Grand Haven, Michigan
Ottawa County
26-33340
Grand Haven (German Big harbor ) is a city in Ottawa County in the U.S. state of Michigan. In 2010, there were 10,412 inhabitants.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 19.2 km ², of which 15 km ² of land and 4.1 km ² omitted ( = 21.62 %) to water.
The city is separated by the Grand River, which flows into Lake Michigan at Grand Haven, from the villages of Ferrysburg and Spring Lake. Together, they are also known as Tri -Cities. South of the river, on the shore of Lake Michigan, is located 0.2 km ² Grand Haven State Park, which is known for its sandy beach and the pier with the two lighthouses.
History
The foundation of the city dates back to French settlers and a fur trading outpost called Gabagouache, which was built by Madeline La Framboise and her husband. The trading post was taken over by the fur-trading tycoon and first millionaire in the United States, John Jacob Astor and the American Fur Company and later became an economic center of the region.
The city was first mentioned in 1835, " Grand Haven " and 1867 the village was incorporated as a city. The first permanent residents was the Presbyterian pastor William Montague Ferry (1796-1867), who founded the first church in the area and the neighboring town of Ferrysburg. 1851 Ferry founded the first bank in the city, and later a school, consisting Ferry Elementary today.
In the mid to late 19th century, Grand Haven developed into a lumberjack, sawmill and shipping area, as well as a center for shipbuilding. Later, the economic focus shifted to the manufacture of auto parts, furniture, lighting and pianos.
The Grand Haven Lighthouses were first built in 1839 on the south pier to mark the channel into the river. The present buildings date from 1875 (outer light) and 1905 ( inner light ).
Demography
Data obtained from the census in 2000 11.168 inhabitants of Grand Haven lived in 4,979 households; among them were 2,892 families. The population density was 742 per km ². In place 5,532 residential units were recorded. Among the population was 96.4 % White, 0.5% African American, 0.6 % American Indian, 0.9 % Asian and 0.4 % of other ethnic groups; 1.4 % reported belonging to several ethnic groups. Hispanics or Latinos represented 1.4% of the population.
Among the 4,979 households 23.8 % had children under the age of 18; 45.5 % were married couples living together. 34.8 % of households were single-person households. The average household size was 2.17 and the average family size 2.81 persons.
The population was spread out with 20.1% under the age of 18, 9.2 % from 18 to 24, 27.6% 25-44 years, 23.4% from 45 to 64 years and 19.6 % of 65 years or older. The median age was 40 years.
The median household income was $ 40,322, the median family income $ 50,000. The per capita income in Grand Haven was $ 22,274. Under the poverty line lived 4.5 % of the population.
Economy and infrastructure
The main employer in the region are the Shape Corporation ( headquartered in Grand Haven ) and the furniture manufacturer Herman Miller Inc. in Spring Lake with approximately 1600 per employee. The former deals with the design, development and manufacture of automotive and industrial components. The local newspaper Grand Haven Tribune reaches nearly 10,000 readers. The city also has its own radio station WGHN on the frequencies 92.1 FM/1370 AM.
Grand Haven offers since July 2004 on the whole urban area with a wireless Internet access, making it the first city in the United States.
Traffic
U.S. Highway 31 runs through Grand Haven in north-south direction. On it can be reached in 20 minutes Muskegon in the north and in the south of Holland. In Ferrysburg of Highway M -104 branches off to the east and transferred to 10 -minute drive to Interstate 96 on her in another 30 minutes to reach the city of Grand Rapids.
Grand Haven is also home to the Regional Airport Grand Haven Memorial Airport. The former station of the Grand Trunk Railway in the vicinity of the river is a historical museum.
Education
In Grand Haven, there are two high schools: the Central High School and the Grand Haven High School. The latter has been operating the school year 2006 /07, a student exchange with the Thomas Mann Gymnasium in Munich.
Culture
The United States Coast Guard since 1932 has a location in Grand Haven. Today, from there all activities are coordinated in Lake Michigan. The city also hosts an annual Coast Guard Festival, which attracts more than 100,000 visitors over two weeks. Grand Haven has been the official name " Coast Guard City, USA" by an Act of Congress, signed by President Bill Clinton on 13 November 1998.
1962 Grand Haven Musical Fountain was built on the opposite bank of the Grand River. He was then the world's largest fountain of this kind is, but today surpassed the Fountains at Bellagio hotel in Las Vegas. In the summer months every day he plays every night.
The Tri -Cities Historical Museum in Grand Haven opened in 1959 and is about the local history and generally the earliest developments of Western Michigan. It lists about 30,000 visitors annually.