Ottawa County, Michigan

Ottawa County ( ) is a county located in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 United States census, United States 2020 Census, the population was 296,200. The county seat is Grand Haven, Michigan, Grand Haven. The county is named for the Odawa people, Ottawa Nation. It was set off in 1831 and organized in 1837.

Ottawa County is included in the Grand Rapids, Michigan, Grand Rapids-Kentwood, Michigan, Kentwood, MI Grand Rapids metropolitan area, Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Before European settlers arrived, this area was home to the Potawatomi and Ottawa (tribe), Ottawa people for centuries. The Grand River was used as a trade route into the interior of Michigan. Much of what we know about the Native American presence in Ottawa County comes from the excavation of archeological artifacts at places like the Battle Point Site.

The city dates its European-American founding to French colonial settlers. A fur trading outpost called ''Gabagouache'' was first established by Madeline La Framboise#Fur%20trading, Madeline La Framboise and her husband Joseph.

The first permanent settler of the County was a Presbyterian minister, William Montague Ferry, who settled in Grand Haven in 1834. Grand Haven quickly grew and became an important port for trade and travel. Ferry is often referred to as the "father" of Ottawa County.

Dutch settlers started arriving in the area in 1847, led by Albertus van Raalte, Albertus Van Raalte. These Dutch Settlers moved into the Holland area. This area was already inhabited by many Odawa (Ottawa) people as well as the Old Wing Mission. Within just a few years, the new Dutch settlers had forced out the Ottawa people and the Old Wing Mission.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, US Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (65%) is water.

Bodies of water

* Bass River (Michigan), Bass River
* Grand River (Michigan), Grand River
* Spring Lake
* Black Lake (partially)
* Lake Macatawa
* Lake Michigan
* Macatawa River
* Pigeon River (Ottawa County, Michigan), Pigeon River

Adjacent counties

* Muskegon County, Michigan, Muskegon County – north
* Kent County, Michigan, Kent County – east
* Allegan County, Michigan, Allegan County – south
* Milwaukee County, Wisconsin – west (across Lake Michigan)
* Racine County, Wisconsin – west (across Lake Michigan)

Major highways

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Demographics

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 263,801 people living in the county. 90.1% were White American, White, 2.6% Asian American, Asian, 1.5% African American, Black or African American, 0.4% Native Americans in the United States, Native American, 3.4% of some other race and 2.0% Multiracial American, of two or more races. 8.6% were Hispanic and Latino Americans, Hispanic or Latino (of any race). 31.0% were of Dutch American, Dutch, 14.2% German American, German, 5.8% English American, English and 5.7% Irish American, Irish ancestry.

As of the 2000 United States Census, there were 238,314 people, 81,662 households, and 61,328 families in the county. The population density was 421 people per square mile (163/km²). There were 86,856 housing units at an average density of 154 per square mile (59/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 91.52% Race (United States Census), White, 1.05% Race (United States Census), Black or Race (United States Census), African American, 0.36% Race (United States Census), Native American, 2.09% Race (United States Census), Asian, 0.02% Race (United States Census), Pacific Islander, 3.48% from Race (United States Census), other races, and 1.48% from two or more races. 7.00% of the population were Race (United States Census), Hispanic or Race (United States Census), Latino of any race. 37.3% reported being of Dutch American, Dutch, 14.6% German American, German, 6.2% English American, English, 5.6% Irish American, Irish and 5.4% United States, American ancestry, 91.5% spoke only English language, English at home; 5.4% spoke Spanish language, Spanish.

There were 81,662 households, out of which 39.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.60% were Marriage, married couples living together, 7.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.90% were non-families. 19.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.25.

The county has numerous seasonal residents during the summer. Port Sheldon Township has many lakefront homes and other inland retreats that serve as summer getaways for residents of Grand Rapids, Detroit, and Chicago. No official statistics are compiled on seasonal residents.

The county population contains 28.70% under the age of 18, 11.90% from 18 to 24, 29.30% from 25 to 44, 20.00% from 45 to 64, and 10.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.20 males.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation ranks Ottawa County as Michigan's second-healthiest county, preceded only by the leisure-oriented Traverse City area.

The median income for a household in the county was $52,347, and the median income for a family was $59,896. Males had a median income of $42,180 versus $27,706 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,676. About 3.10% of families and 5.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.70% of those under age 18 and 4.90% of those age 65 or over.

Religion

* The Christian Reformed Church in North America has 67 churches and 33,700 members.
* The Reformed Church in America has 47 congregations and 33,300 members.
* The Catholic Church has 11 churches and 24,700 members.
* The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has two meetinghouses in the county.
* The Protestant Reformed Churches have around 10 large congregations in the county.

Government

Ottawa County operates the County jail, maintains rural roads, operates the major local courts, records deeds, mortgages, and vital records, administers public health regulations, and participates with the state in the provision of social services. The county board of commissioners controls the budget and has 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.

Most of the county's offices are located in either the city of Grand Haven, Michigan, Grand Haven or at the Olive Township, Ottawa County, Michigan#Ottawa_County_Fillmore_Complex, Fillmore complex in Olive Township, Ottawa County, Michigan, Olive Township.

Elected officials

* County Commissioners
* Prosecutor, Prosecuting Attorney – Lee F. Fisher
* Sheriff – Steve Kempker
* County clerk, County Clerk/Register of Deeds – Justin F. Roebuck
* Treasurer, County Treasurer – Amanda Price
* Drain commissioner, Water Resources Commissioner – Joe Bush

(information as of September 2022)

Local policies

Beginning in 2012, County Administrator Alan Vanderberg and the Board of Commissioners adopted the "Four Cs" Initiative including "Cultural Intelligence." At that time, Vanderberg asserted that "discrimination is not only alive and well, but it will also negatively impact the future prosperity of Ottawa County and West Michigan if not addressed. I have listened to the CEOs of some of West Michigan’s top businesses state that access to global talent is a major determinant of their company’s solvency. Some of these same leaders disclosed that an inability to create diverse teams in the future could lead to the relocation of corporate headquarters or company divisions to larger, more diverse areas...Talent can be homegrown in some cases, but a competition to attract global talent is currently happening and it will only intensify. The future prosperity of West Michigan hinges upon pursuing and welcoming diversity." The county rebranded in 2017 as a means to establish a high quality visual identity that better matched the quality organization of Ottawa County.

The county also adopted the slogan "Where you belong." Vanderberg said the slogan is intended to let everyone, regardless of color, ethnic background, sexual identity, religion or other qualifier, know they are welcome in Ottawa County.

Politics

Ottawa County has long been one of the most consistently Republican Party (United States), Republican counties in Michigan and the country. The last Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party candidate to carry the county was George B. McClellan in 1864. As a measure of how Republican the county has been since then, it has rejected Democratic presidential candidates even in national Democratic landslides. It was one of the few counties where Franklin Roosevelt was shut out in all four of his presidential bids, and was one of only three counties in the state to vote for Barry Goldwater over Lyndon Johnson in 1964. However, Johnson won 45% of the county's vote, the last time that a Democrat has won even 40% of the county's vote. In 1912, incumbent Republican president William Howard Taft lost the county to "Bull Moose Party" candidate and former Republican President Theodore Roosevelt. During the 1986 Michigan gubernatorial election, 1986 gubernatorial election, it was the only county not to back James Blanchard for a second term. In 2008, it was one of the only two counties in Michigan where Barack Obama did not win 40 percent of the county's vote, and his weakest county, being the only one where John McCain received more than 60 percent of the vote, as he won it by 24 points while Obama carried the state by 16.5 points. In 2020, Joe Biden had the best performance of any Democratic presidential candidate in Ottawa County since 1964.

Perhaps the most prominent politician in Ottawa County History was Grand Haven's Thomas W. Ferry. Thomas Ferry served as an Ottawa County Clerk at age 21. He went on to become a member of the Michigan House of Representatives, the Michigan Senate, the U.S. Representative, U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senator, U.S. Senate. While in the U.S. Senate, he served as President pro tempore of the United States Senate, President Pro Tempore (during the 44th United States Congress, 44th and 45th United States Congress, 45th congresses). As Pro Tempore, he became, upon the death of U.S. Vice President, Vice President Henry Wilson on November 22, 1875, next in the United States presidential line of succession, line of presidential succession, and remained so until March 4, 1877.

Communities

Cities

* Coopersville, Michigan, Coopersville
* Ferrysburg, Michigan, Ferrysburg
* Grand Haven, Michigan, Grand Haven (county seat)
* Holland, Michigan, Holland
* Hudsonville, Michigan, Hudsonville
* Zeeland, Michigan, Zeeland

Village

* Spring Lake, Michigan, Spring Lake

Census-designated places

* Allendale, Michigan, Allendale
* Beechwood, Michigan, Beechwood
* Jenison, Michigan, Jenison

Other unincorporated communities

* Agnew, Michigan, Agnew
* Blendon Township, Michigan#Communities, Bauer
* Zeeland Charter Township, Michigan#Communities, Beaverdam
* Wright Township, Ottawa County, Michigan#Communities, Big Spring
* Blendon Township, Michigan, Blendon
* Blendon Township, Michigan#Communities, Borculo
* Allendale Charter Township, Michigan#Communities, Conger
* Chester Township, Ottawa County, Michigan#Communities, Conklin
* Olive Township, Ottawa County, Michigan#Communities, Crisp
* Chester Township, Ottawa County, Michigan#Communities, Crockery Lake
* Polkton Township, Michigan#Communities, Dennison
* Zeeland Charter Township, Michigan#Communities, Drenthe
* Eastmanville, Michigan, Eastmanville
* Tallmadge Township, Michigan#Communities, Finnasey
* Jamestown Charter Township, Michigan#Communities, Forest Grove
* Chester Township, Ottawa County, Michigan#Communities, Gooding
* Grand Valley, Michigan, Grand Valley
* Olive Township, Ottawa County, Michigan#Communities, Harlem Station
* Chester Township, Ottawa County, Michigan#Communities, Harrisburg
* Wright Township, Ottawa County, Michigan#Communities, Herrington
* Jamestown Charter Township, Michigan#Communities, Jamestown
* Tallmadge Township, Michigan#Communities, Lamont (called Steele's Landing 1851–1856)
* Chester Township, Ottawa County, Michigan#Communities, Lisbon
* Park Township, Ottawa County, Michigan#Communities, Macatawa
* Marne, Michigan, Marne
* Holland Charter Township, Michigan, Noordeloos
* Blendon Township, Michigan, North Blendon
* Nunica, Michigan, Nunica
* Crockery Township, Michigan#Communities, Ottawa Center
* Allendale Charter Township, Michigan#Communities, Pearline (also called East Allendale)
* Port Sheldon Township, Michigan#Communities, Port Sheldon
* Wright Township, Ottawa County, Michigan#Communities, Reno
* Robinson Township, Michigan#Communities, Robinson
* Allendale Charter Township, Michigan#Communities, Spoonville
* Tallmadge Township, Michigan#Communities, Tallmadge
* Zeeland Charter Township, Michigan#Communities, Vriesland
* Olive Township, Ottawa County, Michigan#Communities, West Olive
* Wright Township, Ottawa County, Michigan#Communities, Wright

Townships

* Allendale Charter Township, Michigan, Allendale Charter Township
* Blendon Township, Michigan, Blendon Township
* Chester Township, Ottawa County, Michigan, Chester Township
* Crockery Township, Michigan, Crockery Township
* Georgetown Township, Michigan, Georgetown Charter Township
* Grand Haven Charter Township, Michigan, Grand Haven Charter Township
* Holland Charter Township, Michigan, Holland Charter Township
* Jamestown Charter Township, Michigan, Jamestown Charter Township
* Olive Township, Ottawa County, Michigan, Olive Township
* Park Township, Ottawa County, Michigan, Park Township
* Polkton Township, Michigan, Polkton Charter Township
* Port Sheldon Township, Michigan, Port Sheldon Township
* Robinson Township, Michigan, Robinson Township
* Spring Lake Township, Michigan, Spring Lake Township
* Tallmadge Township, Michigan, Tallmadge Charter Township
* Wright Township, Ottawa County, Michigan, Wright Township
* Zeeland Charter Township, Michigan, Zeeland Charter Township

See also

* List of Michigan State Historic Sites in Ottawa County, Michigan
* National Register of Historic Places listings in Ottawa County, Michigan

References

External links

County of Ottawa

Grand Haven & Tri-Cities Alumni
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{{Coord, 42.92, -86.23, display=title, type:adm2nd_region:US-MI_source:UScensus1990

Ottawa County, Michigan,
Michigan counties
Grand Rapids metropolitan area
1837 establishments in Michigan
Populated places established in 1837