Big Rapids, Michigan

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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,<ref name="Census 2020"/> down from 10,601 in 2010.<ref name="GR6">Template:Cite web</ref> 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.

History

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,<ref name=LeonardHistoryJW>Template:Cite web Template:Sps</ref> but local lumbermen knew the site as Big Rapids. On September 29, 1859, the Leonard post office was renamed Big Rapids.<ref name=LeonardHistoryJW /> Big Rapids was platted on November 3, 1859, surrounding the courthouse site of Leonard.<ref name=LeonardHistoryJW /> 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.<ref name=LeonardHistoryJW /> Big Rapids was incorporated as a city in 1869.<ref name=LeonardHistoryJW /><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Geography

Big Rapids is in northwestern Mecosta County in central Michigan. It is Template:Convert north of Grand Rapids and Template:Convert 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 Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert are land and Template:Convert, or 2.56%, are water.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2022"/>

Government

The city levies an income tax of 1 percent on residents and 0.5 percent on nonresidents.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Transportation

Major highways

Bus

Indian Trails provides daily intercity bus service between Grand Rapids and Petoskey, Michigan. The southbound bus stops in Big Rapids at 2:35 pm, and the northbound bus stops in Big Rapids at 6:03 pm.<ref>Template:Cite web Template:Dead link</ref> Since August 1, 2014, buses stop in the Save-A-Lot parking lot across the street from the Racquet & Fitness Center.
Public dial-a-ride bus service is provided by the Big Rapids Dial-A-Ride.

Airports

Roben-Hood Airport is located Template:Convert north of the Big Rapids business district and provides services to businesses and general aviation throughout the Midwest.
Gerald R. Ford International Airport is the nearest international airport, located roughly one hour south of Big Rapids near Grand Rapids.

Cycling and hiking

The Fred Meijer White Pine Trail, a Template:Convert multi-use trail from Grand Rapids to Cadillac, passes through Big Rapids.

Demographics

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Population decline

Big Rapids' population peaked in the 1980s. Since the 1980s, Big Rapids has lost over 46% of its population.<ref name="GR2" /> There are a number of reasons for the decline, one being the decline in enrollment at Ferris State University.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Quality of life concerns have also played a role. Mecosta County (like most rural areas)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> struggles with poor education, lack of high-paying jobs, and high rates of substance abuse.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

2020 census

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 Template:Convert. There were 3,590 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. 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.

There were 3,085 households, of which 22.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 21.5% were married couples living together, 10% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 66.2% were non-families. 42.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.09 and the average family size was 2.91.

The median age of the city was 22 years. 12.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 51.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 17.6% were from 25 to 44; 10.7% were from 45 to 64; and 7.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 53.7% male and 46.3% female.

2010 census

As of the census<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">Template:Cite web</ref> of 2010, there were 10,601 people, 3,330 households, and 1,323 families living in the city. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 3,623 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the city was 88.0% White, 6.8% African American, 0.7% Native American, 1.5% Asian, 0.6% from other races, and 2.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race were 2.4% of the population.

There were 3,330 households, of which 22.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 22.9% were married couples living together, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 60.3% were non-families. 36.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.88.

The median age in the city was 21.8 years. 12.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 54% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 15.9% were from 25 to 44; 11.2% were from 45 to 64; and 6.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 51.0% male and 49.0% female.

Climate

This climatic region has large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Big Rapids has a humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps.<ref>Climate Summary for Big Rapids, Michigan</ref>

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Notable people

Matt Borland, NASCAR crew chief
Justin Currie, NFL player; raised in Big Rapids <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
May Erlewine, musician
Ben Hebard Fuller, major general and Commandant of the Marine Corps; born in Big Rapids
Clint Hurdle, outfielder with four MLB teams; manager of the Colorado Rockies and Pittsburgh Pirates; born in Big Rapids
James Hynes, novelist; grew up in Big Rapids
Tom Shanahan, a sportswriter and author; grew up in Big Rapids
Anna Howard Shaw, a leader of the women's suffrage movement in the nineteenth century; lived in Big Rapids as a young woman
Daisy Tapley, African American classical singer; born in Big Rapids
Virginia Van Wie, Women’s Golf Champion, Women’s Golf Hall of Fame, made a home in Big Rapids in her later years