Charter Township of Filer is located on Lake Michigan in Manistee County’s southwestern corner, just south of the City of Manistee. Its largest community is Filer City, which is located on the south side of Manistee Lake. This area is a continuation of the greater Manistee community. It contains a significant industrial base, including paper products and salt processing. This is a very scenic area that overlooks Manistee Lake to the east.

This community was founded by Delos L. Filer who built a sawmill here with his sons in 1867. In 1883, a railroad line was built here to accommodate the heavy lumbering in the area. The station was originally nicknamed: “Filer’s Switch.”

MASTER PLAN:
The Charter Township of Filer is a community that was built on a fierce work ethic and a culture of civic engagement. It is an established and resilient community, with a long history of industry surrounded by historic walkable residential neighborhoods. The people of Filer embrace its history as a means of strengthening a sense of community. The Township plans proactively to make informed, objective, and thoughtful decisions; aiming to work cooperatively on regional initiatives and make sound land-use decisions. Today, Filer Township is at a crossroads, with a unique opportunity for transformation through public and private cooperation and investment. Recently, there has been significant public input and local leadership invested in developing a vision for the U.S. 31 corridor.

High-quality parks and recreational amenities are crucial for fostering a healthy, active multi-generational community. While recent improvements have focused on two Lake Michigan Township parks, the community intends to focus its efforts on renovations to two neighborhood parks and the community center. Also closely connected, the Township is prioritizing nonmotorized trail connections to foster a healthy, active walkable community.