West Michigan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
West Michigan, also known as Western Michigan, is a region in the U.S. state of Michigan in its Lower Peninsula.
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[edit] Definition
Definitions of the boundaries of the region vary widely; in many contexts, the term "West Michigan" is applied only to the counties of Allegan, Kent, Muskegon, and Ottawa, which comprise the Grand Rapids-Muskegon-Holland SMSA. Other definitions include the Benton Harbor-St. Joseph and Kalamazoo-Battle Creek regions, which are often considered distinct regions or parts of other regions such as Michiana or Southwestern Michigan[1][2][3], in the case of Benton Harbor-St. Joseph. 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 due to 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 included for classification purposes. In the case of Montcalm County, the area around Greenville in the county's southwest corner is closely tied economically with Grand Rapids, while the area around Vestaburg and Edmore in the northeastern corner of county are more closely associated with the cities of Mount Pleasant and Alma, which are included in almost any definition of Mid-Michigan.
[edit] Geography
- See also List of Michigan state parks and geography of Michigan.
- The area is considered to be part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids.[4]
[edit] Cities and villages
The following table contains the 10 largest incorporated cities of West Michigan according to the 2000 Census. This list holds for nearly every geographic definition of West Michigan. If Battle Creek were included, it would be ranked fourth.
| Rank | City | County | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grand Rapids | Kent | 197,800 |
| 2 | Kalamazoo | Kalamazoo | 77,145 |
| 3 | Wyoming | Kent | 69,368 |
| 4 | Kentwood | Kent | 45,255 |
| 5 | Portage | Kalamazoo | 44,897 |
| 6 | Muskegon | Muskegon | 40,105 |
| 7 | Holland | Ottawa/Allegan | 35,048 |
| 8 | Norton Shores | Muskegon | 22,527 |
| 9 | Walker | Kent | 24,812 |
| 10 | Grandville | Kent | 16,263 |
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.
[edit] Events
- Celebration on the Grand
- Festival of the Arts
- Muskegon Air Show
- Tulip Time Festival in Holland
- Red Flannel Festival in Cedar Springs
- Unity Christian Music Festival in Muskegon
- Venetian Festival in St. Joseph
[edit] Attractions
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[edit] Universities and colleges
[edit] Business
Prominent West Michigan corporations include:
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[edit] Transportation
[edit] Major airports
- Gerald R. Ford International Airport
- Kalamazoo-Battle Creek International Airport
- Muskegon County Airport
[edit] Major roads
[edit] Interstate highways
I-96, running from Muskegon to Detroit
I-196, splitting from Interstate 96 in Grand Rapids and going west-southwest and merging with U.S. Highway 31 near Holland before intersecting Interstate 94 near Benton Harbor
I-94, running from Billings, Montana to Port Huron, Michigan
[edit] US highways
US-12 Michigan Avenue and Chicago Road
US-31, running from Mackinaw City, Michigan to Mobile, Alabama
US-131, running from north of Middlebury, Indiana to Petoskey, Michigan- Grand River Avenue, running from Grand Rapids to Detroit
- The S-Curve, a famously crooked stretch of U.S. 131 in downtown Grand Rapids
[edit] Michigan highways
M-6, also known as the South Beltline, bypasses Grand Rapids connecting to Interstate 96 east of town and Interstate 196 west of town
M-43, a highway in southwestern and central Michigan from South Haven to Webberville
M-46, a cross-peninsular road, running across the entire mitten of the Lower Peninsula including the Thumb, from Port Sanilac on the Lake Huron shore, through Saginaw near Saginaw Bay, and on to Muskegon on the Lake Michigan shore.[5]
[edit] Railways
- Main article: Michigan Services
[edit] Other
- Eastern port of the Lake Express High Speed Car Ferry; Muskegon
[edit] Notable residents or former residents
More comprehensive lists are available at individual cities, villages, etc.
- Tim Allen, actor
- Gillian Anderson, actress
- Johnny Benson, stock car driver
- Terry Crews, actor
- Gerald R. Ford, President of the United States
- Al Green, R&B/Gospel artist
- Derek Jeter, New York Yankees shortstop
- Maynard James Keenan, Tool and A Perfect Circle vocalist
- W.K. Kellogg, Kellogg Company founder
- Anthony Kiedis, Red Hot Chili Peppers vocalist
- Wayne Static, Static-X lead singer/guitarist
- Sojourner Truth, abolitionist
- Brian Vander Ark, Verve Pipe frontman
- The DeBarge Brothers, of the group "DeBarge"]]
- Sinbad, actor and comedian
- Ernie Hudson, actor
- Muhammad Ali, boxor
- James Frey, writer
- Jason Newsted, musician, Metallica
- Andy Richter, television entertainer
- Dick York, actor
- Iggy Pop, punk rock icon
[edit] Notes
- ^ Southwest Michigan Planning Commission
- ^ Southwestern Michigan Tourist Council
- ^ Website of The Herald-Palladium: "The Online Newspaper for Southwest Michigan" (the print version omits "Online")
- ^ Diocese of Grand Rapids, Michigan.
- ^ M-46 Endpoint Photos.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University, Bibliography on Michigan (arranged by counties and regions)
- Michigan Geology -- Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University.
- Great Lakes Coast Watch
- Info Michigan, detailed information on 630 cities
- Michigan Department of Natural Resources website, harbors, hunting, resources and more.
- List of Museums, other attractions compiled by state government.
- Michigan Historic Markers
- Michigan's Official Economic Development and Travel Site.
- USCG's complete list of Michigan lighthouses.
- Map of Michigan Lighthouse in PDF Format.
- Seeing the Light, Terry Pepper on lighthouses of the Western Great Lakes.
