Peninsula Township, Michigan

In 1836 the Odawa (Ottawa) and Chippewa Nations had ceded more than 13 million acres of the northwest section of Michigan's Lower Peninsula to the U.S. Government in the Treaty of Washington (1836). The treaty called for mission churches and schools to be established to educate the native children. Presbyterian ministers Peter Dougherty and John Fleming and four male missionaries founded a settlement at what is now Old Mission in May 1839, the first European settlement in the Grand Traverse Bay region. Dougherty and Fleming spent the winter of 1838–1839 on Mackinac Island in Lake Huron, and sailed west in the spring. Upon their arrival at the Mission Peninsula in May, they encountered only one Native American resident of what appeared to be an abandoned village by the harbor. The name of Old Mission later was applied to the peninsula as a whole, which was previously referred to as the Grand Traverse Peninsula and the Ahgosa Peninsula. In 1853, Peninsula Township was organized as one of Grand Traverse County's first two townships, the other being Traverse Township (taking up all of mainland Grand Traverse County, excluding the Old Mission Peninsula). Beginning in the early 1940s, the Michigan State Highway Department (now MDOT) constructed Center Road to allow for easier access up the peninsula, with motorists previously having to remain on narrow and winding shoreline roads. Center Road is today the northernmost leg of state trunkline highway M-37. == Geography ==

Peninsula Township contains the landmass known as the Old Mission Peninsula, and Power Island. According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 31.8 square miles (82.5 km), of which 27.9 square miles (72.2 km) is land and 4.0 square miles (10.3 km) (13%) is water. Old Mission Peninsula The Old Mission Peninsula extends about from the Lower Peninsula of Michigan into Grand Traverse Bay, itself a bay of Lake Michigan. The peninsula separates Grand Traverse Bay into its West Arm and East Arm. Additionally, the peninsula is adjacent to Bowers Harbor and Old Mission Harbor, smaller inlets of the West Arm and East Arm, respectively. At its widest, the peninsula is only about 3.25 miles shore-to-shore (5.23 kilometers). Unlike the rest of mainland Grand Traverse County, the Old Mission Peninsula, like the neighboring Leelanau Peninsula, has unusually steep and rising terrain for the region. The northern end of the peninsula, however, is much flatter than the rest, and is a part of the Antrim–Charlevoix Drumlin Field. Major highway • (historically known as Center Road) runs for along the backbone of the peninsula, terminating in a cul-de-sac at Old Mission Point. It was designated what is now known as a Pure Michigan Byway Scenic Route in June 2007. The M-37 Scenic Heritage Route proposal is itself a unique resource concerning the character of the peninsula, and the activities along this byway. South of the peninsula, in Traverse City, M-37 intersects highways US 31 and M-72. Communities in West Grand Traverse Bay from Chateau Grand Traverse, about halfway up the Old Mission Peninsula. Power Island is politically part of Peninsula Township. • Archie, a ghost town on the shore of East Grand Traverse Bay, at . Archie was given a post office in 1885, which lasted until September 1900. The post office reopened the following December, but was closed again in 1902. • Mapleton is an unincorporated community roughly midway up the Old Mission Peninsula, along M-37 at . Mapleton was founded in 1859 by the Ogden family of New York state, with a post office opening the same year. The post office lasted until 1904. Today, despite being a small community, Mapleton is marked by signage along M-37. • Neahtawanta is a historic summer resort colony at . The word "Neahtawanta" derives from Ojibwe words meaning "placid waters", in reference to Bowers Harbor. Neahtawanta was established in 1890 by the Neahtawanta Association, and a post office was established in 1907, only lasting until 1914. Today, Neahtawanta is still occupied by large summer resort homes, and the Neahtawanta Inn remains open. • Ogdensburg, a ghost town at . Ogdensburg was founded by the same Ogden family in 1855, and was one of the region's first settlements. • Traverse City is immediately adjacent Peninsula Township, bordering it to the south. Much of the south of Peninsula Township has suburbanized due to its proximity to Traverse City. Traverse City, though, is politically independent of Peninsula Township, and the two are administered separately. == Demographics ==

As of the census of 2000, there were 5,265 people, 2,131 households, and 1,625 families residing in the township. The population density was . There were 2,613 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the township was 97.28% White, 0.06% African American, 0.36% Native American, 0.59% Asian, 0.97% from other races, and 0.74% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.01% of the population. There were 2,131 households, out of which 27.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 70.4% were married couples living together, 4.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.7% were non-families. 20.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.84. In the township the population was spread out, with 23.1% under the age of 18, 4.2% from 18 to 24, 19.3% from 25 to 44, 33.5% from 45 to 64, and 19.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.9 males. The median annual income for a household in the township was $66,019, and the median income for a family was $82,426. Males had a median income of $52,750 versus $34,620 for females. The per capita income for the township was $40,753. About 1.1% of families and 2.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.3% of those under age 18 and 2.3% of those age 65 or over. == Recreation ==

• The "Old Mission Peninsula Cruise" is considered to be a "serendipitous" adventure for road bike riders. It is favored by local riders, including bicycle clubs, because of the scenery, the quality of the road, and lack of traffic. • The peninsula is a great place to sea kayak. The bay offers a shelter from the prevailing westerly winds and from the Lake Michigan waves. One can get close to shore, the lighthouse, picnic grounds, and parks. Maps, rentals, and guided tours are available. • There are many recurrent and special events. A calendar is available. == Economy ==

There are eleven wineries on the Old Mission Peninsula. The Old Mission Peninsula sits close to the 45th parallel, a latitude known for growing prestigious grapes. The two Grand Traverse Bays provide the ideal maritime climate and the rich soil does the rest. Northern Michigan specializes in growing white grapes and is known for its Rieslings which grow well in the summer months and late fall, which Traverse City is known for. Every October the wineries host a harvest fest. Some Riesling grapes are spared being picked in the fall and instead are picked when they freeze, from which Ice Wine is made. == See also ==