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West Michigan facts for kids

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This page is about the geographic region of Western Michigan. For the university, see Western Michigan University. For the university's athletic program, see Western Michigan Broncos.
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West Michigan
A broad definition of West Michigan.
A broad definition of West Michigan.
Country United States
State Michigan
Largest city Grand Rapids
Other cities
List
In Region:
Kalamazoo
Muskegon
Holland
Battle Creek
Benton Harbor
Grand Haven
WestMichiganNarrowDefinition
Map of the region, employing a narrow definition.

West Michigan and Western Michigan are terms for a region in the U.S. state of Michigan's Lower Peninsula. Generally, it refers to the Grand Rapids-Muskegon-Holland area, and more broadly to most of the region along the Lower Peninsula's Lake Michigan shoreline, but there is no official definition.

Definition

In general, "West Michigan" often refers to the area bounded by the cities of Muskegon (in the north), Grand Rapids (in the northeast), Kalamazoo–Battle Creek (in the southeast) and St. Joseph–Benton Harbor (in the southwest). However, definitions of the boundaries of the region vary widely; in some contexts, the term "West Michigan" is applied only to the counties of Allegan, Kent, Muskegon, and Ottawa, which together compose the Grand Rapids-Kentwood-Muskegon CSA. Other definitions include the Kalamazoo–Battle Creek and Benton Harbor–St. Joseph regions, which can be considered distinct regions or parts of other regions such as Michiana, Southern Michigan, or Southwest Michigan, the latter according to one definition comprising Berrien County, Cass County, and Van Buren County.

The northern boundary of the region is also poorly defined; the population density, land use, economic and cultural character, and physical geography most often associated with West Michigan fades in northern Muskegon and Kent Counties, however areas as far north as Ludington and White Cloud may be included because of their close economic ties to the cities to the south. Other areas, such as Montcalm County in the northeast corner of the region, are transitional areas that straddle Michigan regions but are sometimes included for classification purposes. Greenville, in Montcalm County's southwest corner, is closely tied economically with Grand Rapids; however, the northeastern corner, around Vestaburg and Edmore, has historically more closely associated with the cities of Mount Pleasant and Alma, which are almost universally reckoned as part of Central Michigan.

Geography

See also List of Michigan state parks and Geography of Michigan.
  • Counties in the area are part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids or the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kalamazoo.
  • In northwest Kent County is Fruit Ridge, which is a prime fruit-growing region; that accounts for 65% of all Michigan apple production.

Municipalities

ISS047-E-125688
Grand Rapids at night in 2016 from the International Space Station. Grand Rapids is the largest city in western Michigan.

The following table contains the largest municipalities of West Michigan according to the 2010 Census. This defines the region fairly broadly, but not at its most broadly; if Battle Creek were included, it would be ranked fourth.

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

Five of the above cities, Wyoming, Kentwood, Portage, Norton Shores, and Walker, are former suburban townships that incorporated in the 1960s in order to prevent annexation by an adjacent city. The presence of these cities in the top ten reflects both the large geographic area of these cities, as well as the long and continuing growth of suburban areas in West Michigan.

Events

  • ArtPrize in Grand Rapids
  • National Baby Food Festival in Fremont
  • Big Rapids Riverdays in Big Rapids
  • Celebration on the Grand in Grand Rapids (now defunct)
  • Coast Guard Festival in Grand Haven
  • Festival of the Arts in Grand Rapids
  • Fruitport Old Fashioned Days in Fruitport
  • Spring Lake Heritage Festival in Spring Lake
  • Kalamazoo Irish Fest in Kalamazoo
  • Michigan Irish Music Festival in Muskegon
  • Muskegon Bike Time in Muskegon
  • Muskegon Air Show (now defunct)
  • Muskegon Film Festival
  • Muskegon Summer Celebration (now defunct)
  • Rebel Road in Muskegon
  • Red Flannel Festival in Cedar Springs
  • Rothbury Music Festival in Rothbury
  • Tulip Time Festival in Holland
  • Unity Christian Music Festival in Muskegon
  • Venetian Festival in St. Joseph
  • Waterfront Film Festival in Saugatuck

Attractions

Universities and colleges

  • 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

Business

Prominent West Michigan corporations include:

Transportation

Major airports

Railways

  • Coopersville and Marne Railway
  • CSX
  • Grand Trunk Western Railway, subsidiary of Canadian National Railway.
  • Grand Elk Railroad
  • Grand Rapids Eastern Railroad
  • Michigan Shore Railroad
  • Michigan Southern Railroad
  • Norfolk Southern Railway
  • West Michigan Railroad

Amtrak operates its Pere Marquette service in West Michigan, with daily service between Grand Rapids and Chicago.

Major roads

Interstate highways

US highways

Michigan highways

Other

  • Eastern port of the Lake Express High Speed Car Ferry; Muskegon
  • The SS Badger in Ludington
  • The West Michigan Tourist Association promotes the region from a tourism standpoint

Notable residents or former residents

More comprehensive lists are available at individual cities, villages, etc.

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West Michigan Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.