The southern villages and countryside

South of Traverse City, away from the bay, Grand Traverse County is rolling farm-and-forest country. The Boardman River threads through it, and small lakes dot the land. It’s quieter and more affordable, with two old railroad villages at its heart.

Kingsley, the larger of the two, grew up around a station on the Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad in the 1870s. It’s named for its founder, Judson Kingsley. A separate neighboring village called Paradise — the same name as the township — later merged into it. Kingsley also carries the nickname “Stagtown.” Main Street (M-113) still runs through a tidy downtown, and freight trains roll through to this day. Fife Lake, to the southeast, also owes its start to the same railroad. It sits on the pretty, island-studded lake it’s named for, in the county’s far corner. The surrounding townships — Paradise, Fife Lake, Blair, Grant, Mayfield, and Union — are mostly farms, woods, and country roads. Communities like Grawn and Mayfield are scattered among them.

For buyers, this is the value end of the county. You get more land for the money, a country pace, and an easy commute up to Traverse City for work and shopping. Most homes are on wells and septic (see the well-and-septic note). A few lots sit on small lakes or the river. It’s a popular choice for families and anyone wanting acreage within reach of town.