Interlochen, Michigan
Encyclopedia
Interlochen is a town in Northwest Lower Michigan
. The town is noted for the internationally renowned Interlochen Center for the Arts
.
tribe lived between the lakes they called Wahbekaness and Wahbekanetta (now named Duck Lake and Green Lake, respectively). Beginning in the late 19th century, European settlers began logging
and fishing
industries in the area. As the lumber industry grew, the area became more deforested, until in 1917 the State of Michigan
purchased the remaining virgin pines and created Interlochen State Park
, the first state park
in Michigan. In 1928, the National Music Camp was founded at Interlochen and evolved to become Interlochen Center for the Arts
, which still includes a summer camp as well as a winter fine arts boarding high school and public radio station.
at 44°38′41"N 85°46′02"W, and sits at an elevation
of 841 feet above sea level
. The FIPS place code is 40800.
weather: very cold in the winter, and very warm in the summer. Interlochen is close enough to Lake Michigan that it experiences heavy lake-effect snow, but not close enough to be cooled by the Great Lake's breeze, furthering the extremes of the winter and summer seasons. However, other lake-effect precipitation in the summer is also present, causing lush greenery and magnificent thunderstorms, and making Interlochen picturesque in the summer as well as in the winter.
(49643), which also includes most of Inland Township
as well as portions of Almira
and Colfax
townships in Benzie County
along with the western portion of Green Township and the northwest corner of Grant Township
. The population density
was 87.9 people per square mile (33.9/km²). There were 2,461 housing units at an average density of 43.2 per square mile (16.7/km²).
According to the 2000 census, the racial makeup of the Zip Code Tabulation Area was 96.6% Non-Hispanic White, 1.3% Native American
, 0.2% African-American or Black
, 0.2% Asian-American, 0.3% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. 0.9% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos, who can be of any race.
, which is in Grand Traverse County
, Michigan
, United States
. Interlochen does not have its own local government
, but is governed locally by the Green Lake Township
. The township offices are located in Interlochen. Some governmental services are also provided by the county.
is a spur running through the community, connecting US 31 with the community and with Interlochen State Park
about two miles south.
Northern Michigan
Northern Michigan, also known as Northern Lower Michigan , is a region of the U.S. state of Michigan...
. The town is noted for the internationally renowned Interlochen Center for the Arts
Interlochen Center for the Arts
Interlochen Center for the Arts is a privately owned, 1,200 acre arts education institution in Interlochen, Michigan, roughly 15 miles southwest of Traverse City...
.
History
Before the arrival of European settlers, members of the OdawaOdawa people
The Odawa or Ottawa, said to mean "traders," are a Native American and First Nations people. They are one of the Anishinaabeg, related to but distinct from the Ojibwe nation. Their original homelands are located on Manitoulin Island, near the northern shores of Lake Huron, on the Bruce Peninsula in...
tribe lived between the lakes they called Wahbekaness and Wahbekanetta (now named Duck Lake and Green Lake, respectively). Beginning in the late 19th century, European settlers began logging
Logging
Logging is the cutting, skidding, on-site processing, and loading of trees or logs onto trucks.In forestry, the term logging is sometimes used in a narrow sense concerning the logistics of moving wood from the stump to somewhere outside the forest, usually a sawmill or a lumber yard...
and fishing
Fishing industry
The fishing industry includes any industry or activity concerned with taking, culturing, processing, preserving, storing, transporting, marketing or selling fish or fish products....
industries in the area. As the lumber industry grew, the area became more deforested, until in 1917 the State of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
purchased the remaining virgin pines and created Interlochen State Park
Interlochen State Park
Interlochen State Park is the State of Michigan's first officially recognized state park. Situated between two freshwater lakes , it is a popular camping destination. It was established by the Michigan Legislature in 1917; $60,000 was paid for the land...
, the first state park
State park
State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational...
in Michigan. In 1928, the National Music Camp was founded at Interlochen and evolved to become Interlochen Center for the Arts
Interlochen Center for the Arts
Interlochen Center for the Arts is a privately owned, 1,200 acre arts education institution in Interlochen, Michigan, roughly 15 miles southwest of Traverse City...
, which still includes a summer camp as well as a winter fine arts boarding high school and public radio station.
Geography
As the name suggests, Interlochen is situated between the two lakes of the original Odawa settlement. It is approximately 14 miles southwest of Traverse CityTraverse City, Michigan
Traverse City is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is the county seat of Grand Traverse County, although a small portion extends into Leelanau County. It is the largest city in the 21-county Northern Michigan region. The population was 14,674 at the 2010 census, with 143,372 in the Traverse...
at 44°38′41"N 85°46′02"W, and sits at an elevation
Elevation
The elevation of a geographic location is its height above a fixed reference point, most commonly a reference geoid, a mathematical model of the Earth's sea level as an equipotential gravitational surface ....
of 841 feet above sea level
Sea level
Mean sea level is a measure of the average height of the ocean's surface ; used as a standard in reckoning land elevation...
. The FIPS place code is 40800.
Highways
US-31U.S. Route 31U.S. Route 31 is a long north–south highway connecting northern Michigan to southern Alabama, with its northern terminus at Interstate 75 near Mackinaw City, Michigan, and southern terminus at the combined U.S. Route 90 & U.S. Route 98 at Spanish Fort, Alabama...
mainly parallels the Lake MichiganLake MichiganLake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America and the only one located entirely within the United States. It is the second largest of the Great Lakes by volume and the third largest by surface area, after Lake Superior and Lake Huron...
shore, and runs for 356 miles in a northerly direction from the Indiana-Michigan state line southwest of Niles to its terminus at I-75 south of Mackinaw City.
M-37M-37 (Michigan highway)M-37 is a north–south state trunkline highway in the US state of Michigan. The southern terminus is near the border between Kalamazoo and Calhoun counties at exit 92 of Interstate 94 southwest of Battle Creek. The northern terminus is at the Mission Point Light on Old Mission Point in Grand...
runs north and south between Battle Creek and the Old Mission Peninsula, near Traverse City.
M-137M-137 (Michigan highway)M-137 is a state trunkline highway in the US state of Michigan that serves as a spur route to the Interlochen Center for the Arts and Interlochen State Park. It starts at US Highway 31 in Grand Traverse County and terminates at the park away. Although M-137 is near the much longer M-37...
is a 2.89-mile north-south spur between US-31 at the north end and Interlochen Center for the ArtsInterlochen Center for the ArtsInterlochen Center for the Arts is a privately owned, 1,200 acre arts education institution in Interlochen, Michigan, roughly 15 miles southwest of Traverse City...
and Interlochen State ParkInterlochen State ParkInterlochen State Park is the State of Michigan's first officially recognized state park. Situated between two freshwater lakes , it is a popular camping destination. It was established by the Michigan Legislature in 1917; $60,000 was paid for the land...
at the southern terminus (the road continues south as Grand Traverse County Road 137, also known as Karlin Road).
Climate
Interlochen lies close to the 45th parallel north, approximately halfway between the equator and the north pole. It therefore experiences typical Northern MichiganNorthern Michigan
Northern Michigan, also known as Northern Lower Michigan , is a region of the U.S. state of Michigan...
weather: very cold in the winter, and very warm in the summer. Interlochen is close enough to Lake Michigan that it experiences heavy lake-effect snow, but not close enough to be cooled by the Great Lake's breeze, furthering the extremes of the winter and summer seasons. However, other lake-effect precipitation in the summer is also present, causing lush greenery and magnificent thunderstorms, and making Interlochen picturesque in the summer as well as in the winter.
Demographics
According to the census of 2000, there were 5,002 people, 1,977 households, and 1,678 families residing in the Interlochen Zip Code Tabulation AreaZIP Code Tabulation Area
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas are statistical entities developed by the United States Census Bureau for tabulating summary statistics from Census 2000. This new entity was developed to overcome the difficulties in precisely defining the land area covered by each ZIP code...
(49643), which also includes most of Inland Township
Inland Township, Michigan
Inland Township is a civil township of Benzie County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,587 at the 2000 census. The township is located in the east central portion of the county...
as well as portions of Almira
Almira Township, Michigan
Almira Township is a civil township of Benzie County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 2,811.The village of Lake Ann is within the township, which is in the northeast corner of the county.-Geography:...
and Colfax
Colfax Township, Benzie County, Michigan
Colfax Township is a civil township of Benzie County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 585 at the 2000 census. One half of the village of Thompsonville is located within the township, which is situated in the southeast corner of the county....
townships in Benzie County
Benzie County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the 2000 census, there were 15,998 people, 6,500 households, and 4,595 families residing in the county. The population density was 50 people per square mile . There were 10,312 housing units at an average density of 32 per square mile...
along with the western portion of Green Township and the northwest corner of Grant Township
Grant Township, Grand Traverse County, Michigan
Grant Township is a civil township of Grand Traverse County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 947.-Geography:...
. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 87.9 people per square mile (33.9/km²). There were 2,461 housing units at an average density of 43.2 per square mile (16.7/km²).
According to the 2000 census, the racial makeup of the Zip Code Tabulation Area was 96.6% Non-Hispanic White, 1.3% Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
, 0.2% African-American or Black
Black
Black is the color of objects that do not emit or reflect light in any part of the visible spectrum; they absorb all such frequencies of light...
, 0.2% Asian-American, 0.3% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. 0.9% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos, who can be of any race.
Government
The Village of Interlochen is an unincorporated community in Green Lake TownshipGreen Lake Township, Michigan
Green Lake Township is a civil township of Grand Traverse County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 5,009 at the 2000 census.-Communities:...
, which is in Grand Traverse County
Grand Traverse County, Michigan
-Air service:*Grand Traverse County is served by Cherry Capital Airport, which is located near Traverse City.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 77,654 people, 30,396 households, and 20,730 families residing in the county. The population density was 167 people per square mile . ...
, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Interlochen does not have its own local government
Local government
Local government refers collectively to administrative authorities over areas that are smaller than a state.The term is used to contrast with offices at nation-state level, which are referred to as the central government, national government, or federal government...
, but is governed locally by the Green Lake Township
Green Lake Township, Michigan
Green Lake Township is a civil township of Grand Traverse County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 5,009 at the 2000 census.-Communities:...
. The township offices are located in Interlochen. Some governmental services are also provided by the county.
Media
Interlochen is home to 88.7 WIAA, which is run by the Interlochen Center for the Arts and operates as Northern Michigan's National Public Radio affiliate.Highways
U.S. Highway 31 passes about a mile north of the area and M-137M-137 (Michigan highway)
M-137 is a state trunkline highway in the US state of Michigan that serves as a spur route to the Interlochen Center for the Arts and Interlochen State Park. It starts at US Highway 31 in Grand Traverse County and terminates at the park away. Although M-137 is near the much longer M-37...
is a spur running through the community, connecting US 31 with the community and with Interlochen State Park
Interlochen State Park
Interlochen State Park is the State of Michigan's first officially recognized state park. Situated between two freshwater lakes , it is a popular camping destination. It was established by the Michigan Legislature in 1917; $60,000 was paid for the land...
about two miles south.