Holland, Michigan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Holland, Michigan | |
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| Nickname: The Tulip City | |
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country | United States |
| State | Michigan |
| Counties | Ottawa, Allegan |
| Government | |
| - Mayor | Al McGeehan |
| Area | |
| - City | 17 sq mi (44.5 km²) |
| - Land | 16.6 sq mi (42.9 km²) |
| - Water | 0.6 sq mi (1.6 km²) |
| Elevation | 662 ft (202 m) |
| Population (2006) | |
| - City | 34,030 |
| - Density | 2,115.3/sq mi (816.7/km²) |
| - Urban | 95,795 |
| - Metro | 259,671 |
| Time zone | EST (UTC-5) |
| - Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP codes | 49422-49424 |
| Area code(s) | 616,269 |
| FIPS code | 26-38640[1] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0628421[2] |
| Website: http://www.holland.org | |
Holland is a city in the western region of the Lower Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated near the eastern shore of Lake Michigan on Lake Macatawa, which is fed by the Macatawa River (also known locally as the Black River). The city spans the Ottawa/Allegan county line, with 9.08 square miles (23.52 km²) in Ottawa and the remaining 8.13 square miles (21.06 km²) in Allegan. As of the 2000 census, the population was 35,048.[3] As of the 2006 Census estimates, the population of the city was 34,245[4] with an Urbanized Area population of 93,471.[5] The city is the largest municipality of the Holland-Grand Haven Metropolitan Statistical Area, which has an estimate population of 259,671 as of July 1, 2006.[6]
Holland was founded by Dutch Americans, and is in an area that has a large percentage of citizens of Dutch American heritage who live in communities with such Dutch names as Harlem, Zeeland, Vriesland, and Graafschap. Many still practice forms of the Dutch Reformed faith brought by the original settlers. It is home to Hope College and Western Theological Seminary, institutions of the Reformed Church in America. The city is best known for its Tulip Time Festival, nationally-recognized downtown, and rich Dutch history.
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[edit] History
Holland was settled in 1847 by Dutch Calvinist separatists, under the leadership of Dr. Albertus van Raalte, who were escaping from persecution in The Netherlands. Van Raalte chose the land due to its proximity to the Black River where it streamed to Black Lake (now Lake Macatawa) which, in turn, led to Lake Michigan. The land was inhabited by the Ottawa, which after a cultural clash with the new Dutch settlers relocated to Northport, Michigan. In Holland's early history, Van Raalte was a spiritual leader, as well as overseeing political, educational and financial matters. In 1847 Van Raalte established a congregation of the Reformed Church in America, which would later be called the First Reformed Church of Holland. In 1867, Holland was incorporated as a city with Isaac Cappon being the city's first mayor.
The city suffered a major fire on October 8–9, 1871, the same time as the Great Chicago Fire in Illinois and the very deadly Peshtigo Fire in Wisconsin. Manistee and Port Huron, Michigan also burned.
The city has a strong religious base since its founding. Before the introduction of the Tulip Time festival, Holland was known as the "City of Churches." There are 170 churches in Holland, many of which are affiliated with the Reformed Church in America and Christian Reformed Church in North America denominations. The city is the home of the What would Jesus do? bracelets that kicked off the trend in 1989.
Holland retains some ties with the Netherlands. The city was visited by Queen Juliana of the Netherlands in 1952, by Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands in 1982, and by Princess Margriet of the Netherlands in 1997. Juliana (while still Princess) received an honorary doctorate from Hope College in 1944.
In 1987, 23-year-old recent Hope College graduate and City Council member Phil Tanis was elected mayor of Holland, becoming its youngest mayor.
[edit] Culture
The city is home to the Holland Museum, which administers three museum facilities in the city. The first, the Holland Museum, is located in the former post office downtown and contains exhibits about the history of the city and the region. Another, the Cappon House Museum, was built in 1874 and is a historic museum that once housed the first mayor of Holland, influential Dutch immigrant Isaac Cappon. The Settlers House Museum, one of the few homes to survive the 1871 fire, contains furnishings and relics from the 19th Century and illustrates life for the city's working class in the early days of the city. Composer Evan Haddad frequents his summer abode on lake Michigan and may be seen on fair summer evenings wandering the beach with other local artists and writers.
Holland's downtown is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The "Snowmelt Project" established pipes transporting warm water from the nearby power plant to travel underneath downtown with the purpose of clearing the streets and sidewalks in the downtown area of any snow.
Nearby Holland State Park is among the most visited parks in the state. Across the channel from the park is the Holland Harbor Light, known as "Big Red", one of the most photographed lighthouses in Michigan. De Zwaan, an original 250-year-old Dutch windmill, is situated on Windmill Island, a municipal park. Its height is 125 feet (38 m) with 40-foot (12 m) sails.
Holland is home to the world's largest pickle factory. The H.J. Heinz Company has operated the factory at the same location since 1897 and currently processes over 1 million pounds of pickles per day during the green season.
Holland was the unlikely birthplace of Slashdot, an influential early Internet weblog created by Hope College student Rob "CmdrTaco" Malda.
CNN Money named Holland as one of the top five places to retire in 2006.[7]
Holland is host to the annual Tulipanes Latino Art & Film Festival which celebrates the Latino contribution to the culture and prosperity of western Michigan.
[edit] Geography
Holland is on the shores of Lake Michigan and Lake Macatawa.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 35,048 people, 11,971 households, and 7,924 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,115.3 per square mile (816.7/km²). There were 12,533 housing units at an average density of 756.4/sq mi (292.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 78.18% White, 2.53% African American, 0.58% Native American, 3.56% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 12.41% from other races, and 2.72% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 22.21% of the population.
There were 11,971 households out of which 34.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.4% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.8% were non-families. 26.8% of all households are made up of individuals, and 11.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.24.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.1% under the age of 18, 17.5% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 15.5% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females there were 90.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $42,291, and the median income for a family was $50,316. Males had a median income of $36,339 versus $26,481 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,823. About 6.7% of families and 10.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.8% of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Background
[edit] Mayor
The current mayor of Holland is Albert H. McGeehan, serving the city since 1993. He graduated from Hope College in 1966. In 2004, U.S. President George W. Bush gave him the nickname, "Mayor Al" and the name has since stuck. McGeehan was first elected to city council in 1977, where he served four terms. He is currently in his sixth term in as mayor of the city.
[edit] Education
- Higher level academic institutions
- Hope College, a private four-year liberal arts college
- Western Theological Seminary a graduate and professional school
- Western Michigan University has a branch campus in Holland.
- Grand Valley State University has a campus in Holland. The land was donated to the GVSU by the Meijer family.
- Davenport University has a Regional campus in Holland
- Public Schools
- Holland Public Schools
- West Ottawa Public Schools, which serve the townships that make up Holland's suburban "north side".
- Black River Public School, a charter school with elementary, secondary, and high school students.
- Vanderbilt Charter Academy (K-8).
- Private Schools
- Holland Christian Schools
- Corpus Christi Catholic School
- Calvary Schools of Holland
- Holland Seventh-day Adventist School
[edit] Tulip Time Festival
Each May Holland hosts an annual Tulip Time Festival. Tulip planting and the festival began in 1930 when 250,000 tulips were planted for the event.[8]Currently six million tulips are used throughout the city. Tulips are planted along many city streets, in city parks and outside municipal buildings as well as at tourist attractions like Dutch Village, the city-owned Windmill Island park, and at a large tulip farm named Veldheer Tulip Gardens.
It is normally held the second week of May, right when the numerous tulips planted around the town are blooming. The festival lasts for over a week and features three parades: the Volksparade, usually led by the state governor with a broom as townspeople in Dutch costume wash the street; the Kinderparade, featuring local children dressed in traditional Dutch costume and wooden shoes; and the Muziekparade of marching bands that come from local high schools, to regional to national. Some bands even come as far as New York to march in the Muziekparade. The festival includes fireworks, musical shows and 1,000-2,000 klompen dancers, mostly females, dance on city streets in traditional wooden shoes (klompen); some of them go on to represent Holland nationally. The festival is so well entrenched in Holland's culture that members of the city's large Mexican-American minority are frequently seen participating in the klompen dances. Churches and schools are used to provide Dutch meals to tour groups. About one million tourists visit Tulip Time each year. It has been ranked as America's third largest town festival and was named Reader's Digest's best small town festival.[9] The Tulip Time Festival has attracted big name acts in recent years such as: Christina Aguilera in 2000, O-Town in 2001, The Verve Pipe in 2004, and Jars of Clay in 2006. Ed McMahon visited Tulip Time in 2007 along with Bobby Vinton.
[edit] Gallery
 Sign welcoming visitors |
 Tulip beds in downtown |
 Tulips line the streets |
[edit] Transportation
- See also: Holland (Amtrak station)
The city is serviced by two public airports, the recreational Park Township Airport (IATA: HLM, ICAO: KHLM), and the larger, corporate and charter jet Tulip City Airport (IATA: BIV, ICAO: KBIV). Neither facility is served by regularly scheduled commercial carriers. The city is also served by regularly scheduled Amtrak service (the Pere Marquette) east to Grand Rapids and west to Chicago with connections to all points east and west.
The city is served by the MAX (Macatawa Area Express) bus system. Which offers both fixed routes linking different parts of the city as well as large commercial centers outside the city, which is the former Dial-A-Ride system.
The city is served by the following state trunklines:
Interstate 196 (Gerald R. Ford Freeway)
Interstate Business Loop 196
U.S. Highway 31
U.S. Business Route 31
M-40
M-121
[edit] Media
[edit] Newspapers
- Holland Sentinel - Holland's local daily newspaper
- Grand Rapids Press - has maintained a Holland newsroom and circulation office since the 1980s.
- The Flashes - Serves Ottawa and Allegan counties for the Holland Area.
- The Suburban Review - Senior Citizen Newspaper
[edit] Radio
- WHTC - Holland's Hometown Station 1450 AM Station
- WYVN - Holland's Home for Classic Rock 92.7FM
- WKLQ - Rockin' The Lakeshore 107.3FM Pure Rock
- WTHS - Hope College Radio Station 89.9FM
- LakeshoreRadio.net - The Lakeshore's Music Station
- WTNR - Thunder 94.5 New Country
[edit] Television
- MACTV - Holland Local Television Station
[edit] Athletics
| Logo | Club | Sport | League | Venue | Championships |
| Holland Blast | Basketball | International Basketball League | Holland Civic Center | None | |
| Hope College Flying Dutchmen football | College football | Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association | Holland Municipal Stadium |
[edit] Sister cities
[edit] Notable residents
- L. Frank Baum (d. 1919), author, composed his most famous work, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, while summering in the resort community of Macatawa.
- Paul de Kruif (d. 1971), science writer ("Microbe Hunters", etc.) retired to Holland and died there in 1971.
- Max DePree, writer; industrialist; former CEO of Herman Miller, Inc.
- Gerrard Wendell Haworth (d. 2006), industrialist; founder of office furniture manufacturer Haworth Company.
- Pete Hoekstra, U.S. Congressman from Michigan's 2nd Congressional District; chairman of House Intelligence Committee, 2004-2007.
- David Myers, psychologist; author.
- Milton J. Nieuwsma, author; filmwriter-producer.
- Erik Prince founder of the private military company Blackwater USA
- Ron Schipper (d. 2006), college football coach; member of College Football Hall of Fame.
- Herman Stegeman (d. 1939), varsity coach and athletics director at the University of Georgia (UGA) in Athens.
- Sufjan Stevens, singer-songwriter; attended Hope College, details the city in the song "Holland" on his 2003 concept album, Michigan.
- Mary Jeanne van Appledorn, composer, pianist, and educator.
- Andy Van Hekken, professional baseball player.
[edit] Notes
- ^ a b American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ USGS GNIS: Holland, Michigan
- ^ American Factfinder, Holland, Michigan, Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data
- ^ American Factfinder, Holland, Michigan, 2006 Population Estimates
- ^ American Factfinder, Holland, MI Urbanized Area, ACS Demographic and Housing Estimates: 2006
- ^ American Factfinder, Holland-Grand Haven, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area, ACS Demographic and Housing Estimates: 2006
- ^ Best places to retire (2006).
- ^ http://www.tuliptime.com/about/festival_history/
- ^ HollandGO.com
[edit] External links
- City of Holland website
- Holland Visitors site
- Tulip Time Festival
- Holland Area Chamber of Commerce
- Dutch Village Family Theme Park
- Beautiful Holland pictures
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