Whitewater Township is a civil township of Grand Traverse County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,688 at the 2020 census, an increase from 2,597 at the 2010 census. Whitewater Township includes shores on Elk Lake and Lake Skegemog, two large lakes in the Chain of Lakes. A portion of the township is within the Grand Traverse Indian Reservation.

History

Whitewater Township was organized in October 1859 from part of Traverse Township. This makes it Grand Traverse County's third township, after Traverse Township and Peninsula Township. 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 was built in the area in 1892. Angell was established as a depot and post office on the line, with the post office lasting from 1892 to 1909. The community was located at .
  • Mabel (sometimes spelled Mable) is a ghost town located at . Mable was established as lumber settlement and station on the new Chicago and West Michigan Railway in 1892.
  • Williamsburg is an unincorporated community in the township on M-72 about midway between Traverse City and Kalkaska at .

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , of which is land and (10.77%) is water.

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

Portions of Elk Lake and Lake Skegemog, both of which forming part of the 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, Antrim County (north)
  • Clearwater Township, Kalkaska County (east)
  • Kalkaska Township, Kalkaska County (east)
  • Boardman Township, Kalkaska County (southeast)
  • Union Township (south)
  • East Bay Township (southwest)
  • Acme Township (west)

By water

  • Milton Township, Antrim County (northeast)

Transportation

Only one state trunkline 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 US 31 at Acme, and continues toward Traverse City. To the east, M-72 enters Kalkaska County, and reaches a junction with US 131 and M-66 in Kalkaska.

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

Demographics

As of the census