Chauncey, Michigan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Chauncey, Michigan
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 Chauncey, Michigan
Location in Michigan
Chauncey, Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Michigan |
| County | Kent |
| Townships | Cannon and Plainfield |
| Elevation | 627 ft (191 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code(s) |
49306 (Belmont)
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| Area code(s) | 616 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1617485 |
Chauncey is a small, mostly historical place in Kent County, Michigan. It's not a city or town with its own government. Instead, it's an unincorporated community. This means it's a group of homes and businesses that are part of a larger township.
Chauncey has also been known by other names. In the past, people called it Buena Vista and Imperial Mills. You can find Chauncey where Cannon Township and Plainfield Township meet. It's located a few miles northeast of Grand Rapids.
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Where is Chauncey Located?
Chauncey is found near the southern end of Chauncey Road. This is where a stream called Bear Creek flows into the Grand River. The Grand River is a major waterway in Michigan.
A Special Viewpoint
Just east of Chauncey, there's a hill called Buena Vista Hill. The name "Buena Vista" means "good view" in Spanish. From the top of this hill, you can see amazing views. You can look out over the Grand Valley, Kuttshill, and many other hills in the Plainfield area. It's likely that Chauncey got its name from this beautiful viewpoint.
Chauncey's Interesting History
The area that became Chauncey was once planned out as a community called Buena Vista. However, the official map for this plan was never formally recorded.
The Buena Vista Mill
In 1848, two people named Abner and John Brewer built the Buena Vista Mill here. Mills were very important back then. They used water power to grind grains like wheat into flour. This flour was then used to make bread and other foods.
Fire and Rebuilding
Sadly, the mill, also known as Imperial Mills, was destroyed by a big fire in 1875. This was a major loss for the community. But the people didn't give up! The mill was rebuilt in September 1881 by Denis Porter. This shows how important the mill was to the daily lives of the people living in Chauncey.
