Traverse Bay, MI

In the northwest portion of the mitten-shaped lower peninsula of Michigan lies the Traverse Bay area.1 The region consists of five counties (Grand Traverse, Antrim, Benzie, Kalkaska, and Leelanau), with Traverse City as the primary city. This five-county area contains about 130 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline and 100 inland lakes in addition to the scenic Grand Traverse Bay itself, and is known as the cherry capital of the world. Dense forests and beaches are some of the natural resources present.

The area has attracted new residents from around the Great Lakes region because of its scenic values and high quality of life. The economy has thrived, with an estimated 95 percent of the commercial activity in the region driven by small business. However, the burgeoning population is threatening to erode the very things people moved here to enjoy. For example, Grand Traverse County experienced a 17 percent population increase from 1980 to 1990. This growth rate increased during the next decade: The five-county region counted 154,000 residents in 2000, with an average growth rate of 26 percent for the area. The state as a whole is consuming land eight times faster than the population growth. Some impacts include a decrease in surface water quality, replacement of cherry farms with subdivisions, and more roads.

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