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Grand Rapids, Michigan

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Grand River, Grand Rapids, Michigan, c. 1905

Grand Rapids, also known as the Furniture City or the Second City of Michigan, is a city in the United States. It is the county seat of Kent County, Michigan, in the southwestern region of the state. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 197,800.

History

The Grand Rapids area was first settled in the 1820s by missionaries and fur traders, who generally lived in reasonable peace alongside the Ottawa tribespeople who had their settlements near the Grand River.

The official founder of Grand Rapids itself was Louis Campau, who arrived in November 1826 to trade with the Indians. Yankee immigrants and others began immigrating from New York and New England in the 1830s.

The city of Grand Rapids was officially created on May 1, 1850 when the village of Grand Rapids voted to accept the proposed city charter. The population at the time was 2,686.

During the second half of the 19th century the city became a major lumbering center and the premier furniture manufacturing city of the United States. The city also became a center of Dutch immigration in the 19th century.

In 1881, the country's first hydro-electric plant was put to use on the city's west side. In 1945, Grand Rapids became the first city in the United States to add fluoride to its drinking water.

Law and Government

Title Name
City Mayor: George Heartwell File:Grcl.jpg
City Manager:
Grand Rapid's City Mayor:
File:Gheartwell.jpg
George Heartwell

The Commission-Manager Plan

The City of Grand Rapids voters adopted the Commission-Manager form of government in 1916. Since its adoption, the political reponsibilities have been divided between a City Mayor, and a hired City Manager. Because the City Commission is only a legislative body, its members are the policy makers for their community. The City Commission is responsible for hiring the City Manager, and his/her associates. Source: [1]

George Heartwell; Current Mayor

George Heartwell was elected to be the next mayor of Grand Rapids after former Mayor John Logie stepped down because of a disagreement with the government system. Insisting his position be made full time, the City Commission voted on the matter, and decided it was not in the best interest of the city to have a full-time mayor.

George took over for the city on January 1st, 2004. Prior to being Mayor of Grand Rapids; George Heartwell was also a City Commissioner, (Third Ward Commissioner: 1992-2000) also The Director of Community Leadership Institute at Aquinas College where he also is a professor in the Community Leadership undergraduate study program. Mayor Heartwell is also an ordained minister, for the United Church of Christ, and served for 14 years at Heartside Ministry (A program for the Homeless in Grand Rapids, MI) He was also the President at Heartwell Mortgage Corporation. Source: [2]

See also: List of mayors of Grand Rapids, Michigan

Geography

Grand Rapids sits on the banks of the Grand River, where there was once a set of rapids, at an altitude of 610 feet above sea level.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 117.4 km² (45.3 mi²). 115.6 km² (44.6 mi²) of it is land and 1.8 km² (0.7 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 1.50% water.

Economy

Grand Rapids has long been a center for furniture and automobile manufacturing. More recently the city has attracted more bio-tech companies to the city with the addition of the Van Andel Medical Institute, and the new Cook-DeVos Medical Training Facility, which is a part of Grand Valley State University, along with a new medical school in association with Michigan State University.

The new DeVos Place is expected to continue the growth of the city, which has seen a significant increase recently. Other future projects in the city include a new art museum.

Grand Rapids is home to Gerald R. Ford International Airport.

Sites of Interest

Notable Natives

Local Sports Teams

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