BENZIE
Almira and Platte are the two northernmost townships in Benzie County. Between them they include the lakeside village of Lake Ann and everything west to Esch Beach. The north branch of Platte River runs right through the townships, which between them have a population of about 4,000 Michiganders.
LEELANAU
Leelanau County, in its entirety, is a part of our new State House district. This includes the village of Empire in the county’s southwest, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, and the waterfront town of Glen Arbor. You’ll hit the Homestead en route east to Good Harbor Bay, and then the vibrant villages of Leland and Northport as you round the northern point of the peninsula.
Continue driving southward along the M-22, and you’ll see vineyard and orchard after vineyard and orchard. The town of Suttons Bay has a dynamic arts and cultural scene, and the communities of Lake Leelanau and Elmwood Township butt up against it from the south. Taken together, Leelanau has a population of just over 22,000 Michiganders and some of the most beautiful natural scenery in our state.
GRAND TRAVERSE
Continue driving southeastward and you’ll find the northern half of Grand Traverse County. On its western edge is the community of Long Lake, with Garfield Township butting up against it to the east. Garfield includes the Hickory Hills outdoor recreation area, Grand Traverse Mall, and much of Traverse’s commerce.
Drive north past the Boardman Lake and you’ll enter Traverse City. The largest population center in northern Michigan, Traverse is home to Northwestern Community College, Munson Hospital, and a vibrant arts and cultural scene. The Traverse City Film Festival, annual Cherry Festival, and unbeatable frontage on Grand Traverse Bay. Coupled with Peninsula Township to the city’s north, which has bountiful vineyards and orchards, Traverse really has it all.
Continue eastward, past Cherry Capital Airport, and you’ll find the Brown Bridge Quiet Area — 1300 acres of City-owned property located 11 miles southeast of Traverse City. Acme Township rounds out the district to the east, with its water frontage and Grand Traverse Resort. In sum, the northern half of Grand Traverse County contributes about 70,000 northern Michiganders to the district.
