Leland is in
Leelanau County (of which it is the county seat), and in the
Northern Region. You can find Leland north of
Traverse City along Highway 22 near
Leelanau State Park and
Lake Michigan.
Leland was named from an old nautical term "lee land", referring to north winds on stormy seas, which this town is exposed to. It was first settled by Antoine Manseau in 1853, who moved to the town from Manistee. The town grew due to the lumbering industry and eventually became the county seat in 1882.
Today, this picturesque village is a popular tourist spot, bringing in visitors to its waterfront-like atmosphere along the channel between Lake Michigan and Lake Leelanau, ( a historical landmark known as "fishtown"), along with its well-preserved Victorian architecture, as evidenced in its homes and unique shops downtown.
