West Michigan

In general, "West Michigan" often refers to the area bounded by the cities of Muskegon (in the north), Grand Rapids (in the northeast), Kalamazoo–Battle Creek (in the southeast) and St. Joseph–Benton Harbor (in the southwest). However, definitions of the boundaries of the region vary widely; in some contexts, the term "West Michigan" is applied only to the counties of Allegan, Kent, Muskegon, and Ottawa, which together compose the Grand Rapids-Kentwood-Muskegon CSA. Other definitions include the Kalamazoo–Battle Creek and Benton Harbor–St. Joseph regions, which can be considered distinct regions or parts of other regions such as Michiana, Southern Michigan, or Southwest Michigan,^[1][2][3] the latter according to one definition comprising Berrien County, Cass County, and Van Buren County.^[4]

The northern boundary of the region is also poorly defined; the population density, land use, economic and cultural character, and physical geography most often associated with West Michigan fades in northern Muskegon and Kent Counties, however areas as far north as Ludington and White Cloud may be included because of their close economic ties to the cities to the south. Other areas, such as Montcalm County in the northeast corner of the region, are transitional areas that straddle Michigan regions but are sometimes included for classification purposes. Greenville, in Montcalm County's southwest corner, is closely tied economically with Grand Rapids; however, the northeastern corner, around Vestaburg and Edmore, has historically more closely associated with the cities of Mount Pleasant and Alma, which are almost universally reckoned as part of Central Michigan.

See also List of Michigan state parks and Geography of Michigan.

• Counties in the area are part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids^[5] or the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kalamazoo.
• In northwest Kent County is Fruit Ridge, which is a prime fruit-growing region; that accounts for 65% of all Michigan apple production.

The following table contains the largest municipalities of West Michigan according to the 2010 Census. This defines the region fairly broadly, but not at its most broadly; if Battle Creek were included, it would be ranked fourth.

Five of the above cities, Wyoming, Kentwood, Portage, Norton Shores, and Walker, are former suburban townships that incorporated in the 1960s in order to prevent annexation by an adjacent city. The presence of these cities in the top ten reflects both the large geographic area of these cities, as well as the long and continuing growth of suburban areas in West Michigan.

• ArtPrize in Grand Rapids
• National Baby Food Festival in Fremont
• Big Rapids Riverdays in Big Rapids
• Celebration on the Grand in Grand Rapids (now defunct)
• Coast Guard Festival in Grand Haven
• Festival of the Arts in Grand Rapids
• Fruitport Old Fashioned Days in Fruitport
• Spring Lake Heritage Festival in Spring Lake
• Kalamazoo Irish Fest in Kalamazoo
• Michigan Irish Music Festival in Muskegon
• Muskegon Bike Time in Muskegon
• Muskegon Air Show (now defunct)
• Muskegon Film Festival
• Muskegon Summer Celebration (now defunct)
• Rebel Road in Muskegon
• Red Flannel Festival in Cedar Springs
• Rothbury Music Festival in Rothbury
• Tulip Time Festival in Holland
• Unity Christian Music Festival in Muskegon
• Venetian Festival in St. Joseph
• Waterfront Film Festival in Saugatuck

Prominent West Michigan corporations include:

• Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital, in Grand Rapids

• Gerald R. Ford International Airport
• Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport
• Muskegon County Airport

• Coopersville and Marne Railway
• CSX
• Grand Trunk Western Railway, subsidiary of Canadian National Railway.
• Grand Elk Railroad
• Grand Rapids Eastern Railroad
• Michigan Shore Railroad
• Michigan Southern Railroad
• Norfolk Southern Railway
• West Michigan Railroad

Amtrak operates its Pere Marquette service in West Michigan, with daily service between Grand Rapids and Chicago.

• I-96, running from Muskegon to Detroit
• I-196, splitting from I-96 in Grand Rapids and going west-southwest and merging with US 31 near Holland before intersecting I-94 near Benton Harbor
• I-94, running from Billings, Montana, to Port Huron, Michigan

• US 12 Michigan Avenue and Chicago Road
• US 31, running from Mackinaw City, Michigan, to Mobile, Alabama
• US 131, running from north of Middlebury, Indiana, to Petoskey, Michigan
• Grand River Avenue, running from Grand Rapids to Detroit
• The S-Curve, a famously crooked stretch of US 131 in downtown Grand Rapids

• M-6, also known as the South Beltline, bypasses Grand Rapids connecting to I-96 east of town and I-196 west of town
• M-37, running from the southwest corner of Battle Creek at exit 92 on I-94 to the Mission Point Light on Old Mission Point in Grand Traverse County.
• M-43, a highway in southwestern and central Michigan from South Haven to Webberville
• M-45 (Lake Michigan Drive), running east–west from Grand Rapids through Allendale and ending at Lake Michigan.
• M-46, a cross-peninsular road, running across the entire mitten of the Lower Peninsula including the Thumb, from Port Sanilac on the Lake Huron shore, through Saginaw near Saginaw Bay, and on to Muskegon on the Lake Michigan shore.^[6]
• M-40 running North and South from Mottville, Michigan, to Holland, Michigan.

• Eastern port of the Lake Express High Speed Car Ferry; Muskegon
• The SS Badger in Ludington
• The West Michigan Tourist Association promotes the region from a tourism standpoint^[7]

More comprehensive lists are available at individual cities, villages, etc.

• Justin Abdelkader, Detroit Red Wings forward
• Gillian Anderson, actress
• Jim Bakker, television evangelist
• Johnny Benson, stock car driver
• Dan Bylsma, NHL hockey coach
• Roger B. Chaffee, NASA astronaut
• Kirk Cousins, quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings
• Terry Crews, actor
• Betsy DeVos, U.S. Secretary of Education
• Debarge, music group
• Thomas White Ferry, U.S. Senator
• Nancy Anne Fleming, Miss America 1961
• Gerald R. Ford, President of the United States
• James Frey, writer
• Frank Daniel Gerber, founder of the Gerber Products Company
• Al Green, R&B/Gospel artist
• Mark Grimmette, Olympics luger
• Ernie Hudson, actor
• Iggy Pop, punk rock icon
• Tom Izzo, Michigan State Spartans Basketball coach
• Derek Jeter, New York Yankees shortstop
• Greg Jennings, Green Bay Packers wide receiver
• Maynard James Keenan, Tool and A Perfect Circle vocalist
• W.K. Kellogg, Kellogg Company founder
• Anthony Kiedis, Red Hot Chili Peppers vocalist
• Stanley Ketchel, Middleweight Champion boxer
• Taylor Lautner, actor
• Buster Mathis, heavyweight boxer
• Floyd Mayweather, professional boxer
• Nate McLouth, professional baseball player
• Harry Morgan, actor
• Jason Newsted, musician, Metallica
• Mustard Plug, ska band
• Pop Evil, hard rock band
• Andy Richter, television entertainer
• Del Shannon, musician
• Sinbad, actor and comedian
• Wayne Static, Static-X lead singer/guitarist
• Bill Szymczyk, music producer for the Eagles, The Who, and others
• Sojourner Truth, abolitionist
• Vonda Kay Van Dyke, Miss America 1965
• Brian Vander Ark, Verve Pipe frontman
• Dick York, actor

• List of counties in Michigan
• Michiana
• Southern Michigan
• Michigan

• West Michigan Tourist Association
• Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University, Bibliography on Michigan (arranged by counties and regions)
• Michigan Geology -- Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University.
• Great Lakes Coast Watch
• Info Michigan, detailed information on 630 cities
• Michigan Department of Natural Resources website, harbors, hunting, resources and more.
• List of Museums, other attractions compiled by state government.
• Michigan Historic Markers
• Michigan's Official Economic Development and Travel Site.
• "Historic Light Station Information and Photography: Michigan". United States Coast Guard Historian's Office. Archived from the original on 2017-05-01.
• Map of Michigan Lighthouse in PDF Format.
• Seeing the Light, Terry Pepper on lighthouses of the Western Great Lakes.