Zeeland ( ) is a city in Ottawa County in the

U.S. state In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its sover ...

Michigan Michigan () is a state in the Great Lakes region of the upper Midwestern United States. With a population of nearly 10.12 million and an area of nearly , Michigan is the 10th-largest state by population, the 11th-largest by area, and the ...

. The population was 5,719 at the 2020 census. The city is located at the western edge of Zeeland Charter Township. Its name is taken from the

Dutch Dutch commonly refers to: * Something of, from, or related to the Netherlands * Dutch people () * Dutch language () Dutch may also refer to: Places * Dutch, West Virginia, a community in the United States * Pennsylvania Dutch Country People E ...

province of

Zeeland , nl, Ik worstel en kom boven("I struggle and emerge") , anthem = "Zeeuws volkslied"("Zeelandic Anthem") , image_map = Zeeland in the Netherlands.svg , map_alt = , m ...

History

In 1847, nearly 500 Dutch citizens sailed for America ostensibly to achieve

religious freedom Freedom of religion or religious liberty is a principle that supports the freedom of an individual or community, in public or private, to manifest religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship, and observance. It also includes the freedom ...

, although their decision to immigrate was probably also influenced by other factors, such as dire economic conditions in their home province of

Zeeland , nl, Ik worstel en kom boven("I struggle and emerge") , anthem = "Zeeuws volkslied"("Zeelandic Anthem") , image_map = Zeeland in the Netherlands.svg , map_alt = , m ...

Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...

and their opposition to modern scientific and social advances of the time. The emigrants were led by James Van de Luyster, a wealthy landowner who sold his holdings in the Netherlands to advance money for the members to pay their debts and buy passage to America. Their settlement, some of land once occupied by the

Odawa people The Odawa (also Ottawa or Odaawaa ), said to mean "traders", are an Indigenous American ethnic group who primarily inhabit land in the Eastern Woodlands region, commonly known as the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada. They ha ...

, was named after their home province of

Zeeland , nl, Ik worstel en kom boven("I struggle and emerge") , anthem = "Zeeuws volkslied"("Zeelandic Anthem") , image_map = Zeeland in the Netherlands.svg , map_alt = , m ...

. Van de Luyster arranged for three ships to sail for the United States. He came on the first ship, arriving on June 27, 1847. He was followed by the Steketee group on July 4, and Reverend Van Der Meulen's group on August 1 of that year. The total number of settlers was 457. The first building was a church. The town of Zeeland was

plat In the United States, a plat ( or ) (plan) is a cadastral map, drawn to scale, showing the divisions of a piece of land. United States General Land Office surveyors drafted township plats of Public Lands Surveys to show the distance and bear ...

ted in 1849, and the school district was organized the following year. Within twenty-five years, Zeeland had acquired a sawmill, a wagon factory, blacksmith shops, grocery stores, and a post office. The village officially became a city in 1907. There was a two-story brick kindergarten building, a two-story brick grade school, and a brick house building. The city also had four furniture factories, one large manufacturing plant, and several mills and smaller manufacturing industries.

Geography

According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...

, the city has a total area of , of which is land and is water. The town itself is located on a hill, giving the city a higher elevation compared to the surrounding township land. Much of the outlying areas contain farmland and forest.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the

census A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses incl ...

of 2020, there were 5,719 people, 2,421 households, and 1,432 families residing in the city. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical term.Matt RosenberPopul ...

was . There were 2,472 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 88.4%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White on ...

, 1.3%

African American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...

, 0.3% Native American, 1.6%

Asian Asian may refer to: * Items from or related to the continent of Asia: ** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia ** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia ** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...

, 3.7% from

other races Other often refers to: * Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy Other or The Other may also refer to: Film and television * ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack * ''The Other'' (1930 film), a ...

, and 4.5% from two or more races.

Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad. The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to Vic ...

Latino Latino or Latinos most often refers to: * Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America * Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States * The people or cultures of Latin America; ** Latin A ...

of any race were 7.4% of the population. There were 2,421 households, of which 27.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.8% were

married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between t ...

living together, 30.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 16% had a male householder with no wife present. 43.9% had someone living alone who was 60 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.89. The median age in the city was 39.2 years. 21.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 52.7% were between the age of 18 and 64; and 25.4% were 65 years of age or older.

2010 census

As of the

of 2010, there were 5,504 people, 2,246 households, and 1,426 families residing in the city. The

was . There were 2,446 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 93.8%

, 1.1%

, 0.4% Native American, 1.3%

, 1.3% from

, and 2.1% from two or more races.

of any race were 6.4% of the population. There were 2,246 households, of which 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.5% were

living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 36.5% were non-families. 33.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 21.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 3.04. The median age in the city was 38.8 years. 25.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.8% were from 25 to 44; 20.6% were from 45 to 64; and 22.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 44.8% male and 55.2% female.

2000 census

As of the

of 2000, there were 5,805 people, 2,283 households, and 1,490 families residing in the city. The

was 1,927.7 per square mile (744.6/km²). There were 2,389 housing units at an average density of 793.3 per square mile (306.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.90%

, 0.59%

, 0.14% Native American, 1.31%

, 0.02%

Pacific Islander Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the list of islands in the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islands. As an ethnic group, ethnic/race (human categorization), racial term, it is used to describe the original p ...

, 2.10% from

, and 1.95% from two or more races.

of any race were 4.63% of the population. There were 2,283 households, out of which 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.6% were

living together, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.7% were non-families. 32.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 20.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.13. In the city, ages of the residents spanned a broad range with 26.2% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 16.1% from 45 to 64, and 23.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.9 males. The median income for a household in the city was $45,611, and the median income for a family was $53,227. Males had a median income of $35,288 versus $26,913 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population. Per capita i ...

for the city was $20,801. About 2.8% of families and 4.6% of the population were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for t ...

, including 5.8% of those under age 18 and 3.4% of those age 65 or over.

Education

;K-12 public schools *Roosevelt Elementary School *New Groningen Elementary School *Quincy Elementary School *Adams Elementary School *Woodbridge Elementary School *Lincoln Elementary School *Cityside Middle School *Creekside Middle School *Zeeland East High School *Zeeland West High School *Innocademy Charter School (K-8) *iCademy Global (9-12) *Ottawa Area Intermediate School District *National Heritage Academies (Eagle Crest Charter Academy) ;Private schools * Zeeland Christian School ;School issues *In 2012, Zeeland school district superintendent Dave Barry was accused of plagiarism for using text from a blog post by Mark Rutherford without giving credit. The school board decided to punish Barry by suspending him for two weeks without pay. Barry said he respected the board's decision and promised it would not happen again, saying that he had "fallen short of the mark." Barry also said that this was not the only time he has taken credit for someone's work, but the number of times he has done so has not been released to the public. *Prior to the release of the 1998 album ''Follow the Leader'' by the band

Korn Korn (stylized as KoЯn, or occasionally KoRn) is an American nu metal band from Bakersfield, California, formed in 1993. The band is notable for pioneering the nu metal genre and bringing it into the mainstream. Originally formed in 1993 ...

, Gretchen Plewes, a Zeeland high school assistant principal, said in an interview for a Michigan newspaper that the group's music is "indecent, vulgar, obscene and intends to be insulting" after giving a student, Eric VanHoven, a one-day suspension for wearing a shirt with the Korn logo on it. WKLQ was filmed giving away hundreds of free Korn T-shirts, which were donated by the band, outside the school. Ottawa County policemen helped hand out shirts as well. Korn filed a cease and desist order against Plewes and the school district for their comments. They also threatened a multimillion-dollar lawsuit, but both actions were dropped due to the band members' personal lives.

Industry

Zeeland is home to several world-renowned companies. Those in the city of Zeeland include: * Plascore (Honeycomb Manufacturing) *

Herman Miller Herman Miller, officially MillerKnoll, Inc., is an American company that produces office furniture, equipment, and home furnishings, including the Aeron chair, Noguchi table, Marshmallow sofa, and the Eames Lounge Chair. Herman Miller is al ...

(Office furnishings/equipment and modern furniture for the home) * Howard Miller (Clocks and furniture) * Gentex (Automotive and aerospace) *

Mead Johnson Mead Johnson & Company, LLC is an American company that is a leading manufacturer of infant formula, both domestically and globally, with its flagship product Enfamil. It operates as an independent subsidiary of Reckitt. The company dates back t ...

(Baby formula) * ITW Drawform

Transportation

Along with its surrounding area, Zeeland is served by the MAX (

Macatawa Area Express Macatawa Area Express (MAX) is the public transit operator serving Holland, Michigan, providing the area with fixed-route buses and paratransit services. Founded in 2000, the system takes its name from the Macatawa River and Lake Macatawa. Hist ...

) transportation system, which offers both on-demand and high-speed bus service, linking different parts of the city as well as commercial, medical and government locations outside the city. This service evolved from the former "Dial-A-Ride Transportation" (DART) system.

Media

Newspapers

*'' The Zeeland Record'' - The local newspaper

Radio

WHTC WHTC (1450 AM) is a news/talk radio station in Holland, Michigan. History The station signed on July 31, 1948 at 6:00 p.m. and originally was owned by six Holland-area businessmen: I.H Marsilje, Nelson Bosman (who served as mayor of Holl ...

- Real News Now on 1450 WHTC and The New 99 7 FM *

WYVN WYVN (92.7 FM, "The Van") is a radio station broadcasting a classic hits format licensed to Saugatuck, Michigan, with studios in Holland, Michigan and is owned along with WHTC by Midwest Communications. The station began operations on July 4, 1 ...

- 92 7 The Van - Classic Hits for Holland and the Lakeshore 92.7 FM *

WTHS WTHS-FM (89.9 FM) is a non-commercial student-operated radio station licensed to Hope College in Holland, Michigan. History Carrier current era The station began as WTAS in 1956, when students Richard Brockmeier and Jack Hellriegel transmitte ...

Hope College Hope College is a private Christian liberal arts college in Holland, Michigan. It was originally opened in 1851 as the Pioneer School by Dutch immigrants four years after the community was first settled. The first freshman college class matricul ...

Radio Station 89.9 FM

Sports achievements

*1987, 1989–1991, 1994 Girl's Class B State Swimming and Diving Champions."Girls Swimming & Diving Team Champions 1925-2012." Michigan High School Athletic Association.
Retrieved 2012-02-23. *2003 Class C State Lacrosse Champions. Zeeland defeated Plymouth-Canton Chiefs 12–9. Mike DeJonge MVP. *2006 Division 4 State Football Champions. Zeeland West Dux defeated the Coopersville Broncos 22–0. - MVP Joe Leal *2006 Christopher Hodge becomes Zeeland's first male competitive cheerleader. He leads the Zeeland East Chix to first Division 2 State Championship *2011 Division 4 State Football Champions. Zeeland West Dux *2013 Division 3 State Football Champions. Zeeland West Dux *2015 Division 3 State Football Champions. Zeeland West Dux

Notable people

Kathy Arendsen Kathy Arendsen (born October 10, 1958) is an American softball head coach and former professional player. Arendsen pitched for Holland Christian High School, where she won the state championship, before embarking on a successful collegiate and ...

, softball player and coach *

M. R. DeHaan Martin Ralph DeHaan (March 23, 1891 – December 13, 1965) was an American Bible teacher, the founder of Radio Bible Class, and the co-editor of the monthly devotional guide '' Our Daily Bread''. Early life M. R. DeHaan was born in Zeeland, Mi ...

, Bible teacher, founder of the

Radio Bible Class Our Daily Bread Ministries (formerly RBC Ministries) is a Christian organization founded by Dr. Martin De Haan in 1938. It is based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with over 600 employees. It produces several devotional publications, including ''Our ...

. *

Paul de Kruif Paul Henry de Kruif (, rhyming with "life") (1890–1971) was an American microbiologist and author of Dutch descent. Publishing as Paul de Kruif, he is most noted for his 1926 book, ''Microbe Hunters''. This book was not only a bestseller for a le ...

, microbiologist and author of popular scientific works, including the best-seller ''Microbe Hunters'' (1926) * D. J. DePree, first president of Herman Miller *

Willard Ames De Pree Willard Ames De Pree (November 11, 1928 – July 2, 2018) was an American career diplomat who served as the United States Ambassador to Bangladesh and Mozambique. Early life De Pree was born on November 1, 1928, in Zeeland, Michigan, United Stat ...

, career American diplomat and the former United States Ambassador to Bangladesh and Mozambique. *

Anthony Diekema Anthony J. Diekema (born 1933) was the President of Calvin College from 1976 to 1995. Diekema graduated from Calvin College in 1956, where he played on the men's basketball team,Ron Essink of the

Seattle Seahawks The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle. The Seahawks compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) West, which they rejoined in 2002 as ...

went to Zeeland High School and

Grand Valley State University Grand Valley State University (GVSU, GV, or Grand Valley) is a public university in Allendale, Michigan. It was established in 1960 as Grand Valley State College. Its main campus is situated on approximately west of Grand Rapids. The universit ...

, in

Allendale, Michigan Allendale is a census-designated place (CDP) in Ottawa County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 17,579 at the 2010 census. It is located within Allendale Charter Township, occupying approximately the northern two-thirds of th ...

. He now works for the city of Zeeland. *

Renae Geerlings Renae Geerlings (born November 4, 1974) is an American actress, singer, writer, film producer and comics editor. She is best known for starring in the 2009 horror remake '' Halloween II'' as well as the supernatural thriller ''Compound Fracture ...

, actress *

Hans Andrew Hansen Hans Andrew Hansen is an American plant breeder, currently working for Walters Gardens in Zeeland, Michigan. Hansen is the former director of lab production and new plants for Shady Oaks Nursery in Minnesota, where he revolutionized tissue culture ...

, American plant breeder * Ed Hendricks, pitcher in Major League Baseball. *

Bill Huizenga William Patrick Huizenga ( ; born January 31, 1969) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for , serving in Congress since 2011. The district, numbered as the 2nd district from 2011 to 2023, covers much of Lake Michigan's ea ...

, Congressman for the 2nd District of Michigan *

Jim Kaat James Lee Kaat (; born November 7, 1938) is an American former professional baseball player and television sports commentator. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a left-handed pitcher for the Washington Senators / Minnesota Twins (–), ...

, Retired

MLB Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...

pitcher and member of the

baseball Hall of Fame The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is a history museum and hall of fame in Cooperstown, New York, operated by private interests. It serves as the central point of the history of baseball in the United States and displays baseball-r ...

* Chris Kapenga, member of the Wisconsin State Senate *

Donald Kroodsma Donald Eugene Kroodsma (born 7 July 1946 in Zeeland, Michigan) is an American author and ornithologist, one of the world's leading experts on the science of birdsong. Education and career He received in 1968 his B.A. from Hope College in Holland, ...

, American author and ornithologist, one of the world's leading experts on the science of birdsong. * Tom Meyer, Republican member of the Michigan House of Representatives *

Thomas J. Plewes Thomas Jeffrey Plewes (born December 15, 1940) is a retired lieutenant general in the United States Army. He is a former chief of the United States Army Reserve, a position he held from May 25, 1998 to May 24, 2002. Raised in Zeeland, Michigan, Pl ...

, retired lieutenant general in the United States Army. *

Jay Riemersma Allen Jay Riemersma (born May 17, 1973) is a former American football tight end. He played for the University of Michigan from 1994 to 1995. He next played nine seasons in the National Football League (NFL) for the Buffalo Bills (1996–2002) ...

, former NFL

tight end The tight end (TE) is a position in American football, arena football, and Canadian football, on the offense. The tight end is often a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like ...

for the

Buffalo Bills The Buffalo Bills are a professional American football team based in the Buffalo metropolitan area. The Bills compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) East division. ...

and the

Pittsburgh Steelers The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional American football team based in Pittsburgh. The Steelers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the American Football Conference (AFC) North division. Founded in , the Steel ...

and former coach for the Zeeland Chix football team. *

Ron Schipper Ronald Maurice "Skip" Schipper (August 7, 1928 – March 27, 2006) was an American football coach and college athletics administrator. Career Schipper coached high school football for Northville High School in Northville, Michigan from 1952 ...

, American football coach and college athletics administrator. *

George Van Peursem George Van Peursem (December 18, 1912 – June 20, 1998) was an American politician from the State of Michigan. Van Peursem was born in December 18, 1912 and was a resident of Zeeland, Michigan. He was a member of Michigan State House of Repres ...

, American politician from the State of Michigan. *

Eugene van Tamelen Eugene Earle van Tamelen (July 20, 1925 – December 12, 2009) was an organic chemist who is especially recognized for his contributions to bioorganic chemistry. van Tamelen published five papers while an undergraduate at Hope College. He con ...

, organic chemist who is especially recognized for his contributions to bioorganic chemistry. *

Jan M. Van Tamelen Jan M. Van Tamelen (January 16, 1912 – February 22, 1995) was an American art director. He was nominated for two Primetime Emmy Awards in the category Primetime Emmy Awards#Retired categories, Outstanding Art Direction for his work on the tele ...

, American art director *

Edward Wichers Edward Wichers (March 25, 1892 – January 1984) was a US chemist and Associate Director of the National Bureau of Standards from 1958-62. He is notable for his work on atomic weights of the elements. Edward Wichers graduated from Hope College ...

, US chemist and Associate Director of the National Bureau of Standards from 1958-62.

References

External links

City of Zeeland
{{Authority control Cities in Ottawa County, Michigan Populated places established in 1847 1847 establishments in Michigan