Ottawa

Formed March 2, 1831 (34^th county)

Ottawa County (296,207), Grand Haven (11,014), Holland (34,368)

The Modern red brick structure was erected in 2008.  The courthouse is on Washington Street at 4^th Street.  United States Highway 31 is four blocks southeast of the building.  Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr and Huber are the architects.  Inside the courthouse is a Statue of Liberty replica and an old judge’s desk.  An addition began construction in 2008.  A classier courthouse was built in 1894 which was succeeded by a 1965 building.  Ottawa County was established on March 2, 1831 from parts of Mackinac County and Native American Territory as the 34^th county.  The county is named for the Native American tribe.  Grand Haven has always been the county seat.  The county seat name comes from its port location on Lake Michigan where the Grand River joins. 

Ottawa County government consists of a sheriff, an administrator, an attorney, a treasurer and a clerk (executive).  It has 11 Commissioners (legislative.)  Four Circuit Court Judges, Four District Court Judges, One Probate Court Judge and court clerk serve Ottawa County (judicial.) The county is in the southwest part of the southern peninsula.  Grand Rapids is directly east of the county.  The county center is 12.2 miles Southeast of Grand Haven nearer West Olive.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Muskegon, Kent, and Allegan counties, and Wisconsin. 

The area of the county is 1632 square miles.  It is 17 out of 83 in the state.  It ranks 7 out of 83 in population in the state.  It has a density of 181.5 persons per square mile making it 16 out of 83 in the state.  Ottawa County has 20.7% of its population in its incorporated areas.  Interstate Highway 96 goes north to east in the county from Muskegon County to Kent County.  Interstate Highway 196 travels east to south from Kent County to Allegan County.  United States Highway 31 crosses north to south from Muskegon County to Allegan County.  The county looks like a large chair.  Grand Haven is in the northwest corner of the county.  Holland is on the southwest border of the county and extends into Allegan County.  Grand Haven is the county seat and Holland is the largest city.  Grand Haven is 3.7% of the county population while Holland is 11.6% of the county population.  This county is in the Holland-Grand Haven Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Holland