✅ Petition Referrals, LLC: Petition Jobs, Campaign Petition gatherer, Signature Gatherer Petitioner, Petition Signature Collector, Petition Circulator, Sales Canvasser, Outdoor Sales Representative

Grand Rapids is the second largest city in Michigan, with a population of around 198,000 as of 2020 according to Wikipedia. It is the county seat of Kent County and located on the Grand River about 30 miles east of Lake Michigan.

History

Grand Rapids was founded in 1826 and incorporated as a village in 1838. The city grew rapidly in the late 19th century due to its booming lumber industry and furniture manufacturing. It was nicknamed "Furniture City" during this time. Some key moments in Grand Rapids history include:

• In the late 1800s, numerous furniture companies were established that helped put Grand Rapids on the map, such as Baker Furniture and Berkey & Gay.
• Frank Lloyd Wright's Meyer May House, built in 1908, is a nationally significant example of Prairie Style architecture located in Grand Rapids.
• Gerald R. Ford, the 38th president of the United States, was born in Grand Rapids in 1913 and spent his childhood there.

To learn more about the history of Grand Rapids, visit the Grand Rapids Public Library's history page.

Population and Demographics

As of the 2020 census, Grand Rapids had a population of 198,829 residents, making it the second largest city in Michigan after Detroit. Grand Rapids has grown 7.6% since the 2010 census. The racial makeup of the city is about:

• 64% White
• 20% Black or African American
• 13% Hispanic or Latino
• 4% Asian

The median age in Grand Rapids is 33 years old. About 22% of residents are under age 18 and 12% are over age 65. There are approximately 83,600 households in the city and 66% of housing units are owner-occupied.

Economy and Major Employers

Some of the major industries in Grand Rapids include healthcare, manufacturing, technology, and craft beer brewing. The city's unemployment rate as of November 2022 was around 2.7%.

Major private sector employers in Grand Rapids include:

• Spectrum Health (Address: 100 Michigan St NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, Phone: 616-391-1774)
• Mercy Health St. Mary's (Address: 200 Jefferson Ave SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, Phone: 616-685-5000)
• Meijer (corporate office - Address: 2929 Walker Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49544, Phone: 616-453-6711)
• Lacks Enterprises (Address: 5460 Cascade Rd SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546, Phone: 616-949-6500)

To learn more about economic development in Grand Rapids, visit the Economic Development page on Experience Grand Rapids.

Attractions and Landmarks

Some of the top attractions and landmarks in Grand Rapids include:

• Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum (Address: 303 Pearl St NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504) - Website
• Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park (Address: 1000 East Beltline Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525) - Website
• Grand Rapids Public Museum (Address: 272 Pearl St NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504) - Website
• John Ball Zoo (Address: 1300 W Fulton St, Grand Rapids, MI 49504) - Website
• Van Andel Arena (Address: 130 Fulton St W, Grand Rapids, MI 49503) - Website

Here are the GPS coordinates for 3 popular landmarks in Grand Rapids:

• Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum: 42.965009, -85.668086
• Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park: 42.972409, -85.585165
• Grand Rapids Public Museum: 42.969902, -85.671021

Public Transportation

Public transportation in Grand Rapids is provided by The Rapid. This transit system operates over 30 bus routes throughout the city and surrounding suburbs. The Rapid also runs the Silver Line, a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line that runs along Division Avenue. Fares start at $1.75 for a single ride.

Tourism

Grand Rapids attracts over 1.5 million visitors annually. Popular tourist attractions include the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, Frederik Meijer Gardens, brewery tours, and outdoor recreation along the Grand River. The city hosts several major events and festivals each year such as ArtPrize and LaughFest.

The city's convention and visitors bureau, Experience Grand Rapids, provides recommendations for attractions, restaurants, and places to stay in Grand Rapids.

Public Library

The Grand Rapids Public Library system has eight branch locations throughout the city. The main library is the Ryerson Library downtown at 111 Library St NE. Learn more at the Grand Rapids Public Library website.

Higher Education

Grand Rapids is home to several colleges and universities, including:

• Grand Valley State University - Allendale Campus
• Calvin University
• Aquinas College
• Davenport University - Grand Rapids Campus
• Grand Rapids Community College

Sports

Grand Rapids is home to several professional sports teams and venues:

• Grand Rapids Griffins - American Hockey League affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings
• Grand Rapids FC - Soccer team in USL League Two
• Grand Rapids Danger - Indoor football team
• Grand Rapids Drive - NBA G League affiliate of the Detroit Pistons
• Van Andel Arena - Multi-purpose arena downtown

Location and County Information

Grand Rapids is located in Kent County in the western part of Michigan's Lower Peninsula. It has an area of approximately 45 square miles.

Kent County government is headquartered at:

Kent County Administrative Complex
300 Monroe Ave NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Phone: 616-632-7570

Website: https://www.accesskent.com/

School Districts

There are multiple public school districts serving the Grand Rapids area, including:

• Grand Rapids Public Schools
• Forest Hills Public Schools
• East Grand Rapids Public Schools
• Kentwood Public Schools
• Rockford Public Schools
• Wyoming Public Schools

In addition, there are many private and charter schools in the Grand Rapids area.

Additional Local Resources

• This is Grand Rapids - Local city guide
• MLive Grand Rapids - Local news and information
• Grand Rapids Now - Arts, dining, and entertainment
• The Rapid - Public transportation
• Experience Grand Rapids - Convention and visitors bureau
• Downtown Grand Rapids Inc. - Downtown development/promotion

Petition Referrals LLC is NOT a contracting or employing entity for petitioners or contractors and does not collect signatures. Petition Referrals LLC is solely a referral service and any agreement or arrangement made between a petition collection company and a petitioner or contractor is strictly between them and the company. Petition referrals LLC disclaims any liability for any actions, omissions, or conduct of any petition-collecting company, petitioner, or contractor referred by Petition Referrals LLC.