Blair Township, Michigan

Blair Township (/blɛər/ BLAYR) is a civil township of Grand Traverse County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 census, the township population was 8,994, making it the most populous civil township in Grand Traverse County.

Blair Township
Civil township
Blair Township Water Tower
Blair Township Water Tower
Location within Grand Traverse County
Location within Grand Traverse County
Blair Township is located in Michigan
Blair Township
Blair Township
Location within the state of Michigan
Blair Township is located in the United States
Blair Township
Blair Township
Blair Township (the United States)
Coordinates: 44°39′18″N 85°38′48″W
Country United States
State Michigan
County Grand Traverse
Established1867
Named forGovernor Austin Blair
Government
 • SupervisorNicole Blonshine
 • ClerkLynette Wolfgang
Area
 • Total36.0 sq mi (93.1 km2)
 • Land35.6 sq mi (92.2 km2)
 • Water0.3 sq mi (0.9 km2)
Elevation
892 ft (272 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total8,994
 • Density181.0/sq mi (69.9/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code(s)
49637, 49649, 49685, 49696
Area code231
FIPS code26-08880[1]
GNIS feature ID1625945[2]
Wuerfel Park (now Turtle Creek Stadium) in Northern Blair Township

Blair Township lies about 4 miles (6.4 km) south of Traverse City. Because of this proximity, much of the northern half of Blair Township is suburban, especially in the township-administered communities of Chums Corner and Grawn.

Blair Township is the location of Turtle Creek Stadium, the home stadium for the Traverse City Pit Spitters, a collegiate summer baseball team.

History

The territory of Blair Township has historically been part of territory under the Council of Three Fires (Odawa, Ojibwe, and Potawatomi).

In 1853, Traverse Township was organized, and comprised all of Grand Traverse County excluding the Old Mission Peninsula.[3] In April 1867, Blair Township was organized from the section of Traverse Township at 26 north, range 11 west.[4] The township was named for Austin Blair, who served as Governor of Michigan during the American Civil War.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 36.0 square miles (93 km2), of which 35.6 square miles (92 km2) is land and 0.3 square miles (0.78 km2) (0.95%) is water.

The township's largest lake is Silver Lake, which it shares with Garfield Township. The Boardman River briefly flows through the northeast of the township.

Adjacent townships

Major highways
  • US 31 runs north–south and east–west through the northwest of the township. The highway continues west toward Interlochen and Benzie County, and runs north to Traverse City.
  • M-37 runs north–south through the township. To the south, M-37 continues toward Buckley and Mesick, and to the north with US 31 to Traverse City.

Communities

Demographics

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 6,448 people, 2,295 households, and 1,684 families residing in the township. The population density was 181.0 inhabitants per square mile (69.9/km2). There were 2,482 housing units at an average density of 69.7 per square mile (26.9/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 94.70% White, 0.25% African American, 1.64% Native American, 0.42% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.52% from other races, and 1.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.48% of the population.

There were 2,295 households, out of which 39.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.7% were married couples living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.6% were non-families. 18.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.18.

In the township the population was spread out, with 30.1% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 35.5% from 25 to 44, 19.0% from 45 to 64, and 6.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.1 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $40,125, and the median income for a family was $42,740. Males had a median income of $30,020 versus $19,885 for females. The per capita income for the township was $14,745. About 7.2% of families and 11.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.4% of those under age 18 and 9.6% of those age 65 or over.

Notable person

References
  1. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  2. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Blair Township, Michigan
  3. "Chapter VIII: County of Omeena Laid Off - Grand Traverse County Organized - Organization Completed - County Officers - Acts of Supervisors - County Buildings - Going to Mackinac to Vote - First Term of Court - Bench and Bar - Organization of Towns - Agriculture Society - Railroad - School Matters". The Traverse Region, Historical and Descriptive with Illustrations of Scenery and Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Some of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers. Chicago: H. R. Page & Co. 1884. Retrieved October 21, 2022 – via Genealogy Trails Transcription Team.
  4. "City and Township Histories of Grand Traverse County, MI". genealogytrails.com. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  5. Romig, Walter (1986). Michigan Place Names: The History of the Founding and the Naming of More Than Five Thousand Past and Present Michigan Communities. Detroit: Wayne State University Press. p. 52. ISBN 0-8143-1838-X.
  6. "Geographic Names Information System". edits.nationalmap.gov. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
  7. Romig, Walter (1986). Michigan Place Names: The History of the Founding and the Naming of More Than Five Thousand Past and Present Michigan Communities. Detroit: Wayne State University Press. p. 303. ISBN 0-8143-1838-X.
  8. Romig, Walter (1986). Michigan Place Names: The History of the Founding and the Naming of More Than Five Thousand Past and Present Michigan Communities. Detroit: Wayne State University Press. p. 376. ISBN 0-8143-1838-X.
  9. Romig, Walter (1986). Michigan Place Names: The History of the Founding and the Naming of More Than Five Thousand Past and Present Michigan Communities. Detroit: Wayne State University Press. p. 518. ISBN 0-8143-1838-X.
  10. Bedwell, Michael. "Chasten Buttigieg's new book is a frank discussion of growing up gay in middle America". LGBTQ Nation. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
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