West Michigan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
West Michigan
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A broad definition of West Michigan.
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| Country | United States |
| State | Michigan |
| Largest city | Grand Rapids |
| Other cities |
List
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West Michigan and Western Michigan are names for a special area in the U.S. state of Michigan. It's located in the Lower Peninsula, right along the beautiful Lake Michigan shoreline. Most people think of it as the area around big cities like Grand Rapids, Muskegon, and Holland. It's a place with lots of history, nature, and fun things to do!
Contents
What is West Michigan?
West Michigan usually means the area between cities like Muskegon in the north and St. Joseph–Benton Harbor in the southwest. It also includes Grand Rapids and the Kalamazoo–Battle Creek area.
Sometimes, "West Michigan" only refers to a few counties. These are Allegan, Kent, Muskegon, and Ottawa. These counties make up the larger Grand Rapids-Kentwood-Muskegon region.
The northern part of West Michigan isn't always clear. Places like Ludington and White Cloud might be included. This is because they have strong business ties to the bigger cities further south.
Geography and Nature
West Michigan has some interesting natural features. For example, in northwest Kent County, there's a place called Fruit Ridge. This area is perfect for growing fruit. It actually produces 65% of all the apples grown in Michigan!
Cities and Towns
West Michigan is home to many cities and towns. The biggest city in the region is Grand Rapids. It's a busy and exciting place!
Biggest Cities
Here are some of the largest cities and towns in West Michigan, based on their population in 2010:
| Rank | Municipality | County | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grand Rapids | Kent | 198,917 |
| 2 | Wyoming | Kent | 76,501 |
| 3 | Kalamazoo | Kalamazoo | 73,598 |
| 4 | Kentwood | Kent | 54,304 |
| 5 | Georgetown Charter Township | Ottawa | 54,091 |
| 6 | Portage | Kalamazoo | 48,891 |
| 7 | Muskegon | Muskegon | 38,318 |
| 8 | Holland Charter Township | Ottawa | 38,276 |
| 9 | Holland | Ottawa/Allegan | 34,378 |
| 10 | Plainfield Charter Township | Kent | 33,535 |
| 11 | Gaines Charter Township | Kent | 28,812 |
| 12 | Walker | Kent | 25,132 |
| 13 | Norton Shores | Muskegon | 25,030 |
| 14 | Kalamazoo Charter Township | Kalamazoo | 21,918 |
| 15 | Oshtemo Charter Township | Kalamazoo | 21,705 |
| 16 | Allendale Charter Township | Ottawa | 20,708 |
| 17 | Byron Township | Kent | 20,317 |
| 18 | Muskegon Charter Township | Muskegon | 17,840 |
| 19 | Park Township | Ottawa | 17,802 |
| 20 | Cascade Charter Township | Kent | 17,134 |
| 21 | Grand Rapids Charter Township | Kent | 16,661 |
| 22 | Grandville | Kent | 15,378 |
| 23 | Grand Haven Charter Township | Ottawa | 15,178 |
Many of these cities, like Wyoming and Kentwood, used to be smaller towns. They grew and became cities to manage their growth better. This shows how much the suburban areas in West Michigan have expanded over time.
Fun Things to Do
West Michigan is a great place for festivals and attractions! There are many events throughout the year and cool places to visit.
Cool Events
- ArtPrize in Grand Rapids: A huge art competition.
- National Baby Food Festival in Fremont: A unique festival celebrating baby food.
- Big Rapids Riverdays in Big Rapids: Fun by the river.
- Coast Guard Festival in Grand Haven: Honoring the U.S. Coast Guard.
- Festival of the Arts in Grand Rapids: A celebration of local art.
- Fruitport Old Fashioned Days in Fruitport: A classic community festival.
- Spring Lake Heritage Festival in Spring Lake: Celebrating local history.
- Kalamazoo Irish Fest in Kalamazoo: Enjoy Irish music and culture.
- Michigan Irish Music Festival in Muskegon: More Irish fun!
- Muskegon Bike Time in Muskegon: A big motorcycle event.
- Muskegon Film Festival: Showcasing movies.
- Red Flannel Festival in Cedar Springs: A cozy fall festival.
- Rothbury Music Festival in Rothbury: A large music festival.
- Tulip Time Festival in Holland: Famous for its beautiful tulips.
- Unity Christian Music Festival in Muskegon: A Christian music event.
- Venetian Festival in St. Joseph: A celebration with boats and lights.
- Waterfront Film Festival in Saugatuck: Films by the water.
Places to Visit
- Croton Dam: A large dam on the Muskegon River.
- Dutch Village: Experience Dutch culture.
- Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park: Beautiful gardens and art.
- Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum: Learn about a U.S. President.
- Grand Haven Musical Fountain: A fountain show with music and lights.
- Grand Haven State Park: A popular beach and park.
- Grand Rapids Art Museum: See amazing artworks.
- Grand Rapids Children's Museum: Fun and learning for kids.
- Hardy Dam: Another large dam.
- Holland State Park: A great place to enjoy Lake Michigan.
- John Ball Zoo in Grand Rapids: See animals from around the world.
- Kalamazoo Air Zoo: Explore airplanes and space.
- Kruizenga Art Museum: More art to discover.
- Manistee National Forest: A huge forest for outdoor adventures.
- Michigan's Adventure amusement park: Rides and water slides!
- Newaygo State Park: Enjoy nature and camping.
- P.J. Hoffmaster State Park: Sand dunes and Lake Michigan views.
- Public Museum of Grand Rapids: Learn about local history.
- Timber Ridge Ski Area: Go skiing in winter.
- Binder Park Zoo: Another great zoo to visit.
Learning and Jobs
West Michigan has many colleges and universities, and it's also home to some very well-known companies.
Colleges and Universities
- Adrian College
- Andrews University
- Aquinas College
- Baker College
- Calvin University
- Cornerstone University
- Davenport University
- Ferris State University
- Grand Rapids Community College
- Grand Valley State University
- Hope College
- Jackson College
- Kalamazoo College
- Kellogg Community College
- Kendall College of Art and Design
- Kuyper College
- Muskegon Community College
- Western Michigan University
Big Companies
Many important companies have their main offices or factories in West Michigan:
- Amway: A big sales company.
- Bissell: Makes vacuum cleaners.
- Gentex: Creates special mirrors for cars.
- Gerber Products Company: Makes baby food.
- Gordon Food Service: A large food supplier.
- Herman Miller and Haworth: Both make office furniture.
- Kellogg's: Famous for breakfast cereals like Frosted Flakes.
- Meijer: A chain of large stores.
- Perrigo: A company that makes medicines.
- Spartan Stores: A grocery store chain.
- Steelcase: Another company that makes office furniture.
- Stryker: Makes medical equipment for hospitals.
- Whirlpool: Makes home appliances like washing machines.
- Wolverine World Wide: Known for shoes like Hush Puppies.
- Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital: A special hospital in Grand Rapids.
Getting Around
West Michigan has many ways to travel, including airports, trains, and major roads.
Airports
- Gerald R. Ford International Airport
- Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport
- Muskegon County Airport
Trains
Several railway companies operate in West Michigan, moving goods and people.
- Coopersville and Marne Railway
- CSX
- Grand Trunk Western Railway
- Grand Elk Railroad
- Grand Rapids Eastern Railroad
- Michigan Shore Railroad
- Michigan Southern Railroad
- Norfolk Southern Railway
- West Michigan Railroad
Amtrak also runs a passenger train called the Pere Marquette. It offers daily trips between Grand Rapids and Chicago.
Main Roads
West Michigan has a network of major highways that connect cities and towns.
I-96: Connects Muskegon to Detroit.
I-196: Runs from Grand Rapids towards Benton Harbor.
I-94: A very long highway that passes through the region.
US 31: Runs along the Lake Michigan shoreline.
US 131: Goes north and south through the middle of West Michigan.
M-6: A bypass around Grand Rapids.
M-46: A road that crosses the entire Lower Peninsula, from Lake Huron to Lake Michigan.
Other Ways to Travel
- The Lake Express High Speed Car Ferry: You can take a ferry from Muskegon across Lake Michigan.
- The SS Badger: A historic car ferry in Ludington that also crosses Lake Michigan.
Famous People from West Michigan
Many well-known people have lived or grown up in West Michigan:
- Justin Abdelkader: A professional hockey player.
- Gillian Anderson: An actress, famous from "The X-Files."
- Johnny Benson: A stock car driver.
- Roger B. Chaffee: A NASA astronaut.
- Kirk Cousins: A quarterback in American football.
- Terry Crews: An actor and former football player.
- Betsy DeVos: A former U.S. Secretary of Education.
- Debarge: A popular music group.
- Gerald R. Ford: The 38th President of the United States.
- Al Green: A famous R&B and Gospel singer.
- Ernie Hudson: An actor, known from "Ghostbusters."
- Iggy Pop: A legendary punk rock musician.
- Tom Izzo: A well-known college basketball coach.
- Derek Jeter: A famous baseball shortstop for the New York Yankees.
- W.K. Kellogg: The founder of the Kellogg's cereal company.
- Anthony Kiedis: The lead singer of the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
- Taylor Lautner: An actor, known from the "Twilight" movies.
- Floyd Mayweather: A famous professional boxer.
- Harry Morgan: An actor, known from "M*A*S*H."
- Jason Newsted: A musician, formerly with the band Metallica.
- Andy Richter: A television comedian and sidekick.
- Del Shannon: A popular musician.
- Sinbad: An actor and comedian.
- Sojourner Truth: A very important abolitionist and women's rights activist.
- Dick York: An actor, known from "Bewitched."
