Editing Blair Township, Michigan

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Blair Township
| official_name      = 
| settlement_type    = [[Civil township]]
| nickname           = 
| motto              = <!-- Images -->
| image_skyline      = Blair Township Watertower (Michigan).jpg
| imagesize          = 200
| image_caption      = Blair Township Water Tower
| image_flag         = 
| image_seal         = <!-- Maps -->|
| pushpin_map        = Michigan#USA
| pushpin_label_position = left<!-- the position of the pushpin label: left, right, top, bottom, none -->
| pushpin_label      = Blair Township
| pushpin_map_caption = Location within the state of Michigan
| pushpin_mapsize    = 
| image_map          = Blair Township, MI location.png
| mapsize            = 250
| map_caption        = Location within [[Grand Traverse County, Michigan|Grand Traverse County]] 
<!-- Location -->| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = {{Flagu|United States}}
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = {{Flag|Michigan}}
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Michigan|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = {{Flagicon image|Flag of Grand Traverse County, Michigan.svg}} [[Grand Traverse County, Michigan|Grand Traverse]]
<!-- Government -->| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = 
| leader_title       = Supervisor
| leader_name        = Nicole Blonshine
| leader_title1      = Clerk
| leader_name1       = Lynette Wolfgang

<!-- Area -->| established_title  = Established
| established_date   = 1867
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = 
| area_magnitude     = 
| area_total_km2     = 93.1
| area_land_km2      = 92.2
| area_water_km2     = 0.9
| area_total_sq_mi   = 36.0
| area_land_sq_mi    = 35.6
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.3

<!-- Population -->| population_as_of   = [[United States Census, 2020|2020]]
| population_footnotes = 
| population_total   = 8994
| population_density_km2 = 69.9
| population_density_sq_mi = 181.0

<!-- General information -->| timezone           = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
| utc_offset         = -5
| timezone_DST       = EDT
| utc_offset_DST     = -4
| elevation_footnotes = 
| elevation_m        = 272
| elevation_ft       = 892
| coordinates        = {{coord|44|39|18|N|85|38|48|W|display=title,inline}}
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP Code|ZIP code(s)]]
| postal_code        = 49637 ([[Grawn, Michigan|Grawn]])<br/>49649 ([[Kingsley, Michigan|Kingsley]])<br/>49685, 49696 ([[Traverse City, Michigan|Traverse City]])
| area_code          = [[Area code 231|231]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 26-08880<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |accessdate=2008-01-31 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref>
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 1625945<ref>{{gnis|1625945}}</ref>
| website            = 
| footnotes          = 
| named_for          = [[Governor of Michigan|Governor]] [[Austin Blair]]
| population_est     = 9173
| pop_est_as_of      = 2023
}}
[[File:Wuerfel Park(home of the Traverse City Beach Bums minor league baseball team).jpg|thumb|[[Turtle Creek Stadium]], in northern Blair Township, is home to the [[Traverse City Pit Spitters]]]]
'''Blair Township''' ({{IPAc-en|b|l|ɛ|ɚ}} {{respell|BLAYR}}) is a [[civil township]] of [[Grand Traverse County, Michigan|Grand Traverse County]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Michigan]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the township had a population of 8,994, an increase from 8,209 at the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]]. The township lies about {{Convert|4|mi|km}} south of [[Traverse City, Michigan|Traverse City]], the largest city in [[Northern Michigan]]. Because of this proximity, much of the north of Blair Township is [[Real estate development|developed]], especially within the township-administered communities of [[Chums Corner, Michigan|Chums Corner]] and [[Grawn, Michigan|Grawn]], while much of the south of the township is [[Rural area|rural]] in nature.

Blair Township is the location of [[Turtle Creek Stadium]], the home stadium for the [[Traverse City Pit Spitters]], a [[Collegiate summer baseball|collegiate summer baseball team]].

== History ==
The territory of Blair Township has historically been part of territory under the [[Council of Three Fires]] ([[Odawa]], [[Ojibwe]], and [[Potawatomi]]).

In 1853, [[Traverse Township, Michigan|Traverse Township]] was organized, and comprised all of Grand Traverse County excluding the [[Old Mission Peninsula]].<ref name="gt">{{cite book |title=The Traverse Region, Historical and Descriptive with Illustrations of Scenery and Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Some of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers |publisher=H. R. Page & Co. |year=1884 |location=Chicago |chapter=Chapter VIII: County of Omeena Laid Off - Grand Traverse County Organized - Organization Completed - County Officers - Acts of Supervisors - County Buildings - Going to Mackinac to Vote - First Term of Court - Bench and Bar - Organization of Towns - Agriculture Society - Railroad - School Matters |access-date=October 21, 2022 |chapter-url=http://genealogytrails.com/mich/grandtraverse/history_county8.html |via=Genealogy Trails Transcription Team}}</ref> In April 1867, Blair Township was organized from the section of Traverse Township at 26 north, range 11 west.<ref>{{Cite web |title=City and Township Histories of Grand Traverse County, MI |url=http://genealogytrails.com/mich/grandtraverse/history_townships.html |access-date=2023-01-24 |website=genealogytrails.com}}</ref> The township is named for [[Austin Blair]], who served as [[Governor of Michigan]] during the [[American Civil War]].

==Geography==
{{Unreferenced section|date=January 2023}}
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the township has a total area of {{convert|36.0|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|35.6|sqmi|km2}} is land and {{convert|0.3|sqmi|km2}} (0.95%) is water.

The township's largest lake is [[Silver Lake (Grand Traverse County, Michigan)|Silver Lake]], which it shares with [[Garfield Township, Grand Traverse County, Michigan|Garfield Township]]. The [[Boardman River]] briefly flows through the northeast of the township.

===Adjacent townships===

* [[Garfield Township, Grand Traverse County, Michigan|Garfield Township]] (north)
* [[East Bay Township, Michigan|East Bay Township]] (northeast)
* [[Paradise Township, Michigan|Paradise Township]] (southeast)
* [[Mayfield Township, Grand Traverse County, Michigan|Mayfield Township]] (south)
* [[Grant Township, Grand Traverse County, Michigan|Grant Township]] (southwest)
* [[Green Lake Township, Michigan|Green Lake Township]] (west)
* [[Long Lake Township, Michigan|Long Lake Township]] (northwest)

===Major highways===

* {{jct|state=MI|US|31}} runs north–south and east–west through the northwest of the township. The highway continues west toward [[Interlochen, Michigan|Interlochen]] and [[Benzie County, Michigan|Benzie County]], and runs north to [[Traverse City, Michigan|Traverse City]].
* {{jct|state=MI|M|37}} runs north–south through the township. To the south, M-37 continues toward [[Buckley, Michigan|Buckley]] and [[Mesick, Michigan|Mesick]], and to the north with US 31 to Traverse City.

== Communities ==
*'''Beitner''' is a [[ghost town]] located at {{coord|44|40|19.1|N|85|38|13.9|W|type:landmark_region:US}}. Beitner, founded in 1878, was the location of a lumber mill west of the [[Boardman River]], and was given a station on the [[Chicago and West Michigan Railway]] the same year.  A post office opened at Beitner in 1880, however it was transferred to nearby Keystone in 1883. The Beitner office was re-established in 1893, only to be closed again in 1895.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Romig |first=Walter |title=Michigan Place Names: The History of the Founding and the Naming of More Than Five Thousand Past and Present Michigan Communities |publisher=[[Wayne State University Press]] |year=1986 |isbn=0-8143-1838-X |location=[[Detroit]] |pages=52}}</ref>
*[[Chums Corner, Michigan|'''Chums Corner''']] is a [[census-designated place]] where US&nbsp;31 meets [[M-37 (Michigan highway)|M-37]].
*[[Grawn, Michigan|'''Grawn''']] is a census-designated place where US&nbsp;31 meets Silver Lake Road.
*'''Hilltop''' is an unincorporated community at {{coord|44|36|42|N|85|39|22|W|type:landmark_region:US}}.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Geographic Names Information System |url=https://edits.nationalmap.gov/apps/gaz-domestic/public/search/names/1617622 |access-date=2023-08-13 |website=edits.nationalmap.gov}}</ref>
*'''Keystone''' is a ghost town at {{coord|44|40|47.6|N|85|37|48.7|W|type:landmark_region:US}}. Keystone was established in 1874 as a station on the [[Chicago and West Michigan Railway]], east of the [[Boardman River]]. Keystone was given a post office in 1883, upon the relocation of the post office from Beitner. The office lasted until 1894, until another post office, from Slights, relocated in 1901, lasting until 1908.<ref name=":02">{{Cite book |last=Romig |first=Walter |title=Michigan Place Names: The History of the Founding and the Naming of More Than Five Thousand Past and Present Michigan Communities |publisher=[[Wayne State University Press]] |year=1986 |isbn=0-8143-1838-X |location=[[Detroit]] |pages=303}}</ref>
*'''Monroe Center''' is an [[Unincorporated area|unincorporated community]] located on the border with [[Green Lake Township, Michigan|Green Lake Township]] at {{coord|44|36|48.9|N|85|41|47.4|W|type:landmark_region:US|name=Monroe Center, Michigan}}. Monroe Center was established by William and Pauline Monroe, who purchased {{Convert|400|acre|ha}} in the area in 1859, making it Blair Township's oldest settlement. A post office at Monroe Center lasted from 1866 until 1910.<ref name=":04">{{Cite book |last=Romig |first=Walter |title=Michigan Place Names: The History of the Founding and the Naming of More Than Five Thousand Past and Present Michigan Communities |publisher=[[Wayne State University Press]] |year=1986 |isbn=0-8143-1838-X |location=[[Detroit]] |pages=376}}</ref>
*'''Slights''' (occasionally spelled '''Sleights''', as is spelled on a nearby road) is a ghost town located at {{coord|44|39|28.2|N|85|35|36.9|W|type:landmark_region:US}}. Slights was founded as a station on the Chicago and West Michigan Railway south of [[Traverse City, Michigan|Traverse City]], near the Boardman River. A post office was open at Slights from 1893 until 1895, and briefly again in 1898.<ref name=":03">{{Cite book |last=Romig |first=Walter |title=Michigan Place Names: The History of the Founding and the Naming of More Than Five Thousand Past and Present Michigan Communities |publisher=[[Wayne State University Press]] |year=1986 |isbn=0-8143-1838-X |location=[[Detroit]] |pages=518}}</ref>
*The downtown district of [[Traverse City, Michigan|Traverse City]] lies about {{Convert|6|mi|km}} north of Blair Township.

==Demographics==
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 6,448 people, 2,295 households, and 1,684 families residing in the township.  The population density was {{convert|181.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  There were 2,482 housing units at an average density of {{convert|69.7|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  The racial makeup of the township was 94.70% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.25% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 1.64% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.42% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.02% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.52% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.46% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 2.48% of the population.

There were 2,295 households, out of which 39.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.7% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.6% were non-families. 18.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.  The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.18.

In the township the population was spread out, with 30.1% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 35.5% from 25 to 44, 19.0% from 45 to 64, and 6.6% who were 65 years of age or older.  The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.0 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.1 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $40,125, and the median income for a family was $42,740. Males had a median income of $30,020 versus $19,885 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the township was $14,745.  About 7.2% of families and 11.0% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 11.4% of those under age 18 and 9.6% of those age 65 or over.

== Notable person ==

* [[Chasten Buttigieg]], former first gentleman of [[South Bend, Indiana]], and husband of [[United States Secretary of Transportation]] [[Pete Buttigieg]], was raised in [[Chums Corner, Michigan|Chums Corner]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bedwell |first=Michael |title=Chasten Buttigieg’s new book is a frank discussion of growing up gay in middle America |url=https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2020/09/chasten-buttigiegs-new-book-frank-discussion-growing-gay-middle-america/ |access-date=2022-11-15 |website=LGBTQ Nation}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.blairtownship.org/ Blair Township]

{{Grand Traverse County, Michigan}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Townships in Grand Traverse County, Michigan]]
[[Category:Townships in Michigan]]
[[Category:Traverse City metropolitan area]]