Communities in West Michigan
Life in West Michigan is rich with opportunities. We hold prestigious places on a lot of “best of” lists – not to mention being the home to places and events that don’t exist anywhere else.
West Michigan has been named one of the best places to live and play by National Geographic, and holds the number six spot on the list of “America’s Safest Cities.” The region is also known for its low cost of living. Compare your current city to West Michigan on a cost of living calculator
- Stretches from South Haven to Holland and is cut diagonally by the Kalamazoo River.
- Encompasses many iconic Michigan elements such as miles of shoreline and rural communities.
- Lots of outdoor activities from snow to water sports to hunting.
- Located centrally between Grand Rapids, Lansing, Battle Creek, and Kalamazoo.
- Home to many large manufacturing companies that employ the largest proportion of county residents.
- Home of Gun Lake and options for water sports and outdoor recreation.
- Located on the Lakeshore with fantastic beaches
- Home to over 200 manufacturing companies.
- Known as “Coast Guard City, USA” and for its annual Coast Guard Festival
- Michigan’s second largest city
- Many call it a “big little city” for its big town amenities without the headache of big city living
- Diverse economy offering advanced manufacturing, agribusiness, design, healthcare and medical devices, and a growing IT community
- Located on the Lakeshore and Lake Macatawa
- Settled by Dutch immigrants and rooted in heritage
- Home to Hope College
- Nearby communities include Zeeland, Hamilton, and Saugatuck
- Located between Grand Rapids and Lansing
- Home of the annual Ionia Free Fair
- Largest industries are manufacturing and agribusiness
Lake County
- Surrounded by Huron-Manistee National Forest
- Located halfway between the southern state line and the Mackinac Bridge.
- Best known for extensive trail systems including ORV, motorbike, walking, and biking trails.
- Located on the lakeshore between Traverse City and Muskegon.
- Ludington and Scottville are the county’s main cities
- In addition to summer lake activities, there’s festivals all year round including the New Year’s Ball Drop, Suds on the Shore, Octoberfest
- Home to Ferris State University
- Over 100 bodies of water and 6,500 trails
- Big Rapids is the largest city
- Located northwest of Grand Rapids
- Home of the annual Danish Festival
- Over 100 inland lakes providing ample access to fishing, water sports, and outdoor recreation.
- Located on the Lakeshore and Lake Muskegon
- Home to the state’s only deep-water port
- 65% of the county is comprised of bodies of water, so you’re never far from fishing, swimming, kayaking, or whatever water sport suits your fancy
- Manufacturing and aerospace are big industries in the area
- Nearby communities include North Muskegon, Mona Shores, Norton Shores, and Fruitport
- Located directly centrally in the region
- Bisected by the Muskegon River providing ample choices for fishing and water recreation.
- The Huron Manistee National Forest covers half the county.
- Fremont is home to Gerber Baby Food products and the annual Baby Food Festival.
- Known as the “Asparagus Capital of the World”
- Home to Silver Lake, known for the natural wonder of the Silver Lake Sand Dunes
- An abundance of recreational areas provide beautiful landscapes for a beach day or hike
- Anchors the northeast corner of the West Michigan region.
- The city of Evart features the Pere Marquette trail, Riverside Park, and is a Main Street Community.
- The main industry is manufacturing and is home to the largest Yoplait Yogurt manufacturing facility.
- Battle Creek
- Lansing
- Kalamazoo
- St. Joeseph
- Traverse City
