GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY, MI HISTORY AND LOOKUP
County History Books
*None Listed
Grand Traverse County, Michigan: A Genealogical Overview
Located in the northwestern part of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, Grand Traverse County is the cultural and economic hub of the region. Centered around the scenic shores of Grand Traverse Bay, the county is famous for its cherry and grape production, vibrant tourism industry, and the city of Traverse City. Its history is a layered story of the Anishinaabe people, the Presbyterian missionaries who established the first permanent settlement, and the lumber barons who transformed its landscape during the boom years of the 19th century.
I. County Formation and Evolution
Understanding Grand Traverse County’s role as a massive “mother county” is essential for locating the earliest records for ancestors across the entire northwestern Lower Peninsula.
- 1851: County Formed: The area was first delineated as Omeena County in 1840. It was renamed Grand Traverse County on March 8, 1851, and was formally organized with its own government in 1853.
- Parent County: It was created from the territory of the vast, unorganized Michilimackinac County. Prior to its own organization in 1853, it was attached to Mackinac County for judicial and administrative purposes. Records from before 1853 would be located in Mackinac County records.
- Subsequent County Formations: Grand Traverse County originally covered a massive territory that was later partitioned to form numerous other counties. Researchers must consult Grand Traverse County records for events that occurred in these areas before their own formation dates. Successor counties include: Leelanau (1863), Benzie (1869), Wexford (1869), Missaukee (1871), Kalkaska (1871), Antrim (1863), Charlevoix (1869), and Roscommon (1875).
- Name Origin: The county is named for Grand Traverse Bay, which dominates its geography. The name is French for “the long crossing,” a term used by 18th-century French voyageurs and traders to describe the wide, nine-mile crossing at the mouth of the bay.
- County Seat History: The first county seat was established at the Old Mission settlement on the Old Mission Peninsula. In 1853, upon the county’s formal organization, the seat was moved to the newly developing village of Traverse City, where it has remained ever since.
II. Settlement and Early History
- Early Inhabitants: For centuries, this region was the homeland of the Anishinaabe, a group of culturally related Indigenous peoples. The Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, a federally recognized tribe, are the modern descendants of the bands who inhabited this area and continue to be a vital part of the county’s community and culture.
- Pioneer Settlement and Economy: The first permanent non-native settlement was the Presbyterian “Old Mission,” founded in 1839 by Reverend Peter Dougherty on the peninsula that now bears the mission’s name. The county’s major growth, however, was ignited by the lumber industry. In 1851, the firm of Hannah, Lay & Co. built a large steam-powered sawmill on the Boardman River, platting the village that would become Traverse City. For the next 40 years, logging was the dominant economic force. As the pine forests were cleared, the economy transitioned to agriculture—most famously cherries—and tourism.
III. Genealogical Records and Resources
This section provides practical information for locating ancestral records specific to Grand Traverse County.
- Courthouse: The Grand Traverse County Clerk’s Office is the primary repository for most historical county records. It is located at the Grand Traverse County Governmental Center, 400 Boardman Ave, Traverse City, MI 49684. This office holds vital records, court records (including probate), and business registrations. Land records (deeds) are held by the Register of Deeds at the same location.
- Vital Records:
- Birth and Death Records: Statewide registration in Michigan began in 1867. Records from that date are held by the County Clerk. Copies can also be obtained from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Pre-1867 records are very scarce and are typically found only in church registers or family bibles.
- Marriage Records: Marriage records from the county’s organization in 1853 to the present are held by the Grand Traverse County Clerk.
- Libraries with Genealogy Collections:
- Traverse Area District Library (TADL): Located at 610 Woodmere Ave, Traverse City, MI 49686. The main branch has a Special Collections department with significant local history and genealogy resources, including newspapers on microfilm, city directories, maps, and family histories.
- Grand Traverse Area Genealogical Society: An active society that is a key resource for local research assistance and publications.
- Archives of Michigan and Library of Michigan: (Located in Lansing) These are the state’s primary repositories for Michigan genealogical research, holding state census records, military records, state copies of vital records, and extensive collections of maps and newspapers.
- Bordering Jurisdictions:
- Leelanau County, MI
- Benzie County, MI
- Wexford County, MI
- Kalkaska County, MI
- Antrim County, MI