Web Design in Kentwood, MI

Kentwood, Kent County

Well-Known Places in Kentwood

Woodland Mall, East Paris Nature Park, Old Farm Park.

Kentwood Business Districts

• 28th Street corridor
• Woodland Mall district
• Patterson Avenue corridor
• Kalamazoo Avenue corridor

Major Employers in Kentwood

Lacks Enterprises, Kentwood Public Schools, Gordon Food Service, Woodland Mall, City of Kentwood.

About Kentwood, Kent County

Kentwood is a fast-growing suburb southeast of Grand Rapids and the third most-populous municipality in the Grand Rapids metro area. Born in 1967 when residents incorporated to escape annexation, it has become one of Michigan's most culturally diverse communities, anchored by Woodland Mall and by East Kentwood High School, whose graduates hail from dozens of countries. It pairs a strong manufacturing and retail base with international restaurants and markets.

History of Kentwood

• Incorporated as a city in 1967 out of the former Paris Township, specifically to prevent annexation of its land by neighboring Grand Rapids and Wyoming; it was the community's third attempt at incorporation.
• First mayor Peter M. Lamberts named the city after the area's largest public school system, Kentwood Public Schools; rejected alternatives included 'Plaster Creek' and 'Paris.'
• The Kentwood gypsum mine, operated by Georgia-Pacific, opened in 1971 and closed in 2000.

Landmarks and Places in Kentwood

• Woodland Mall, the region's flagship enclosed shopping center.
• Richard L. Root Library, opened in 2010 on Breton Avenue next to City Hall, named for the city's fifth mayor.
• The Paul Henry Rail Trail and the East-West Trail.

The Kentwood Economy

• Retail is a major driver, anchored by Woodland Mall, an enclosed super-regional mall regarded as one of the most popular shopping centers in Western Michigan.
• The area hosts manufacturing operations tied to West Michigan's office-furniture and auto-supply industries, plus large logistics and healthcare employers.

Community Life in Kentwood

• That diversity shows up in the food scene, including Balkan and Bosnian restaurants and international markets such as Al-Bos, serving Bosnian, Croatian, and Albanian cuisine.

Local reference: en.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org, www.experiencegr.com