Tourism is key to northern Michigan s growth.
More than 250 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline and over 300 inland lakes, rivers, and streams provide excellent recreational opportunities for visitors. In addition to tourism revenue, agriculture, oil, and gas explorations are major components of the area economy. The Traverse City area is the largest producer of tart cherries in the world. Michigan is also ranked sixth nationally in wine production. American Demographics magazine reports the Traverse City area population as growing at a rate far above the rest of the state and per-capita sales as reaching well above the national average.