Agnew, Michigan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Agnew, Michigan
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 Agnew, Michigan
Location in Michigan
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| Country | United States |
| State | Michigan |
| County | Ottawa |
| Charter township | Grand Haven |
| Elevation | 627 ft (191 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| Area code(s) | 616 |
| GNIS feature ID | 619868 |
Agnew, Michigan is a small, unincorporated community. This means it's a group of homes and businesses that isn't officially a city or town. You can find it in Grand Haven Charter Township, which is part of Ottawa County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It's located where two main roads, U.S. Highway 31 and M-45, meet. Its exact spot is 42°57′54″N 86°10′36″W / 42.96500°N 86.17667°W.
History of Agnew
Early Days as Johnsville
Agnew was first known by a different name: "Johnsville." This name came from John Behm. He was one of the first people to settle in this area back in the 1860s.
A post office opened in Johnsville in 1870. It helped people send and receive mail. This first post office closed in 1875.
Becoming Agnew
The post office reopened in 1878. On December 23, 1887, the community got a new name: Agnew. Two years later, on May 16, 1889, Edward E. Stites officially mapped out the area. He called it the "Village of Agnew."
The name "Agnew" was chosen to honor JKV Agnew. He was a superintendent for the Chicago and West Michigan Railway. This railway had a train station right there in the community.
Moving the Community
Later, the Pere Marquette Railway took over the train line. They decided to close the Agnew station. In 1952, the Michigan Department of Transportation needed to build a new road, US 31. It was easier to move the 12 buildings that were left in Agnew. This made way for the new highway construction.
