Traverse City is a city located in the state of Michigan. It is located in Grand Traverse County, where it serves as the county seat, but is also part of Leelanau County. In addition to attracting a population estimated to be 15,651, the city is also a popular tourist destination and has been named one of the best places in the U.S. to retire. By population, Traverse City is the largest city in Northern Michigan.
The Ojibwe and Ottawa tribes were the original inhabitants of what is now Traverse City. Europeans arrived in the area during the 18th century. The first permanent settlement along the Grand Traverse Bay was originally called Grand Traverse and was established in 1839.
A man from Illinois purchased land along the Boardman River in 1847. That same year, a sawmill was constructed, which was later sold in 1851. Hannah, Lay & Co made the purchase and invested in the sawmill, drawing in new settlers. The following year, a new post office was established, and a new settlement was created, named Grand Traverse City. The post office suggested changing the name to Traverse City, which was implemented immediately.
Traverse City saw growth in the years ahead with the introduction of rail service in the 1870s. As the area became more populated, Traverse City was incorporated as a village in 1891, then incorporated as a city a few years later. Throughout the 1900s, the city continued to grow. Many national magazines and multiple newspapers are printed in Traverse City. The city is also the largest producer of tart cherries and hosts the National Cherry Festival, which brings in about half a million tourists each year. Other attractions also bring in more visitors, including vineyards, beaches, and skiing areas. The city also features multiple shopping malls, retailers, wineries and professional sports teams, and even a local film festival available.
In recent years, Traverse City has been named as one of the top small travel destinations in the U.S., as well as one of the best places in the country for retirement.
The city’s estimated population is 15,479. This is up from 14,674 recorded during the 2010 census. The city’s total area is 8.66 square miles with a population density of 1,700 people per square mile. It is only the 68th most populous city in Michigan.
Most of the residents in Traverse City are 45 to 64 years old, making up 28.3% of the population. Over one-quarter of the population is 25 to 44, while over 18% are under age 18 and 16.7% are at least 65. Over 52% of the population is female. About 8.4% of the population lives below the federal poverty line.
Traverse City has grown slowly but steadily, although there have been declining population figures in recent years. The city first surpassed 10,000 residents at the time of the 1920 census. By the 1960s, the city was well on its way to 20,000 residents when the population dropped by over 2% according to the 1970 poll. The population only continued to fall, showing the most significant decline at the 1980 census when the total number dropped to 15,516. The population fell again at the 1990 census, then again at the next 10-year census. Recent estimates, however, show that the population is slowly growing again, reflecting a 5.5% increase over the figures recorded in 2010.
Traverse City, Michigan's estimated population is 15,651 according to the most recent United States census estimates. Traverse City, Michigan is the 62nd largest city in Michigan based on official 2017 estimates from the US Census Bureau.
The population density is 1876.60 people/mi² (724.55 people/km²).
The overall median age is 40.6 years, 38.7 years for males, and 43.8 years for females. For every 100 females there are 93.0 males.
Based on data from the American Community Survey, in 2017 there were 7,543 households in the city, with an average size of 2.22 people per household. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0%, with a median rent of $869/month. The median house has 5.4 rooms, and has a value of $216,800.
The median income for households in Traverse City, Michigan is $53,237, while the mean household income is $78,497.
According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Traverse City was:
| Year | Population | Growth | Annual Growth Rate |
| 2018 | 15,651 | 156 | 1.01% |
| 2017 | 15,495 | 67 | 0.43% |
| 2016 | 15,428 | 105 | 0.69% |
| 2015 | 15,323 | 131 | 0.86% |
| 2014 | 15,192 | 144 | 0.96% |
| 2013 | 15,048 | 85 | 0.57% |
| 2012 | 14,963 | 95 | 0.64% |
| 2011 | 14,868 | 151 | 1.03% |
| 2010 | 14,717 | 185 | 0.13% |
| 2000 | 14,532 | -623 | -0.42% |
| 1990 | 15,155 | -361 | -0.24% |
| 1980 | 15,516 | -2,532 | -1.50% |
| 1970 | 18,048 | -384 | -0.21% |
| 1960 | 18,432 | 1,458 | 0.83% |
| 1950 | 16,974 | 2,519 | 1.62% |
| 1940 | 14,455 | 1,916 | 1.43% |
| 1930 | 12,539 | 1,614 | 1.39% |
| 1920 | 10,925 | -1,190 | -1.03% |
| 1910 | 12,115 | 2,708 | 2.56% |
| 1900 | 9,407 | 5,054 | 8.01% |
| 1890 | 4,353 | 0.00% |
| Race | Population | Percentage |
| White | 14,520 | 93.38% |
| Two or More Races | 431 | 2.77% |
| Black or African American | 276 | 1.77% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 185 | 1.19% |
| Asian | 94 | 0.60% |
| Some Other Race | 36 | 0.23% |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander | 8 | 0.05% |
40.6
38.7
43.8
There are 12,551 adults, (2,948 of whom are seniors) in Traverse City.
Female
8,055
51.80%
Male
7,495
48.20%
| Type | Count | Average Size | Owned |
| All | 6,629 | 2.22 | 63.3 |
| Non Family | 3,038 | 1.23 | 50.5 |
| Married | 2,745 | 2.97 | 79.2 |
| Female | 547 | 3.37 | 58.3 |
| Male | 299 | 3.27 | 55.9 |
| Education Attained | Count | Percentage |
| Less Than 9th Grade | 123 | 1.10% |
| 9th to 12th Grade | 307 | 2.75% |
| High School Graduate | 2,075 | 18.61% |
| Some College | 2,382 | 21.37% |
| Associates Degree | 1,260 | 11.30% |
| Bachelors Degree | 2,930 | 26.29% |
| Graduate Degree | 2,070 | 18.57% |
The highest rate of high school graduation is among islander people with a rate of 100.00%.
The highest rate of bachelors degrees is among islander people with a rate of 100.00%.
96.39% of Traverse City residents speak only English, while 3.61% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Other Indo-European, which is spoken by 1.92% of the population.
| Name | Total | In Poverty | Poverty Rate |
| White | 13,708 | 1,428 | 10.42% |
| Black | 221 | 50 | 22.62% |
| Native | 170 | 40 | 23.53% |
| Hispanic | 345 | 6 | 1.74% |
| Multiple | 431 | 3 | 0.70% |
10.23%
Overall Poverty Rate
11.63%
Male Poverty Rate
8.94%
Female Poverty Rate
The race most likely to be in poverty in Traverse City is Native, with 23.53% below the poverty level.
The race least likely to be in poverty in Traverse City is Multiple, with 0.70% below the poverty level.
The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 2.47%. Among those working part-time, it was 16.65%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 17.65%.
43.6%
Overall Marriage Rate
46.0%
Male Marriage Rate
41.4%
Female Marriage Rate
The age group where males are most likely to be married is Over 65, while the female age group most likely to be married is 55-64.
| Name | Veterans | % of Total |
| White | 930 | 7.77% |
| Indian | 32 | 26.02% |
| Hispanic | 23 | 13.69% |
| Black | 6 | 2.99% |
| 2 or More | 3 | 1.85% |
7.64%
Veteran Poverty Rate
39.19%
Veteran Disability Rate
66.4%
Labor Force Participation
63.2%
Employment Rate
4.8%
Unemployment Rate
Non citizens include legal permanent residents (green card holders), international students, temporary workers, humanitarian migrants, and illegal immigrants.
98.26%
Native Born
1.74%
Foreign Born
0.68%
Non Citizen
98.26% of Traverse City residents were born in the United States, with 75.02% having been born in Michigan. 0.68% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Europe.