Kent County, Michigan
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 2008 Census estimate placed the county population at 605,213. 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 19th century. 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, although the 2008 Presidential Election marked the first time since 1964 a Democratic Presidential candidate received more votes than his Republican opponent. 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 census 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, in Solon Township, at 1048 feet.
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, inLowell.
Thornapple River, enters the county from the south, and joins the Grand inAda.
Rogue River, enters the county from the north, and joins the Grand inBelmont.
Trails
These hiking and biking trails run through the county:North Country Trail, runs north/south the length of the county, passing throughCedar Springs,GrattanandLowell. 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 inKentwoodand runs southeast throughDuttonandCaledonia.
White Pine Trail, begins inComstock Parkand runs northeast throughBelmont,Rockford,Cedar Springs, andSand Lake.
Kent Trails(which is singular in spite of the 's') runs north/south fromJohn Ball ParkinGrand Rapidsto 84th Street inByron Township, with an extension that runs east/west along 76th Street and north/south from 76th Street toDouglas Walker Parkon 84th street.
TheFrederik Meijer Trailwhich, as of November, 2008, is incomplete, runs east/west mostly along theM-6freeway and will connect theKent Trailsand theThornapple Trailwhen completed.
Cannon Township Trail rungs through Cannon Township in the eastern part of the county from Cannon Township Center on M-44. It runs along M-44 then runs south near Sunfish Lake Road, turning east through the Cannonsburg Cemetery, and ends at Warren Townsend Park near Cannonsburg.
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
Air Service
Commercial air service to Grand Rapids is provided byGerald R. Ford International Airport(GRR). Previously named Kent County International Airport, it holds Grand Rapids' mark in modern history with the United States' first regularly scheduled airline service, beginning July 31, 1926, between Grand Rapids and Detroit.
Bus Service
Public bus transportation is provided by theInterurban Transit Partnership, which brands itself asThe Rapid. Transportation is also provided by the DASH buses: the 'Downtown Area Shuttle'. These provide transportation to and from the parking lots in the city of Grand Rapids to various designated loading and unloading spots around the city.
Railroad
Amtrakprovides direct train service toChicagofrom thepassenger stationvia thePere Marquetteline. Freight service is provided byCN,CSX Transportation, and by a localshortlinerailroad, theGrand Rapids Eastern Railroad.
Highways
I-96
I-196
I-296is unsigned andruns concurrentlywith US 131, in part, in Grand Rapids.
US 131
M-6
M-11
M-21
M-37
M-44
M-46
M-50
M-57
County-Designated Highways
A-45
B-72
Major Businesses
These corporations are headquartered in Kent County, in the following communities:Amway, Ada
American Seating, Grand Rapids
Bissell Homecare, Walker
Gordon Food Service, Wyoming
Meijer, Walker
Old Orchard, Sparta
Spartan Stores, Byron Township
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: William Byl (Republican)
County Commission or Board of Commissioners: 19 members, elected from districts (11 Republicans, 8 Democrats)
Circuit Court: 9 judges (non-partisan)
Probate Court: 3 judges (non-partisan)
(information as of post- 2008 election)
Prominent former officials
Terri Lynn Land, Clerk-Register in 1993-2000, now Michigan Secretary of State
Politics
Kent County has historically been a stronghold of the Republican Party, and usually supports its candidates for local and federal office. In 2008, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama narrowly carried the county, receiving 149,909 votes (49.34% of the total) to Republican John McCain's 148,336 (48.83%). This nevertheless represented a weaker showing for Obama than his statewide performance (57.4% of the vote).In 2004, Republican president George W. Bush received 171,201 votes (58.85%) to Democrat John Kerry's 116,909 (40.19%) .In 2000, Bush received 148,602 votes (59.37%) to Democrat Al Gore's 95,442 (38.13%) .
Cities, villages, and townships
Townships(* denotes Charter status)