Editing Grand Ledge, Michigan

{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2018}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name            = Grand Ledge, Michigan
| settlement_type          = [[City]]
| nickname                 = 
| motto                    = 
| image_skyline            = 
| imagesize                = 
| image_caption            = 
| image_flag               = 
| image_seal               = 
| image_map                = Eaton_County_Michigan_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Grand_Ledge_Highlighted.svg
| mapsize                  = 250px
| map_caption              = Location of Grand Ledge in Eaton County, Michigan
| image_map1               = 
| mapsize1                 = 
| map_caption1             = 
| subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name         = United States
| subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1        = [[Michigan]]
| subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Michigan|Counties]]
| subdivision_name2        = [[Eaton County, Michigan|Eaton]], [[Clinton County, Michigan|Clinton]]
| government_type          = 
| leader_title             = Mayor
| leader_name              = Keith Mulder
| established_date         = 1871
| unit_pref                = Imperial
| area_total_km2           = 10.19
| area_land_km2            = 9.94
| area_water_km2           = 0.25
| area_total_sq_mi         = 3.94
| area_land_sq_mi          = 3.84
| area_water_sq_mi         = 0.10
| population_as_of         = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| population_est           = 
| pop_est_as_of            = 
| population_total         = 7784
| timezone                 = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
| utc_offset               = -5
| timezone_DST             = EDT
| utc_offset_DST           = -4
| elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft             = 833
| coordinates              = {{coord|42|45|12|N|84|44|42|W|region:US-MI|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code              = 48837
| area_code                = [[Area code 517|517]]
| blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info               = 26-33420<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
| blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info              = 1626372<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|1626372}}</ref>
| pop_est_footnotes        = 
| website                  = {{URL|https://www.cityofgrandledge.com/}}
| area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_26.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=May 21, 2022}}</ref>
| population_density_sq_mi = 2028.67
| population_density_km2   = 783.27
| population_footnotes     = 
}}
[[Image:grand ledges.JPG|thumb|upright=1.2|[[Sandstone]] ledges along the banks of the Grand Ledge]]
'''Grand Ledge''' is a city in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Michigan]]. The city lies mostly within [[Eaton County, Michigan|Eaton County]], though a small portion extends into [[Clinton County, Michigan|Clinton County]] to the north (no residents live in that portion).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grand Ledge city, Clinton County, Michigan |url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Grand_Ledge_city,_Clinton_County,_Michigan?g=060XX00US2603733420 |access-date=20 July 2024 |website=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> The city sits along the [[Grand River (Michigan)|Grand River]] 12.7 miles (20.4 kilometers) west of downtown [[Lansing, Michigan|Lansing]]. The population was 7,786 at the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]]. The city is named for its sandstone rock ledges that are located between island park and Fitzgerald  park. They rise {{convert|40|ft|m}} above the Grand River and are used by recreational [[Rock climbing|rock climbers]].

==History==
=== Native American settlement ===
Native Americans who lived in the vicinity of the Grand River near the ledges were of [[Potawatomi|Pottawatomi]], [[Ojibwe|Chippewa]], and [[Odawa|Ottawa]] ancestry. They dug clams in the river, mined coal on the river banks, hunted for deer, turkey, fox, and bear, and fished for black bass. Their name for the ledges translated into English as "Big Rocks".

===Modern settlement===
[[File:Grand Ledge Opera House.jpg|thumb|Grand Ledge Opera House]]
{{unsourced|section|date=March 2023}}
In 1847 Henry Trench settled in what would later become downtown Grand Ledge. After a few years he returned east. In 1850 settlers named their village Grand Ledge, and erected a post office. By 1869, the town gained a railroad stop along the [[Flint and Pere Marquette Railroad|Flint & Pere Marquette Railroad]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Robinson |first=John |date=26 January 2021 |title='Then-and-Now' Photos of Grand Ledge, Michigan: 1800s-2000s |url=https://99wfmk.com/grand-ledge-michigan-b/ |access-date=20 July 2024 |website=99.1 WFMK}}</ref> In 1871, the village was incorporated by the state of Michigan.

====Resort era====
Grand Ledge grew as a resort area during the 1870s, spurred by the railroad access. John Burtch founded Seven Islands Resort in 1872, with the ''Dolly Varden'' steamer and a small inn on Second Island. Several wells were drilled, and the mineral-laden water they produced was touted for its curative property. In 1877 S.M. Hewings purchased the Seven Islands Resort, and in 1878 he built the Island House Hotel on Second Island. In 1880 Julian Scott Mudge purchased the Seven Islands Resort. To reduce the risk of flooding from Grand River, Mudge built a dam (1887). In 1888 the Railroad Trestle or High Bridge was built to bring the railroad south of the river and Grand Ledge became the second city in Michigan (after Lansing) to get electric lights. By that time an estimated 60,000 to 70,000 people visited the Seven Islands Resort annually.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Seven Islands Resort |url=https://glhistoricalsociety.org/seven-islands-resort/ |access-date=March 15, 2025 |website=Grand Ledge Historical Society}}</ref>

===Golden Age===
{{unsourced|section|date=March 2023}}
In 1891 Mudge built a roller coaster on the Islands, probably the state's first.<ref>{{Cite web |date=22 January 2024 |title=Historic Island Rollercoaster Historical Marker |url=https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=239639 |access-date=2024-10-28 |website=www.hmdb.org |language=en}}</ref> Located on the first island below the bridge was an animal park with bears and deer. The second island was the center of the resort activities, with its hotel, picnic area, and fountain. The second and third islands were joined with a causeway, and a pavilion served as a ballroom and theatre for Vaudeville acts. The Resort featured a merry-go-round and a bandstand.

Mudge's most notable improvement was the construction of “The Round House”. This three-story pagoda tower was built on the edge of Second Island, with half its foundation on island soil and the rest projecting over the river. During the construction, he kept the purpose of the unusual structure secret. This caused much speculation in the local community. Mudge eventually revealed that it was designed to have the second story rotate at a slow speed, while the third story rotated faster and was topped by a centrifugal swing that would whirl the adventurous rider out over the river.<ref name=":0" />

The fourth, fifth, and sixth islands were left wild, and the seventh was a picnic spot, accessed by boat. As many as 75 boats plied the Grand River at Grand Ledge, and sidewheel riverboats ran between Second Island and the dam. The dam, constructed in 1887, ensured the proper water level for the operation of steamboats.
As many as nine hotels provided accommodations for visitors and the Pere Marquette Railroad offered excursion rates to the Seven Island Resort which, according to early records, was second in popularity only to the [[Petoskey, Michigan|Petoskey resort areas]].

===Spring flood of 1893===
A flood damaged the Round House in 1893. The construction was nearly complete by then, but the rushing waters pushed chunks of ice into its overhanging foundation. The structure was pushed off the foundation, but remained nearly in place, at a precarious angle. Although the building was saved, the mechanism that was to rotate its upper portions was so damaged that repairs were never initiated. The Round House remained on the site, becoming the most recognizable symbol of the entire resort era. “The building has come to be called Mudge’s Folly. This has a double meaning. While a folly can be a costly and foolish undertaking, it can also describe a picturesque structure built as an ornament, but without a real purpose.”.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.gdledgehistsoc.org/remembered2.html |title=Grand Ledge Area Historical Society |access-date=April 15, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725043024/http://www.gdledgehistsoc.org/remembered2.html |archive-date=July 25, 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

=== Opera house ===
The increase in tourism and interest in roller skating led J. McPeek and Edgar Marvin to open the Riverside Rink on August 15, 1884. McPeek and Marvin went on to sell their shares to Peter Blake in early 1886. Blake commissioned artists and craftsmen to transform the space into an opera house. Blake bought the “Old Grange Hall” and moved it to the opera house, combining the structures to open “Sackett’s Opera House” on May 12, 1886. The Mackley-Salisbury Comedy Company was the opera house’s first feature act.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=The Grand Ledge Opera House |url=https://glhistoricalsociety.org/opera-house/ |access-date=March 15, 2025 |website=Grand Ledge Historical Society}}</ref> The opera house went on to show early silent films, host talent shows, vaudeville acts, and athletic contests.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Blake's Opera House |url=https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=122824 |access-date=March 15, 2025 |website=The Historical Marker Database}}</ref> 

In 1928 the opera house was converted into a furniture store owned by Stephens Furniture and later Mapes Furniture. In 1976, the Bicentennial Committee used the space as their headquarters naming it “Heritage Hall”. In 1984 the Mapes family donated the building to the Grand Ledge Historical Society. <ref name=":1" />

The main floor houses an antique Barton Theatre organ which was originally housed in the [[Strand Theatre and Arcade|Michigan Theatre]] in [[Lansing, Michigan]]. The organ relocation and restoration was a partnership between the Lansing Theatre Organ Guild and The Opera House Authority. <ref>{{Cite journal |last=Smith |first=Scott |last2=VanSteenkiste |first2=Dorothy |date=September-October 1991 |title=Pipes and Personality |url=https://journals.shareok.org/theatreorgan/ojs/theatreorgan/article/view/4610/4589 |journal=Theatre Organ: Journal of the American Theatre Organ Society |volume=33 |issue=5 |pages=18-19}}</ref> The Opera House is now operated as a space for weddings, receptions, and community events. <ref>{{Cite web |title=About Us |url=https://www.gloperahouse.com/about_us.php |access-date=March 15, 2025 |website=The Opera House Grand Ledge}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|3.65|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|3.57|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.08|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.<ref>{{cite web|title=US Gazetteer files 2010|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=November 25, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112090031/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|archive-date=January 12, 2012}}</ref>

==Transportation==
===Highways===
*{{jct|state=MI|M|43}} – runs east to its intersection with Interstate 69, WNW of downtown Lansing.
*{{jct|state=MI|M|100}} – runs north–south, to connect Grand Ledge with Interstate 69 on the south and Interstate 96 on the north.<ref>[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Grand+Ledge,+MI+48837/@42.718694,-84.6939786,12z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x882297cddaf82fad:0xb322fb2531c9df08!8m2!3d42.7533685!4d-84.7463757 ''Grand Lodge MI''  Google Maps (accessed 25 August 2018)]</ref>

===Airport===
[[Abrams Municipal Airport]] {{airport codes|||4D0}} is a city-owned, public-use [[airport]] located two nautical miles (3.7&nbsp;km) north of the [[central business district]] of Grand Ledge. The airport is accessible by road from Eaton Highway and is located {{convert|2.1|mi|km}} south of [[Interstate 96]], just east of [[M-100 (Michigan highway)|M-100]].

===Railroads===
[[CSX Transportation]] now operates the original railroad built through the town as part of their Plymouth Subdivision between Plymouth, MI and Grand Rapids, MI. A small yard remains active for local shippers, including a Lowes distribution center. The remnant of a branch line to Ionia begins here to serve a large grain elevator several miles north of town. As of 2022, one local freight and two through freights pass through town daily. Passenger service between Detroit and Grand Rapids, then provided by predecessor Chesapeake & Ohio, ended after April 30, 1971.

The railroad crosses the Grand River adjacent to the Ledges on a spectacular high bridge. One of the largest railroad bridges in the state of Michigan, it remains a sought after landmark for railfans and general tourists alike.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1880= 1387
|1890= 1606
|1900= 2161
|1910= 2893
|1920= 3043
|1930= 3572
|1940= 3899
|1950= 4506
|1960= 5165
|1970= 6032
|1980= 6920
|1990= 7579
|2000= 7813
|2010= 7786
|2020= 7784
|align-fn=center
|footnote=[https://www.michigan.gov/documents/MCD1960-1990C_33608_7.pdf U.S. Decennial Census]
}}

=== 2020 census ===
As of the [[census]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grand Ledge city, Eaton County, Michigan |url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Grand_Ledge_city,_Eaton_County,_Michigan?g=060XX00US2604533420#populations-and-people |access-date=20 July 2024 |website=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> of 2020, there were 7,784 people, 3,526 households, and 2,156 families residing in the city. There were 3,595 housing units. The racial makeup of the city was 89.52% [[White (US Census)|White]] alone, 1.47% [[African Americans|African American]] alone, 0.45% [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] alone, 1.1% from [[Other races (U.S. Census)|other races]], 6.95% from two or more races. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic]] or [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Latino]] of any race were 5.82% of the population.

===2010 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref>{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=November 25, 2012}}</ref> of 2010, there were 7,786 people, 3,357 households, and 2,063 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|2181.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 3,656 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1024.1|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 94.4% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.9% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.5% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.8% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.1% [[Race (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.9% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 2.5% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 4.6% of the population.

There were 3,357 households, of which 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.1% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 13.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 38.5% were non-families. 33.1% 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 2.31 and the average family size was 2.93.

The median age in the city was 38.8 years. 24.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.7% were from 25 to 44; 27% were from 45 to 64; 14.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.7% male and 52.3% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2"/> of 2000, there were 7,813 people, 3,262 households, and 2,123 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|2,199.2|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 3,405 housing units at an average density of {{convert|958.4|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 96.33% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.44% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.40% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.58% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.03% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.78% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.46% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 2.61% of the population.

There were 3,262 households, out of which 33.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.2% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.9% were non-families. 29.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.2% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 31.5% from 25 to 44, 22.9% from 45 to 64, and 10.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $47,043, and the median income for a family was $55,727. Males had a median income of $44,255 versus $29,503 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $22,438. About 6.3% of families and 9.3% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 12.5% of those under age 18 and 7.8% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==
The [[Grand Ledge Public Schools]] district was established in 1886. It comprises an area of {{convert|125|sqmi|km2}} centered {{convert|10|mi|km}} west of Lansing, Michigan's state capital. Within the school district are the City of Grand Ledge, the communities of [[Delta Charter Township, Michigan|Delta Mills]], [[Mulliken, Michigan|Mulliken]], [[Watertown Township, Clinton County, Michigan|Wacousta]] and [[Eagle, Michigan|Eagle]], as well as a large portion of [[Delta Charter Township, Michigan|Delta Township]]. The school district, which is mainly in Eaton County, also covers portions of Clinton and [[Ionia County, Michigan|Ionia]] Counties. The schools of Grand Ledge district consists of two early childhood centers, four [[elementary school]]s, one intermediate school, one [[middle school]], and one [[High school (North America)|high school]]. The Grand Ledge High School mascot is the Comet. School colors are blue and gold. The total population of the district is 31,000.

==Rock climbing==
[[Image:Grand Ledge Climbing 2008.JPG|thumb|upright|Popular rock climbing route Doug's Roof]]
Oak Park in Grand Ledge is one of the few places to [[Rock climbing|climb]] in Michigan, making it a popular destination for local climbers. The sandstone cliffs along the river have nearly 100 routes ranging from basic ([[Grade (climbing)#YDS Class|5.2]]) to very difficult ([[Grade (climbing)#YDS Class|5.13]]).<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://glc.cheapholds.com/Docs/GL_Guide.pdf |title=A Guide to Grand Ledge Climbing |access-date=November 12, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081120121649/http://glc.cheapholds.com/Docs/GL_Guide.pdf |archive-date=November 20, 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Notable people==
*[[Paul Baribeau]], musician
*[[Reid Boucher]], NHL player
*[[Deborah Diesen]], Children’s book author
*[[Frank Fitzgerald]], Governor of Michigan
*[[Frank M. Fitzgerald]], lawyer and legislator
*[[John Warner Fitzgerald]], jurist
*[[John Wesley Fitzgerald]], businessman and legislator
*[[Matt Greene]], NHL player
*[[Al Horford]], NBA player

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.cityofgrandledge.com/ City of Grand Ledge official website]
* [http://www.grandledgemi.com/ Grand Ledge Area Chamber of Commerce]

{{Clinton County, Michigan}}
{{Eaton County, Michigan}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Clinton County, Michigan]]
[[Category:Cities in Eaton County, Michigan]]
[[Category:Lansing–East Lansing metropolitan area]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1847]]
[[Category:1847 establishments in Michigan]]