Monroe Center, Michigan

Blair Township ( ) is a civil township of Grand Traverse County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 census, the township population was 8,994, making it the most populous civil township in Grand Traverse County. Blair Township is named after Austin Blair, Michigan's governor during the American Civil War.

The northern half of Blair Township is very suburbanized, as it is relatively close to Traverse City, while the southern half remains very rural and agricultural.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , of which is land and (0.95%) is water.

The township's largest lake is Silver Lake, which it shares with Garfield Township. The Boardman River briefly flows through the northeast of the township.

Adjacent townships

* Garfield Township (north)
* East Bay Township (northeast)
* Paradise Township (southeast)
* Mayfield Township (south)
* Grant Township (southwest)
* Green Lake Township (west)
* Long Lake Township (northwest)

Major highways

* runs north–south and east–west through the northwest of the township. The highway continues west toward Interlochen and Benzie County, and runs north to Traverse City.
* runs north–south through the township. To the south, M-37 continues toward Buckley and Mesick, and to the north with US 31 to Traverse City.

Communities

*Beitner is a ghost town located at .
* Chums Corner is a census-designated place where US 31 meets M-37.
* Grawn is a census-designated place where US 31 meets Silver Lake Road.
*Hilltop is a ghost town along M-37 at .
*Keystone is a ghost town at .
*Monroe Center is an unincorporated community located on the border with Green Lake Township at .
*Sleights is a ghost town located at .

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 6,448 people, 2,295 households, and 1,684 families residing in the township. The population density was . There were 2,482 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the township was 94.70% White, 0.25% African American, 1.64% Native American, 0.42% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.52% from other races, and 1.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or 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 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.

References

External links

Blair Township

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Townships in Grand Traverse County, Michigan
Traverse City micropolitan area
Townships in Michigan