Grandville, Michigan

Settlement

Grandville was geographically an important place during the logging years in Michigan's history due to its location at the "river-bend" of the Grand River. It was important to have people there to make sure the logs did not jam up as the river turned north-west toward Grand Haven.

Incorporation

Grandville was incorporated into a city in 1933. Infrastructure and utilities were soon developed including new sewage disposal.

By the 1980s due to the growth of the Grand Rapids metropolitan area following the early 1980s recession in the United States, Grandville began to experience even more growth. In 1987, color measurement and manufacturer X-Rite established its headquarters in the city a year after it went public, soon becoming one of the fastest businesses in Michigan.

In the 1990s, the city was being eyed for larger development. In 1990, developers had begun eyeing a development of a new mall near the intersection of 44th Street and Ivanrest and met with the city for approval. In 1999, construction of Rivertown Crossings Mall, a mall with 1.25 million in storefronts, was finally completed.

Into the 2000s, Grandville experienced continued growth following the opening of Rivertown Crossings. Multiple restaurants and strip malls developed on Rivertown Parkway following the mall's construction. However, by the beginning of the Great Recession, X-Rite had moved its headquarters to Kentwood, Michigan in 2007.

Following the recession into the 2010s, more development occurred in the city with a Cabela's and Target anchoring a development on the former X-Rite property in 2013. In 2016, a new apartment development called the Grand Castle that incorporated over 1 million square feet and 400 apartments into its design was constructed.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.67 square miles (19.87 km²), of which, 7.27 square miles (18.83 km²) is land and 0.40 square miles (1.04 km²) is water.

Grandville is located near the southwest corner of Grand Rapids. The western border of the city of Grandville is also the western border of Kent County, marked by Kenowa Avenue; this is where Ottawa County and Jenison begin. To the east and south of Grandville lies the city of Wyoming. The city of Walker lies just north of Grandville.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 15,378 people, 5,982 households, and 4,160 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,115.3 inhabitants per square mile (816.7/km²). There were 6,276 housing units at an average density of 863.3 per square mile (333.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 92.0% White, 2.2% African American, 0.2% Native American, 1.5% Asian, 1.8% from other races, and 2.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.2% of the population. There were 5,982 households of which 33.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.5% were married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 30.5% were non-families. 24.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.06.

The median age in the city was 36.3 years. 24.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.3% were from 25 to 44; 25.6% were from 45 to 64; and 14.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.3% male and 51.7% female.

Business

One of the city's largest employers is the Rivertown Crossings Mall. In 2013, two stores, Cabela's and Target, became anchors to a development on the previous Xrite site across from Rivertown Crossings.

Public safety

A new fire station was constructed across the street from city hall at Prairie and Wilson in 2000 to make way for a new police station and hall of justice in 2003 next to city hall and public library on Wilson Avenue.

Points of interest

Notable people

Major highways