Grand Ledge is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is mainly located in Eaton County, though a small part of the city spans into Clinton County to the north. No people live in that northern portion. The city is located along the Grand River, 12.7 miles (20.4 kilometers) west of downtown Lansing. According to the 2020 census, the population was 7,784. The city is named after sandstone rock ledges found between Island Park and Fitzgerald Park. These ledges rise up 40 feet (12 meters) above the Grand River and are used by people who climb rocks for fun.
History
Native Americans who lived near the Grand River and the ledges were of Pottawatomi, Chippewa, and Ottawa ancestry. They gathered clams in the river, mined coal along the riverbanks, hunted deer, turkey, fox, and bear, and fished for black bass. They called the ledges "Big Rocks" in English.
In 1847, Henry Trench settled in an area that later became downtown Grand Ledge. After a few years, he returned east. In 1850, settlers named their village Grand Ledge and built a post office. By 1869, the town had a railroad stop on the Flint & Pere Marquette Railroad. In 1871, the village was officially incorporated by the state of Michigan.
Grand Ledge grew as a resort area during the 1870s, helped by the railroad. In 1872, John Burtch started Seven Islands Resort, which included a steamer called the Dolly Varden and a small inn on Second Island. Wells were drilled, and the water they produced was said to have healing powers. In 1877, S.M. Hewings bought the resort and built the Island House Hotel on Second Island in 1878. In 1880, Julian Scott Mudge purchased the resort. To prevent flooding from the Grand River, Mudge built a dam in 1887. In 1888, the Railroad Trestle, also called the High Bridge, was built to move the railroad south of the river. This made Grand Ledge the second city in Michigan (after Lansing) to have electric lights. At that time, about 60,000 to 70,000 people visited the resort each year.
In 1891, Mudge built a roller coaster on the islands, likely the first in the state. On the first island below the bridge was an animal park with bears and deer. The second island was the center of the resort, with a hotel, picnic area, and fountain. A causeway connected the second and third islands, and a pavilion served as a ballroom and theater for Vaudeville acts. The resort also had a merry-go-round, a bandstand, and other attractions.
Mudge’s most famous project was “The Round House,” a three-story pagoda tower built on the edge of Second Island. Half of its foundation was on the island, and the other half extended over the river. During construction, Mudge kept the purpose of the unusual structure a secret, causing local speculation. Later, he revealed that the second story would rotate slowly, while the third story would rotate faster and have a centrifugal swing that would spin riders over the river.
The fourth, fifth, and sixth islands remained untouched, while the seventh island was a picnic spot reached by boat. Up to 75 boats traveled the Grand River at Grand Ledge, and riverboats ran between Second Island and the dam. The dam, built in 1887, kept the water level steady for steamboats. As many as nine hotels offered lodging for visitors, and the Pere Marquette Railroad provided special train tickets to the resort, which was the second most popular destination in Michigan after Petoskey.
A flood in 1893 damaged the Round House. By then, the building was nearly finished, but rushing water pushed ice into its overhanging foundation. The structure tilted but stayed mostly in place. Though the building was saved, the mechanism that would have made its upper floors rotate was damaged, and repairs were never made. The Round House became the most recognizable symbol of the resort era. It was later called “Mudge’s Folly,” a name that can mean either a wasteful project or a beautiful but impractical building.
The growing interest in roller skating led J. McPeek and Edgar Marvin to open the Riverside Rink on August 15, 1884. In 1886, they sold their shares to Peter Blake, who transformed the space into an opera house. Blake moved the “Old Grange Hall” to the site and combined it with the rink to create “Sackett’s Opera House” on May 12, 1886. The Mackley-Salisbury Comedy Company performed there first. The opera house later showed silent films, hosted talent shows, and held athletic events.
In 1928, the opera house became a furniture store owned by Stephens Furniture, later Mapes Furniture. In 1976, the Bicentennial Committee used the space as their headquarters and named it “Heritage Hall.” In 1984, the Mapes family donated the building to the Grand Ledge Historical Society.
The main floor of the opera house now houses an antique Barton Theatre organ, originally from the Michigan Theatre in Lansing, Michigan. The organ’s relocation and restoration were done by the Lansing Theatre Organ Guild and The Opera House Authority. Today, the Opera House is used for weddings, receptions, and community events.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city covers an area of 3.65 square miles (9.45 km), of which 3.57 square miles (9.25 km) is land and 0.08 square miles (0.21 km) is water.
Transportation
- M-43 – goes east until it meets Interstate 69, which is located northwest of downtown Lansing.
- M-100 – runs north to south, connecting Grand Ledge to Interstate 69 in the south and Interstate 96 in the north.
Abrams Municipal Airport (FAA LID: 4D0) is a city-owned, public-use airport located two nautical miles (3.7 km) north of the central business district of Grand Ledge. The airport can be reached by road from Eaton Highway and is situated 2.1 miles (3.4 km) south of Interstate 96, just east of M-100.
CSX Transportation currently operates the original railroad built through the town as part of their Plymouth Subdivision, which runs between Plymouth, MI, and Grand Rapids, MI. A small siding remains active to serve the local Lowe's distribution center. The remnant of a branch line to Ionia begins here to serve an ADM grain elevator several miles north of town. Today, one local freight train and two through freight trains pass through the town daily. Passenger service between Detroit and Grand Rapids, previously provided by the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad, ended after April 30, 1971.
The railroad crosses the Grand River near the Ledges on a large high bridge. One of the largest railroad bridges in the state of Michigan, it is a popular landmark for rail fans and tourists.
Demographics
In 2020, the city had 7,784 people, 3,526 households, and 2,156 families. There were 3,595 housing units. The racial makeup of the city was 89.52% White alone, 1.47% African American alone, 0.45% Native American alone, 1.1% from other races, and 6.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race made up 5.82% of the population.
In 2010, the city had 7,786 people, 3,357 households, and 2,063 families. The population density was 2,181.0 people per square mile (842.1/km²). There were 3,656 housing units, with an average density of 1,024.1 per square mile (395.4/km²). The racial makeup was 94.4% White, 0.9% African American, 0.5% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.9% from other races, and 2.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race made up 4.6% of the population.
In 2010, 3,357 households were present. Of these, 31.9% had children under 18 living with them, 43.1% were married couples, 13.6% had a female householder without a husband, 4.7% had a male householder without a wife, and 38.5% were non-families. Thirty-three percent of households included only one person, and 13.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years or older. The average household size was 2.31, and the average family size was 2.93.
The median age in the city was 38.8 years. Twenty-four point three percent of residents were under 18, 9% were between 18 and 24, 25.7% were between 25 and 44, 27% were between 45 and 64, and 14.1% were 65 or older. The gender distribution was 47.7% male and 52.3% female.
In 2000, the city had 7,813 people, 3,262 households, and 2,123 families. The population density was 2,199.2 people per square mile (849.1/km²). There were 3,405 housing units, with an average density of 958.4 per square mile (370.0/km²). The racial makeup was 96.33% White, 0.44% African American, 0.40% Native American, 0.58% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.78% from other races, and 1.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race made up 2.61% of the population.
In 2000, 3,262 households were present. Of these, 33.9% had children under 18 living with them, 48.2% were married couples, 13.0% had a female householder without a husband, and 34.9% were non-families. Twenty-nine percent of households included only one person, and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.39, and the average family size was 2.95.
In 2000, the population was distributed as follows: 26.2% under 18, 8.5% between 18 and 24, 31.5% between 25 and 44, 22.9% between 45 and 64, and 10.9% who were 65 or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.2 males. For every 100 females aged 18 or older, there were 87.3 males.
In 2020, the median household income was $47,043, and the median family income was $55,727. Males had a median income of $44,255, while females had a median income of $29,503. The per capita income was $22,438. Approximately 6.3% of families and 9.3% of the population lived below the poverty line, including 12.5% of those under 18 and 7.8% of those 65 or older.
Education & Athletics
The Grand Ledge Public Schools district was created in 1886. It covers an area of 125 square miles (320 km²) and is located 10 miles (16 km) west of Lansing, the capital of Michigan. The district includes the City of Grand Ledge, the communities of Delta Mills, Mulliken, Wacousta, and Eagle, as well as a large part of Delta Township. Most of the district is in Eaton County, but it also includes parts of Clinton and Ionia Counties. The schools in the district include two early childhood centers, four elementary schools, one intermediate school, one middle school, and one high school. The mascot for Grand Ledge High School is the Comet, and the school colors are navy blue and gold. The high school has the largest number of students in the Lansing area. The total population of the district is 31,000.
Grand Ledge is known for its successful high school baseball program, which won state titles in 1977 and 1995 under famous coach Pat O'Keefe. The district has also won state titles in boys' golf (1995), football (2000), and girls' gymnastics (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013).
Rock climbing
Oak Park in Grand Ledge is a rare climbing spot in Michigan, making it a well-known place for people who enjoy rock climbing. The sandstone cliffs next to the river have almost 100 climbing paths, with difficulty levels ranging from easy (5.2) to very challenging (5.13).
Notable people
- Paul Baribeau, musician
- Reid Boucher, NHL player
- Matt Greene, NHL player
- Al Horford, NBA player
- Deborah Diesen, Children’s book author
- Frank Fitzgerald, Governor of Michigan
- Frank M. Fitzgerald, lawyer and legislator
- John Warner Fitzgerald, jurist
- John Wesley Fitzgerald, businessman and legislator