Eastmanville, Michigan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Eastmanville, Michigan
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 Eastmanville, Michigan
Location in Michigan
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| Country | United States |
| State | Michigan |
| County | Ottawa |
| Township | Polkton |
| Elevation | 600 ft (200 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| Area code(s) | 616 |
| GNIS feature ID | 625294 |
Eastmanville is a small place in Michigan, United States. It's known as an unincorporated community, which means it's a group of homes and businesses that isn't officially a city or town with its own local government. Eastmanville is located in Polkton Township, which is part of Ottawa County.
Contents
Where is Eastmanville?
Eastmanville is located right where 68th Avenue and Leonard Street meet. It sits on the north side of the Grand River. This spot is at 43°01′00″N 85°57′23″W / 43.01667°N 85.95639°W.
Nearby Roads and Towns
For a long time, 68th Avenue had the first bridge over the Grand River if you were heading east from Grand Haven. This changed in October 2015 when a new bypass bridge opened.
Eastmanville is also close to major highways. You can find I-96 about three miles north in Coopersville. M-45 is three miles south in Allendale. If you travel west on Leonard Street, you'll reach Spring Lake. Heading east on Leonard Street will take you to Grand Rapids.
The Story of Eastmanville
Eastmanville has a rich history, starting with its first settlers and how it got its name.
Early Settlers and Names
The very first white settler in this area was Dr. George W. Scranton, who arrived in 1835. Because of him, the place was first called Scranton. A post office opened there on July 11, 1838, with Dr. Scranton as the postmaster. However, this post office closed a few years later in 1842.
Another important early settler was Dr. Timothy Eastman from Maine. He moved to Grand Haven in 1835 and worked as a doctor. In 1842, Dr. Eastman moved to Scranton.
How Polkton Township Formed
On March 19, 1845, the state government officially created Polkton Township. It was named after U.S. President James K. Polk. The first meeting for the new township happened at Dr. Eastman's home on April 17, 1845. Dr. Eastman was chosen as the Township Supervisor many times after that. He also served as a county judge and held other important jobs in the township, all while continuing his medical work. He even became the first postmaster of Polkton on May 28, 1846.
The Naming of Eastmanville
In 1855, Dr. Timothy Eastman and his sons, Galen and Mason, planned out the village of Eastmanville. On March 8, 1856, the name of the Polkton post office was officially changed to Eastmanville.
In 1857, Eastmanville almost became the county seat (the main town where the county government is located). The County Board of Supervisors agreed, but the people living there didn't support the idea enough, so it didn't happen.
Changes Over Time
Even though Eastmanville started out strong, another nearby town, Coopersville, grew much faster. This happened because a railway line was built through Coopersville. Eastmanville had been offered a deal by the Detroit and Milwaukee Railway, but they turned it down. Benjamin Cooper, a resident of Coopersville, offered the railway a path through his land. He made a deal that the train station on his property would be the only one for several miles around.
A book from 1941 described Eastmanville as "a small colony of summer homes on the north bank of the Grand River." However, many homes and at least one farm in Eastmanville were permanent, not just for summer visits.
Today, a special carved stone at the northeast corner of Eastmanville helps explain the history of the area.
