The Advocate honored Grand Rapids as one of the “Gayest Cities in America.” Expedia ranked it among “the cream of the crop of cool cities to visit in the U.S.” Thrillist hailed it as offering “much of…
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The Latino, or Hispanic, community in Grand Rapids dates back as far as the 1920s, when a small number of young men from Mexico came here to work in railroad jobs. Almost a century later, this…
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More than 2,000 years ago, Native Americans associated with the Hopewell culture occupied the Grand River Valley. The Hopewell were mound builders, constructing great geometric earthworks that served…
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As is the case with many American cities, the unique character of Grand Rapids was shaped largely by successive waves of European settlers. Dutch immigrants had the most lasting impact - Grand Rapids…
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As is the case with many American cities, the unique character of Grand Rapids was shaped largely by successive waves of European settlers. Germans, Poles, Italians, English, Irish and French…
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In 2010, approximately 2% of Grand Rapids residents claimed Asian-only descent. Their influence on the city is much greater than their numbers would imply, as first-generation Asians have married into…
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Few African Americans came to West Michigan until after the Civil War, fleeing Jim Crow discrimination in the southern states. Even then, the numbers were relatively small. It wasn't until the Great…
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President Gerald R. Ford wasn’t actually born in Grand Rapids, but since his mother moved here when he was just two weeks old, the city has always claimed him as a native son. Ford never quibbled with…
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It is with great sadness that we mourn the loss of Former First Lady Betty Ford. On Friday, July 8, 2011 Former First Lady Betty Ford passed away at the age of 93. She died peacefully at Eisenhower…
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