Garfield Township, Grand Traverse County, Michigan

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Garfield Township, officially the Charter Township of Garfield, is a township in Grand Traverse County, Michigan, just north of Traverse City. It is the largest municipality in Northern Lower Michigan by population, with 19,499 people at the 2020 census and about 20,000 estimated in 2023. The area is mostly suburban because of its proximity to Traverse City. It is one of four charter townships in the Traverse City metropolitan area, along with Elmwood Township in Leelanau County and East Bay and Long Lake Townships in Grand Traverse County.

History
The area was organized in 1853 as Traverse Township. It was renamed Garfield in 1882 in honor of President James A. Garfield. It became a charter township in 1977.

Geography
Garfield Township covers 27.7 square miles, of which 26.7 is land and about 1.0 is water. The Boardman River flows north through the eastern part of the township, and Kids Creek also runs through it. Silver Lake sits in the southwest and is shared with Blair Township to the south. Two lines of the Great Lakes Central Railroad pass along the eastern side, near the river.

Demographics
As of the 2020 census, the township is largely residential and suburban. The population is predominantly White, with small shares of Native American, African American, Asian, and other groups. The area has a mix of households and family setups, with a range of ages from children to seniors.

Education
Traverse City Area Public Schools (TCAPS) serves Garfield Township. The eastern part of the township sends students to Traverse City Central High School, while the western part is zoned to Traverse City West Senior High School, which is located in the township. TCAPS also operates Traverse City West Middle School and Silver Lake Elementary School within Garfield Township.

Government
Garfield Township is governed by a supervisor and a clerk; current leaders are Supervisor Joe McManus and Clerk Lanie McManus.

Other
ZIP codes for the area include 49684, 49685, 49686, and 49696, and the area code is 231. The township is in the Eastern Time Zone (EST/EDT) and has an elevation of about 702 feet. For more information, visit the township’s website.