| Garfield Township, Michigan | |
| Official Name: | Charter Township of Garfield |
| Settlement Type: | Charter township |
| Pushpin Map: | Michigan |
| Pushpin Label Position: | left |
| Pushpin Label: | Garfield Township |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location within the state of Michigan |
| Mapsize: | 250 |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name2: | Grand Traverse |
| Leader Title: | Supervisor |
| Leader Name: | Chuck Korn |
| Leader Title1: | Clerk |
| Leader Name1: | Lanie McManus |
| Established Title: | Organized |
| Established Date: | 1853 (Traverse Township) |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
| Area Total Km2: | 71.7 |
| Area Land Km2: | 69.1 |
| Area Water Km2: | 2.5 |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 27.7 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 26.7 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 1.0 |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Total: | 19499 |
| Population Density Km2: | 282 |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | 730 |
| Timezone: | Eastern (EST) |
| Utc Offset: | -5 |
| Timezone Dst: | EDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | -4 |
| Elevation M: | 214 |
| Elevation Ft: | 702 |
| Coordinates: | 44.7214°N -85.6411°W |
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP code(s) |
| Postal Code: | 49684, 49685, 49686, 49696 (Traverse City) |
| Area Code: | 231 |
| Blank Name: | FIPS code |
| Blank Info: | 26-31580[1] |
| Blank1 Name: | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank1 Info: | 1626337 |
| Established Title1: | Renamed |
| Established Date1: | 1882 |
| Named For: | James A. Garfield |
| Population Est: | 20032 |
| Pop Est As Of: | 2023 |
Garfield Township, officially the Charter Township of Garfield, is a charter township of Grand Traverse County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 census, the township had a total population of 19,499.[2]
Garfield Township is the largest municipality in Northern Lower Michigan by population. Much of the township is suburban, due to its proximity to Traverse City. It is one of four charter townships in the Traverse City metropolitan area; the others being Elmwood Township in Leelanau County, and East Bay and Long Lake townships in Grand Traverse County.
The first two townships of Grand Traverse County were organized in 1853; the Old Mission Peninsula was assigned to Peninsula Township, with its present-day boundaries, and the rest of the county, including Traverse City, was assigned to Traverse Township.[3] However, it was renamed in 1882 in honor of recently assassinated president James A. Garfield.[4] In 1977, Garfield Township became a charter township.[5]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 27.7sqmi, of which 26.7sqmi is land and 1sqmi (3.54%) is water.
The Boardman River flows from south to north in the east of the township. The township's largest lake, Silver Lake is in the southwest of the township, and is shared to the south with Blair Township.
Two lines of the Great Lakes Central Railroad run through the east of the township, paralleling the Boardman River on either side.
All townships listed are part of Grand Traverse County, unless otherwise stated.
As of the census of 2010, there were 16,256 people, 7,367 households, and 4,040 families residing in the township. The population density was 609/sqmi. There were 8,194 housing units at an average density of 307/sqmi. The racial makeup of the township was 93.87% White, 0.80% African American, 1.18% Native American, 1.06% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.67% from other races, and 2.37% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.45% of the population.
There were 7,367 households, out of which 22.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.8% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 45.2% were non-families. 37.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.16 and the average family size was 2.83.
In the township the population was spread out, with 20.1% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 23.1% from 25 to 44, 27.3% from 45 to 64, and 20.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.7 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $41,712, and the median income for a family was $55,977. Males had a median income of $30,167 versus $23,672 for females. The per capita income for the township was $26,390. About 10.1% of families and 14.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.9% of those under age 18 and 5.6% of those age 65 or over.
Traverse City Area Public Schools (TCAPS) serves the entirety of Garfield Township. Secondary students within the east of the township are zoned to Traverse City Central High School, while secondary students within the west of the township are zoned to Traverse City West Senior High School. The latter is located within Garfield Township. TCAPS also operates Traverse City West Middle School and Silver Lake Elementary School within the township.