Zeeland, Michigan

Zeeland (/ˈziːlənd/ ZEE-lənd) is a city in Ottawa County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 5,504 at the 2010 census. The city is located at the western edge of Zeeland Charter Township. Its name is taken from the Dutch province of Zeeland.

For other uses, see Zeeland (disambiguation).
Zeeland, Michigan
City
Location of Zeeland within Ottawa County, Michigan
Coordinates: 42°48′45″N 86°01′07″W
CountryUnited States
StateMichigan
CountyOttawa
Government
 • MayorKevin Klynstra
Area
 • City3.01 sq mi (7.80 km2)
 • Land2.99 sq mi (7.75 km2)
 • Water0.02 sq mi (0.05 km2)
Elevation
649 ft (198 m)
Population
 • City5,504
 • Estimate 
(2019)[3]
5,536
 • Density1,850.89/sq mi (714.59/km2)
 • Metro
1,306,768 (Grand Rapids-Muskegon-Holland MSA)
Time zoneUTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
49464
Area code(s)616
FIPS code26-89260[4]
GNIS feature ID1616917[5]
Websitehttp://www.ci.zeeland.mi.us/

History

In 1847, nearly 500 Dutch citizens sailed for America ostensibly to achieve religious freedom, although their decision to immigrate was probably also influenced by other factors, such as their failure to thrive under dire economic conditions in their home province of Zeeland, Netherlands[6] and their opposition to modern scientific and social advances of the time.

The emigrants were led by Jannes van de Luijster, a wealthy landowner who sold his holdings in the Netherlands to advance money for the members to pay their debts and buy passage to America.[7] Their settlement, some 16,000 acres (65 km2) of land once occupied by the Odawa people, was named after their home province of Zeeland.

Van de Luyster arranged for three ships to sail for the United States. He came on the first ship, arriving on June 27, 1847. He was followed by the Steketee group on July 4, and Reverend Van Der Meulen's group on August 1 of that year. The total number of settlers was 457.

Dutch settlements in Michigan.

The first building was a church. The town of Zeeland was platted in 1849, and the school district was organized the following year.

Within twenty-five years, Zeeland had acquired a sawmill, a wagon factory, blacksmith shops, grocery stores, and a post office.

The village officially became a city in 1907 with a population of almost 3,000. There was a two-story brick kindergarten building, a two-story brick grade school, and a brick house building. The city also had four furniture factories, one large manufacturing plant, and several mills and smaller manufacturing industries.[8]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.01 square miles (7.80 km2), of which 2.99 square miles (7.74 km2) is land and 0.02 square miles (0.05 km2) is water.[9] The town itself is located on a hill, giving the city a higher elevation compared to the surrounding township land. Much of the outlying areas contain farmland and forest.

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1880484—
189078562.2%
19001,32668.9%
19101,98249.5%
19202,27514.8%
19302,85025.3%
19403,0075.5%
19503,0752.3%
19603,70220.4%
19704,73427.9%
19804,7640.6%
19905,41713.7%
20005,8057.2%
20105,504−5.2%
2019 (est.)5,536[3]0.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]

2010 census

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 5,504 people, 2,246 households, and 1,426 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,840.8 inhabitants per square mile (710.7/km2). There were 2,446 housing units at an average density of 818.1 per square mile (315.9/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 93.8% White, 1.1% African American, 0.4% Native American, 1.3% Asian, 1.3% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.4% of the population.

There were 2,246 households, of which 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.5% were married couples living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 36.5% were non-families. 33.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 21.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 3.04.

The median age in the city was 38.8 years. 25.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.8% were from 25 to 44; 20.6% were from 45 to 64; and 22.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 44.8% male and 55.2% female.

2000 census

As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 5,805 people, 2,283 households, and 1,490 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,927.7 per square mile (744.6/km2). There were 2,389 housing units at an average density of 793.3 per square mile (306.4/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 93.90% White, 0.59% African American, 0.14% Native American, 1.31% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 2.10% from other races, and 1.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.63% of the population.

There were 2,283 households, out of which 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.6% were married couples living together, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.7% were non-families. 32.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 20.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the city, ages of the residents spanned a broad range with 26.2% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 16.1% from 45 to 64, and 23.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $45,611, and the median income for a family was $53,227. Males had a median income of $35,288 versus $26,913 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,801. About 2.8% of families and 4.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.8% of those under age 18 and 3.4% of those age 65 or over.

Education
Zeeland West High School and athletic fields
K-12 public schools[11]
  • Roosevelt Elementary School
  • New Groningen Elementary School
  • Quincy Elementary School
  • Adams Elementary School
  • Woodbridge Elementary School
  • Lincoln Elementary School
  • Cityside Middle School
  • Creekside Middle School
  • Zeeland East High School
  • Zeeland West High School
  • Innocademy Charter School (K-8)
  • iCademy Global (9-12)
  • Ottawa Area Intermediate School District
  • National Heritage Academies (Eagle Crest Charter Academy)
Valedictorian
  • Zeeland West(2019) - Nathan Wichers
  • Zeeland East(2019) - Adrianna Smith
Private schools
Higher education
School issues
  • In 2012, Zeeland school district superintendent Dave Barry was accused of plagiarism for using text from a blog post by Mark Rutherford without giving credit. The school board decided to punish Barry by suspending him for two weeks without pay. Barry said he respected the board's decision and promised it would not happen again, saying that he had "fallen short of the mark." Barry also said that this was not the only time he has taken credit for someone's work, but the number of times he has done so has not been released to the public.
  • Prior to the release of the 1998 album Follow the Leader by the band Korn, Gretchen Plewes, a Zeeland high school assistant principal, said in an interview for a Michigan newspaper that the group's music is "indecent, vulgar, obscene and intends to be insulting" after giving a student, Eric VanHoven, a one-day suspension for wearing a shirt with the Korn logo on it. WKLQ was filmed giving away hundreds of free Korn T-shirts, which were donated by the band, outside the school. Ottawa County policemen helped hand out shirts as well. Korn filed a cease and desist order against Plewes and the school district for their comments. They also threatened a multimillion-dollar lawsuit, but both actions were dropped due to the band members' personal lives.

Industry

Zeeland is home to several world-renowned companies. Those in the city of Zeeland include:

Media

Newspapers
  • Holland Sentinel - Holland's local daily newspaper/Online Edition
  • Grand Rapids Press - Formerly maintained a Holland newsroom and circulation office
  • The Flashes - Serves Ottawa and Allegan counties for the Holland area.
  • Senior Times - Senior Citizen Newspaper
  • The Zeeland Record - The local newspaper

Radio
  • WHTC - Real News Now on 1450 WHTC and The New 99 7 FM
  • WYVN - 92 7 The Van - Classic Hits for Holland and the Lakeshore 92.7 FM
  • WTHS - Hope College Radio Station 89.9 FM

Sports achievements
  • 1987, 1989–1991, 1994 Girl's Class B State Swimming and Diving Champions.[13]
  • 2003 Class C State Lacrosse Champions. Zeeland defeated Plymouth-Canton Chiefs 12–9. Mike DeJonge MVP.
  • 2006 Division 4 State Football Champions. Zeeland West Dux defeated the Coopersville Broncos 22–0. - MVP Joe Leal
  • 2006 Christopher Hodge becomes Zeeland's first male competitive cheerleader. He leads the Zeeland East Chix to first Division 2 State Championship
  • 2011 Division 4 State Football Champions. Zeeland West Dux
  • 2013 Division 3 State Football Champions. Zeeland West Dux
  • 2015 Division 3 State Football Champions. Zeeland West Dux

Notable people

References
  1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 25, 2020.
  2. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-11-25.
  3. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  4. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  5. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Zeeland, Michigan
  6. Robert P. Swierenga (13 March 1997, Lecture of Dr. Robert P. Swierenga, Research Professor, A.C. Van Raalte Institute for Historical Studies, Hope College, Holland Museum Sesquicentennial Lecture Series, Holland). "By the Sweat of our Brow: Economic Aspects of the Dutch Immigration to Michigan". swierenga.com. Retrieved 2014-01-07. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. Robert P. Swierenga (6 February 1997, presented to the Zeeland Historical Society). "From Zeeland to Zeeland in 1847". swierenga.com. Retrieved 2012-12-17. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. "History of Zeeland". Macatawa Bay Area History & Heritage. Luann Hughes DeVries. 2003. Retrieved 2007-01-15.
  9. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-11-25.
  10. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  11. "District Information". Zeeland Public Schools. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
  12. Mack, Julie (2016-01-27). "Michigan's 25 largest private schools and their enrollment trends". MLive. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
  13. "Girls Swimming & Diving Team Champions 1925-2012." Michigan High School Athletic Association. Retrieved 2012-02-23.
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