Grand Haven, Michigan

Grand Haven is a city located in Ottawa County, Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 11,168. It is the county seat of Ottawa County⁶. The city is located just north of Grand Haven Charter Township.

It is located at the mouth of the Grand River and the river provides a haven from Lake Michigan which explains the name of the city. Several marinas along the river serve as man-made harbors. The city dates its founding to a fur-trading outpost of the American Fur Company called Gabagouache and dating back to at least 1809, although the Ottawa lived in the area much earlier as it was a major Native American trade route on the largest river into the interior of Michigan. The city was first called Grand Haven in 1835 and it was incorporated as a city in 1867. The first permanent resident was Presbyterian minister, William Ferry who founded the first area church; Ferry is also the founder of the neighboring town of Ferrysburg. The second church opened 16 years later in 1850. Ferry also began the first bank in 1851. Grand Haven developed into an logging, lumber mill and shipping area. The area is now a resort and boating community, with a large charter fishing fleet.

Grand Haven State Park includes a beach and campground in the downtown area.

The Grand Haven Lighthouses were first built in 1839 on the south pier marking the channel into the river. The current lighthouses, painted red, were built in 1875 (outer light) and 1905 (inner). They are connected by a lighted catwalk which runs along the pier to the shore.

Grand Haven is home to the U.S. Coast Guard's Group Grand Haven which coordinates all Lake Michigan Coast Guard activities. The first Coast Guard presence in the city was in 1932. The city hosts the annual Coast Guard Festival which draws U.S. and Canadian vessels along with parades of bands and other activities. The yearly attendance for this event exceeds 100,000 people over the 2 week period of the festival. Grand Haven is also official designated as Coast Guard City USA by and act of Congress signed by President Clinton. The act was Public Law 105-383 enacted by the United States Congress and signed by the President on November 13, 1998.

The former Grand Trunk Railway on the waterfront near the river is now a historical museum. The Story and Clark Piano Company built pianos in the city from 1900-1984. The oldest business in the city is the Eagle-Ottawa Leather Co. which traces its origin back to the Sheldon Tannery founded in 1838.

The lighted musical fountain was built on the opposite bank of the Grand River from the city in 1962. It plays nightly in tourist season and was once the world's largest such fountain. It covers nearly the area of a football field.

Contents

1 Geography 2 Demographics 3 WiFi Coverage 4 External links

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 19.2 km² (7.4 mi²). 15.0 km² (5.8 mi²) of it is land and 4.1 km² (1.6 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 21.62% water.

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there are 11,168 people, 4,979 households, and 2,892 families residing in the city. The population density is 742.2/km² (1,923.5/mi²). There are 5,532 housing units at an average density of 367.6/km² (952.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 96.35% White, 0.45% African American, 0.56% Native American, 0.87% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.40% from other races, and 1.35% from two or more races. 1.58% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 4,979 households out of which 23.8% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.5% are married couples living together, 9.7% have a female householder with no husband present, and 41.9% are non-families. 34.8% of all households are made up of individuals and 14.2% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.17 and the average family size is 2.81.

In the city the population is spread out with 20.1% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 19.6% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 40 years. For every 100 females there are 89.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 86.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $40,322, and the median income for a family is $50,000. Males have a median income of $34,846 versus $28,472 for females. The per capita income for the city is $22,274. 4.5% of the population and 3.2% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 3.8% of those under the age of 18 and 3.6% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

WiFi Coverage

From the press release dated GRAND HAVEN, Mich. - July 29, 2004:

Heralding in a new era of city-wide WiFi Internet access, Grand Haven, Mich., Mayor Roger Bergman today announced the completion and full operation of the nation's first city-wide WiFi broadband network. Other cities have announced intent to build similar networks or have announced partial deployments; in contrast, the Grand Haven implementation, by Ottawa Wireless Inc., is the first full and complete city-wide WiFi deployment in the country.

"As the first WiFi city in America, Grand Haven has truly lived up to its name in the Internet era, as we now allow anyone anywhere to connect to the Internet and roam the city and waterways in a completely secure computing environment," Mayor Bergman said. "The city-wide WiFi service provided by Ottawa Wireless is already enhancing the quality of life for residents and tourists and enabling the city to provide new services."

WiFi - External Links

• Press Release (http://www.walkersands.com/Grand-Haven-First-Citywide-WiFi.htm)
• Slashdot | Nation's First City-Wide WiFi Network Completed (http://it.slashdot.org/it/04/07/31/234212.shtml?tid=193&tid=95)

External links

• DEFINITIVE Grand Haven (http://www.grandhaven.com/)
• Grand Haven Home Page (http://www.grandhaven.org/)
• Grand Haven Chamber of Commerce (http://www.grandhavenchamber.org/)
• Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival (http://www.ghcgfest.org/)
• Historic Businesses (http://www.westmichigantricities.org/history0027.asp)