Wyoming

History

Native American settlements

Native Americans of the Hopewellian culture inhabited the region from ca. 400 B.C. to A.D. 400. Classified as the Goodall focus, a Hopewell sub-grouping, they created a series of structures known as Norton Mound group with the mounds probably being constructed in the first century AD. Odawa tribes were established in the area near present-day Wyoming, with the village of the ogema Black Skin, natively known as Muck-i-ta-oska or Mukatasha, ranging from the southwest present-day Grand Rapids to the Grand River across from the Norton Mound group, with the mouth of the Black Skin Creek leading into the Grand River across from the mounds. Where what is now Grandville, Michigan, a prairie existed west of Wyoming where up to ten native families under the ogema As-to-quet, who were friendly with early settlers in the area, held planting grounds.

Little Prairie settlement

In the late 1700s, French fur traders traversed the Grand River Valley. Lucius Lyon, a Yankee Protestant, was contracted by the federal government to survey the Grand River Valley in the fall of 1830 and in the first quarter of 1831, the federal survey of the Northwest Territory reached the Grand River, setting the boundaries for Kent County, named after prominent New York jurist James Kent. Lyon would also survey "Township Nº VI West, Range Nº XII North", which would become Wyoming. The area that is now the city of Wyoming was the second location settled by European-Americans in Kent County. Robert Howlett, Luther Lincoln, Amos Gordon and Stephen Tucker were some of the first settlers in the fall of 1832. Gordon left Wayne County, Michigan to arrive at the mission in Grand Rapids to build the first mill at Indian Mill Creek, later leading a scouting group of Howlett, Lincoln and Tucker in birch canoes down the Grand River in the summer of 1832. The group found Buck Creek emptying into the Grand, determining the creek was strong enough for a mill, with many of Wyoming's first settlers establishing themselves near the creek.

Lincoln built the first log shanty in the area in the fall of 1832 and began to prepare his plot with livestock and crops before the winter. Lincoln and Tucker would stay at the mission through the winter; Tucker and Native Americans later constructed the first established house for his family in March 1833. Lincoln's cabin, however, was built in close proximity to the Norton Mounds and was likely burned down by Odawa natives according to settler Roswell Britton. The first settlers had a successful harvest, constructing gristmills and sawmills on Buck Creek in a year in 1833 and by April 1834, a community called "Little Prairie" had been established. On May 24, 1834, the first post office was established at Little Prairie. In 1835, competing lumber mills on Buck Creek that supplied wood to Chicago – one owned by Albert and John Bull and the other by Nathanial Brown – starved the water flow to Gordon's mill, resulting with Gordon building a new mill on what is now the southwest corner of 44th Street and Burlingame Avenue. Through the 1800s, Wyoming would primarily remain an agricultural location and its development occurred near transportation routes in the region.

Byron Township (1836–1848)

The boundaries of Township 5 North, Range 12 West and Township 6 North, Range 12 West, surveyed by Lyon, were consolidated and designated to be organized as Byron Township in 1835 by the Michigan Territorial Legislature. In late 1835, the first wedding occurred between Sylvester Hills and Harriet Burton. The town was first organized as Byron Township on May 2, 1836, was called "Oakesville" as it was headquartered at the home of Charles H. Oakes, though when Oakes moved to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, the name was changed to Grandville. It was this year that one of Wyoming's most notable pioneers, Justus Charles Rogers, established his homestead on what is now the southwest corner of 28th Street and Clyde Park Avenue. A framed house was constructed by Rogers in the spring of 1836 and was expected to accept his wife upon their return, though the home was discovered destroyed by a tornado in September 1836 when they returned.

The following year in 1837, the launch of the pole boat propelled by a quant, the Cinderella, was celebrated as a major development for the town. The first floor of what would become Rogers Mansion was then constructed in 1837, with the second floor being finished in 1839. For three weeks, settlers had to live without flour and late in the year, the first metal casting occurred at the Jame McCray foundry. In 1839, the township's final land patents south of the Grand River were issued for plots near the salt springs adjacent to the Norton Mounds and Section 16. Plaster Creek first powered plaster operations in the township in 1841 on land leased by Daniel Ball from De Garmo Jones. In May 1843, Gordon died in Plainfield Township, Michigan.

Wyoming Township (1848–1959)

On April 3, 1848, the 72 square miles (190 km2) township of Byron divided in half, with the name of Wyoming being used for the northern 36 square miles (93 km2) portion where the majority of the population was settled, with many settling near Buck Creek. At the time of division, about 500 people lived in Wyoming while fewer than 200 lived in Byron. The name came from the Wyoming County, New York, from which the majority of the residents came during the first 16 years. During the Great Famine in Ireland, Irish immigrants began to appear in Wyoming in 1849, with the Whalen family being among the first Irish families in the township. Michael Avenue is named after Michael Whalen. Dutch immigrants arrived in greater numbers and created agricultural cooperatives on smaller parcels of land, creating closed groups among themselves. In 1850, the population of Wyoming Township was counted at 543 people. At the time, Dutch and Irish immigrants were scapegoated for the prevalence of "Michigan ague", or malaria, which had begun affecting the area.

David Fisher arrived in Wyoming in 1857 and acquired land from Gordon's estate, replacing Gordon's old Buck Creek mill, which had burned down, and built a replacement. Fisher would then construct cabins along the west side of Burlingame Avenue which housed Fisher and the millers he employed. Operations for Fisher would expand further south on Buck Creek where he would extract lime and peat, later building a second mill on a plot of land he purchased from William Ferry in the southeast portion of the township. In 1869, a station on the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad was constructed, and in 1870, Fisher had a town platted called "Fisher's Station," which would develop around the railroad station. A post office was constructed in 1871 and the area was platted in December 1873. The population of Wyoming Township grew to 2,008 in 1874 while the population of Fisher's Station was 65 in 1888. Fisher, along with his brother and business partner, James, would retire in Grand Rapids and lived as wealthy men for the rest of their lives. During the township's early history, the then rural community would often produce agricultural goods and farmers would travel to Grand Rapids to sell their products.

Gypsum mines in northeast Wyoming along Plaster Creek operated for decades and became more refined in 1880 when the Alabastine Company acquired much of the gypsum, later opening the Alabastine Mine in 1907. Wyoming Township began to grow as a suburb of Grand Rapids in 1890 with its next major area of development occurring in the northeast section of the township closest to Grand Rapids with much of the city's population moving southward in the early 1900s. The City of Grand Rapids started annexing portions of the township and by 1891 had annexed one square mile (2.6 km2) of the city from Division to Clyde Park and from Hall to Burton. In 1902, the Grand Rapids, Holland and Chicago Railway promoted the creation of more plats in the Galewood, Urbandale, and Burlingame (GUB) neighborhoods, with the railway providing transportation to downtown Grand Rapids in fifteen minutes. From 1890 to 1906, thirty-two plats were in the GUB neighborhoods with communities bordering Grand Rapids developing into suburban areas where Dutch Americans predominately resided. In the GUB area, the Christian Reformed Church expanded with its Dutch churchgoers. Another section of Wyoming was annexed by Grand Rapids in 1916 that involved the half-mile from Burton to Alger and from Clyde Park to Division.

City of Wyoming (1959–present)

In the 1960s, the city was able to launch several projects. The first was a sewage plant to take care of issues from the state in regards to dumping it in the Buck Creek and Grand River. The next was the completion of the Water Plant in Holland with a pipeline to the city.

New developments occurred over the decade on 28th Street, with free vehicle parking drawing some shoppers away from Grand Rapids. One major project was Rogers Plaza, which opened in August 1961 as the first indoor shopping mall in Michigan and one of the first in the United States, including stores such as S. S. Kresge, W. T. Grant, Kroger, A&P, Cunningham Drug, and Montgomery Ward. The neighboring Wyoming Village Mall opened later in 1961 and was anchored by Wurzburg's. Fruitbasket Flowerland also opened in 1961 providing lawn care tools, flowers, and outdoor furniture for the developing suburban homes. Gordon Food Service moved from Grand Rapids to Wyoming in 1962. Three annexation attempts by Grand Rapids were also defeated in that year: the Kent County Airport, the Blackburn neighborhood, and the Buchanan neighborhood.

Studio 28 opened on the 28th Street corridor in 1965 and expanded in size over decades into the world's first multiplex and the largest multiplex in the world in 1988. In July 1966, the Lake Michigan pipeline to Wyoming began to supply water to the city, a major accomplishment after years of difficulties with low-quality wells. By the end of the decade, the city faced fund shortages and multiple income tax proposals were turned down. Wyoming began to establish many municipal facilities in the 1970s, including a public works building, a centralized fire station, a combined police-justice building, and a new public library. By the 1980s, the city became concerned about the quality of developments, with adult bookstores and massage parlors appearing. In 1990, Reynolds Metals closed their operations in the city.

After over a decade of negotiations with the City of Grandville, including a promise by the developer to not build into Wyoming, Rivertown Crossings Mall opened in 1999 near the southwest border of Wyoming, causing many commercial tenants to leave the 28th Street corridor. In response, Wyoming unveiled a redevelopment plan for their city center that they hoped would revitalize businesses on the 28th Street corridor. For Rogers Plaza, the exterior was remodel and the former Montgomery Ward anchor store was demolished and replaced with a Family Fare supermarket. A street was also planned to stretch from Rogers Plaza across Michael Avenue to Wyoming Village Mall and further down to Studio 28, with commercial and apartment developments anticipated. The owners of Wyoming Village Mall ultimately disagreed with plans to tear down a portion of their building to develop the street.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 24.95 square miles (64.62 km2), of which 24.74 square miles (64.08 km2) is land and 0.22 square miles (0.57 km2) (0.88%) is water.

The city is situated southwest of Grand Rapids and south of the Grand River. Buck Creek spans the city and created a valley of dark loam soil that was used historically for farming, while elevated land above the valley is dense clay soil. In the northern area of Wyoming just south of the Grand River, pockets of gravel and gypsum also exist. Some areas in Wyoming had caverns and sinkholes in the past, possibly created by water pockets eroding limestone and sandstone, though most of these features have likely collapsed due to their instability.

Major highways

I-196 (Gerald R. Ford Freeway) runs along the northwestern edge of the city.

BS I-196 (Chicago Drive) passes briefly through the northwest corner of the city.

US 131 runs north–south through the center of the city.

M-6 (Paul B. Henry Freeway) runs along a small portion of the southern edge of the city.

M-11 (28th Street) runs west–east through the center of the city.

Climate

Wyoming has a humid continental climate (Köppen: Dfa).

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Wyoming had a population of 76,501. The median age was 34.3 years. 24.1% of residents were under the age of 18 and 12.1% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 97.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.2 males age 18 and over.

100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 28,820 households in Wyoming, of which 32.5% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 44.0% were married-couple households, 19.6% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 27.6% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 26.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 29,949 housing units, of which 3.8% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.3% and the rental vacancy rate was 5.0%.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 72,125 people, 26,970 households, and 18,128 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,927.2 inhabitants per square mile (1,130.2/km2). There were 28,983 housing units at an average density of 1,176.3 per square mile (454.2/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 75.8% White, 7.2% African American, 0.6% Native American, 2.8% Asian, 9.6% from other races, and 3.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 19.4% of the population.

There were 26,970 households, of which 37.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.1% were married couples living together, 14.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 32.8% were non-families. 25.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.22.

The median age in the city was 32.1 years. 27.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 10.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 29.9% were from 25 to 44; 23.5% were from 45 to 64; and 9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.3% male and 50.7% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 69,368 people, 26,536 households, and 17,540 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,840.1 inhabitants per square mile (1,096.6/km2). There were 27,506 housing units at an average density of 1,126.2 per square mile (434.8/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 84.32% White, 4.85% African American, 0.59% Native American, 2.92% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 4.70% from other races, and 2.59% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.66% of the population.

There were 26,536 households, out of which 35.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.6% were married couples living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.9% were non-families. 26.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.19.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 28.0% under the age of 18, 10.9% from 18 to 24, 33.7% from 25 to 44, 18.0% from 45 to 64, and 9.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $43,164, and the median income for a family was $50,002. Males had a median income of $35,772 versus $25,482 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,287. About 5.1% of families and 7.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.8% of those under age 18 and 6.9% of those age 65 or over.

Religion

Christian Reformed Dutch settlers established the first churches in Wyoming, with Grandville Avenue Christian Reformed Church being founded in 1891, which is now part of The Potter's House school. Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church was built in 1908, serving as the place of worship for Roman Catholics in Wyoming. The Episcopal population established the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church at the site of a former chicken coop in 1957. The Assemblies of God established a church in 1929 and moved to their current location on 44th Street in 1977, with the facility being able to seat 1,400 people.

Economy

As of the 2000 census, there are presently 10 types of industries in the city. Manufacturing accounts for 30%, retail 16%, education, health, and social services 15%, with the next five industries accounting for 6%, and transportation, warehousing, utilities accounting for 3% of business in the city. The manufacturing segment is unique in that it is the largest in West Michigan. It currently produces auto parts, industrial machinery, commercial printing, plastics, food processing, electronics, tool and dies, concrete supplies, and fire engines.

After Grandville allowed development of a new 6-anchor shopping complex, Rivertown Crossings Mall, and the related development, many major retail businesses in Wyoming folded, including the long-standing Roger's Department Store, its successor, and most tenants of Rogers Plaza. The City of Wyoming formed a Downtown Development Authority spanning 28th Street from Byron Center Avenue to Division Avenue. in an effort to help support the city in keeping businesses in the area in 1999.

In the 2000s, plans were being made to revitalize the 28th Street corridor. In 2013, the City of Wyoming introduced the 28 West plan, a plan to develop downtown Wyoming along 28th Street into a more pedestrian friendly environment that will provide food, retail, and entertainment. In June 2016, plans began moving forward on the 28 West plan with the demolition of part of the Wyoming Village Mall and the creation of a new road through the surrounding parking lots to attract developers.

Largest employers

According to the City's 2025 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the largest employers in the city are:

Arts and culture

The city has 21 parks that cover about 665 acres (2.69 km2) which offer a multitude of activities. The parks department has been active in the past decade in redeveloping the parks in the city. Many parks have been rebuilt which included adding new equipment, splash pads, and facilities. They have also added a few new facilities such as a small skateboard park near one of the highest density areas of the city. The city also offers a Senior Center that provides activities for the older citizens of the city and the surrounding region. Along with the parks is the Kent Trails system that converted abandoned rail lines to bike paths. It is a collaborative effort between multiple local governments. The most recent addition to the Wyoming Park System is the Dog Park located next to Marquette Park at the very northern edge of the city. It is a privately funded park with access controls to restrict usage to registered members.

In 2002, the new Wyoming Public Library was built and is owned by the city but run by the Kent District Library System. It is a 48,950-square-foot (4,548 m2) facility with over 112,046 items. The library branch is also the highest attended in the Kent District system with 670,842 items checked out and 439,599 visits in 2009. The library currently has around 76% of the population holding a card to use the facility. The building houses the Wyoming Historical Commission that holds historical materials of the city. Along with Historical Commission room, it houses the library for the blind and an art gallery.

Starting in 2005, the Wyoming-Kentwood Chamber of Commerce put together the 28th Street Metro Cruise that draws in automobile enthusiasts from the region. It currently spans 15 miles (24 km) from its start in Grandville at Wilson and 28th where drivers gather and drive to the cruise's end in Cascade Township. The cruise runs on Friday and Saturday on the last weekend of August.

Government

The city has a council-manager government with both an elected mayor and an appointed city manager. Kent Vanderwood serves as Wyoming's mayor after defeating Sam Bolt and Cliff Tompkins in the 2022 election. The City Council is composed of six members: three at-large and a representative from each of the three wards. The current council members are: Sheldon DeKryger, Renee Hill, Robert Arnoys, Kyle Brethauer (1st Ward), Marissa Postler (2nd Ward), and Rob Postema (3rd Ward/Mayor Pro-Tem). Meetings are held at the City Hall on the first and third Mondays of every month. Work sessions are held the second Monday of each month.

Politics

The first documentation of political parties in Wyoming was during the 1894 United States elections, with the majority of votes in the city supporting the Republican Party. Wyoming used a caucus election system that was frequently plagued with ballot stuffing until the Township switched to a primary election system in 1928. Republican support was strong in Wyoming until the Great Depression when Democratic Party candidate Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected President of the United States in the 1932 United States presidential election. Prior to this, only Republican candidates would run for office in Wyoming, though in 1933 elections, members of the Communist Party USA and Democrats entered as candidates, with one Democrat being elected into local office. The Communist Party would make its last run for local office in 1935. In 1937, voters in then Wyoming Township elected its first Democratic supervisor, Herman Wierenga. In Wyoming's 1954 elections, citizens voted Democrats into every office, with the Democratic Party maintaining a strong position in the city since then.

Following the 2020 United States presidential election, MLive reported in 2022 that mayor-elect Kent Vanderwood was included among a Michigan contingent of Republicans allegedly involved in the Trump fake electors plot, reportedly organized as one of the attempts to overturn the 2020 United States presidential election in favor of incumbent President Donald Trump. In January 2023, former member of the Michigan House of Representatives, Tommy Brann, was appointed by the City Council to be council-member-at-large. On July 18, 2023, Mayor Kent Vanderwood, along with 15 other people statewide, was indicted by the Michigan Attorney General for his role in the 2020 fake electors plot.

Public safety

On September 30, 2007, Metro Health Hospital moved from southeast Grand Rapids to its current location on the south central section of Wyoming. Spectrum Health and St. Mary's also have urgent care centers located in Wyoming with their hospitals located in downtown Grand Rapids.

The Wyoming Police Department has over eighty sworn police officers serving as of 2013. In 2014, Wyoming Police Department and Wyoming Fire Department amalgamated their administrative offices into the Police Headquarters building, creating the new entity of Wyoming Department of Public Safety.

Education

The city is served by 8 school districts. The southwest panhandle is served by Grandville Public Schools, the south extension of the city near Metro Health is served by Byron Center Public Schools, the central part is served by Wyoming Public Schools, the southeast is served by Kelloggsville Public Schools, the area south of 56th St and east of the railroad tracks is served by Kentwood Public Schools, a small annexed section near Hall St and Freeman Avenue is served by Grand Rapids Public Schools, the northeast is served by Godwin Heights Public Schools, and finally the northern section of the city is served by Godfrey-Lee Public Schools.

Of the eight districts only four do not have the majority of the buildings in the city. Grand Rapids Public Schools, Kentwood Public Schools and Byron Center Public Schools do not have any schools in the City of Wyoming; Grandville Public Schools has most of its schools outside of the Wyoming city limits. The remaining four districts do have many schools in the Wyoming city limits: 13 elementary schools, 3 out of 13 middle schools, 4 out of 8 high schools, with Godfrey-Lee having a combination middle high school located in the city.

The Potter's House, a Christian K-12 school, maintains its high school campus in Wyoming. Holy Trinity Lutheran School is a Pre-K-8 grade school of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod in Wyoming. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids has two K-8 schools, St John Vianney School and San Juan Diego Academy.

For higher education the city is served by Grand Rapids Community College in downtown Grand Rapids. In Allendale, northwest of the city, there is Grand Valley State University. Further universities can be found in Lansing, Big Rapids, and Kalamazoo. Also located in the immediate area is Hope College in Holland, Davenport University in Caledonia Township, Calvin College on the east side of Grand Rapids, Aquinas College also on the east side of Grand Rapids, Cornerstone University on the northeast side of Grand Rapids, along with Grace Bible College. The Protestant Reformed Theological Seminary is located in 4949 West Ivanrest Ave Wyoming, Michigan.

Infrastructure

Public transit

The city is part of the Grand Rapids-based Interurban Transit Partnership, called The Rapid. It currently runs Routes 1, 3, 8, 10, 16, 24, 28, and 44 in the city of Wyoming; that is 8 out of the system's 26 routes. Currently the U.S. Department of Transportation is funding a good portion of a new transit system for the area. It will run along Division Avenue on the east side of the city from its southernmost point to the downtown. It is a bus rapid transit system with only 5 projected stations on the route inside of the city. The new line will be run by The Rapid.

Utilities

Currently the city provides water and sewer to the majority of the citizens. Electricity is supplied by Consumers Energy with natural gas nominally supplied by DTE Energy. Garbage service is supplied by individual contractors to homeowners and by law they are required to use the county incinerator, although the city does provide a yard waste drop off center. For both phone and cable, service is supported by both AT&T and Comcast. Cell phone carriers are on the whole fully supported with a number of towers.

Notable people

Chris Kaman, professional basketball player

Buster Mathis, professional boxer

Buster Mathis Jr., professional boxer

Drew Neitzel, professional basketball player

Dave Rozema, former baseball pitcher