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Information about Holland, Michigan

Holland, Michigan
Nickname: The Tulip City
Location of Holland within Michigan
Coordinates:
Country United States
State Michigan
Counties Ottawa, Allegan
Government
 - Mayor Al McGeehan
Area
 - City  17 sq mi (44.5 km)
 - Land  16.6 sq mi (42.9 km)
 - Water  0.6 sq mi (1.6 km)
Elevation  662 ft (202 m)
Population (2000)
 - City 35,048
 - Density 2,115.3/sq mi (816.7/km)
 - Urban 91,795
 - Metro 257,671
Time zone EST (UTC-5)
 - Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP codes 49422-49424
Area code(s) 616
FIPS code 26-38640GR2
GNIS feature ID 0628421GR3
Website: [1]
Holland is a city in the western region of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated on Lake Macatawa and the Macatawa River and on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan. The city spans the Ottawa/Allegan county line, with 9.08 square miles (0 km) in Ottawa and the remaining 8.13 square miles (0 km) in Allegan. As of the 2000 census, the population was 35,048, with an Urbanized Area population of 91,795.[1] The city is the largest municipality of the Holland-Grand Haven Metropolitan Statistical Area, with had an estimate population of 257,671 as of July 1,2006.

Holland has a large percentage of citizens of Dutch American heritage, many who still practice forms of the Dutch Reformed faith brought by the original settlers. It is home to Hope College and Western Theological Seminary, institutions of the Reformed Church in America. The city is best known for its Tulip Time Festival, nationally-recognized downtown, and rich Dutch history.

History

Holland was settled in 1847 by Dutch Calvinist separatists, under the leadership of Dr. Albertus van Raalte, who were escaping from persecution in The Netherlands. Van Raalte chose the land due to its proximity to the Black River where it streamed to Black Lake (now Lake Macatawa) which, in turn, led to Lake Michigan. The land was inhabited by the Ottawa, which after a cultural clash with the new Dutch settlers relocated to Northport, Michigan. In Holland's early history, Van Raalte was a spiritual leader, as well as overseeing political, educational and financial matters. In 1847 Van Raalte established a congregation of the Reformed Church in America, which would later be called the First Reformed Church of Holland. In 1867, Holland was incorporated as a city with Isaac Cappon being the city's first mayor.

The city suffered a major fire on October 8–9, 1871, the same time as the Great Chicago Fire in Illinois and the very deadly Peshtigo Fire in Wisconsin.
Enlarge picture
Dutch settlements in Michigan.
The city has a strong religious base since its founding. Before the introduction of the Tulip Time festival, Holland was known as the "City of Churches." There are 170 churches in Holland, many of which are affiliated with the Reformed Church in America and Christian Reformed Church in North America denominations. The city is the home of the What would Jesus do? bracelets that kicked off the trend in 1989.

Holland retains some ties with the Netherlands. The city was visited by Queen Juliana of the Netherlands in 1952, by Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands in 1982, and by Princess Margriet of the Netherlands in 1997. Juliana (while still Princess) received an honorary doctorate from Hope College in 1944.

In 1987, 23-year-old recent Hope College graduate and City Council member Phil Tanis was elected mayor of Holland, becoming its youngest mayor.

Culture

The city is home to the Holland Museum, which administers three museum facilities in the city. The first, the Holland Museum, is located in the former post office downtown and contains exhibits about the history of the city and the region. Another, The Cappon House Museum, was built in 1874 and is a historic museum that once housed the first mayor of Holland, influential Dutch immigrant Isaac Cappon. The Settlers House Museum, one of the few homes to survive the 1871 fire, contains furnishings and relics from the 19th Century and illustrates life for the city's working class in the early days of the city.
Enlarge picture
Holland Harbor Light near Holland, Michigan.
Holland is home to the world's largest pickle factory. The H.J. Heinz Company has operated the factory at the same location since 1897 and currently processes over 1 million pounds of pickles per day during the green season.

Holland's downtown is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The "Snowmelt Project" established pipes transporting warm water from the nearby power plant to travel underneath downtown with the purpose of clearing the streets and sidewalks in the downtown area of any snow. Nearby Holland State Park is among the most visited parks in the state. Across the channel from the park is the Holland Harbor Light, known as "Big Red", one of the most photographed lighthouses in Michigan. De Zwaan, an original 250-year-old Dutch windmill, is situated on Windmill Island, a municipal park. Its height is 125 feet (38 m) with 40 foot (12 m) sails.

Holland was the unlikely birthplace of Slashdot, an influential early Internet weblog created by Hope College student Rob "CmdrTaco" Malda.

CNN Money named Holland as one of the top five places to retire.[2]

Geography

Holland is on the shores of Lake Macatawa and is near the shore of Lake Michigan.

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there were 35,048 people, 11,971 households, and 7,924 families residing in the city. The population density was 816.7/km² (2,115.3/sq mi). There were 12,533 housing units at an average density of 292.0/km² (756.4/sq mi). The racial makeup of the city was 78.18% White, 2.53% African American, 0.58% Native American, 3.56% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 12.41% from other races, and 2.72% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 22.21% of the population.

There were 11,971 households out of which 34.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.4% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.8% were non-families. 26.8% of all households are made up of individuals, and 11.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.24.

In the city the population was spread out with 26.1% under the age of 18, 17.5% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 15.5% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females there were 90.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $42,291, and the median income for a family was $50,316. Males had a median income of $36,339 versus $26,481 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,823. About 6.7% of families and 10.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.8% of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 or over.

Background

Mayor

The current mayor of Holland is Albert H. McGeehan, serving the city since 1993. He graduated from Hope College in 1966. In 2004, U.S. President George W. Bush gave him the nickname, "Mayor Al" and the name has since stuck. McGeehan was first elected to city council in 1977, where he served four terms. He is currently in his sixth term in as mayor of the city.

Education

Tulip Time Festival

Main article: Tulip Time Festival
Each May Holland hosts an annual Tulip Time Festival. Tulip planting and the festival began in 1930 when 250,000 tulips were planted for the event.[3]Currently six million tulips are used throughout the city. Tulips are planted along many city streets, in city parks and outside municipal buildings as well as at tourist attractions like Dutch Village, the city-owned Windmill Island park, and at a large tulip farm named Veldheer Tulip Gardens.

It is normally held the second week of May, right when the numerous tulips planted around the town are blooming. The festival lasts for over a week and features three parades: the Volksparade, usually led by the state governor with a broom as townspeople in Dutch costume wash the street; the Kinderparade, featuring local children dressed in traditional Dutch costume and wooden shoes; and the Muziekparade of marching bands that come from local high schools, to regional to national. Some bands even come as far as New York to march in the Muziekparade. The festival includes fireworks, musical shows and 1,000-2,000 klompen dancers, mostly females, dance on city streets in traditional wooden shoes (klompen); some of them go on to represent Holland nationally. The festival is so well entrenched in Holland's culture that members of the city's large Mexican-American minority are frequently seen participating in the klompen dances. Churches and schools are used to provide Dutch meals to tour groups. About one million tourists visit Tulip Time each year. It has been ranked as America's third largest town festival and was named Reader's Digest's best small town festival.[4] The Tulip Time Festival has attracted big name acts in recent years such as: Christina Aguilera in 2000, O-Town in 2001, The Verve Pipe in 2004, and Jars of Clay in 2006. Ed McMahon visited Tulip Time in 2007 along with Bobby Vinton.

Gallery


Sign welcoming visitors

Tulip beds in downtown

Tulips line the streets


Transportation

The city is serviced by two public airports, the recreational Park Township Airport (IATA: HLM, ICAO: KHLM), and the larger, corporate and charter jet Tulip City Airport (IATA: BIV, ICAO: KBIV). Neither facility is served by regularly scheduled commercial carriers. The city is also served by regularly scheduled Amtrak service (the Pere Marquette) east to Grand Rapids and west to Chicago with connections to all points east and west.

The city is served by the MAX (Macatawa Area Express) bus system. Which offers both fixed routes linking different parts of the city as well as large commercial centers outside the city, which is the former Dial-A-Ride system.

The city is served by the following state trunklines:

Media

Newspapers

  • Holland Sentinel - Holland's local daily newspaper
  • Grand Rapids Press - has maintained a Holland newsroom and circulation office since the 1980s.
  • ''The Flashes - Serves Ottawa and Allegan counties for the Holland Area.
  • ''The Suburban Review - Senior Citizen Newspaper
Holland Sentinel Website

Radio

Athletics

LogoClubSportLeagueVenueChampionships
Holland BlastBasketballInternational Basketball LeagueHolland Civic CenterNone

Sister cities

Notable residents

  • Author L. Frank Baum composed his most famous work, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, while summering in the resort community of Macatawa. Several Holland landmarks are said to have inspired parts of the book and ensuing movie, including the castle at Castle Park and South Shore Drive (which in the 1920s was paved in brick and spiraled to an end at Macatawa).
  • Science writer Paul de Kruif ("Microbe Hunters", etc.) retired to Holland and died there in 1971.
  • Herman Stegeman, varsity coach and athletics director at the University of Georgia (UGA) in Athens.
  • Sufjan Stevens, a singer-songwriter who attended Hope College, details the city in the song "Holland" on his 2003 concept album, Michigan.
  • Mary Jeanne van Appledorn, composer, pianist, and educator (b. 1927)
  • Andy Van Hekken, a professional baseball player who pitched a complete game shutout in his first professional start with the Detroit Tigers in September, 2002.
  • Erik Prince founder of the private military company Blackwater USA
  • Gerrard W. Haworth (d. 2006), industrialist; founder of office furniture manufacturer Haworth Company.
  • Peter "Pete" Hoekstra, U.S. Congressman from Michigan's 2nd Congressional District; chairman of House Intelligence Committee, 2004-2007.
  • David G. Myers, psychologist; author.
  • Milton Nieuwsma, author; filmwriter-producer.
  • Ron Schipper (d. 2006), college football coach; member of College Football Hall of Fame.
  • Joel Schoon Tanis, writer of children books such as Dragon Pack, Snack Attack and the star of Come on Over, a popular childrens show.

Notes

1. ^ [2]
2. ^ Best places to retire (2006).
3. ^ [3]
4. ^ [4]

External links


Municipalities, townships, and Communities of Ottawa County, Michigan
(County Seat: Grand Haven)
CitiesCoopersville • Ferrysburg • Grand Haven • Holland • Hudsonville • Zeeland
VillagesSpring Lake
Charter TownshipsAllendale Charter Township • Georgetown Charter Township • Grand Haven Charter Township • Holland Charter Township • Jamestown Charter Township • Tallmadge Charter Township • Zeeland Charter Township
General Law TownshipsBlendon Township • Chester Township • Crockery Township • Olive Township • Park Township • Polkton Township • Port Sheldon Township • Robinson Township • Spring Lake Township • Wright Township
Communities and CDPsAllendale • Beechwood • Drenthe • Eastmanville • Jenison • Marne


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State of Michigan
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State of Michigan

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The boundaries of counties in the U.S. state of Michigan have not changed since 1897. However, throughout the 19th century, the state legislature frequently adjusted county boundaries.
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Ottawa County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the population was 238,314. The county seat is Grand Haven6.

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 4,227 km² (1,632 mi²).
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Allegan County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of 2000 census, the population was 105,665. The county seat is Allegan6. The name was coined by Henry Rowe Schoolcraft to sound like a Native American word.
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