Charlevoix, a city on three lakes, is a small town combining its resort-tourism tradition with a growing industrial, year-round employment base. The city and surrounding townships have a total population of approximately 3,000 year-round residents and swells to an estimated 30,000 people in the summer. Charlevoix’s natural resources make it a recreational paradise for anyone who enjoys spending time outdoors either on land or on the water. In addition to Charlevoix's natural attractions, there are other attractions such as shopping, dining and a wide variety of special events which take place each year in the little northern Michigan community known as Charlevoix the Beautiful. The city of Charlevoix, located on the shore of Lake Michigan is also the county seat for Charlevoix County. Incorporated as a village in 1879 and a city in 1905, Charlevoix continues to grow with the tourist industry and also attract new industrial businesses to the area. Traversed by US31, and with one of the few remaining draw bridges still operating in the downtown area, the summer season often finds the area full of people, boats in the harbor and special events at the recently renovated park. The city is also home to the US Coast Guard Cutter Acacia and the associated Coast Guard station personnel, along with the Beaver Island ferry, all on the water near the downtown area.