Ghost Town or Not? Monroe Center, Grand Traverse County, Michigan

The near-ghost town of Monroe Center was settled in 1859 in the area now known as Grand Traverse County and named after one of the first settlers, William Monroe, who arrived that same year.

He purchased 400 acres of farmland here, located 12 miles south of Traverse City. Sitting in Green Lake Township, it was given a post office in 1866 and lasted 44 years until it permanently closed in 1910.

Monroe Center sits on top of Mason Hill, one of the largest in the county. It is currently split into two townships: Blair on the east and Green Lake on the west, on the junction of Hilltop Road and County Road 633.

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Back in Monroe Center's late 1800's heyday, the town had a blacksmith, boat livery, boot & shoe store, church, feed mill, general store, hotel, post office, a handful of sawmills, and schoolhouse. Nowadays it still has the church and the former Grange Hall, now a residence.

A little way south on County Road 633 is the cemetery, containing many of Monroe Center’s early settlers. The village has a current population of 200. Scroll a way down to see some current photos...