Ottawa County ( ) is a county located in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 U.S. Census, the population was 296,200. The county seat is Grand Haven, while the county's largest city is Holland. Ottawa County is included in the Grand Rapids metropolitan area, the second-largest metropolitan area in Michigan. While the county is an "agricultural powerhouse", with area farms producing more than $726 million annually,Farmland Preservation, Ottawa County, Michigan website: Economic Development the county is one of the fastest-growing in Michigan. Additionally, Ottawa County is home to a significant Dutch American population.
Ottawa County, which is named for the Ottawa people, was set off in 1831, and organized in 1837. The county is located in the region of West Michigan, and is located along of Lake Michigan shoreline. The county is home to Grand Valley State University, a public university in Allendale, and Hope College, a Christian liberal arts college in Holland.
History Before European settlers arrived, this area was home to the Potawatomi and Ottawa people for centuries. The Grand River was used as a trade route into the interior of Michigan. Much of what is known about the Native American presence in Ottawa County comes from the excavation of archeological artifacts at places like the Battle Point Site.
The city dates its European-American founding to French colonial settlers. A fur trading outpost called Gabagouache was first established by Madeline La Framboise and her husband Joseph.
The first permanent settler of the county was a Presbyterian minister, William Montague Ferry, who settled in Grand Haven in 1834. Grand Haven quickly grew and became an important port for trade and travel. Ferry is often referred to as the "father" of Ottawa County.
Dutch settlers started arriving in the area in 1847, led by Albertus van Raalte. These Dutch Settlers moved into the Holland area. This area was already inhabited by many Odawa (Ottawa) people as well as the Old Wing Mission. Within just a few years, the new Dutch settlers had forced out the Ottawa people and the Old Wing Mission.
Geography According to the US Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (65%) is water.
Ottawa County is located in West Michigan, a region of the Lower Peninsula along Lake Michigan. Ottawa County itself contains of shoreline along Lake Michigan. The county is bisected by the Grand River, the longest river in Michigan; the river empties into Lake Michigan at Grand Haven.
Bodies of water
Bass River Black Lake (partially) Grand River Lake Macatawa Lake Michigan Macatawa River Pigeon River Spring Lake
Adjacent counties By land Allegan County – south Kent County – east Muskegon County – north By water
Milwaukee County, Wisconsin – northwest Racine County, Wisconsin – southwest
Major highways
Demographics
Racial and ethnic composition +Ottawa County, Michigan – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 1980Pop 1990Pop 2000Pop 2010 Pop 2020% 1980% 1990% 2000% 2010% 2020White alone (NH)150,145175,857211,058226,156241,52095.53%93.66%88.56%85.73%81.54%Black or African American alone (NH)6279372,3803,5515,0710.40%0.50%1.00%1.35%1.71%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)4205776818067260.27%0.31%0.29%0.31%0.25%Asian alone (NH)6892,3884,9406,5767,8950.44%1.27%2.07%2.49%2.67%Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)x included in the Asian category in the 1980 Censusx included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census326495xx0.01%0.02%0.03%Other race alone (NH)287621481708510.18%0.03%0.06%0.06%0.29%Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)x not an option in the 1980 Censusx not an option in the 1990 Census2,3833,71710,660xx1.00%1.41%3.60%Hispanic or Latino (any race)5,0067,94716,69222,76129,3823.19%4.23%7.00%8.63%9.92%Total157,174187,768238,314263,801296,200 100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 296,200. The median age was 36.1 years. 23.7% of residents were under the age of 18 and 15.9% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 95.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 93.2 males age 18 and over.
The racial makeup of the county was 84.0% White, 1.8% Black or African American, 0.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.7% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 4.0% from some other race, and 6.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 9.9% of the population.
78.8% of residents lived in urban areas, while 21.2% lived in rural areas.
There were 107,239 households in the county, of which 32.0% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 58.0% were married-couple households, 15.0% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 21.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 22.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 114,318 housing units, of which 6.2% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 77.3% were owner-occupied and 22.7% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.8%.
2010 census
As of the 2010 United States census, there were 263,801 people living in the county. 90.1% were White, 2.6% Asian, 1.5% Black or African American, 0.4% Native American, 3.4% of some other race and 2.0% of two or more races. 8.6% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race). 31.0% were of Dutch, 14.2% German, 5.8% English and 5.7% Irish ancestry.
2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census, there were 238,314 people, 81,662 households, and 61,328 families in the county. The population density was . There were 86,856 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 91.52% White, 1.05% Black or African American, 0.36% Native American, 2.09% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 3.48% from other races, and 1.48% from two or more races. 7.00% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 37.3% reported being of Dutch, 14.6% German, 6.2% English, 5.6% Irish and 5.4% American ancestry, 91.5% spoke only English at home; 5.4% spoke Spanish.
There were 81,662 households, out of which 39.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.60% were married couples living together, 7.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.90% were non-families. 19.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.25.
The county has numerous seasonal residents during the summer. Port Sheldon Township has many lakefront homes and other inland retreats that serve as summer getaways for residents of Grand Rapids, Detroit, and Chicago. No official statistics are compiled on seasonal residents.
In the county, 28.70% of the population was under the age of 18, 11.90% was from 18 to 24, 29.30% from 25 to 44, 20.00% from 45 to 64, and 10.10% was 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.20 males.
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation ranks Ottawa County as Michigan's second-healthiest county, preceded only by the leisure-oriented Traverse City area.
The median income for a household in the county was $52,347, and the median income for a family was $59,896. Males had a median income of $42,180 versus $27,706 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,676. About 3.10% of families and 5.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.70% of those under age 18 and 4.90% of those age 65 or over.
Religion The Catholic Church has 11 churches and 24,700 members. The Christian Reformed Church in North America has 67 churches and 33,700 members. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has two meetinghouses in the county. The Protestant Reformed Churches have around 10 large congregations in the county. The Reformed Church in America has 47 congregations and 33,300 members.
Government Ottawa County operates the County jail, maintains rural roads, operates the major local courts, records deeds, mortgages, and vital records, administers public health regulations, and participates with the state in the provision of social services. The county board of commissioners controls the budget and has limited authority to make laws or ordinances. In Michigan, most local government functions – police and fire, building and zoning, tax assessment, street maintenance etc. – are the responsibility of individual cities and townships.
Most of the county's offices are located in either the city of Grand Haven or at the Fillmore complex in Olive Township.
Elected officials
County Clerk/Register of Deeds – Justin F. Roebuck County Commissioners County Treasurer – Cheryl Clark Prosecuting Attorney – Sarah F. Matwiejczyk Sheriff – Eric DeBoer Water Resources Commissioner – Joe Bush
(information as of January 2025) Since the late 19th century, the county has been strongly supportive of the Republican Party.
As of 2023, the county's board of commissioners, a majority of whom are members of the advocacy group Ottawa Impact, has been described as "far-right" by national and Michigan-based media organizations. After the 2022 elections in which they took power, the board appointed Trump administration official John Gibbs to serve as the county administrator. In February 2024, the Board of Commissioners voted 10–1 to fire Gibbs for cause.
Board of Commissioners 11 members, elected from districts (1 Democrat, 10 Republicans)
District Commissioner Party District's Area 1 Jim Barry Republican Townships of Port Sheldon, Olive, and Park 2 Jordan Jorritsma Republican Townships of Park and Holland Charter 3 Doug Zylstra Democratic City of Holland 4 Jacob Bonnema Republican City of Zeeland and Townships of Zeeland Charter and Holland Charter 5 Joe Moss Republican City of Hudsonville and Townships of Blendon, Jamestown Charter, and Zeeland Charter 6 Kendra Wenzel Republican Township of Georgetown Charter 7 John Teeples (chairperson) Republican Township of Georgetown Charter 8 Sylvia Rhodea Republican Township of Allendale Charter 9 Phil Kuyers Republican Townships of Grand Haven Charter, Robinson, and Spring Lake 10 Josh Brugger (Vice-chairperson) Republican Cities of Grand Haven and Ferrysburg, Township of Spring Lake 11 Allison Miedema Republican City of Coopersville and Townships of Chester, Crockery, Polkton Charter, Tallmadge Charter, and Wright
(information correct as of January 2025)
Local policies Beginning in 2012, County Administrator Alan Vanderberg and the Board of Commissioners adopted the "Four Cs" Initiative including "Cultural Intelligence." At that time, Vanderberg asserted that there was discrimination in the county, and that it could adversely affect the future prosperity of the county. The county "rebranded" in 2017, adopting the slogan "Where you belong." Vanderberg said the slogan is intended to let everyone know they are welcome in Ottawa County, regardless of color, ethnic background, sexual identity, religion or other qualifier.