Settler Rix Robinson named the town 'Grand Haven' in 1835. A trading post was established here about 1821 by the American Fur Company, but the first permanent resident was a Presbyterian minister, William Montague Ferry, who founded in 1834 the first area church. Īfter the War of 1812, this area became more settled by Americans.
A fur trading outpost called Gabagouache was first established by Madeline La Framboise and her husband Joseph. The city dates its European-American founding to French colonial settlers. Some of the long cultures of the Ottawa tribe is being revealed through the excavation of archeological artifacts. The Potawatomi and Ottawa Native Americans lived in the area for centuries and used the river as a trade route into the interior of Michigan. History Panoramic map of Grand View in 1868 with a list of landmarks The city is home to the Grand Haven Memorial Airpark (3GM) and is located just north of Grand Haven Charter Township. As of the 2010 census, Grand Haven had a population of 10,412. Grand Haven is located on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan at the mouth of the Grand River, for which it is named. state of Michigan and the county seat of Ottawa County.
