Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids names 2 different subjects across the 6 encyclopedias on this shelf. Each is set out below.
Grand Rapids a city, port of entry
Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
a city, port of entry, and county-seat of Kent co., Mich.; on both sides of the Grand river, and on the Pere Marquette, the Michigan Central, the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern, and several other railroads; 60 miles N. W. of Lansing. There is direct steamboat communication with Chicago, Milwaukee, and other cities. It is the second largest city in the State in population and commercial importance. Area, 18 square miles. Business Interests. The Grand river at this point has a fall of 18 feet, suppaying excellent water power for the extensive manufacture of school furniture, bicycles, brass goods, flour, brushes, felt, . The carpet sweepers and refrigerators. rerators gypsum quarries of Grand Rapids have the largest output in the world. In 1919 there were 3 National banks and several private banking institutions. The exchange at the United States clearing house here amounted to $272,016,000. Public Interests. - The city has an excellent system of streets and electric lighting and waterworks plants, both owned by the city. The noteworthy buildings include the City Hall, St. Cecelia and Peninsular Club Houses, Briggs and Blodgett Blocks, Pythian Temple, County, Federal and Y. M. C. A. buildings and numerous churches. There are many public schools and the Central High School. Among the charitable institutions are the Michigan State Soldiers' Home, Union Benevolent Home, Masonic Home, and Catholic Home. The city has a splendid system of pleasure grounds and public parks. History. Grand Rapids was settled in 1833 on the site of an Indian village, and incorporated as a city in 1850. Pop. (1910) 112,571; (1920) 137,634.
Grand Rapids a city of Wisconsin
Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
a city of Wisconsin, the county-seat of Wood co. It is on the Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul, the Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie, the Chicago and Northwestern, and the Green Bay and Western railroads, and on the Wisconsin river, which is spanned by a fine bridge. Its industries include foundry and machine shops, and manufacture of paper, etc. Water power is furnished by the river. There is a hospital, a library, and several parks. The name of the city was changed to Wisconsin Rapids on August 4, 1920. Pop. (1910) 6,541; (1920) 7,243.
What Has Changed in the Last Century
Collier's called Grand Rapids, Michigan "the second largest city in the State," and it still is, with about 198,000 people in 2020 against the 137,634 counted in 1920 — though Detroit above it has shrunk by two-thirds since then. The 1921 list of trades holds up unevenly: Bissell still makes carpet sweepers there and the furniture business survives, but as office furniture, with Steelcase headquartered in the city and Herman Miller and Haworth in nearby towns. The gypsum quarries that Collier's said had "the largest output in the world" are gone, the worked-out underground mines turned over to cold and records storage. The direct steamboat service to Chicago and Milwaukee has long since ended, and the Wisconsin entry records its own change already: Grand Rapids, Wood county, became Wisconsin Rapids on 4 August 1920 and is a town of roughly 18,000 today.
Written for this edition, 2026.