Template:Wp-Kent County, Michigan-History

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The Grand River runs through the county. On its west bank are burial mounds, remnants of the Hopewell Indians who lived there. The river valley was an important center for the fur trade in the early 19th century. After the War of 1812, Rix Robinson and Louis Campau were the earliest traders in the area. In 1826, Campau established a trading post in what is today Grand Rapids. In 1831, he bought land and platted the town. Campau is considered the town's "father". One year later, government surveyor Lucius Lyon purchased land north of Campau's property. Campau surveyed and platted the village following Native American trails^[1] and Lyon had platted his property in an English grid format, which meant there were two adjoining villages, with different platting formats.^[1] Campau later merged the villages under the name of Grand Rapids.^[1]

In 1831, it was set off from Kalamazoo County. In 1838, Grand Rapids was incorporated^[1] as the county's first village. By the end of the century, stimulated by the construction of several sawmills, the area was a significant center for agriculture, logging, and manufacturing furniture.