Kent County, Michigan

Infobox U.S. County
county = Kent County
state = Michigan




map size = 200
founded = 1831
seat = Grand Rapids | area_total_sq_mi =872
area_land_sq_mi =856
area_water_sq_mi =16
area percentage = 1.84%
census yr = 2000
pop = 574335
density_km2 =102
web = www.accesskent.com
|

Kent County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is part of the Grand Rapids–Wyoming Metropolitan Statistical Area. In the 2000 census, the county had a population of 574,335. The 2007 Census estimate placed the county population at 604,330. The county seat is Grand Rapids. It is named for New York jurist and legal scholar James Kent, who represented the Michigan Territory in its dispute with Ohio over the Toledo Strip.

History

The Grand River, the largest river in Michigan, runs through the county. On its west bank are burial mounds, remnants of the Hopewell Indians who once lived there. The valley of the river served as an important center for the fur trade in the early 1800s. In 1831, it was set off from Mackinac County. In 1838, Grand Rapids incorporated as the county's first village. By the end of the century, stimulated by the construction of several sawmills, the area was a significant center for agriculture, logging, and manufacturing furniture.

Kent County is the economic and manufacturing center of West Michigan, with the Steelcase corporation based in the county. It is also the home of the Frederik Meijer Gardens, a significant cultural landmark of the Midwest. The county is a traditional stronghold for the Republican Party, with a substantial conservative population. The area has strong religious ties, containing a substantial number of evangelical Christians. The Gerald R. Ford International Airport is located within the county.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 574,335 people, 212,890 households, and 144,126 families residing in the county. The current estimated population is 604,323. The population density was 671 people per square mile (259/km²). There were 224,000 housing units at an average density of 262 per square mile (101/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 83.13% White, 8.93% Black or African American, 0.52% Native American, 1.86% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 3.34% from other races, and 2.16% from two or more races. 7.00% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 19.6% were of Dutch, 14.9% German, 7.6% English, 7.4% Irish, 7.1% Polish and 5.5% American ancestry according to Census 2000. 90.0% spoke English and 6.0% Spanish as their first language.

There were 212,890 households out of which 35.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.30% were married couples living together, 11.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.30% were non-families. 25.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.20.

In the county the population was spread out with 28.30% under the age of 18, 10.50% from 18 to 24, 31.20% from 25 to 44, 19.70% from 45 to 64, and 10.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 96.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $45,980, and the median income for a family was $54,770. Males had a median income of $39,878 versus $27,364 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,629. 8.90% of the population and 6.30% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 10.20% are under the age of 18 and 7.50% are 65 or older.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 872 square miles (2,259 km²), of which, 856 square miles (2,217 km²) of it is land and 16 square miles (41 km²) of it (1.84%) is water. The highest point in Kent County is Fisk Knob Park [www.gvsu.edu/cms3/assets/747AFBFD-E778-4800-BB3CB1D437769AFE/links_resources_news/Kent_County_Parks.doc Fisk Knob] , Grand Valley State University - Kent County Parks] , in Cedar Springs, at 1048 feet [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=43%C2%B016%2759.52%22N+85%C2%B036%2742.22%22W&ie=UTF8&ll=43.286422,-85.60873&spn=0.021462,0.054417&t=p&z=15 Highest Point in Kent County] , Google Earth/Maps] ] .

Rivers

The Grand River flows through the county from its eastern border to the west, and after passing through Ottawa County, empties into Lake Michigan at Grand Haven. It has three tributaries in Kent County, listed in order of convergence:
*Flat River, enters the county from the east, and joins the Grand from the north, in Lowell.
*Thornapple River, enters the county from the south, and joins the Grand in Ada.
*Rogue River, enters the county from the north, and joins the Grand in Belmont.

Trails

These hiking and biking trails run through the county:
*North Country Trail, runs north/south the length of the county, passing through Cedar Springs, Grattan and Lowell. Lowell is the half-way point of the trail, and the national headquarters of the North Country Trail Association is located here.
*Thornapple Trail, begins in Kentwood and runs southeast through Dutton and Caledonia.
*White Pine Trail, begins in Comstock Park and runs northeast through Belmont, Rockford, Cedar Springs, and Sand Lake.

Adjacent counties

*Newaygo County, Michigan - north
*Montcalm County, Michigan - northeast
*Muskegon County, Michigan - northwest
*Ionia County, Michigan - east
*Ottawa County, Michigan - west
*Allegan County, Michigan - southwest
*Barry County, Michigan - southeast

Major Highways

Interstates

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* is unsigned and runs concurrently with US 131, in part, in Grand Rapids.
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US highways

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Michigan State Trunklines

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Kent County Intercounty Highways

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Businesses

These corporations are headquartered in Kent County, in the following communities:
*Alticor (formerly Amway), Ada
*American Seating, Grand Rapids
*Bissell Homecare, Walker
*Gordon Food Service, Wyoming
*Meijer, Walker
*Old Orchard, Sparta
*Spartan Stores, Cutlerville
*Steelcase, Grand Rapids
*Universal Forest Products, Northview
*Wolverine Worldwide, Rockford
*X-Rite, Kentwood
*Zondervan, Cascade Township

Government

The county government operates the jail, maintains rural roads, operates the major local courts, keeps files of deeds and mortgages, maintains vital records, administers public health regulations, and participates with the state in the provision of welfare and other social services. The county board of commissioners controls the budget but has only limited authority to make laws or ordinances. In Michigan, most local government functions — police and fire, building and zoning, tax assessment, street maintenance, etc. — are the responsibility of individual cities and townships.

Kent County elected officials

* Prosecuting Attorney: William A. Forsyth (Republican)
* Sheriff: Lawrence Stelma (Republican)
* County Clerk/Register of Deeds: Mary Hollinrake (Republican)
* County Treasurer: Kenneth Parrish (Republican)
* Drain Commissioner: Douglas Sporte (Republican)
* County Commission or Board of Commissioners: 19 members, elected from districts (16 Republicans, 3 Democrats)
* Circuit Court: 9 judges (non-partisan)
* Probate Court: 3 judges (non-partisan)

(information as of February 2006)

Prominent former officials

* Terri Lynn Land, Clerk-Register in 1993-2000, now Michigan Secretary of State

Cities, villages, and townships

Cities
* Cedar Springs
* East Grand Rapids
* Grand Rapids
* Grandville
* Kentwood
* Lowell
* Rockford
* Walker
* WyomingVillages
* Caledonia
* Casnovia
* Kent City
* Sand Lake
* SpartaUnincorporated
* Ada
* Alaska
* Alto
* Belmont
* Byron Center
* Cannonsburg
* Cascade
* Comstock Park
* Cutlerville
* Dutton
* Forest Hills
* Northview

Townships
*Ada Township
*Algoma Township
*Alpine Township
*Bowne Township
*Byron Township
*Caledonia Township*
*Cannon Township
*Cascade Township*
*Courtland Township
*Gaines Township*
*Grand Rapids Township*
*Grattan Township
*Lowell Township*
*Nelson Township
*Oakfield Township
*Plainfield Township*
*Solon Township
*Sparta Township
*Spencer Township
*Tyrone Township
*Vergennes Township

(* denotes Charter status)

References

External links

* [http://www.accesskent.com/ Official Website of Kent County, Michigan]
* [http://www.rootsweb.com/~mikent/ History and Genealogy of Kent County, Michigan]