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Ottawa County, Michigan

61 topographic sheets cover 55 settlements here, and 29 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Research this county

From the record

29 National Register listings published here.

Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service

Michigan within the United States
Ottawa County within Michigan

What the record shows

  • 605 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
  • 29 properties here are on the National Register of Historic Places: 16 buildings, 7 districts, 5 structures and 1 site.
  • 3 of the 29 listings were added during the 1970s.
  • The Geographic Names Information System records 55 populated places in this county; 55 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.

Places on the National Register

29

Every property in this county listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with the year it was listed and the federal nomination document.

Photograph PropertyType ListedReference
Aloys Bilz Housebuilding198787002139
Isaac Cappon Housebuilding198484001478
Max and Esther De Pree Housebuilding2017100000886
De Zwaan Windmillsite2018100002333
Edward P. Ferry Housebuilding198282002860
Fruitport Road-Pettys Bayou Bridgestructure199999001535
Egbert H. Gold Estatebuilding198484000548
Grand Haven Historic Districtdistrict201616000584
Grand Rapids, Grand Haven and Muskegon Railway Depotbuilding197373002294
Grand Trunk Western Railroad Grand Haven Coal Tipplestructure201616000583
Holland Downtown Historic Districtdistrict199090001534
Holland Harbor Lighthousebuilding197878001509
Holland Historic Districtdistrict198383000889
Holland Historic District (Boundary Increase)district199090001234
Holland Old City Hall and Fire Stationbuilding198585000063
Holland Reformed Protestant Dutch Churchbuilding199090001243
Hudsonville Christian Schoolbuilding200808000224
Lakewood Farmdistrict2020100005825
Thomas and Anna Morrissey Housebuilding199999000337
Olive Township District No. 1 Schoolbuilding199898001061
Ottawa Beach Historic Districtdistrict199595000451
Pere Marquette Railway Locomotive #1223structure200000001490
Piers and Revetments at Grand Haven, Michiganstructure199595001161
Piers and Revetments at Grand Haven, Michiganstructure199595001161
Robbins, Nathaniel and Esther (Savidge), Housebuilding200909000203
Third Reformed Church of Hollandbuilding197171000418
Benjamin Van Raalte Housebuilding198989000790
Washington Square Historic Districtdistrict2026100012619
Zeeland Record Company Buildingbuilding2026100012502

Wildfire, 1992 to 2020

185 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 185 of them, burning about 310 acres. 6 started naturally and 9 were recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause Fires
Missing data/not specified/undetermined81
Equipment and vehicle use45
Debris and open burning26
Arson/incendiarism9
Recreation and ceremony7
Natural6
Misuse of fire by a minor6
Smoking3
Railroad operations and maintenance2

The five largest, by the area the report gives. None of them was recorded as arson.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
17 March 2018Equipment and vehicle use25 acresMichigan Department of Natural ResourcesCHESTER TOWNSHIP FD 0000029 - 2018
19 June 1995Recreation and ceremony12 acresMichigan Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
2 September 2005Misuse of fire by a minor9.9 acresMichigan Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
7 May 2006Debris and open burning8.3 acresMichigan Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
23 August 2012Debris and open burning8.2 acresMichigan Department of Natural ResourcesOTTAWA 02
10 June 1992Misuse of fire by a minor8.0 acresMichigan Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
21 September 2005Debris and open burning7.0 acresMichigan Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
6 August 2005Missing data/not specified/undetermined6.9 acresMichigan Department of Natural Resourcesnot named

Every settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it - see the settlement index below.

Storms, 1956 to 2026

60 of 340 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 340 reports for this county, causing 21 deaths, 228 injuries and about $96,035,530 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event Reports
Thunderstorm Wind184
Hail108
Tornado25
Flash Flood13
Flood6
Lightning3
Funnel Cloud1

The most serious of them, by death, then injury, then recorded damage. The accounts are quoted exactly as the forecast office filed them.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
April 1956Tornado (F5)not stated14 killed, 200 hurt, $250,000no account filed
May 1998Thunderstorm WindGrand Haven1 killed, 20 hurt, $34,630,000Michigan State Police EMD's Damage and Injury Assessment Report indicated $4,195,604 in public damage costs, 17 homes destroyed, 827 homes damaged, 8 businesses destroyed, and 129 businesses damaged. Total private damage costs were estimated at $25.0 Million in the city of Grand Haven and Grand Haven Township, $5.1 Million in the village of Spring Lake, $130,000 in Park Township, $182,900 in the city of Zeeland, and approximately $20,000 in Holland. Damage and losses were concentrated in the city of Grand Haven, the village of Spring Lake, and the townships of Grand Haven (northern portion), Spring Lake, Crockery, Polkton, Wright, Park, Holland Charter, Zeeland, and Jamestown. Private damage costs were not available from other cities and townships within the county. The Mill Point Condominiums along the Grand River in Spring Lake sustained major damage and approximately 50% of the units were destroyed. Numerous campers, trailers, and RV's were overturned at Grand Haven State Park along the Lake Michigan shoreline. One fatality was reported. A male utility worker (age not reported) was killed while attempting to repair storm-damaged electrical lines. Twenty injuries occurred. Crop damage was estimated at around $10.0 Million in the fruit belt (to apple, cherry, and peach trees) in the northern part of the county. Severe tree damage occurred in Grand Haven State Park. Ottawa County declared a local state of emergency and was granted a Governor's disaster declaration to activate state assistance for the county. A Michigan National Guard team was deployed to the village of Spring Lake to assist the local jurisdiction with debris removal and cleanup operations.On June 24th, President Clinton granted a Major Disaster Declaration for Ottawa County, making federal disaster assistance available.
June 2008Thunderstorm WindSpring Lake1 killed, 1 hurtA two foot diameter tree fell on a car in motion in Spring Lake. As a result the driver was killed and the passenger incurred minor injuries.
June 2008Flash FloodHolland1 killed, $1,000,000A 76 year old farmer drowned while trying to remove boards from the Worley Drain Dam that regulates waters from Bass Creek. A significant number of roads were washed out in the city of Holland and water levels on roads in some low lying locations reached the roof tops of cars. ||A presidential disaster declaration was issued for Ottawa county due to all the flooding.
July 2017Thunderstorm WindGrand Haven1 killed, $250,000A large tree fell on a home in Grand Haven and killed a 72 year old man. An 88 mph measured wind gust was recorded at Grand Valley State University in Allendale. Numerous trees and power lines were blown down across Ottawa county.
June 2008FloodRobinson1 killed, $5,000Law enforcement near Rusk in Ottawa county determined that a man drowned while apparently tending to a drainage ditch with rising waters near a driveway. This occurred at Lake Michigan Drive and 112th Avenue in Robinson township.
August 2009Thunderstorm WindGrand Haven1 killedScattered trees were snapped and uprooted across the extreme northern part of Ottawa county. MLive reported heavy damage to an apple orchard just northwest of Conklin.
June 2008Thunderstorm WindHarrisburg1 killedLaw enforcement near Ravenna reported that a woman was killed when a tree fell on her as she was walking in Chester township.
June 1997Flash FloodCounty-Wide2 hurt, $1,350,000Slow-moving thunderstorms developed over Lake Michigan and moved east across Ottawa County throughout the day of Friday, June 20th. With the soil already saturated from 2 to 4 inches of rainfall from this training effect of thunderstorm activity during the day, a line of severe thunderstorms developed early Friday evening and moved across the county, depositing another 1-5 inches of rainfall within a 2 hour period, causing widespread flash flooding. Southern Ottawa County bore the brunt of the flash flooding,including the cities of Holland and Zeeland, Zeeland Township, Jamestown Township, Holland Township, Wright Township, and Chester Township. Notable rainfall totals for the 24 hour period ending at midnight included 5.47 inches in the city of Holland, 9.16 inches at Holland State Park, and an unofficial report of 13 inches of rainfall in Zeeland. Extensive damage was done to roads, bridges, and homes. Approximately 44 roads were flooded including parts of U.S. Highway 31. Of this number, 40 roads were deemed impassable due to washouts. During the peak of the flash flooding, many motorists were stranded for several hours until emergency personnel could free them. Shortly after midnight, a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter rescued four occupants off the top of their overturned car stranded in deep water at 80th Avenue and Adams Street in Zeeland Township. The Coast Guard rescued a total of 12 people from stranded vehicles Friday evening. In addition to the road washouts, 6 bridges were damaged. Zeeland officials reported 15-20 percent of the city's streets were flooded during the peak of the storm. In addition, 2 sewage lift stations were disabled, causing sewage backups at many residences. Ottawa County officials reported approximately 150 homes and 11 businesses damaged. Most of the damage was from flooded basements. No injuries were reported Friday evening. However, 2 boys, aged 12 and 11, received minor injuries Saturday afternoon when their raft overturned in the swollen north branch of the Black River in Holland. On Monday, June 23rd, Ottawa County declared a local State of Emergency. On Friday, June 27th, Governor John Engler issued a state disaster declaration for Ottawa County as a result of the widespread flooding damage.
March 1976Tornado (F1)not stated1 hurt, $250,000no account filed
May 1996Flash FloodSouthern1 hurt, $100,000no account filed
September 1961Tornado (F2)not stated1 hurt, $25,000no account filed
May 1998LightningJamestown1 hurtThe Muskegon Chronicle reported Collin Zackrison, a 34 year-old male, was critically injured when he was struck by lightning at Spring Grove Park near Jamestown, in southeastern Ottawa County. The Ottawa County Parks and Recreation Department employee suffered severe leg and chest injuries.
August 1990Thunderstorm Windnot stated1 hurtno account filed
June 2009Flash FloodVriesland$34,000,000Numerous reports of damage to homes and streets across the warned area occurred. Over 2000 homes sustained some type of damage during the flooding. In terms of roads impacted by water, there were four road closures, twenty five road washouts and forty roads were covered by water.||A Local State of Emergency was declared.
May 2020FloodGrand Haven Arpt$5,000,000Ottawa county emergency management reported that 372 homes were affected by flooding of the Grand River. Ten homes incurred major damage and 3 sustained minor damage. Several building complexes incurred significant flood damage, particularly in Grand Haven, Spring Lake and Ferrysburg. Several roads were also closed due to flooding.
April 2013FloodFerrysburg$5,000,000Significant flooding occurred on rivers and streams across Ottawa county due to heavy rainfall from early to mid April.
December 2008FloodCrisp$3,600,000Flooding across portions of Ottawa county was a result of the combination of heavy rain and melting of a significant snowpack across the area. There were up to 80 road closures and significant flooding of numerous intersections. At one time a section of US-31 was closed. Water up to four feet deep across some roads floated several cars. ||The road shoulder and pavement was washed out on several roads in Jamestown, Hudsonville and Conklin. Roads in several subdivisions across Ottawa county were submerged under two to three feet of water and there were reports of first floors of some homes being flooded. ||Severe flooding also occurred in the village of Spring Lake, city of Grand Haven and across Spring Lake and Robinson Townships as the result of back water from an ice jam on the Grand River in Grand Haven. ||A damage assessment conducted by Ottawa county revealed that a total of $270,500 worth of damage occurred to public infrastructure, with a total of $3,292,400 worth of damage to private property. As a result of the widespread flooding, a local state of emergency was declared in Ottawa county.
April 1956Tornado (F3)not stated$2,500,000no account filed
July 2011Thunderstorm WindOttawa Beach$2,000,000Radar data corroborated with ground truth reports indicates that a significant bow echo came onshore in Holland at 10:25 a.m. A storm chaser estimated that it produced wind gusts of up to 80 mph. Numerous reports of trees and power lines were received from in and near Holland and radar data indicates additional wind damage was likely east northeast to Zeeland and Jenison. The storm blew through Jenison at 10:45 a.m.
June 2011Flash FloodVriesland$1,500,000Three to five inches fell in just one to three hours across portions of central and eastern Ottawa county. This caused extensive flooding of the Grand Valley State University Allendale campus, where over a million dollars worth of damage due to flooding was reported. A coop observer in Allendale measured 4.43 inches of rainfall with this event and a CoCoRaHs observer near Tallmadge measured 3.74 inches of rainfall.
August 2016Tornado (EF1)Gitchel$500,000The day's third tornado, also rated EF-1, began 2 miles northwest of Burnips and tracked to 2 miles southeast of Jamestown in extreme southeast Ottawa County, causing heavy tree damage.
May 2000Flash FloodCountywide$300,000no account filed
August 1979Tornado (F1)not stated$250,000no account filed
June 1976Tornado (F1)not stated$250,000no account filed
July 2021Thunderstorm WindPort Sheldon$200,000Numerous trees and power lines were blown down across portions of Ottawa county.
June 2010Thunderstorm WindEastmanville$200,000A swath of wind damage occurred from just west of Lamont, MI to near Alpine, MI. The strongest winds occurred along Johnson Street between 48th and 32 Avenues where a barn was damaged, five houses suffered loss of shingles (less than 5%), and numerous trees were uprooted or snapped. Large broken limbs and uprooted trees were observed as far west as Lenard Street and 76 Avenue. Similar damage occurred to the east-northeast through Marne, MI and then into Alpine Township in Kent County.||The wind damage was associated with the transition of an HP Supercell into a bowing thunderstorm line segment.
June 2010Tornado (EF0)Vriesland$200,000Tornado occurred just east of Zeeland, MI. It touched down near the intersection of 80th Avenue and Quincy snapping tree limbs and knocking a telephone pole about 30 degrees out of vertical. It then crossed mostly open field where a couple of isolated trees were uprooted before it crossed 72 Avenue just north of Chicago Drive. Here, it knocked down numerous trees significantly damaging the roof of one residence and causing minor damage to two other houses. The tornado then crossed Chicago Drive knocking down more trees before damaging several corn bins and ripping about 10% of the shingles off a residence located just north of the 64th Avenue and Riley Street intersection. ||The tornado was associated with two intersecting bowing thunderstorm line segments and was a spin-up tornado.
June 2024Thunderstorm WindSpring Lake$100,000Several trees were blown down in the Spring Lake and Grand Haven areas.
June 2021Tornado (EF0)Olive Center$100,000NWS storm damage survey revealed a broken path of small to medium limbs down and several locations of small groups of trees uprooted indicating winds of 55 to 70 mph. The worst damage was found near Fillmore St between 108th and 104th Ave indicating winds of 75 to 85 mph. One outbuilding had a garage door blown in which caused a small section of roof to lift off. Trees on and near the property were uprooted and outdoor furniture was thrown toward the north across the property. There was some evidence of lofting as some debris was stuck in trees. A camper trailer was flipped over northeast of that location but a nearby turkey barn did not appear to be damaged. A few trees were down just south of Ottawa Area Center school near the end of |the path.
June 2020Thunderstorm WindVriesland$100,000The public reported wind damage with downed trees, power lines, and a barn roof was damaged near Vriesland.
August 2000Thunderstorm WindSpring Lake$100,000no account filed
June 1996Flash FloodHolland$100,000no account filed
July 2005Thunderstorm WindHolland$75,000no account filed
April 1998LightningNunica$60,000The Muskegon Chronicle reported that lightning struck the roof of a brick house at 10048 State St. in Nunica at 4:45 pm EDT. No one was injured in the blaze that ensued. Damage to the home was estimated at $45,000 and the fire destroyed about $15,000 worth of the family's belongings.
June 2024Thunderstorm WindOlive Center$50,000Several trees and power lines were blown down and a street light was also blown down.
July 2022Thunderstorm WindCoopersville Arpt$50,000The public reported that multiple trees were uprooted or snapped. One tree damaged the roof of a house and power outages were reported in the area.
November 2020Thunderstorm WindGrand Haven Arpt$50,000Several trees were blown down across portions of Ottawa county.
July 2019Thunderstorm WindHudsonville$50,000A peak wind gust of 70 mph was reported.
August 2018Thunderstorm WindSpring Lake Lake$50,000Numerous trees and power lines were blown down mainly across the northern half of Ottawa county.
May 2004HailZeeland$50,000One and three quarters inch diameter hail was reported by the public one mile east of Zeeland.
July 2003HailJenison$50,000A report of one and three quarters inch diameter hail was received from Hudsonville. Three quarters inch diameter hail was reported in Jenison.
July 2003HailHudsonville$50,000Two inch diameter hail was reported in Hudsonville. This was the largest hail report received across our area for this event.
May 2001Tornado (F0)Marne$50,000A F0 tornado produced maximum estimated wind speeds to 65 m.p.h. It's path length was only a tenth of a mile long, with a width of 50 yards. The tornado touched down between 8th avenue and 6 mile road, and produced some tree damage and tore the shingles off one home.
July 1999HailAllendale$50,0001.5" to 2" diameter hail was observed in Allendale. Wind damage included large limbs that were downed, and screens that were ripped off some homes.
May 1999Thunderstorm WindCountywide$50,000Wind gusts downed numerous trees and power lines. A metal roof was blown off a home in Hudsonville.
May 2001Flash FloodCountywide$50,000no account filed
July 2001Flash FloodHolland$50,000no account filed
May 2000HailGrand Haven$50,000no account filed
October 1996Thunderstorm WindBorculo$50,000no account filed
May 2000HailJamestown$40,000no account filed
July 2016Thunderstorm WindHudsonville$25,000A tree was blown down onto a house near Hudsonville.
July 2015Thunderstorm WindOaklawn Park$25,000The Ottawa county road commission reported that several trees were blown down across portions of southern Ottawa county, particularly in the Park and Jamestown township areas.
July 2013Thunderstorm WindJamestown$25,000Law enforcement reported several trees were blown down across portions of Ottawa county.
September 2010Thunderstorm WindLakewood$25,000Several trees were blown down around Lakewood Boulevard and 168th Avenue. A 65 mph measured wind gust was recorded by a mesonet station five miles west of Holland. A tree was also reported down on a house two miles northwest of Holland and several trees were blown down around Port Sheldon.
September 2010Thunderstorm WindHudsonville$25,000Power lines were blown down on Chicago Drive in Hudsonville.
August 2007Thunderstorm WindHudsonville$25,000Numerous trees were blown down in the city of Hudsonville and in Georgetown townships.
July 2006HailCoopersville$25,000One and three quarters to two inch hail was reported near Coopersville and in Marne.
May 1998Thunderstorm WindSpring Lake$25,000Several large trees and power lines downed in the cities of Ferrysburg, Spring Lake, and Spring Lake Township.
May 1998Thunderstorm WindGrand Haven$25,000Numerous trees, utility poles, and power lines downed in the city of Grand Haven and Grand Haven Township.

Mines and quarries

34 recorded

The Survey's mineral resources record lists 34 workings inside this county. 28 still produce and 6 are closed or unrecorded. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.

Commodity Workings
Sand and Gravel, Construction27
Silica5
Fire Clay (Refractory)1
Clay1

The least common of them first, because a county's hundredth gravel pit says nothing its first ten did not.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Construction Aggregates Corp PitClayPast Producer
Zeeland Brick Co.Clay PitFire Clay (Refractory)Past Producer
Ferrysburg SiteSilicaProducerSedimentary
Holiday Hills SiteSilicaPast ProducerSedimentary
North Sag SiteSilicaPast ProducerSedimentary
Rosy MoundSilicaProducerSedimentary
Rycenga SiteSilicaProducerSedimentary
Bass River Pit & MillSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
C&L Pit & MillSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Cheyne Pit & MillSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Construction Aggregates Corp PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Construction Aggregates Corp PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Construction Aggregates Corp PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
De Went Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Grand Valley GravelSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Grand Valley Gravel Co. PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Huizenga Gravel Co., Inc.Sand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
J V Burkett Construction Co. PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
J V Burkett Construction Co. PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Muskegon Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Ottawa County PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Ottawa County Road Commission PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Ottawa County Road Commission PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Ottawa County Road Commission PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Ottawa County Road Commission PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Ottawa County Road Commission PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Ottawa County Road Commission PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Ottowa County PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Rieth-Riley Constr. Aggregate PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Riverview PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Standard Sand Co. PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
West Shore Construction Co. PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
West Shore Construction Co. PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Winans PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer

Every populated place in the county

55

Named settlements recorded in the Geographic Names Information System, each with the topographic sheets covering it. Villages, hamlets and abandoned places alike. Each is shown with the nearest named watercourse or landform and the survey quadrangle it falls on.

Provenance

  • Topographic sheets. USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection, county index, measured from the bulk metadata.
  • Fire insurance maps. Library of Congress Sanborn collection, faceted to this county.
  • Photographs. Each place queried individually against the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs search.
  • Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
  • Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
  • Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.