Interlochen, Michigan

{{redirect|Interlochen}} {{Use American English|date=July 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}} {{Infobox settlement | name = Interlochen, Michigan | settlement_type = [[Census-designated place]] (CDP) & [[Unincorporated area|unincorporated community]] | nickname = | motto = "Between the Lakes" | image_skyline = Interlochen Historical Marker.jpg | image_caption = Interlochen Historical Marker | image_flag = | image_seal =  | pushpin_map = Michigan#USA | pushpin_label_position = left | pushpin_label = Interlochen | pushpin_map_caption = Location within the state of Michigan##Location within the United States | pushpin_mapsize = | image_map = Interlochen, MI location.png | mapsize = 250 | map_caption = Location within [[Grand Traverse County, Michigan|Grand Traverse County]]

| coordinates = {{coord|44|38|43|N|85|46|02|W|region:US-MI_type:city_source:GNIS|display=inline,title}} | coordinates_footnotes = <ref name="GNIS">{{cite gnis|629053|Interlochen}}</ref> | 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]] | subdivision_type3 = [[Civil township|Township]] | subdivision_name3 = [[Green Lake Township, Michigan|Green Lake]]

| government_footnotes = | government_type = | leader_title = | leader_name = | established_title = | established_date =  | unit_pref = Imperial | area_footnotes = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_26.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=May 21, 2022}}</ref> | area_magnitude = | area_total_km2 = 3.29 | area_land_km2 = 3.21 | area_water_km2 = 0.08 | area_total_sq_mi = 1.27 | area_land_sq_mi = 1.24 | area_water_sq_mi = 0.03

| elevation_footnotes = <ref name="GNIS"/> | elevation_ft = | elevation_m = 256

| timezone = [[Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]] | utc_offset = -5 | timezone_DST = EDT | utc_offset_DST = -4 | postal_code_type = [[ZIP Code]] | postal_code = 49643 | area_code = [[Area code 231|231]] | blank_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID | blank_info = 629053<ref name="GNIS"/> | blank1_name = [[FIPS code]] | blank1_info = 26-40800 | website = {{URL|http://www.interlochenchamber.org/|Chamber of Commerce}} | footnotes = }} [[File:A glimpse through the pines on Lake Wah-ba-ka-netta, Michigan (66505).jpg|thumb|Lake Wah-ba-ka-netta, now Green Lake]]

'''Interlochen''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|ɪ|n|t|ə|r|l|ɒ|k|ə|n}} ''{{respell|IN|tər|lok|ən}}'') is an [[Unincorporated area|unincorporated community]] and [[census-designated place]] (CDP) in [[Grand Traverse County, Michigan|Grand Traverse County]] in the U.S. state of [[Michigan]].<ref name="GNIS"/> At the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 694, up from 583 at the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]].<ref name=CENS>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/cph-2-24.pdf|format=PDF |title=Michigan: 2010 Population and Housing Unit Counts 2010 Census of Population and Housing | date = September 2012|publisher = [[United States Census Bureau]]| work = [[2010 United States census]]| accessdate = September 17, 2021|page=22 Michigan}}</ref> The community is located within [[Green Lake Township, Michigan|Green Lake Township]], and is home to a post office operating with [[ZIP Code]] 49643.

The community is home to the [[Interlochen Center for the Arts]] and also contains [[Interlochen State Park]] between the shores of [[Duck Lake (Grand Traverse County, Michigan)|Duck Lake]] and [[Green Lake (Grand Traverse County, Michigan)|Green Lake]]. Interlochen is a designated [[Michigan State Historic Preservation Office|Michigan State Historic Site]].

==History== Interlochen takes its name from the [[Latin]] "''inter''", meaning "between", and the [[Scottish Gaelic]] "''lochan''", meaning lakes.

Before the arrival of European settlers, members of the [[Odawa]] people lived between the lakes they called ''Wahbekaness'' and ''Wahbekanetta'' (now named Duck Lake and Green Lake, respectively). Beginning in the late 19th century, European settlers began [[logging]] and [[Fishing industry|fishing]] industries in the area, and founded the small village of '''Wylie''', one mile south of present-day Interlochen. Because of logging, the [[Manistee and North-Eastern Railroad]] (owned by the Buckley and Douglas Lumber Company of [[Manistee, Michigan|Manistee]]) extended its line north from [[Nessen City, Michigan|Nessen City]] and arrived between the lakes in the fall of 1889. Similarly, the [[Chicago and West Michigan Railway]] extended its line north from [[Baldwin, Michigan|Baldwin]] on its way to [[Traverse City, Michigan|Traverse City]] in 1890. The two lines crossed in current-day downtown Interlochen where a depot and [[interlocking]] tower were located. The original townsite, however, was platted just south of the depot along either side of the M&NE rail line in late 1889 or early 1890, with the business district centering on the now-former [[M-137 (Michigan highway)|M-137]] and Riley Rd/10th Street.

As the lumber industry grew, the area became more deforested. However, it was predicted from the beginning that the area would become a popular summer resort, and so Buckley and Douglas set aside 186 acres of virgin pines between Duck and Green lakes for preservation. The result was '''Pine Park''', a public retreat boasting virgin forests and pristine lakes. A small railroad depot named '''Pine Park Station''' was built. Visitors began flocking to the region during the warmer months to camp, fish, boat, and escape the heat of the crowded cities. Piggybacking on the vacation boom, local businessman Willis Pennington purchased land adjacent to Pine Park on the banks of Green Lake and opened the Pennington Hotel in 1909.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://crescendo.interlochen.org/story/timber-tourism-how-conservation-shaped-interlochen-michigan | date=8 April 2019 | website=Interlochen Center for the Arts | title=From timber to tourism: How conservation shaped Interlochen, Michigan }}</ref>

In the mid-1910s, local representatives became worried that Pine Park would soon be logged off and so they lobbied the [[Michigan|Michigan Legislature]] for help. The state ultimately allocated $60,000 in 1917 to purchase the property,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-350-79133_79205_85747_86991_88871_90785---,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191017150109/https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-350-79133_79205_85747_86991_88871_90785---,00.html |archive-date=2019-10-17 |title=DNR - Michigan's first state park |website=www.michigan.gov |access-date=2024-01-20}}{{cbignore}}</ref> and the newly acquired parkland was dedicated as '''The Pines''', later renamed [[Interlochen State Park]], the first [[state park]] organized by the state of Michigan ([[Mackinac Island State Park|Mackinac Island]] was originally a national park before becoming Michigan's first state park in 1895).<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.interlochen.org/about/history_1 | title=History of Interlochen | publisher=Interlochen Center for the Arts | year=2007 | access-date=2007-11-22 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071015230026/http://www.interlochen.org/about/history_1  |archive-date = 2007-10-15}}</ref>

In 1928, the National High School Orchestra Camp was founded by [[Joseph E. Maddy]] just south of Interlochen, and evolved to become [[Interlochen Center for the Arts]], which includes a summer camp as well as an arts boarding high school and public radio station.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-04-18|title=50 years ago today, Interlochen founder Joseph Maddy passed away|url=https://www.interlochenpublicradio.org/arts-at-interlochen/2016-04-18/50-years-ago-today-interlochen-founder-joseph-maddy-passed-away|access-date=2022-02-25|website=Interlochen Public Radio|language=en}}</ref> The camp has expanded to both sides of J. Maddy Parkway (previously designated as a highway, M-137, in 1930<ref>{{Citation|last=Michigan|title=Official highway service map|date=1927|publisher=The Dept.|language=en|oclc=79754957|last2=State Highway Department|last3=H.M. Gousha Company}}</ref> but decommissioned in 2020<ref>{{cite press release |first = James |last = Lake |date = August 6, 2020 |title= MDOT Transfers M-137 Jurisdiction to Grand Traverse County Road Commission |url = https://www.michigan.gov/mdot/0,4616,7-151-9620-535825--,00.html |publisher = Michigan Department of Transportation |access-date = August 16, 2020 }}</ref>), and enveloped the entire village of Wylie.

By the late 20th century, the railroads that brought students, vacationers, and lumber through Interlochen, had been removed. The north-south M&NE railroad was removed in 1934,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.michiganrailroads.com/evolution-of-michigan-railroads/182-evolution-lower-peninsula/evolution-1930s/4427-evolution-map-lower-1934|title=michiganrailroads.com - Evolution Map - Lower - 1934|website=www.michiganrailroads.com|access-date=2020-03-13}}{{Dead link|date=September 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> and the west-east C&WM railroad ([[Pere Marquette Railway]] after 1899) removed in 1982.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.michiganrailroads.com/evolution-of-michigan-railroads/187-evolution-lower-peninsula/evolution-1980s/4479-evolution-map-lower-1982|title=michiganrailroads.com - Evolution Map - Lower - 1982|website=www.michiganrailroads.com|access-date=2020-03-13}}</ref> The area remains a popular vacation spot, with hiking, fishing, camping, boating, swimming, cross country skiing, and snowmobiling the most popular activities.

The community of Interlochen was listed as a newly organized [[census-designated place]] for the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]], meaning it now has officially defined boundaries and population statistics for the first time.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/cph-2-24.pdf|title=Michigan: 2010 Population and Housing Unit Counts 2010 Census of Population and Housing | date = September 2012|publisher = [[United States Census Bureau]]| work = [[2010 United States census]]| accessdate = September 17, 2021|page=III-5}}</ref>

==Geography== According to the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]], the CDP has a total area of {{convert|1.27|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|1.24|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.03|sqmi|sqkm|2}} (2.36%) is water.<ref name=CENS/>

Interlochen is located within the [[Betsie River]] watershed.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Betsie River / Crystal Lake Watershed Management Plan |url=https://www.networksnorthwest.org/community/natural-resources/betsie-river-crystal-lake-watershed/betsie-river-crystal-lake-watershed-management-plan.html |access-date=2022-12-16 |website=www.networksnorthwest.org}}</ref>

== Public education == Interlochen is zoned within the [[Traverse City Area Public Schools]] district (TCAPS).<ref>{{cite map |author = [[United States Census Bureau]] |date = January 1, 2020 |map-url = https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st26_mi/schooldistrict_maps/c26055_grand_traverse/DC20SD_C26055.pdf |title = 2020 Census |map = School District Reference Map: Grand Traverse County, MI |scale = 1:97,877 |location = Suitland, Maryland |publisher = United States Census Bureau |access-date = April 16, 2023 }}</ref>

The nearest public high school is [[Traverse City West Senior High School]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=District Boundary Map |url=https://www.tcaps.net/about/district-boundary-map/ |access-date=2022-12-15 |website=www.tcaps.net |language=en-US}}</ref> Prior to 2016, elementary school students were able to attend Interlochen Elementary School, part of TCAPS.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-07-30 |title=TCAPS Eyes Re-opening Interlochen Elementary |url=https://www.9and10news.com/2021/07/30/tcaps-eyes-re-opening-interlochen-elementary/ |access-date=2022-12-16 |website=9 & 10 News |language=en-US}}</ref> With the closure of that school, the nearest public elementary schools are Blair Elementary School near [[Grawn, Michigan|Grawn]], and Silver Lake Elementary School and Westwoods Elementary School near [[Traverse City, Michigan|Traverse City.]]

==Media== Interlochen is home to 88.7 [[WIAA (FM)|WIAA]], which is run by the Interlochen Center for the Arts and operates as Northern Michigan's [[National Public Radio]] affiliate.

==Transportation== ===Major highways=== *{{jct|state=MI|US|31}} runs west–east through the northern portion of the community. *{{jct|state=MI|M 1973|137}}, known now as J. Maddy Parkway, is a former state highway that was commissioned from 1930 to 2020.

===Public transportation=== Interlochen is served by Traverse City's public transportation system, the Bay Area Transportation Authority (BATA) which serves most of the Grand Traverse region with [[dial-a-ride]] services. BATA also links riders to the Greyhound terminal for regional and long-distance travel.

Given the long dirt and gravel roads that cover much of Interlochen and its surrounding area, BATA began an experimental transit program in 2011 which consisted of rentable skateboards, scooters, bicycles and cross country skis (only available during the winter seasons). The program is largely targeted at the area's sizeable student population.{{citation needed|date=September 2021}}

===General aviation=== * [[File:Airport Sign.svg|20px]] [[Green Lake Airport]] (Y88) is located three miles south of Interlochen.

== Demographics == {{US Census population | 2010 = 583 | 2020 = 694 | footnote = U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|accessdate=June 4, 2016}}</ref> }} According to the [[U.S. Census|census]] of 2010, there were 583 people, 240 households, and 142 families residing in the Interlochen CDP. The population density was {{convert|470.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 277 housing units at an average density of {{convert|223.3|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}.<ref name="Census 2010 DP-1">{{Cite web| url=https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/SF1DP1/1600000US2640800| title=Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Interlochen CDP, Michigan| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| work=American Factfinder| access-date=December 19, 2016| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213134600/https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/SF1DP1/1600000US2640800| archive-date=February 13, 2020| url-status=dead}}</ref>

As of the 2010 census, the racial makeup of Interlochen was 95.2% [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census|White]], 2.2% [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]], 0.5% [[African-American]] or [[Black people|Black]], 0.2% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, 0.2% some other race, and 1.7% from two or more races. 1.9% of the population were [[Hispanics in the United States|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]], who can be of any race.<ref name="Census 2010 DP-1"/>

In Interlochen, 25.4% of the population was under the age of 18, 8.9% was from 18 to 24, 33.3% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 8.4% was 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32.3 years. For every 100 females, there were 104.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.6 males.<ref name="Census 2010 DP-1"/>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *[http://www.interlochenchamber.org/ Interlochen Chamber of Commerce]

[[Category:Unincorporated communities in Grand Traverse County, Michigan]] [[Category:Unincorporated communities in Michigan]] [[Category:Census-designated places in Grand Traverse County, Michigan]] [[Category:Census-designated places in Michigan]] [[Category:Michigan State Historic Sites]] [[Category:Traverse City metropolitan area]]