Grandville, Michigan

Grandville is a city in Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 15,378 at the 2010 census and is part of the Grand Rapids metropolitan area. Grandville is one of the oldest suburbs of Grand Rapids, and was incorporated as a city in 1933.

Grandville, Michigan
City
A pond fronting a forest of maple trees in Grandville.
Motto(s): 
"Charting New Courses..." [1]
Location of Grandville, Michigan
Coordinates: 42°54′14″N 85°45′27″W
CountryUnited States
StateMichigan
CountyKent
Area
 • Total7.67 sq mi (19.88 km2)
 • Land7.25 sq mi (18.77 km2)
 • Water0.43 sq mi (1.11 km2)
Elevation
604 ft (184 m)
Population
 • Total15,378
 • Estimate 
(2019)[4]
15,858
 • Density2,188.22/sq mi (844.86/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes
49418, 49468
Area code(s)616
FIPS code26-34160[5]
GNIS feature ID0627126[6]
Websitewww.cityofgrandville.com

History

Settlement

Grandville was geographically an important place during the logging years in Michigan's history due to its location at the "river-bend" of the Grand River. It was important to have people there to make sure the logs did not jam up as the river turned north-west toward Grand Haven.

Incorporation

Grandville was incorporated into a city in 1933. Infrastructure and utilities were soon developed including new sewage disposal.[7]

By the 1980s due to the growth of the Grand Rapids metropolitan area following the early 1980s recession in the United States, Grandville began to experience even more growth.[8] In 1987, color measurement and manufacturer X-Rite established its headquarters in the city a year after it went public, soon becoming one of the fastest growing businesses in Michigan.[9]

In the 1990s, the city was being eyed for larger development. In 1990, developers had begun eyeing a development of a new mall near the intersection of 44th Street and Ivanrest and met with the city for approval.[10] In 1999, construction of Rivertown Crossings Mall, a mall with 1.25 million in storefronts, was finally completed.

Into the 2000s, Grandville experienced continued growth following the opening of Rivertown Crossings. Multiple restaurants and strip malls developed on Rivertown Parkway following the mall's construction. However, by the beginning of the Great Recession, X-Rite had moved its headquarters to Kentwood, Michigan in 2007.[11]

Following the recession into the 2010s, more development occurred in the city with a Cabela's and Target anchoring a development on the former X-Rite property in 2013.[12] In 2016, a new apartment development called the Grand Castle that incorporated over 1 million square feet and 400 apartments into its design was constructed.[12]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.67 square miles (19.87 km2), of which, 7.27 square miles (18.83 km2) is land and 0.40 square miles (1.04 km2) is water.[13]

Grandville is located near the southwest corner of Grand Rapids. The western border of the city of Grandville is also the western border of Kent County, marked by Kenowa Avenue; this is where Ottawa County and Jenison begin. To the east and south of Grandville lies the city of Wyoming. The city of Walker lies just north of Grandville.

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1880548—
1900457—
191068048.8%
192079917.5%
19301,34668.5%
19401,56616.3%
19502,02229.1%
19607,975294.4%
197010,76435.0%
198012,41215.3%
199015,62425.9%
200016,2634.1%
201015,378−5.4%
Est. 201915,858[4]3.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[14]
Downtown Grandville, December 2006.

2010 census

As of the census[3] of 2010, there were 15,378 people, 5,982 households, and 4,160 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,115.3 inhabitants per square mile (816.7/km2). There were 6,276 housing units at an average density of 863.3 per square mile (333.3/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 92.0% White, 2.2% African American, 0.2% Native American, 1.5% Asian, 1.8% from other races, and 2.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.2% of the population. There were 5,982 households of which 33.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.5% were married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 30.5% were non-families. 24.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.06.

The median age in the city was 36.3 years. 24.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.3% were from 25 to 44; 25.6% were from 45 to 64; and 14.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.3% male and 51.7% female.

Government

Structure

Grandville operates under a council-manager form of government. Ken Krombeen, the city manager, is appointed by the city council to act as the executive of the city, overseeing all departments. The council is composed of six members and a mayor, all elected at large. The Mayor holds a largely ceremonial role, having no veto authority. Three members of the council are elected every two years.

Currently, seven men serve on the city council. Carol Pettijohn, the mayor pro-tem, longest serving council member, and only woman on the council, retired in 2019. Business manager J.R. Vanderwall was appointed to fill her vacancy. Business owner Steve Maas currently serves as the mayor of the city, having replaced long time mayor Jim Buck in 2013.

In 2019, Tim Steenstra, retired Director of Grandville Christian Schools, joined his son, Andy, a sales manager, on the council. The two serve as the city council's first father-son duo in the history of the city. Former Senator Carl Levin's constituent liaison Paul Troost, teacher Justin Noordhoek, and registered nurse Josh Meringa form the remainder of the council.[15]

Business

One of the city's largest employers is the Rivertown Crossings Mall. In 2013, two stores, Cabela's and Target, became anchors to a development on the previous Xrite site across from Rivertown Crossings.[12]

Public safety

A new fire station was constructed across the street from city hall at Prairie and Wilson in 2000 to make way for a new police station and hall of justice in 2003 next to city hall and a Kent District Library on Wilson Avenue.[16]

Arts and culture

Points of interest

Notable people

Infrastructure

Major highways
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References
  1. "The City of Grandville, Michigan". The City of Grandville, Michigan. Retrieved August 26, 2012.
  2. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 25, 2020.
  3. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-11-25.
  4. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  5. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  6. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  7. "History". City of Grandville. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  8. Sneden, Peggy (25 January 1988). "Building Bounces Back in '80s". Grand Rapids Business Journal. 6 (4).
  9. The X-Rite Stuff: True Colors Are Shining Through in Grandville, Eric (October 1989). "The X-Rite Stuff: True Colors Are Shining Through in Grandville". Michigan Business. 6 (7): 38.
  10. Burns, Evette (14 December 1990). "2nd". The Grand Rapids Press.
  11. Knape, Chris (29 January 2009). "X-Rite announces sale of Grandville headquarters". MLive. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  12. Martinez, Shandra (6 March 2013). "Take a look inside Cabela's new West Michigan store". MLive. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  13. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2012-01-25. Retrieved 2012-11-25.
  14. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  15. "City Council". cityofgrandville.com. Retrieved 2018-06-30.
  16. "Grandville, Michigan: Grandville Police & Court Facility". Design Cost Data. 47 (2): 48. March 2003.

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