Editing Nocturnals - RUST CITY (section)

== History ==
Traverse City is named after the [[Grand Traverse Bay]], which the city heads. The bay got its name from [[18th century]] [[France|French]] voyagers who made ''la grande traverse'' or "the long crossing" across the mouth of the bay [http://www.michmarkers.com/pages/S0042.htm Grand Traverse Bay]

In 1847, Captain Boardman of [[Naperville, Illinois]], purchased the land at the mouth of the Boardman River at the head of the west arm of the bay. During that year the captain, his son, and their employees built a dwelling and sawmill near the mouth of the river. In 1851 the Boardmans sold the sawmill to Hannah, Lay & Co, who improved the mill greatly. The increased investment in the mill attracted additional settlers to the new community.

As of 1853, the only operating post office in the Grand Traverse Bay region was the one located at [[Peninsula Township, Michigan|Old Mission]], which was then known as "Grand Traverse." While in Washington in 1852, Mr. Lay had succeeded in getting the U.S. Post Office to authorize a new post office at his newer settlement. As the newer settlement had become known as "Grand Traverse City," Lay proposed this name for its post office, but the USPS clerk suggested dropping the "Grand," in the name, as to limit confusion between this new office and the one at nearby Old Mission. Mr. Lay agreed to the name "Traverse City" for the post office, and the village took on this name.