Kent County, Michigan

Founding: 1836 (declared in 1831)
Parent county: Unorganized territory

Namesake: James Kent, New York jurist
Seat: Grand Rapids (1836–)

Land area: 847 square miles

Population (2020): 657,974

Population (historic): 2,587 (1840); 30,716 (1860); 73,253 (1880); 129,714 (1900); 240,511 (1930)

Periods of population growth: pre-1840–2020

Subdivisions: Nine cities; five villages; five CDPs; 21 townships

Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 45,261 (17.4%)
Pre-1940 housing survival rate: 57.8%
Pre-1860 housing survival rate (1940): 14.3%

Farm housing in disrepair (1950): 9.5%

Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950): 4.3%
Average farmhouse value (1930): $1,804
Average outbuilding value (1930): $1,780
Average farmhouse size (1940): 6.7 rooms
Number of farms (1920): 5,605
Average farm size (1920): 62.9 acres
Sources of settlement: New York, Holland, Canada, Germany, Ohio, Ireland, England, and Pennsylvania
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Grand Rapids

Namesake: Rapids along the Grand River

Founding: 1831 (platting); 1831 (post office); 1838 (incorporation)

Population (2020): 198,917

Population (historic): 2,686 (1850); 16,507 (1870); 60,278 (1890); 112,571 (1910); 168,592 (1930)

Periods of population growth: 1831–1930; 1940–1970; 1980–2000; 2010s
Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 32,072 (37.5%)
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Outstanding Buildings

1. Joshua Morse Farm (c. 1855). 2946 6 Mile Road. Alpine. Greek Revival.
2. St. Sebastian Catholic Church (c. 1890). 9408 Wilson Road. Byron. Gothic Revival.
3. Ezra Whitney House (1852–1853). 5283 Whitneyville Road. Cascade. Greek Revival.
4. Robert Cornell Farm (c. 1875). 9219 10 Mile Road. Courtland. Italianate.
5. Valentine Geib Farm (c. 1905). 2947 92nd Road. Gaines. Classical Revival/Queen Anne.
6. Daniel Lutz Farm (c. 1885). 3392 100th Road. Gaines. Eastlake.
7. Gannon School (c. 1885). 10034 Kalamazoo Road. Gaines.
8. Russell Slayton House (c. 1855). 13027 7 Mile Road. Grattan. Italianate/Greek Revival.
9. St. Patrick Catholic Church (1878). 4351 Parnell Road. Grattan. Gothic Revival.
10. Sluman Bailey House (1855). 3180 Paris Road. Paris.
11. Asa Gilson Farm (c. 1880). 3391 10 Mile Road. Sparta. Eastlake.
12. Avonley Roberts Farm (c. 1880). 12920 Fruit Ridge Road. Sparta. Italianate.
13. Jason Bradford House (c. 1875). 12538 Sparta Road. Sparta. Italianate.

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