Grandville, city in Kent County, Michigan, United States
Grandville is a city in Kent County, Michigan, situated southwest of Grand Rapids along the Grand River. It is made up of residential neighborhoods, local shops, and parks laid out on a clear grid of streets.
Grandville was founded in 1833 as a small settlement along the Grand River and grew through the lumber trade that relied on the river to move timber. It was officially incorporated as a city in 1933, exactly a century after its founding.
The name Grandville mirrors that of nearby Grand Rapids, reflecting the close ties between the two cities from early on. The downtown area has a handful of local shops and diners where everyday life is easy to observe.
Grandville sits just off Interstate 196 and is easiest to visit by car, as public transport options are limited. Grand Rapids and several nearby lakes and beaches are all within a short drive.
The city grew at a bend in the Grand River where log jams formed regularly during the lumber era, requiring workers to break them up by hand. That same bend is still visible today and gives the riverbank its particular shape.
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