Williamsburg, Michigan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Williamsburg, Michigan
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 Williamsburg, Michigan
Location in Michigan
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Michigan |
| County |  Grand Traverse |
| Township | Whitewater |
| Established | 1856 |
| Elevation | 735 ft (224 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code(s) |
49690
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| Area code(s) | 231 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1616512 |
Williamsburg is a small place in the state of Michigan in the United States. It's called an "unincorporated community." This means it doesn't have its own separate local government like a city or town.
Williamsburg is located in Whitewater Township, which is part of Grand Traverse County. Even though it doesn't have its own government, it does have a post office with the ZIP Code 49690. You can also find the Turtle Creek Casino and Hotel here.
Contents
A Look Back: Williamsburg's History
People have lived in the area around Williamsburg for a very long time! There's proof that different groups of people lived here as far back as 10,500 BC. This was especially true near Skegemog Point, which is by Lake Skegemog and Elk Lake.
Records show that a group called the Mascouten, who were part of the Algonquin people, lived here until about the 1630s. Later, the Odawa and Ojibwe peoples also made this area their home.
How Williamsburg Started
In 1856, three families from Monroe County, New York came and settled in this area. They first called their new home Mill Creek.
A few years later, in 1867, the community got its own post office. It was named Dunbar after the very first postmaster (the person in charge of the post office). In 1869, the post office name changed again to Williamsburgh. The extra "h" at the end was removed in 1894, making it just "Williamsburg."
Railroad Days
In 1892, a new part of the Chicago and West Michigan Railroad opened up. This train line went right through Williamsburg. For many years, it connected Williamsburg to other towns like Charlevoix and Petoskey. However, in 1982, the train line stopped running past Williamsburg.
The 1973 Ground Changes
In 1973, something unusual happened in Williamsburg. Many small holes, called sinkholes, appeared in the ground. There were between 100 and 150 of them!
These sinkholes were caused by gas from deep underground. At the time, there was more drilling for oil and natural gas happening. This was because of a big energy situation in 1973. During this time, a gas pocket was accidentally hit during drilling, causing gas to escape and create the holes.
People living in Williamsburg had to leave their homes for a while to stay safe. A new road, M-72, which led to Traverse City, was also affected and couldn't be used. After some time, the situation was fixed, and residents were able to return home.
Where is Williamsburg?
Williamsburg is located in the northern part of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. It's about 8 miles (13 km) south of Elk Rapids. It's also about 10 miles (16 km) east of Traverse City and 12 miles (19 km) west of Kalkaska.
Part of the Grand Traverse Reservation is right next to Williamsburg. This is where the Turtle Creek Casino and Hotel is located.
Main Road
M-72 is a major road that goes right through Williamsburg. It runs east and west, connecting the community to Traverse City and Kalkaska.
Famous People from Williamsburg
- Adam Trautman is a professional National Football League (NFL) player. He plays as a tight end and grew up in Williamsburg.
