Inland Township is a civil township of Benzie County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,386 at the 2020 census. The township is located in the east of the county, and shares a border with Grand Traverse County. The Platte River flows through the north of the township.

History

The township was organized by the Grand Traverse County board of supervisors under the name "North Climax Township" in April 1867 when Benzie County was still attached to Grand Traverse for administrative purposes. The name was changed to "Inland" in 1869.

Communities

  • Bendon is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in the eastern part of the township at the junction of Cinder and Bendon roads at The settlement developed around a sawmill and was first named "Kentville" after Albert Kent, a farmer who became the first postmaster on April 24, 1888. It was given a station on the now abandoned Chicago and West Michigan Railway. The post office was renamed Bendon on June 30, 1892, and operated until March 31, 1954.
  • Inland Corners is a locale and former post office in the eastern part of the township at the junction of Honor Highway (US 31) and Lake Ann Road/Bendon Road at . The post office named Inland operated from February 17, 1866 until October 31, 1903.
  • Platte River is an unincorporated community in the west of the township, at .
  • The village of Beulah is to the west in Benzonia Township, and the Beulah ZIP code 49617 also serves a portion of western Inland Township.
  • The community of Interlochen is to the east in Green Lake Township in Grand Traverse County, and the Interlochen ZIP 49643 also serves most of Inland Township.
  • The village of Lake Ann is to the north in Almira Township, and the Lake Ann ZIP code 49650 also serves a small area in northern Inland Township.
  • The village of Thompsonville is to the south in Colfax and Weldon townships, and the Thompsonville ZIP code 49683 also serves portions of southern Inland Township.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, Inland Township has a total area of , of which is land and , or 1.13%, is water.