flows through the township. The township's largest lake, [[Silver Lake (Grand Traverse County, Michigan)|Silver Lake]] is in the southwest of the township, and is shared to the south with Blair Township.

Two lines of the [[Great Lakes Central Railroad]] run through the east of the township, paralleling the Boardman River on either side.

=== Adjacent municipalities === All townships listed are part of Grand Traverse County, unless otherwise stated.

* [[Elmwood Charter Township, Michigan|Elmwood Charter Township]], [[Leelanau County, Michigan|Leelanau County]] (north) * [[Traverse City, Michigan|Traverse City]] (northeast) * [[East Bay Township, Michigan|East Bay Charter Township]] (east) * [[Blair Township, Michigan|Blair Township]] (south) * [[Green Lake Township, Michigan|Green Lake Township]] (southwest) * [[Long Lake Township, Michigan|Long Lake Charter Township]] (west)

== Transportation ==

=== Major highways === * {{jct|US|31|state=MI}} is a major north–south route in Michigan's [[Lower Peninsula of Michigan|Lower Peninsula]] that roughly parallels the shore of [[Lake Michigan]]. South of Grand Traverse County, US 31 runs through the cities of [[Muskegon, Michigan|Muskegon]], [[Grand Haven, Michigan|Grand Haven]], [[Holland, Michigan|Holland]], and [[Benton Harbor, Michigan|Benton Harbor]]. Within Garfield Township, the route is highly commercialized. * {{jct|M|37|state=MI}} shares a [[Concurrency (road)|concurrency]] with US 31 throughout its entire length within Garfield Township. South of Grand Traverse County, M-37 follows a north–south route further inland than US 31, and runs through the cities of [[Grand Rapids, Michigan|Grand Rapids]] and [[Battle Creek, Michigan|Battle Creek]]. * {{jct|M|72|state=MI}} is an east–west highway in the northern part of the township, largely forming the border between Grand Traverse and [[Leelanau County, Michigan|Leelanau]] counties. The highway is considered trans-peninsular, running across the Lower Peninsula from Lake Michigan at [[Empire, Michigan|Empire]] to [[Lake Huron]] at [[Harrisville, Michigan|Harrisville]]. East of Traverse City, M-72 runs through the communities of [[Kalkaska, Michigan|Kalkaska]], [[Grayling, Michigan|Grayling]], and [[Mio, Michigan|Mio]].

=== Bus Service ===

* The Bay Area Transportation Authority (BATA) services Garfield Township and the larger Traverse City metropolitan area. There are currently 3 routes offered which connect Grand Traverse and Leelanau counties: the City Loop, Bayline, and Village Loop.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Maps & Schedules {{!}} BATA {{!}} Bayline & Village Loops |url=https://www.bata.net/maps-schedules/ |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=www.bata.net}}</ref>

=== Air service ===

* [[File:Airport Sign.svg|20px|alt=|link=]] [[Cherry Capital Airport]] is immediately adjacent Garfield Township within the city of Traverse City. The airport offers year-round service to destinations such as [[Detroit Metropolitan Airport|Detroit]], [[O'Hare International Airport|Chicago O'Hare]], and [[Charlotte Douglas International Airport|Charlotte]].

==Communities== *'''Brookside''' ({{Coord|44|44|32|N|85|38|48.28|W||name=Brookside, Michigan}})<ref>{{Cite web |title=Geographic Names Information System |url=https://edits.nationalmap.gov/apps/gaz-domestic/public/search/names/d76c2173-325e-5599-899d-895174274f4e/summary |access-date=2023-01-21 |website=edits.nationalmap.gov}}</ref> is a small community outside Traverse City. *'''Kratochvil's Plat''' is a former [[Resort town|resort community]] on the northwestern shore of [[Silver Lake (Grand Traverse County, Michigan)|Silver Lake]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=LLC |first=Historic Map Works |title=Acme, Lakeside Resort, Summit City, Williamsburg, Walton, Kratochvil's Plat, Blackwood, Atlas: Grand Traverse County 1908, Michigan Historical Map |url=https://www.historicmapworks.com/Map/US/22028/Acme++Lakeside+Resort++Summit+City++Williamsburg++Walton++Kratochvil+s+Plat++Blackwood/Grand+Traverse+County+1908/Michigan/ |access-date=2023-01-21 |website=www.historicmapworks.com}}</ref> It was located at {{Coord|44|42|41.3|N|85|41|20|W||name=Kratochvil's Plat, Michigan}}. *The city of [[Traverse City, Michigan|Traverse City]] is immediately adjacent Garfield Township (to the northeast), and, prior to incorporation, was part of Garfield Township.

==Demographics== {{US Census population | footnote = [https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html U.S. Decennial Census] | align-fn = center | 1900 = 986 | 1910 = 932 | 1920 = 726 | 1930 = 696 | 1940 = 970 | 1950 = 1676 | 1960 = 2595 | 1970 = 4917 | 1980 = 8747 | 1990 = 10516 | 2000 = 13840 | 2010 = 16256 | 2020 = 19499 | estyear = 2025 | estimate = 19698 | estref = <ref name="USCensusEst2025">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/garfieldchartertownshipgrandtraversecountymichigan/PST045225|title=Population and Housing Unit Estimates Tables|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 14, 2026}}</ref> {{increase}} }}As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2010, there were 16,256 people, 7,367 households, and 4,040 families residing in the township. The [[population density]] was {{convert|609|/sqmi|/km2}}. There were 8,194 housing units at an average density of {{convert|307|/sqmi|/km2}}. The racial makeup of the township was 93.87% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.80% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 1.18% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.06% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.04% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.67% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 2.37% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|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 [[Marriage|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. Secondary students within the east of the township are zoned to [[Traverse City Central High School]], while secondary students within the west of the township are zoned to [[Traverse City West Senior High School]]. The latter is located within Garfield Township. TCAPS also operates Traverse City West Middle School and Silver Lake Elementary School within the township.

== References == {{Reflist}}

==External links== *[http://www.garfield-twp.com/ Charter Township of Garfield]

[[Category:Townships in Grand Traverse County, Michigan]] [[Category:Charter townships in Michigan]] [[Category:1853 establishments in Michigan]] [[Category:Traverse City metropolitan area]]