BlockBefore

Grand Rapids, Michigan

17 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1914 and the latest in 1996. It stands in Grand Rapids City. It lies in ZIP code area 49503. The Survey maps it on the Grand Rapids West quadrangle. 198,917 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 640 feet above sea level.

Research this city

Grand Rapids within Kent County

On record in Grand Rapids

Buildings and businesses the archive holds for this place. Each opens its own page, with the source record it came from.

On the National Register 12 of 47 shown

Every listing in Kent County

Population over time

9 figures

Grand Rapids grew from 2,686 to 198,917 between 1850 and 2020. These are the recorded population figures Wikidata holds for this place, reached through the Geographic Names Information System number this page is keyed on rather than by name, so they belong to this place and not to another of the same name. Most are census counts, but not all are: an early figure may be a founding or settlement estimate, and an estimate published within five years of a census is left out. The change column is computed, and is left blank where more than 20 years separate a figure from the one before it, because a gap that long is not a change between two counts.

YearPeople Change
18502,686
18608,085+5,399 (+201%)
187016,507+8,422 (+104%)
188032,016+15,509 (+94%)
189060,278+28,262 (+88%)
190087,565+27,287 (+45%)
1910112,571+25,006 (+29%)
2010188,040
2020198,917+10,877 (+6%)

Topographic sheets covering this place

8 surveys from 17 printed sheets

Matched by testing this settlement's coordinate against the published boundary of every sheet in the United States Geological Survey's historical collection. Each opens the scanned sheet at the Survey.

Fires near this place

108 since 2012

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 108 fires within 5 miles of Grand Rapids between 2012 and 2020, burning about 116 acres in total. 11 started naturally. None was recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Reported cause Fires
Equipment and vehicle use48
Missing data/not specified/undetermined38
Natural11
Debris and open burning7
Smoking3
Recreation and ceremony1

The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
8 September 2019Missing data/not specified/undetermined1.0 acresMichigan Department of Natural ResourcesWYOMING FD 194678 - 2019
4 September 2019Debris and open burning1.0 acresMichigan Department of Natural ResourcesGRAND RAPIDS FD 0016378 - 2019
29 September 2018Natural1.0 acresMichigan Department of Natural ResourcesGRAND RAPIDS FD 0016868 - 2018
25 September 2018Natural1.0 acresMichigan Department of Natural ResourcesGRAND RAPIDS FD 0016660 - 2018
20 September 2019Missing data/not specified/undetermined1.0 acresMichigan Department of Natural ResourcesWYOMING FD 194896 - 2019
16 September 2018Equipment and vehicle use1.0 acresMichigan Department of Natural ResourcesGRAND RAPIDS FD 0016112 - 2018
12 September 2019Missing data/not specified/undetermined1.0 acresMichigan Department of Natural ResourcesWYOMING FD 194763 - 2019
5 August 2018Missing data/not specified/undetermined1.0 acresMichigan Department of Natural ResourcesGRAND RAPIDS FD 0013282 - 2018

Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:

Every fire recorded in Kent County

Mines and quarries near this place

10 of 12 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 12 workings within 5 miles of Grand Rapids: 7 producers, 4 past producers, 1 unknown. 7 still produce. What was taken out: Sand and Gravel, Construction, Gypsum-Anhydrite. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Grand Rapids Gypsum Mine #1Gypsum-AnhydritePast Producer
Grand Rapids Gypsum Mine #2Gypsum-AnhydritePast Producer
Grand Rapids Gypsum Mine #3Gypsum-AnhydritePast Producer
Grand Rapids MineGypsum-AnhydriteProducer
Bird PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Butterworth Sand PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Devries PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Gillisse Pit and MillSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Grand Rapids Gravel Co. Plant No.20Sand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Grand Rapids Plant No. 5Sand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer

Every working recorded in Kent County

Storms near this place

56 since 1993

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Grand Rapids in 56 storm reports between 1993 and 2026: 29 thunderstorm wind, 19 hail, 5 flash flood, 2 tornado. No death or injury is recorded in these reports. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
May 1998Thunderstorm WindGrand Rapids$373,000Michigan State Police EMD's Damage and Injury Assessment Report indicated $373,000 in public damage costs, 25 homes damaged, and 5 businesses damaged within the City of Grand Rapids. Private damage cost estimates were not available. No injuries were reported in the city. Widespread power outages left much of the northern half of the city in the dark and traffic signals were out across the city. The City of Grand Rapids declared a local state of emergency and was covered under the Governor's disaster declaration for Kent County. On June 24th, President Clinton granted a Major Disaster Declaration for Kent County, making federal disaster assistance available for city and county residents.
August 2003HailEast Grand Rapids$100,000One and three quarters inch diameter hail was reported in Ada and also in Rockford, and three quarters inch diameter hail was reported one mile north of east Grand Rapids.
June 2014Thunderstorm WindGrand Rapids$50,000Several trees were blown down across southern Kent county.
June 2005HailGrand Rapids$50,000no account filed
August 2000Thunderstorm WindGrand Rapids$50,000no account filed
May 2004HailGrand Rapids$30,000Three quarters inch diameter hail and wind gusts to around 60 m.p.h. were reported in the city of Grand Rapids and about two miles west of Ada.
August 2016Tornado (EF0)Grand Rapids$25,000A brief EF-0 tornado touched down in Kent County near Perkins Avenue NE between Leonard Street NE and Knapp Street NE. Tree damage and some property damage from fallen trees occurred as the result of this brief tornado.
August 2015Thunderstorm WindGrand Rapids$25,000The broadcast media in Grand Rapids reported isolated trees down across portions of Kent county. A tree was blown down onto a house at Fountain street and Mack avenue.
June 2009Flash FloodGrand Rapids$25,000During the evening hours, four cars stalled in high water at 28th street east of Division. Flooding of the terminal building at the Grand Rapids Airport was also reported. High water was reported over Thornapple Road in Cascade Township. Cars also stalled in flood waters on 52nd street near Brenton. Flooding was also reported at 44th and Kenowa in Grandville.
June 2007Thunderstorm WindGrand Rapids$25,000A measured 63 mph wind gust was recorded at the Grand Rapids ASOS. There were numerous reports of downed trees and power lines in Lowell.
June 2006HailGrand Rapids$25,000Quarter sized hail was reported in Grand Rapids.
May 2003HailGrand Rapids$25,000Hail up to one inch in diameter was reported in Grand Rapids.
May 2003HailGrand Rapids$25,000Another report of one inch diameter hail was received in the city of Grand Rapids.
June 2005HailGrand Rapids$25,000no account filed
August 2007Thunderstorm WindEast Grand Rapids$20,000Several large trees were blown down in East Grand Rapids and Ada.
April 1997Thunderstorm WindEast Grand Rapids$15,000no account filed
May 2012Thunderstorm WindEast Grand Rapids$10,000Widespread tree damage for several blocks along Lake and Elmwood drives in eastern Grand Rapids. One large tree was uprooted and fell on the second story of a house. Roof damage on at least four houses.
June 2006HailGrand Rapids$10,000Three quarters inch hail was reported just north of Grand Rapids and wind damage was reported near Ada.
June 2005HailGrand Rapids$10,000Three quarters inch diameter hail was reported in Grand Rapids.
July 1995Thunderstorm WindGrand Rapids$10,000Trees and power lines down. One tree fell onto a home.
August 2002Thunderstorm WindGrand Rapids$10,000no account filed
May 1996Flash FloodGrand Rapids$10,000no account filed
June 2012Thunderstorm WindEast Grand Rapids$5,000The broadcast media reported an isolated tree was blown down in East Grand Rapids, briefly pinning a person in a car at Cascade Road and Cherry Drive.
October 2002Thunderstorm WindGrand Rapids$5,000Law enforcement in Kent county reported that several trees were blown down ten miles northeast of the city of Grand Rapids.
August 1993Thunderstorm WindGrand Rapids$5,000A large tree was blown over onto a house and car at 2300 Clyde Park Avenue.
June 2005HailGrand Rapids$5,000no account filed
June 1998Thunderstorm WindGrand Rapids$2,500Amateur radio operators reported power lines downed near the intersection of Plainfield Ave and 4 Mile Road in NE Grand Rapids. A trained spotter reported one tree was uprooted at a funeral home at the corner of Fuller St. and 3 Mile Road in NE Grand Rapids. No structural damage was reported.
August 2001Thunderstorm WindGrand Rapids$1,000no account filed
April 2026Thunderstorm WindEast Grand Rapids-Estimated wind gust.
May 2025Thunderstorm WindGrand Rapids-Uprooted tree fell on a vehicle.
July 2022Thunderstorm WindGrand Rapids-Wind gust to around 60 mph were reported in and near Grand Rapids.
September 2019Tornado (EF0)Grand Rapids-Apartment building on Fairview Ave NE just east of Division Street had roofed peeled off. Roof landed on homes immediately to the east of the apartment building.
March 2012HailGrand Rapids-The public reported three quarters inch diameter hail with a strong thunderstorm just northeast of downtown Grand Rapids.
July 2011Flash FloodGrand Rapids-Dispatch reported numerous incidents of cars stuck in water and rapidly flowing water flooding streets. Sections of Diamond and Turner Avenue were impassible.
September 2011Thunderstorm WindGrand Rapids-A few trees and scattered power lines were blown down across portions of the southern half of Kent county, where a trained spotter measured a peak wind gust of 55 mph four miles north northwest of Lowell. A measured gust of 52 mph was recorded at the Gerald Ford airport in Grand Rapids.
July 2008HailGrand Rapids-An amateur radio operator in Grand Rapids reported seven eighths inch diameter hail.
July 2008HailGrand Rapids-A trained spotter in Grand Rapids reported three quarters inch diameter hail and a wind gust estimated at 60 mph.
July 2008Thunderstorm WindGrand Rapids-A 56 knot wind gust was measured at Wood Tv 8 in Grand Rapids.
December 2007Thunderstorm WindGrand Rapids-A 56 knot wind gust was recorded at the Gerald R. Ford Interational Airport in Grand Rapids.
September 2007Thunderstorm WindGrand Rapids-A 58 mph measured wind gust was recorded at the Grand Rapids ASOS site.
June 2007Thunderstorm WindGrand Rapids-A measured 68 mph wind gust was recorded in downtown Grand Rapids.
February 1999Thunderstorm WindGrand Rapids-A 63 mile per hour wind gust was reported in Grand Rapids.
October 1998FloodGrand Rapids-Rainfall of 1 inch in under 15 minutes caused urban flooding.
May 1997HailGrand Rapids-Golfball sized hail reported by NWS spotter at the John Ball Park Public Zoo.
September 1997Flash FloodGrand Rapids-Urban flooding in the northeast quadrant of Grand Rapids left standing water at the intersection of Plainfield Road and 4-Mile Road. Three vehicles were stranded while trying to cross the flooded intersection.
July 1995Thunderstorm WindGrand Rapids-Spotters reported large tree limbs down and street flooding in southeast Grand Rapids.
July 1994Thunderstorm WindGrand Rapids-Several trees and power lines were blown down in the northwest part of the city.
July 1994Thunderstorm WindGrand Rapids-Several trees and power lines were blown down on the northeast side of the city.
July 1994Thunderstorm WindGrand Rapids-Five large pine trees were uprooted by strong thunderstorm winds. The trees were two feet or more in diameter.
August 1993Thunderstorm WindGrand Rapids-A thunderstorm wind gust of 63 mph was reported at Four Mile Road and the East Beltline in northeast Grand Rapids.
March 2026HailGrand Rapids-no account filed
March 2026HailEast Grand Rapids-no account filed
March 2026HailEast Grand Rapids-no account filed
February 1997Flash FloodGrand Rapids-no account filed
September 1994HailGrand Rapids-no account filed
August 1993HailGrand Rapids-no account filed

Every storm recorded in Kent County

Nearest settlements

The eight closest, with where each one stands in the county. Distances are straight-line, computed from the Geographic Names Information System coordinates.

Map PlaceDistance Sheets
East Grand Rapids3.4 miles16
Wyoming4.0 miles17
Comstock Park5.2 miles16
Wilder Center5.7 miles16
Standale5.8 miles11
Walker5.9 miles14
Eastmont6.0 miles16
Grandville6.2 miles11

Elsewhere

Matched on this settlement's Geographic Names Information System number rather than its name, so it cannot be a different place of the same name in another state.

Wikipedia article on Grand RapidsAn encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied.
Wikidata item Q184587The structured record the population and elevation above come from. Public domain (CC0).

Provenance

This settlement is recorded in the Geographic Names Information System as feature 627105. The sheet list is computed by point-in-boundary test against the United States Geological Survey's historical topographic inventory. Both are works of the United States government and carry no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.

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.