1967 Map of Grand Rapids West

About this map

The Grand River carves a central path through this mid-century portrait of Michigan's industrial heart, revealing the dense urban development of Grand Rapids and its emerging neighbors. This period shows a landscape defined by significant institutional growth, from the sprawling Kent Industrial Center in the south to the concentration of medical and educational facilities like St Marys Hospital and Junior College. The map is particularly valuable for its record of civic and religious geography, preserving the locations of numerous parish schools such as St Adalberts Sch and St Francis Xavier Sch. Along the riverbanks, recreational and cultural sites like John Ball Park and the ancient Hopewell Indian Mounds Park contrast with the heavy rail infrastructure of the Chesapeake and Ohio and Penn Central lines that fueled the local economy.