Whitewater Township, Michigan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Whitewater Township, Michigan
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View of Lake Skegemog
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Location within Grand Traverse County
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 Whitewater Township, Michigan
Location in Michigan
Whitewater Township, Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Michigan |
| County |  Grand Traverse |
| Organized | October 1859 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 138.8 km2 (53.6 sq mi) |
| • Land | 123.9 km2 (47.8 sq mi) |
| • Water | 14.9 km2 (5.8 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 249 m (817 ft) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,688 |
| • Density | 19.9/km2 (51.6/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code(s) | |
| Area code(s) | 231 |
| FIPS code | 26-87040 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1627268 |
Whitewater Township is a cool place in Grand Traverse County, Michigan. It's a type of local government area called a civil township. In 2020, about 2,688 people lived here.
The township is special because it has parts of two big lakes: Elk Lake and Lake Skegemog. These lakes are part of a larger group called the Chain of Lakes. Also, a small part of Whitewater Township is within the Grand Traverse Indian Reservation.
Contents
History of Whitewater Township
Whitewater Township was officially started in October 1859. It was formed from a part of Traverse Township. This makes it one of the oldest townships in Grand Traverse County. It was the third township created there.
The township got its name from a river called the Whitewater River. This river is now known as Acme Creek.
Communities in Whitewater Township
Whitewater Township has a few interesting communities, including some that are now "ghost towns."
Angell: A Former Rail Stop
- Angell (sometimes spelled Angel) is a ghost town in the northern part of the township. A railroad line was built here in 1892, connecting Williamsburg to Elk Rapids. Angell became a train stop and had a post office from 1892 to 1909.
Mabel: A Lumber Town
- Mabel (also spelled Mable) is another ghost town in the township. It was a settlement for lumber workers and a station on a new railway line in 1892.
Williamsburg: A Lively Community
- Williamsburg is an active community within the township. It's located on M-72, a main road. Williamsburg is about halfway between Traverse City and Kalkaska.
Geography of Whitewater Township
Whitewater Township covers about 53.6 square miles (138.8 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, about 47.8 square miles (123.9 square kilometers). The rest, about 5.8 square miles (14.9 square kilometers), is water.
The township is in the northeast corner of Grand Traverse County. It shares borders with Antrim County to the north and Kalkaska County to the east.
Lakes and Waterways
As mentioned, parts of Elk Lake and Lake Skegemog are in Whitewater Township. These lakes are part of the "Chain of Lakes." They also help form the border between Grand Traverse County and both Antrim and Kalkaska counties.
Neighboring Townships
Whitewater Township is surrounded by several other townships.
Townships by Land
- Elk Rapids Township, Antrim County (north)
- Clearwater Township, Kalkaska County (east)
- Kalkaska Township, Kalkaska County (east)
- Boardman Township, Kalkaska County (southeast)
- Union Township (south)
- East Bay Township (southwest)
- Acme Township (west)
Townships by Water
- Milton Township, Antrim County (northeast)
Getting Around Whitewater Township
Only one main state highway, M-72, goes through Whitewater Township.
M-72 Highway
M-72 runs from east to west right through the middle of the township.
- To the west, M-72 connects to US 31 in Acme. It then continues towards Traverse City.
- To the east, M-72 goes into Kalkaska County. There, it meets US 131 and M-66 in Kalkaska.
Local Roads
Besides M-72, there are also important local roads. Grand Traverse County Roads 605 (Elk Lake Road/Williamsburg Road) and 660 (Supply Road) help people get around the township.
Population and People
In 2020, the population of Whitewater Township was 2,688 people. This was a small increase from 2,597 people in 2010.
According to the 2000 census, there were 2,467 people living in the township. There were 896 households, and 712 of these were families. About 37.7% of households had children under 18 living with them. Most households (70.8%) were married couples. The average household had 2.72 people.
The population was spread out by age. About 27% of the people were under 18. The median age was 40 years old. This means half the people were younger than 40, and half were older.
Images for kids
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A friendly robot
