Editing Leelanau County, Michigan

{{short description|County in Michigan, United States}}
{{Other uses|Leelanau (disambiguation){{!}}Leelanau}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Leelanau County
 | state                = Michigan
 | seal                 = Seal of Leelanau County, Michigan.svg
 | flag                 = Flag of Leelanau County, Michigan.svg
 | ex image             = Lake Michigan Sleeping Bear Dunes.jpg
 | ex image cap         = [[Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore|Sleeping Bear Dunes]] and [[South Manitou Island]] (background) from the Empire Bluffs Trail, near [[Empire, Michigan|Empire]]
 | founded year         = 1840 (created)<br/>1863 (organized)<ref name=clarke/>
 | seat wl              = Suttons Bay Township
 | city type            = settlement
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 2532
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 347
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 2185
 | area percentage      = 86%
 | census yr            = 2020
 | pop                  = 22,301
 | density_sq_mi        = 63
 | named for            = [[Leelanau Peninsula]]
 | district             = 1st
 | time zone            = Eastern
 | largest city         = [[Greilickville, Michigan|Greilickville]]<br/>[[Suttons Bay, Michigan|Suttons Bay]] (incorporated)
 | website              = {{URL|https://www.leelanau.gov}}
|nickname="Michigan's Little Finger"|pop_est_as_of=2023|population_est=23,019 {{increase}}}}

'''Leelanau County''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|l|iː|l|ə|n|ɔː}} {{respell|LEE|lə-naw}}) is a [[County (United States)|county]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Michigan]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 22,301.<ref name=QF>{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/leelanaucountymichigan/POP010220|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=September 15, 2021}}</ref> Since 2008, the [[county seat]] has been located within [[Suttons Bay Township, Michigan|Suttons Bay Township]], one mile east of the unincorporated village of [[Lake Leelanau, Michigan|Lake Leelanau]].<ref name=":0">{{cite web |title='Nutcracker' performances set - www.leelanaunews.com - Leelanau Enterprise |url=http://www.leelanaunews.com/drupal/?q=node/3412 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608192432/http://www.leelanaunews.com/drupal/?q=node%2F3412 |archive-date=June 8, 2011 |access-date=February 24, 2022 |work=leelanaunews.com}}</ref> Before 2008, Leelanau County's seat was [[Leland, Michigan|Leland]].<ref name=":1">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> Leelanau County is included in the [[Traverse City metropolitan area]] of [[Northern Michigan]]. The largest settlement in Leelanau County by population is [[Greilickville, Michigan|Greilickville]], itself a suburb of [[Traverse City, Michigan|Traverse City]].

Leelanau County is coterminous with the [[Leelanau Peninsula]], a roughly triangular-shaped peninsula that extends about {{convert|30|mi|km|-1}} off Michigan's [[Lower Peninsula of Michigan|Lower Peninsula]] into [[Lake Michigan]]. East of Leelanau County is [[Grand Traverse Bay]], a bay of Lake Michigan.

In 2011, the [[Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore]], located in the county, won the title of "Most Beautiful Place in America" in a poll by morning news show [[Good Morning America]].

== Etymology ==
[[File:LeelanauPeninsulaMap.png|thumb|Map of the Leelanau Peninsula]]

Traditionally, the county's name was said to be a [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] word meaning "delight of life",<ref name=clarke>{{cite web|url=https://www.cmich.edu/library/clarke/AccessMaterials/Bibliographies/MichiganLocalHistory/Pages/leelanau.aspx|publisher=[[Clarke Historical Library]], [[Central Michigan University]]|title=Bibliography on Leelanau County|access-date=January 19, 2013}}</ref> but it is a [[neologism]] from Indian agent and ethnographer [[Henry Schoolcraft]], who sometimes gave the name "Leelinau" to Native American women in his tales. He created many ''faux'' Indian place names in Michigan, using syllables of Ojibwe, Latin and Arabic,<ref>[http://www.michigan.gov/hal/0,1607,7-160-15481_20826_20829-54126--,00.html#lake Michigan Arts and History on Origins of County Names. (28 July 2009)]</ref> neglecting the fact that the [[Ojibwa language]] lacks any of the phonemes associated with the letter 'L' in English.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://imp.lss.wisc.edu/~jrvalent/ais301/Grammar/Phonology/Phonol002.html|title=The Sounds of Anishinaabemowin: Consonants and Vowels|work=Anishinaabemowin |author=Valentine, J. Randolph |access-date=January 29, 2020}}</ref>

More recently, however, scholars have established that ''Leelinau'' was first used as a pen name by Henry's wife, [[Jane Johnston Schoolcraft]], in writings for ''The Literary Voyager'', a family magazine which they co-wrote in the 1820s.<ref>[http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-5722251_ITM Jeremy Mumford, "Mixed-race identity in a nineteenth-century family: the Schoolcrafts of Sault Ste. Marie, 1824-27"], ''Michigan Historical Review'', March 22, 1999, pp. 3-4, accessed December 11, 2008</ref> Jane Johnston was of Ojibwa and Scots-Irish descent, and wrote in Ojibwe and English. While her writing was not published formally in her lifetime (except as Schoolcraft appropriated it under his own name), Jane Johnston Schoolcraft has been recognized as "the first Native American literary writer, the first known Indian woman writer, the first known Indian poet, the first known poet to write poems in a Native American language, and the first known American Indian to write out traditional Indian stories. In 2008 Jane Johnston Schoolcraft was inducted into the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame.<ref>[http://www.thesoundthestarsmake.com/ Robert Dale Parker, ''Jane Johnston Schoolcraft''], University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, accessed December 11, 2008</ref>

[[File:Grand Traverse Light.jpg|thumb|[[Grand Traverse Light]], at the northernmost point of Leelanau County]]
[[File:Michigan Chardonnay vineyard.jpg|thumb|A [[vineyard]] in Leelanau County. The county comprises the [[Leelanau Peninsula AVA|Leelanau Peninsula American Viticultural Area]].]]
[[File:Alligator Hill Trail (9953615796).jpg|thumb|[[Lake Michigan]] shore from the Alligator Hill Trail in [[Glen Arbor Township, Michigan|Glen Arbor Township]]]]

== History ==
{{See also|History of Northern Michigan}}
Leelanau County was separated as an unorganized county in 1840 by the [[Michigan Legislature]].<ref name=clarke/><ref>{{cite book |author=George Dawson |date=1840 |title=Acts of the Legislature of the State of Michigan Passed at the Annual Session of 1840 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aDg4AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA196 |location=Detroit |pages=196-200}}</ref> In 1851, it was attached the [[Grand Traverse County, Michigan|Grand Traverse County]] for governmental purposes, and was temporarily given the name "Leelanau Township". In 1863, Leelanau County was organized in its own right.<ref name="clarke" /> The same year, the southern portion of Leelanau County was separated as [[Benzie County, Michigan|Benzie County]], and was subsequently attached to Grand Traverse County until 1869.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Benzie County, Michigan History |url=http://genealogytrails.com/mich/benzie/history.html |access-date=January 21, 2023 |website=genealogytrails.com}}</ref>

[[Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore]] was established in 1970, protecting much of the natural scenery of the area at the [[National Park Service|federal level]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Kalt |first=Brian |title=Sixties Sandstorm: The Fight Over Establishment of a Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, 1961–1970 |publisher=Michigan State University Press |year=2001 |isbn=9780870135590 |location=East Lansing}}{{page needed|date=September 2014}}</ref>

In 2008, the [[county seat]] moved from [[Leland, Michigan|Leland]] to a site in [[Suttons Bay Township, Michigan|Suttons Bay Township]], near the town of [[Lake Leelanau, Michigan|Lake Leelanau]].<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" />

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|2532|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|347|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|2185|sqmi}} (86%) is water.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_26.txt|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=September 26, 2014|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}</ref>

Leelanau County comprises the entire [[Leelanau Peninsula]], a roughly triangular [[peninsula]] that extends about {{convert|30|mi|km|-1}} from the western side of the [[Lower Peninsula of Michigan]] into [[Lake Michigan]]. The peninsula forms the western shore of the [[Grand Traverse Bay]]. At its base, the peninsula is about {{convert|20|mi|km|-1}} wide. Leelanau County is one of a handful of counties in the United States that is entirely peninsular, a list also including [[Huron County, Michigan|Huron]] and [[Keweenaw County, Michigan|Keweenaw]] counties elsewhere in Michigan, nearby [[Door County, Wisconsin|Door County]] in [[Wisconsin]], and [[San Francisco]] in [[California]].

The county has the second-highest proportion of water area of any county in the United States, behind only [[Keweenaw County, Michigan]]. [[Lake Leelanau]] is the county's largest body of inland water, empties into [[Lake Michigan]] through the [[Leland River]]. [[Glen Lake]], located within the boundaries of [[Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore]], is considered one of the most beautiful lakes in the world{{Citation needed|date=April 2010}}. A substantial portion of [[Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore]] lies within the county's borders, including [[North Manitou Island|North Manitou]] and [[South Manitou Island|South Manitou]] Islands. Leelanau has been party to substantial efforts to protect itself from growth, and to foster a nature conservancy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theconservancy.com/|title=Home - The Leelanau Conservancy}}</ref>

Extreme southeastern Leelanau County, specifically portions of [[Elmwood Township, Leelanau County, Michigan|Elmwood Township]], are urbanized due to their proximity to [[Traverse City, Michigan|Traverse City]], which itself extends partially into the county. Traverse City is the largest city in [[Northern Michigan]] by population.

=== Adjacent counties ===
'''By land'''

* [[Grand Traverse County, Michigan|Grand Traverse County]] (southeast)
* [[Benzie County, Michigan|Benzie County]] (southwest)

'''By water'''
* [[Schoolcraft County, Michigan|Schoolcraft County]] (north)
* [[Charlevoix County, Michigan|Charlevoix County]] (northeast)
* [[Antrim County, Michigan|Antrim County]] (east)
* [[Door County, Wisconsin]] (west, [[Central Time Zone]] border)
* [[Delta County, Michigan|Delta County]] (northwest)

==Communities==
===Cities===
* [[Traverse City, Michigan|Traverse City]] (partially)

===Villages===
* [[Empire, Michigan|Empire]]
* [[Northport, Michigan|Northport]]
* [[Suttons Bay, Michigan|Suttons Bay]]

===Charter township===
* [[Elmwood Township, Leelanau County, Michigan|Elmwood Charter Township]]

===Civil townships===
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[Bingham Township, Leelanau County, Michigan|Bingham Township]]
* [[Centerville Township, Michigan|Centerville Township]]
* [[Cleveland Township, Michigan|Cleveland Township]]
* [[Empire Township, Michigan|Empire Township]]
* [[Glen Arbor Township, Michigan|Glen Arbor Township]]
* [[Kasson Township, Michigan|Kasson Township]]
* [[Leelanau Township, Michigan|Leelanau Township]]
* [[Leland Township, Michigan|Leland Township]]
* [[Solon Township, Leelanau County, Michigan|Solon Township]]
* [[Suttons Bay Township, Michigan|Suttons Bay Township]] (county seat)
{{div col end}}

===Census-designated places===
* [[Cedar, Michigan|Cedar]]
* [[Glen Arbor, Michigan|Glen Arbor]]
* [[Greilickville, Michigan|Greilickville]]
* [[Lake Leelanau, Michigan|Lake Leelanau]]
* [[Leland, Michigan|Leland]]
* [[Maple City, Michigan|Maple City]]
* [[Omena, Michigan|Omena]]

===Unincorporated communities===
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[Bingham Township, Leelanau County, Michigan#Communities|Bingham]]
* [[Burdickville, Michigan|Burdickville]]
* [[Fouch, Michigan|Fouch]]
* [[Suttons Bay Township, Michigan|Fountain Point]]
* [[Glen Haven, Michigan|Glen Haven]]
* [[Isadore, Michigan|Isadore]]
* [[Bingham Township, Leelanau County, Michigan#Communities|Keswick]]
* [[Northport Point, Michigan|Northport Point]]
* [[Peshawbestown, Michigan|Peshawbestown]]
* [[Solon, Michigan|Solon]]
{{div col end}}

=== Ghost towns ===
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
*[[Leelanau Township, Michigan|Ahgosatown]]
*[[Centerville Township, Michigan|Bodus]]
*[[North Manitou Island|Crescent]]
*[[Crystal Spring, Michigan|Crystal Spring]]
*[[Good Harbor, Michigan|Good Harbor]]
*[[Hatchs, Michigan|Hatchs]]
*[[Elmwood Charter Township, Michigan|Heimforth]]
*[[Empire Township, Michigan|Jacktown]]
*[[Kasson Township, Michigan|Kasson]]
*[[North Unity, Michigan|North Unity]]
*[[Leelanau Township, Michigan|Onominese]]
*[[Kasson Township, Michigan|Oviatt]]
*Port Oneida
*[[Centerville Township, Michigan|Schomberg]]
*[[Northport, Michigan|Waukazooville]]{{div col end}}

===Indian reservation===
* [[Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians]] occupies scattered areas within [[Suttons Bay Township, Michigan|Suttons Bay Township]].

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| 1860 = 2158
| 1870 = 4576
| 1880 = 6253
| 1890 = 7944
| 1900 = 10556
| 1910 = 10608
| 1920 = 9061
| 1930 = 8206
| 1940 = 8436
| 1950 = 8647
| 1960 = 9321
| 1970 = 10872
| 1980 = 14007
| 1990 = 16527
| 2000 = 21119
| 2010 = 21708
| 2020 = 22301
|estyear=2023
|estimate=23019
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2023">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 4, 2024}}</ref>
| align-fn = center
| footnote = U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=US Decennial Census|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 29, 2013}}</ref><br/>2010-2018<ref name=QF/>
}}

As of the [[2000 United States census]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> there were 21,119 people, 8,436 households, and 6,217 families residing in the county. By the 2020 census, there were 22,301 people in the county.

==Culture==
There are 26 wineries on the peninsula.<ref>[http://www.lpwines.com/wineries/ Leelanau Wineries|Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail]</ref> The Leelanau Peninsula sits astride the [[45th parallel north|45th parallel]], a latitude known for growing prestigious grapes. The two [[Grand Traverse Bay]]s provide the ideal maritime climate, and the rich soil does the rest. Northern Michigan specializes in growing white grapes, and is known for its [[Riesling]]s, which grow well in the summer months and late fall. The local wineries host an annual harvest fest in October. Some Riesling grapes are spared being picked in the fall, to be picked instead when they freeze, from which [[ice wine]] is made. These wineries are in the [[Leelanau Peninsula AVA]].

==Government==
=== Elected officials ===

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[Prosecutor|Prosecuting Attorney]] – Joseph T. Hubbell
* Probate Judge – Marian Kromkowski
* [[Sheriff]] – Michael Borkovich
* [[County Clerk]] – Michelle L. Crocker
* [[Treasurer|County Treasurer]] – John A. Gallagher
* [[Register of Deeds]] – Dorothy M. Miller
* [[Drain Commissioner]] – Steven R. Christensen
* Commissioner Dist. 1 – Jamie Kramer
* Commissioner Dist. 2 – James O'Rourke 
* Commissioner Dist. 3 – Doug Rexroat
* Commissioner Dist. 4 – Ty Wessell
* Commissioner Dist. 5 – Kama Ross
* Commissioner Dist. 6 – Gwenne Allgaier
* Commissioner Dist. 7 – Melinda Lautner<ref>[https://www.leelanau.cc/directory.asp Leelanau County - Directory]</ref>
{{div col end}}
<small>(information as of September 2018)</small>

==Politics==
Leelanau County had historically been a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] stronghold since its founding, but has shifted [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] since the 2010s. Since 1884, the Republican Party nominee has carried the county vote in 30 of 36 national elections through 2024. In 2016, the county shifted to the left against the state's strong turn to the right. This would continue in 2020 and the county voted for [[Joe Biden]]. In [[2024 United States presidential election in Michigan|2024]], [[Kamala Harris]] won the highest percentage of the vote for a Democrat in the county's history since 1964, became the first Democratic presidential nominee to win the county while losing the presidential election, and it was one of the few counties in Michigan to move to the left compared to 2020. 

In gubernatorial races, Leelanau County has become a bellwether, backing the statewide winner in every election since 2006. The county voted for Democrat [[Jennifer Granholm]] in 2006, Republican [[Rick Snyder]] in 2010 and 2014, and Democrat [[Gretchen Whitmer]] in 2018 and 2022.
{{PresHead|place=Leelanau County, Michigan|source=<ref>[http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS US Election Atlas]</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Democratic|8,035|9,406|279|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2020|Democratic|7,916|8,795|189|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|7,239|6,774|879|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|7,483|6,576|160|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|6,938|7,355|171|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|7,733|6,048|136|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|6,840|4,635|534|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|5,155|4,019|1,063|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|3,993|3,445|2,749|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|5,215|3,331|73|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|5,356|2,498|67|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|4,585|2,348|1,002|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|4,240|2,437|126|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|3,809|1,855|123|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|2,798|1,562|299|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|2,074|2,369|8|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|2,730|1,810|6|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|2,987|1,287|4|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|2,926|999|9|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|1,928|835|31|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|2,063|944|16|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|2,405|1,223|11|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1936|Republican|1,692|1,542|171|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|1,527|1,746|40|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|1,521|903|13|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|1,792|301|285|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|2,156|406|59|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|984|763|79|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1912|Progressive|621|344|788|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|1,258|566|72|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|1,464|416|65|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|1,468|634|44|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1896|Republican|1,402|690|90|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1892|Republican|769|492|173|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1888|Republican|899|673|48|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1884|Republican|811|571|21|Michigan}}
{{PresFoot|1880|Republican|594|545|83|Michigan}}

Leelanau County operates the county jail, maintains rural roads, operates the major local courts, records deeds, mortgages, and [[vital records]], administers [[public health]] regulations, and participates with the state in the provision of social services. The county board of commissioners controls the budget and has limited authority to make laws or ordinances. In Michigan, most local government functions – police and fire, building and zoning, tax assessment, street maintenance etc. – are the responsibility of individual cities and townships.

== Education ==

The [[Northwest Educational Services]], based in [[Traverse City, Michigan|Traverse City]], services the students in the county along with those of [[Antrim County, Michigan|Antrim]], [[Benzie County, Michigan|Benzie]], [[Grand Traverse County, Michigan|Grand Traverse]], and [[Kalkaska County, Michigan|Kalkaska]]. The [[intermediate school district]] offers regional [[special education]] services, [[Early childhood education|early education]] and [[English as a second or foreign language|English learner]] programs, and [[Vocational school|technical career]] pathways for students of its districts.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About us |url=https://www.northwested.org/inside-north-ed/ |access-date=July 17, 2023 |website=[[Northwest Educational Services]]}}</ref>

Leelanau County is served by the following regular [[Public Education|public]] [[School district|school districts]]:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Search for Public School Data - Leelanau County, MI |url=https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/districtsearch/district_list.asp?Search=1&details=1&State=26&County=Leelanau+County |archive-date= |access-date=July 18, 2023 |author=[[National Center for Education Statistics]] |publisher=[[Institute of Education Sciences]]}}</ref>

* [[Kingsley Area Schools|Glen Lake Community Schools]]
* [[Leland Public School District]]
* [[Northport Public School|Northport Public School District]]
* [[Suttons Bay Public Schools]]
* [[Traverse City Area Public Schools]]

The county also has the following [[Charter school|independent charter]] districts:

* [[Leelanau Montessori Public School Academy]]

Leelanau County has the following [[Private school|private schools]]:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Search for Private Schools - Leelanau, MI |url=https://nces.ed.gov/surveys/pss/privateschoolsearch/school_list.asp?Search=1&State=26&County=Leelanau |access-date=July 18, 2023 |author=[[National Center for Education Statistics]] |publisher=[[Institute of Education Sciences]]}}</ref>

* St. Mary School ([[Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]])
* [[The Leelanau School]] ([[nonsectarian]], [[Boarding school|boarding]])
* The Pathfinder School (nonsectarian)

==Transportation==
===Major highways===
* {{jct|state=MI|M|22|Tour|LMCT}} is a highway that follows the shoreline of Lake Michigan. The highway enters Leelanau County from the southwest near [[Empire, Michigan|Empire]], and runs northeasterly through the communities of [[Glen Arbor, Michigan|Glen Arbor]] and [[Leland, Michigan|Leland]] before reaching [[Northport, Michigan|Northport]]. At Northport, M-22 turns back southward, and runs through [[Omena, Michigan|Omena]], [[Suttons Bay, Michigan|Suttons Bay]], and [[Greilickville, Michigan|Greilickville]] before exiting into [[Traverse City, Michigan|Traverse City]]. The highway reaches its terminus at [[U.S. Route 31 in Michigan|US 31]]/[[M-37 (Michigan highway)|M-37]] about {{Convert|0.5|mi|km}} southeast of the Leelanau County line.
* {{jct|state=MI|M|72}} is an east–west highway that follows the base of the Leelanau Peninsula. The highway begins at M-22 in Empire, and continues easterly across the southern tier of the county for about {{Convert|22|mi|km}} before reaching M-22 again in Traverse City. The highway continues southeast into [[Grand Traverse County, Michigan|Grand Traverse County]], and runs across the [[Lower Peninsula of Michigan|Lower Peninsula]] before terminating in [[Harrisville, Michigan|Harrisville]], on [[Lake Huron]].
* {{jct|state=MI|M|109}} is a highway in the northwestern part of the county. The highway begins at M-22 north of Empire, and continues north along the west side of [[Glen Lake]]. South of [[Glen Haven, Michigan|Glen Haven]], the route turns east, and enters Glen Arbor, where it terminates once more at M-22.
* {{jct|state=MI|M|201}} is a short highway in the north of the county. The route begins at M-22 south of Northport, and runs north into the village. The highway terminates immediately north of the village, and connects with various county roads that can be used to access [[Leelanau State Park]] and the [[Grand Traverse Light]].
* {{jct|state=MI|M|204}} is a highway that serves as an east–west connector about halfway up the peninsula. The highway begins at M-22 south of Leland, and continues east into the community of [[Lake Leelanau, Michigan|Lake Leelanau]]. The highway passes the Leelanau County Governmental Center before terminating once more at M-22 in Suttons Bay.
Additionally, another highway, [[M-209 (Michigan highway)|M-209]], ran from M-109 to the Coast Guard Life Saving Station in Glen Haven. Until it was [[Decommissioned highway|decommissioned]] in 1995, it was Michigan's shortest highway.<ref>{{google maps |url = https://www.google.com/maps/place/Leelanau+County,+MI/@44.7507926,-86.0286119,11z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x4d4b32c2734505c1:0x168fe38eabdb23f9!8m2!3d45.0821226!4d-86.0733634 |title = Leelanau County MI |access-date = September 16, 2018 }}</ref>

=== Bicycle route ===

* {{jct|USBR|35|state=MI}} enters Leelanau County from the southwest, and follows M-22 and M-109 up the west side of the Leelanau Peninsula. The route then turns east along M-204, then south again along M-22 in Suttons Bay. The route then follows the [[Leelanau Trail]] south into Grand Traverse County.

[[File:Fishtown at sunset, on Lake Michigan at Leland, MI 06-21-2019 006 (48117047808).jpg|thumb|The [[Leland River]] flowing through [[Leland Historic District (Leland, Michigan)|Historic Fishtown]]]]

=== Air service ===
The nearest airport with commercial service to Leelanau County is [[Cherry Capital Airport]] in Traverse City. Leelanau County is home to a number of local airstrips, including [[Woolsey Memorial Airport]].

==Notable people==
* [[Jim Harrison]] – author, long-time resident of Leland Township
* [[Kathleen Sebelius]] – former Secretary of [[United States Department of Health and Human Services|US Health and Human Services]] and former governor of Kansas; vacations at a summer home built by her grandfather in Leland<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.leelanaunews.com/?q=node/5370|title=Camp, Sebelius discuss Leland ties - www.leelanaunews.com - Leelanau Enterprise|work=leelanaunews.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://record-eagle.com/local/x1896364117/Leland-offers-Sebelius-respite-from-D-C|title=Leland offers Sebelius respite from D.C.|work=Traverse City Record-Eagle|date=August 15, 2009 }}</ref>
* The northernmost village of Northport and surrounding Leelanau Township have achieved fame as an area where the rich and famous can live quietly and anonymously. According to the ''Leelanau Visitors Guide'': "Chef [[Mario Batali]] lives north of town at Cathead point, and comedian and actor [[Tim Allen]] routinely spent summers in Northport until his divorce. Financier [[Mark Spitznagel]] summers in [[Northport point|Northport Point]], a posh community just outside the village."<ref>''[http://leelanauvisitorsguide.com/ Leelanau Visitors Guide 2011]''.</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of Michigan State Historic Sites in Leelanau County, Michigan]]
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Leelanau County, Michigan]]

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
* Bogue, Margaret. ''Around the Shores of Lake Michigan: A Guide to Historic Sites''. Madison, WI: [[University of Wisconsin Press]], 1985.
* Reed, Earl H. ''The Dune Country. Berrien Springs'', MI: Hardscrabble Books, 1979. [Reprint of 1916 Edition].
* Ruchhoft, Robert H. ''Exploring North Manitou, South Manitou, High and Garden Islands of the Lake Michigan Archipelago''. Cincinnati, OH: Pucelle Press, 1991.
* Wood, Mable C. ''Scooterville'', U.S.A. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1962.

==External links==
* [http://www.leelanau.cc Leelanau County - official website]
* [http://www.leelanauchamber.com Leelanau Peninsula Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://www.visitglenarbor.com Glen Arbor Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://www.lelandmi.com Leland Chamber of Commerce]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20180805234140/http://leelanautownshipchamber.com/ Northport-Omena Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://www.suttonsbayarea.com Suttons Bay Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://www.leelanaunews.com/ ''The Leelanau Enterprise'' (local newspaper)]
* [http://www.leelanau.com/ Leelanau.com (news, photos & links)]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100701191642/http://www.leelanaupost.com/ ''The Leelanau Post'']

{{Geographic location
|Centre    = Leelanau County, Michigan
|North     = [[Schoolcraft County, Michigan|Schoolcraft County]]
|Northeast = [[Charlevoix County, Michigan|Charlevoix County]]
|East      = [[Antrim County, Michigan|Antrim County]]
|Southeast = [[Grand Traverse County, Michigan|Grand Traverse County]]
|South     = [[Benzie County, Michigan|Benzie County]]
|West      = [[Door County, Wisconsin]]
|Northwest = [[Delta County, Michigan|Delta County]]
}}

{{Leelanau County, Michigan}}
{{Northern Michigan}}
{{Michigan}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|45.13|-86.03|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-MI_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Leelanau County, Michigan| ]]
[[Category:Michigan counties]]
[[Category:Traverse City metropolitan area]]
[[Category:Michigan placenames of Native American origin]]
[[Category:1863 establishments in Michigan]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1863]]