GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN

                                     Search Grand Rapids Homes

The City of Grand Rapids, as the second largest city in the state of Michigan, encompasses an area of approximately 45 square miles. It is located in western Michigan, roughly 30 miles east of Lake Michigan. The Grand River, the longest river in Michigan at 260 miles, runs through the city's center. The city's population is 197,800, per the 2000 census. Grand Rapids is the county seat of Kent County which boasts a population count of over 500,000, covering 856 square miles. Our metropolitan area has a population of over 1,000,000.  

Grand Rapids has a history of leadership. In 1881, the country's first hydro-electric plant came to life on the City's west side. Grand Rapids led the nation in 1945 when it became the first city in the United States to add fluoride to its drinking water. Grand Rapids lays claims to the first scheduled air service, and the first publicly-funded art installation, Alexander Calder's, Le Grande Vitesse sculpture in Rosa Parks Circle, downtown. 

Grand Rapids is the home of Frederick Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park, one of the midwest's largest and most prestigious Gardens. Former President, Jimmy Carter called it " A National Treasure" when he visited. It is situated on 125 acres, has a 5 story conservatory, a 30+ acre outdoor sculpture park, a Children's Garden, a Farm Garden, a Woodland Shade Garden, a Natural Habitat Trail & Boardwalk, 2 sculpture exhibit rooms for special exhibits, and an outdoor concert area.

 John Ball Zoo is located in the city of Grand Rapids and has over 1100 animals from Michigan's only Komodo Dragon to the Sting Ray Lagoon, the only one of its kind. A family friendly zoo with a chimpanzee exhibit, a Children's Zoo where petting is allowed, the Living Shores Aquarium, and in June 2008, the new Tanzanian Lion Exhibit will be opening.

The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum is located at Ah-Nab-Awen Park on the banks of the Grand
River downtown. Celebrating Grand Rapids' most famous son, the Museum contains President Ford's history as President of the United States, Presidential gifts, a replica of the Oval Office, his burial site, and various temporary exhibits.

The Children's Museum in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids has wonderful happenings and great exhibits. It is F-U-N, no matter what age kid you are, 3 or 83.  A new Art Museum, which is the first Gold LEED certified public museum to open in this country has over 70% of its illumination by natural light, which is just one of the green ideas incorporated into this structure.

The Meyer May House is the first Michigan house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright built here in Grand Rapids in 1908. His last Prairie Style house and its furnishings have been meticulously restored by the Steelcase Company.  They use it for company functions and open it to the public as a Museum on specific days. It is located in the Heritage Hill District of Grand Rapids, one of the largest urban heritage districts in the nation with over 1300 hundred houses in over 60 architectural styles.

Grand Rapids has over 2000 acres of land dedicated to parks and recreation for the public's use and enjoyment. They include public outdoor art, scultures, historical monuments, and our beautiful natural resources.  The list of 78 parks can be accessed at the City of Grand Rapids website.  They range from the truly large - Millenium Park on the Grand River to the small & intimate- the Fish Ladder Sculpture Park on the Grand River downtown.  There is a park near you wherever you live - check it out, you might be surprised at what you find.

Grand Rapids has a diverse economy with many types of industry and businesses.  Grand Rapids is home to the Medical Mile, the nickname given to Michigan Avenue, which began major construction a few years ago and has grown into one of the premier medical research areas in the United States. Michigan State University's School of Human Medicine will be relocating to downtown Grand Rapids. The college plans to open in the fall of 2008, with a new class starting in 2010.  Spectrum Health, The Van Andel Institute, and The Devos-Cook Research Center are all located in this area.

Grand Rapids has many shopping destinations, from the huge Rivertown Crossings Mall to the small shops & boutiques in Eastown, there is something for everyone's taste. Several local cities are also great destinations for a day trip of shopping: Historic Lowell, Rockford Squires Street Square, Village of Ada, Holland, Grand Haven, and Saugatuck-Douglas.

Places to stay while you are in Grand Rapids range from the Amway Grand Plaza downtown, the only AAA Four Diamond rated hotel in Grand Rapids.  The Amway Grand Plaza is home to the 1913 Room, the first & only AAA Five Star Restaurant in Michigan. One of the few JW Marriott luxury hotels in the world opened here in Grand Rapids. Many national chains have numerous locations in the Grand Rapids area and the local bed & breakfast inns are another option for your stay in Grand Rapids.

HISTORY
 Over 2,000 years ago, the Hopewell Indians, known for their large burial mounds, occupied the Grand River Valley.  The Ottawa Indian tribe occupied this area as their summer fishing camp starting about 300 years ago.  Grand Rapids current city history started about 1826 when a French trader named Louis Campau established a trading post here.

After an international exhibition in Philadelphia in 1876, Grand Rapids became recognized worldwide as a leader in the production of fine furniture. There is a wonderful exhibit of our furniture history at the Grand Rapids Public Museum.  Today, Grand Rapids is considered a world leader in the production of office furniture. 

Like the river it's named for, the City of Grand Rapids is vibrant, exciting, and diverse.

    Living in Grand Rapids Video    

    Free GR Wifi Hotspots