View source for Whitewater Township, Michigan

{{Use American English|date=January 2026}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Whitewater Township, Michigan
| settlement_type    = [[Civil township]]
| nickname           = 
| motto              = <!-- Images -->
| image_skyline      = Lake Skegemog (Michigan).jpg
| imagesize          = 275
| image_caption      = View of [[Lake Skegemog]]
| image_flag         = 
| image_seal         = <!-- Maps -->
| pushpin_map        = Michigan#USA
| pushpin_label_position = bottom<!-- the position of the pushpin label: left, right, top, bottom, none -->
| pushpin_label      = Whitewater Township
| pushpin_map_caption = Location within the state of Michigan
| pushpin_mapsize    = 
| image_map          = Whitewater Township, MI location.png
| mapsize            = 250
| map_caption        = Location within [[Grand Traverse County, Michigan|Grand Traverse County]]

<!-- Location -->| subdivision_type   = 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        = Linda Slopsema
| leader_title1      = Clerk
| leader_name1       = Wendy Hoeksema
| leader_title2      = Treasurer
| leader_name2       = Jill Koester
| leader_title3      = Trustee
| leader_name3       = Randy Mielnik
| leader_title4      = Trustee
| leader_name4       = Tim Arends
| established_title  = Organized
| established_date   = October 1859
| area_footnotes     = 
| area_magnitude     = 
| area_total_km2     = 138.8
| area_land_km2      = 123.9
| area_water_km2     = 14.9
| area_total_sq_mi   = 53.6
| area_land_sq_mi    = 47.8
| area_water_sq_mi   = 5.8

<!-- Population -->| population_as_of   = [[United States Census, 2020|2020]]
| population_footnotes = 
| population_total   = 2688
| population_density_km2 = 19.9
| population_density_sq_mi = 51.6

<!-- General information -->| timezone           = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
| utc_offset         = -5
| timezone_DST       = EDT
| utc_offset_DST     = -4
| elevation_footnotes = 
| elevation_m        = 249
| elevation_ft       = 817
| coordinates        = {{coord|44|45|19|N|85|23|24|W|region:US-MI|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP Code|ZIP code(s)]]
| postal_code        = 49690 ([[Williamsburg, Michigan|Williamsburg]])<br/>49696 ([[Traverse City, Michigan|Traverse City]])
| area_code          = [[Area code 231|231]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 26-87040<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        = 1627268<ref>{{gnis|1627268}}</ref>
| website            = https://www.whitewatertownshipmi.gov/
| footnotes          = 
| name               = 
}}
'''Whitewater Township''' is a [[civil township]] of [[Grand Traverse County, Michigan|Grand Traverse County]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Michigan]].  The population was 2,688 at the [[United States Census, 2020|2020 census]], an increase from 2,597 at the [[United States Census, 2010|2010 census]]. Whitewater Township includes shores on [[Elk Lake (Michigan)|Elk Lake]] and [[Lake Skegemog]], two large lakes in the [[Elk River Chain of Lakes Watershed|Chain of Lakes]]. A portion of the township is within the [[Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians|Grand Traverse Indian Reservation]].

== History ==
Whitewater Township was organized in October 1859 from part of [[Traverse Township, Michigan|Traverse Township]]. This makes it Grand Traverse County's third township, after Traverse Township and [[Peninsula Township, Michigan|Peninsula Township]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Historical Society - History|url=https://www.whitewatertownship.org/historical-society.html|access-date=2020-11-28|website=Whitewater Township|language=en}}</ref> The township was named after the Whitewater River, which has since been renamed Acme Creek.

==Communities==
*'''Angell''' (often spelled '''Angel''') is a [[ghost town]] in the north of the township. A rail line from Williamsburg to [[Elk Rapids, Michigan|Elk Rapids]] was built in the area in 1892.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=michiganrailroads.com - Evolution Map - Lower - 1892 |url=http://www.michiganrailroads.com/evolution-of-michigan-railroads/178-evolution-lower-peninsula/evolution-1890s/4387-evolution-map-lower-1892 |access-date=2023-01-23 |website=www.michiganrailroads.com |archive-date=October 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221028035359/http://www.michiganrailroads.com/evolution-of-michigan-railroads/178-evolution-lower-peninsula/evolution-1890s/4387-evolution-map-lower-1892 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Angell was established as a depot and post office on the line, with the post office lasting from 1892 to 1909.<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=24}}</ref> The community was located at {{coord|44|49|51.3|N|85|24|58.1|W||name=Angell, Michigan}}.
*'''Mabel''' (sometimes spelled '''Mable''') is a ghost town located at {{coord|44|46|20|N|85|21|25|W||name=Mabel, Michigan}}.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Geographic Names Information System |url=https://edits.nationalmap.gov/apps/gaz-domestic/public/search/names/7bdbed9a-6e9e-519c-b7d8-4d7d8b8908f5/summary |access-date=2023-01-23 |website=edits.nationalmap.gov}}</ref> Mable was established as lumber settlement and station on the new [[Chicago and West Michigan Railway]] in 1892.<ref name=":1" /><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=343}}</ref>
*[[Williamsburg, Michigan|'''Williamsburg''']] is an [[Unincorporated area#United States|unincorporated community]] in the township on [[M-72 (Michigan highway)|M-72]] about midway between [[Traverse City, Michigan|Traverse City]] and [[Kalkaska, Michigan|Kalkaska]] at {{coord|44|46|25|N|85|24|14|W||name=Williamsburg, Michigan}}.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Geographic Names Information System |url=https://edits.nationalmap.gov/apps/gaz-domestic/public/search/names/b727c482-4999-5822-a386-433d1687eaf8/summary |access-date=2023-01-23 |website=edits.nationalmap.gov}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the township has a total area of {{convert|53.6|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|47.8|sqmi|km2}} is land and {{convert|5.8|sqmi|km2}} (10.77%) is water.

Whitewater Township forms the northeastern corner of [[Grand Traverse County, Michigan|Grand Traverse County]], bordering [[Antrim County, Michigan|Antrim County]] to the north and [[Kalkaska County, Michigan|Kalkaska County]] to the east.

Portions of [[Elk Lake (Michigan)|Elk Lake]] and [[Lake Skegemog]], both of which forming part of the [[Elk River Chain of Lakes Watershed|Chain of Lakes]], lie within Whitewater Township. These lakes form part of the county line, with both Antrim and Kalkaska counties.

=== Adjacent townships ===
'''By land'''

* [[Elk Rapids Township, Michigan|Elk Rapids Township]], [[Antrim County, Michigan|Antrim County]] (north)
* [[Clearwater Township, Michigan|Clearwater Township]], [[Kalkaska County, Michigan|Kalkaska County]] (east)
* [[Kalkaska Township, Michigan|Kalkaska Township]], Kalkaska County (east)
* [[Boardman Township, Michigan|Boardman Township]], Kalkaska County (southeast)
* [[Union Township, Grand Traverse County, Michigan|Union Township]] (south)
* [[East Bay Township, Michigan|East Bay Township]] (southwest)
* [[Acme Township, Michigan|Acme Township]] (west)

'''By water'''

* [[Milton Township, Antrim County, Michigan|Milton Township]], Antrim County (northeast)

=== Transportation ===
Only one [[List of state trunkline highways in Michigan|state trunkline highway]], [[M-72 (Michigan highway)|M-72]], runs through Whitewater Township. The highway runs east–west through the center of the township. To the west, M-72 reaches a junction with [[U.S. Route 31 in Michigan|US 31]] at [[Acme, Michigan|Acme]], and continues toward [[Traverse City, Michigan|Traverse City]]. To the east, M-72 enters [[Kalkaska County, Michigan|Kalkaska County]], and reaches a junction with [[U.S. Route 131|US 131]] and [[M-66 (Michigan highway)|M-66]] in [[Kalkaska, Michigan|Kalkaska]].

Grand Traverse County Roads 605 (Elk Lake Road/Williamsburg Road) and 660 (Supply Road) serve as local [[thoroughfare]]s in the township.

== Demographics ==
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 2,467 people, 896 households, and 712 families residing in the township.  The population density was {{convert|51.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  There were 1,176 housing units at an average density of 24.6 per square mile (9.5/km{{sup|2}}).  The racial makeup of the township was 97.08% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.28% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.93% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.57% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.20% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.28% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.65% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.93% of the population.

There were 896 households, out of which 37.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 70.8% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 4.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.5% were non-families. 15.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.  The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the township the population was spread out, with 27.0% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 27.0% from 45 to 64, and 12.0% who were 65 years of age or older.  The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.4 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.8 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $49,572, and the median income for a family was $54,737. Males had a median income of $38,500 versus $22,438 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the township was $21,890.  About 3.4% of families and 4.9% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 5.1% of those under age 18 and 4.8% of those age 65 or over.{{clear}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Grand Traverse County, Michigan}}

{{authority control}}

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