Glen Arbor Township is a civil township of Leelanau County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 859 at the 2010 census. However, the population of the town expands rapidly during the summer months as a result of it being a summer colony. The community of Glen Arbor, which is considered a census-designated place for statistical purposes, is located in the township. South Manitou Island is also located within the township.
History
John LaRue moved from South Manitou Island to the area of the Sleeping Bear Bay that would eventually become the town in 1848. After establishing a trading post, subsequent settlers began to move to the area with one, Mrs. John E. Fisher, giving the town the name "Glen Arbor" in 1854. Other prominent settlers were John Dorsey, who set up a cooper shop, and C.C. McCarty, who built the Sleeping Bear Inn, originally as a residence for lumbermen. Additionally, George Ray built a dock in 1856 and became the settlement’s first postmaster and W. D. Burdick established a sawmill and grist mill nearby in 1864. In 1878, D. H. Day, a land developer and agent for the Northern Transportation Company, took interest in Glen Arbor. Day serves as the namesake for the historic barn that sits opposite of the Sleeping Bear Dunes. The town's economy was largely based around the lumber industry in the mid 19th century. Wood became the first commodity of Leelanau County as it was used for constructing houses and for fueling the steamers that traversed the Great Lakes. The increase of maritime traffic and the constant threat of shipwrecks along the Manitou Strait led the U.S. Life-Saving Service to establish a small boat station at Sleeping Bear Point in 1901. In 1931, the U.S. Coast Guard moved the facility eastward to its present location near Glen Haven, then closed it in 1944. The station is now a maritime museum that is run by the National Park Service. The size of the town has gradually risen over the years with many summer homes and resorts having been constructed. The primary industry of the town today, especially in the summer months, is tourism.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of, of which is land and is water. It is located along the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, which in 2011 was named the "Most Beautiful Place in America" by Good Morning America. The town is bordered by Glen Lake to its East and Lake Michigan to its West. Glen Lake is a popular destination for tourists due to its warm turquoise blue waters. The 6.3 mile long Crystal River passes through many points of the township during its duration which spans from Glen Lake to Lake Michigan. The river is popular among fly fisherman and kayakers who enjoy its clear water and pristine wildlife.
Lifestyle
Glen Arbor is a popular tourist area for a few months during the summer when the local merchants and year-round inhabitants watch the population nearly triple. Residents of Detroit, Chicago, and many other parts of the Midwest travel to Northern Michigan to enjoy the warm weather and scenic beaches. Glen Arbor is situated on a small strip of land directly between Glen Lake and Lake Michigan which allows visitors to choose from two different bodies of water from which to waterski, fish, or sunbathe. The community sits in the middle of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, a federally protected park. During the winter months, year-round inhabitants remain in the area to take advantage of outdoor winter sports. Both downhill skiing and cross-country skiing are popular pastimes along with hiking and hunting. The closest ski area is located at the Homestead Freshwater Resort approximately 2.2 miles from the town center.
