Grand Rapids is a city located in Kent County Michigan. It is also the county seat of Kent County. With a 2023 population of 202,181, it is the 2nd largest city in Michigan and the 131st largest city in the United States.Grand Rapids is currently growing at a rate of 0.54% annually and its population has increased by 1.64% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 198,917 in 2020. Spanning over 46 miles, Grand Rapids has a population density of 4,517 people per square mile.
The average household income in Grand Rapids is $65,615 with a poverty rate of 23.48%. The median rental costs in recent years comes to - per month, and the median house value is -. The median age in Grand Rapids is 31.2 years, 31 years for males, and 31.5 years for females.
The most common ancestry groups in the city are German (24%), Dutch (21%), English (16%), Irish (11%), Polish (6.5%), and French (5%).
Grand Rapids has a large Dutch Reformed community. The Christian Reformed Church in North America (CRCNA) has more than 230 congregations in the state with many in Grand Rapids. CRCNA followers are largely located in the western region of Michigan where many Dutch immigrants settled. The Reformed Church in America (RCA) also has a large following in Grand Rapids. Other major congregations in the city include the Protestant Reformed Churches in America, the United Reformed Churches in North America, and the United Methodist Church.
Grand Rapids Population Growth
The Metro Grand Rapids area surpassed 1 million residents for the first time in 2013 with the most substantial population growth among all Michigan metro areas. As more people in Michigan continue to move to urban areas, Grand Rapids is expected to continue its steady growth that surpasses the state average.
The Grand Rapids area has been inhabited by many indigenous peoples for thousands of years, including the Hopewell people and the Ottawa, who founded many villages along the river. European fur traders and missionaries began building trading posts in the area among the Ottawa people in the 19th century. The first permanent European American settler established a missionary in 1825.
The official founder of Grand Rapids was Louis Campau, who build a blacksmith shop and trading post in the area in 1826. In 1831, he purchased 72 acres from the government and named the track Grand Rapids. This original track is today's downtown business area. By 1838, the community was incorporated as a village. In 1845, it had a population of 1,510. Grand Rapids was included five years later with a population of 2,686.
In 1880, Grand Rapids became the early center for America's auto industry. During the mid-19th century, Grand Rapids also became a significant timber center and the largest furniture manufacturing city in the country. Grand Rapids was nicknamed the Furniture City, and it's still the leading U.S. city for office furniture manufacturing.