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Big Rapids, Michigan
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Big Rapids, Michigan
Big Rapids is a city and the seat of government of Mecosta County, Michigan, United States. The population was 7,727 at the 2020 census, down from 10,601 in 2010. The city is surrounded by Big Rapids Charter Township but they are completely separate jurisdictions. Big Rapids is home of the main campus of Ferris State University, a four-year public university.
Big Rapids was settled in 1855 by brothers George and Zera French. As the village of Leonard, at the intersection of Elm and Stewart streets, it became the seat of Mecosta County on February 11, 1859, but local lumbermen knew the site as Big Rapids. On September 29, 1859, the Leonard post office was renamed Big Rapids. Big Rapids was platted on November 3, 1859, surrounding the courthouse site of Leonard. The unincorporated community of Big Rapids was first cited on June 10, 1861, rather than Leonard, when the Mecosta County board of supervisors mentioned their seat of government, and in 1865 was consistently cited throughout the year. Big Rapids was incorporated as a city in 1869.
Big Rapids is in northwestern Mecosta County in central Michigan. It is 56 miles (90 km) north of Grand Rapids and 42 miles (68 km) south of Cadillac, both via U.S. Route 131. The city sits along the Muskegon River, which passes Ferris State University and the local middle school on its way southwest to Lake Michigan. As with most of the area, Big Rapids lies on an ancient sea bed and has a sandy subsoil which lies above an iron ore base.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.56 square miles (11.81 km2), of which 4.45 square miles (11.53 km2) are land and 0.12 square miles (0.31 km2), or 2.56%, are water.
The city levies an income tax of 1 percent on residents and 0.5 percent on nonresidents.
The Fred Meijer White Pine Trail, a 92-mile (148 km) multi-use trail from Grand Rapids to Cadillac, passes through Big Rapids.
Big Rapids' population peaked in the 1980s. Since the 1980s, Big Rapids has lost over 46% of its population. There are a number of reasons for the decline, one being the decline in enrollment at Ferris State University. Quality of life concerns have also played a role. Mecosta County (like most rural areas) struggles with poor education, lack of high-paying jobs, and high rates of substance abuse.
As of the census of 2020, there were 7,727 people, 3,085 households, and 1,044 families living in the city. The population density was 1,738.4 inhabitants per square mile (671.2/km2). There were 3,590 housing units at an average density of 806.7 inhabitants per square mile (311.5/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 83% White, 5.8% African American, 0.5% Native American, 2.1% Asian, 1.4% from other races, and 7.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race were 5.1% of the population.
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Big Rapids, Michigan
Big Rapids is a city and the seat of government of Mecosta County, Michigan, United States. The population was 7,727 at the 2020 census, down from 10,601 in 2010. The city is surrounded by Big Rapids Charter Township but they are completely separate jurisdictions. Big Rapids is home of the main campus of Ferris State University, a four-year public university.
Big Rapids was settled in 1855 by brothers George and Zera French. As the village of Leonard, at the intersection of Elm and Stewart streets, it became the seat of Mecosta County on February 11, 1859, but local lumbermen knew the site as Big Rapids. On September 29, 1859, the Leonard post office was renamed Big Rapids. Big Rapids was platted on November 3, 1859, surrounding the courthouse site of Leonard. The unincorporated community of Big Rapids was first cited on June 10, 1861, rather than Leonard, when the Mecosta County board of supervisors mentioned their seat of government, and in 1865 was consistently cited throughout the year. Big Rapids was incorporated as a city in 1869.
Big Rapids is in northwestern Mecosta County in central Michigan. It is 56 miles (90 km) north of Grand Rapids and 42 miles (68 km) south of Cadillac, both via U.S. Route 131. The city sits along the Muskegon River, which passes Ferris State University and the local middle school on its way southwest to Lake Michigan. As with most of the area, Big Rapids lies on an ancient sea bed and has a sandy subsoil which lies above an iron ore base.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.56 square miles (11.81 km2), of which 4.45 square miles (11.53 km2) are land and 0.12 square miles (0.31 km2), or 2.56%, are water.
The city levies an income tax of 1 percent on residents and 0.5 percent on nonresidents.
The Fred Meijer White Pine Trail, a 92-mile (148 km) multi-use trail from Grand Rapids to Cadillac, passes through Big Rapids.
Big Rapids' population peaked in the 1980s. Since the 1980s, Big Rapids has lost over 46% of its population. There are a number of reasons for the decline, one being the decline in enrollment at Ferris State University. Quality of life concerns have also played a role. Mecosta County (like most rural areas) struggles with poor education, lack of high-paying jobs, and high rates of substance abuse.
As of the census of 2020, there were 7,727 people, 3,085 households, and 1,044 families living in the city. The population density was 1,738.4 inhabitants per square mile (671.2/km2). There were 3,590 housing units at an average density of 806.7 inhabitants per square mile (311.5/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 83% White, 5.8% African American, 0.5% Native American, 2.1% Asian, 1.4% from other races, and 7.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race were 5.1% of the population.
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