Montcalm

Formed March 2, 1831 (33^rd county)

Montcalm County (66,622), Stanton (1,344), Greenville (8,810)

The Modern tan brick and masonry facility was built in 2002 to replace the 1910 courthouse which continues to provide administrative offices.  The facility is at State and Quarterline streets.  Michigan State Highway 66 is State Street in the town.  Wigen, Tincknell, Meyers & Associates are the new courthouse designers.  There was an 1870 courthouse then the 1879 courthouse was destroyed by fire.  Montcalm County was formed on March 2, 1831 from parts of Mackinac County and Native American Territory as the 33^rd county.  Greenville was the first county seat until 1860 when Stanton assumed the role.  The county was named for French and Indian War commander Louis-Joseph de Montcalm.  Stanton is named for United States Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton. 

Montcalm County government consists of a sheriff, an administrator, an attorney, a treasurer and a clerk (executive).  It has 7 Commissioners (legislative.)  Two Circuit Court Judges serve Montcalm and Ionia counties and One District Court Judge, Two Probate Court Judges and court clerk serve Montcalm County (judicial.) The county is in the central part of the southern peninsula.  Grand Rapids, Michigan is southwest and Lansing, Michigan is southeast of the county.  The county center is 5.9 miles West of Stanton.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Isabella, Gratiot, Clinton, Ionia, Kent, Newaygo, and Mecosta counties. 

The area of the county is 721 square miles.  It is 44 out of 83 in the state.  It ranks 29 out of 83 in population in the state.  It has a density of 92.4 persons per square mile making it 31 out of 83 in the state.  Montcalm County has 24.7% of its population in its incorporated areas.  United States Highway 131 crosses the northwest corner of the county north to south from Mecosta County to Kent County.  The county looks like a fat number 7.  Stanton is in the eastern third of the county.  Greenville is in the southwest quarter of the county.  Stanton is the county seat and Greenville is the largest city.  Stanton is 2.0% of the county population while Greenville is 13.2% of the county population.