Chums Corner, Michigan

Chums Corner (often referred to as Chums) is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Grand Traverse County in the U.S. state of Michigan.^[1] According to the 2020 census, the population was 1,065. The community is located within Blair Township.

Chums Corner, Michigan
Census-designated place (CDP) & unincorporated community
A Traverse City Pit Spitters game at Turtle Creek Stadium in Chums Corner
Nickname:  "Chums"
Location within Grand Traverse County
Chums Corner Location within the state of Michigan Show map of Michigan Chums Corner Location within the United States Show map of the United States
Coordinates: 44°40′19″N 85°39′23″W[1]
Country	United States
State	Michigan
County	Grand Traverse
Township	Blair
Area [2]
• Total	2.79 sq mi (7.24 km2)
• Land	2.66 sq mi (6.89 km2)
• Water	0.14 sq mi (0.35 km2)
Elevation [1]	889 ft (271 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	1,065
• Density	400.38/sq mi (154.61/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code(s)	49685 (Traverse City)
Area code	231
GNIS feature ID	6223278[1]

History

Historically, the area that is now Chums Corner was traversed by what is now known as the Old Indian Trail, a trail which serviced travel for the Anishinaabe between Lake Mitchell, near Cadillac, and Grand Traverse Bay, in Traverse City.^[3]

Around 1932, Deronda "Chum" Crandall and his wife Eva began operating a gas station and a grocery store at a major highway intersection a few miles south of Traverse City. Over the years the intersection became known as "Chum's Corners". Chum sold the business and retired in 1953, and died in Traverse City in early 1959.^[4]

The community of Chums Corner was listed as a newly-organized census-designated place for the 2010 census, meaning it was given officially defined boundaries and population statistics for the first time.^[5] The population at this time was 946. ^[6]

In 2020, Chasten Buttigieg, spouse of United States Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, wrote I Have Something to Tell You, a memoir which includes anecdotes about Buttigieg's childhood growing up in a neighborhood in Chums Corner.^[7]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 2.66 square miles (6.89 km²), all land.^[8]

Major highways

• US 31 enters from the west and takes a 90° angle north in the center of the community.
• M-37 runs south–north through the center of the community and merges concurrent with U.S. Route 31.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
2010	946		—
2020	1,065		12.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]

Education

It is within Traverse City Area Public Schools.^[10]

Notable person

• Chasten Buttigieg, spouse of former South Bend mayor and current United States Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, was raised in Chums Corner.