Big Rapids, Michigan is the county seat of Mecosta County and home to the main campus of Ferris State University.
Based on relics found nearby, speculation is that human beings first came to the region about 11,000 BC, but little is known about them. Historically, it was the Anishnabeg, the original people of the Three Fire Ojibway/Chippewa, Potawatomi, and Ottawa tribes who were there when French, British, and American fur traders came through the area between the mid-17th to mid-19th centuries. The Ottawa are known to have camped regularly near the big rapids on the Muskegon River to tap the maple trees in the spring.
European-American settlers first came to the area with the logging industry. With its headwaters at Houghton Lake, the Muskegon River could be used to transport logs downstream to the mills at Muskegon. The swift current near the current site of the city was known as the big rapids by early lumbermen, which would later form the basis for its name.
The first land entries in the area that was to become Big Rapids were made by Robert P. Mitchell and John Parish in 1853, although the first recorded settlers were Zera and George French, who came in 1855. During the first few years, the community and the surrounding township were known as Leonard, for Dr. F.B. Leonard, who owned much of the land, and that was the name assigned to its first post office on January 24, 1857, with Jess C. Shaw as its first postmaster. In February of 1859, Leonard was named the county seat.
Later that year, Dr. Leonard sold his property to George P. Warren and Chauncey P. Ives, who platted a village and recorded it as Big Rapids in November of 1859, and the post office took that name. The following year, Zera French platted and recorded adjacent land as Glen Elm but, within a month he renamed it French's Addition to Big Rapids. Neither of these communities was ever incorporated as a village, however. Government affairs were conducted by the township.
After the War Between the States, several German and Scandinavian immigrants came to Big Rapids to build log homes. In 1869, Big Rapids gained a station on the Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad. Soon, two other railroads began operations, largely serving the lumber industry. Each of the three railroads operating in Big Rapids built a roundhouse for their operations.
In April of 1869, Big Rapids was incorporated as a city, which included both the unincorporated village of Big Rapids and French's Addition. Big Rapids consisted of about a hundred acres of land south of what is now Maple Street, while the French's Addition plat included the North State Street area, while most of the city's current downtown area lies between the two former unincorporated villages.
A school was organized by Woodbridge Nathan Ferris in 1884. Beginning with a student enrollment of fifteen, the Ferris Institute enrolled two thousand students by 1906. Enrollment decreased considerably during World War I, the Great Depression, and World War II, but the institute survived. Even after its main buildings were destroyed by fire in 1950, the school rebuilt and is now known as Ferris State University, the largest employer in the city. Woodbridge Nathan Ferris became Governor of Michigan in 1912 and a U.S. Senator in 1922.
In the early 20th century, two power dams were built to provide electricity to the city, enabling Big Rapids to support a manufacturing industry. The dam inside the city limits was removed in 1966, but the Rogers Heights dam continues to produce power sold by the Consumers Power Company.
The city's first hospital was opened by the Sisters of Mercy in 1879, but it closed in 1919 after three major fires. Community Hospital was opened in 1927, operating as a municipal hospital until 1975 when it became Mecosta County General Hospital, the second-largest employer in the city.
Big Rapids has lost population each census year since 1980, when its peak population was 14,361.
The chief route through the city is BR-131, a business route for US-131, which passes just west of Big Rapids. Other routes include M-20 and several local roads. Reed City is 12.0 miles north, and White Cloud is 24.1 miles northeast, while the village of Hersey is 13.5 miles north, Morley is 15.5 miles south, and Mecosta is 17.7 miles southeast. The Manistee National Forest is just a few miles to the west.
The focus of this guide is on the City of Big Rapids, Michigan. Appropriate resources include websites representing the city government or any of its departments, programs, or facilities, as well as local businesses, industries, schools, places of worship, attractions, and events.
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Recommended Resources
Maintained by WBRN Radio, the site features its on air personalities, on-air schedules, and programs, as well as local news, podcasts, and obituaries. Local events may be submitted for inclusion in the WBRN event calendar. Other resources include a photo gallery, visitor polls, and a membership sign-up form. Advertising and employment opportunities are highlighted, and its office location, telephone and fax numbers, mailing address, and coverage area are posted.
https://wbrn.com
Offering a full range of general and cosmetic dentistry, including porcelain veneers, dental implants, crowns, bridges, and custom dentures, and other dental services which are highlighted here. Its office location, hours, telephone number, and appointment policies are posted, along with an overview of its services and technologies, client reviews, finance, and payment options. An introduction to the clinic’s doctors is presented, and a FAQ is included.
https://www.mydentalhealthcare.com/
Big Rapids Downtown Business Association
The Big Rapids DBA is a network of downtown Big Rapids, Michigan businesses and individuals who cooperate to encourage and maintain the viability of the city’s downtown region, and to establish partnerships with community and government agencies to deal with issues of importance to the business community. Its membership levels, benefits, and an online application are featured, and a calendar of events, business directory, and contacts are posted.
https://downtownbigrapids.com/
With its administrative offices in Big River, Michigan, BRPS provides a K-12th-grade curriculum through Brookside Elementary School, Riverview Elementary School, Big Rapids Middle School, Big Rapids High School, and a Virtual School, each of which is highlighted here. Enrollment information, a current academic calendar, staff directory, and contacts for its departments are included, along with a district newsletter, and a guide for students and parents.
https://www.brps.org/
Specializing in locally procured, seasonally conscious meals, the restaurant, wine bar, and brewpub is located on North Michigan Avenue in Big Rapids, Michigan. An overview of the business is put forth, along with its dinner menus, lunch menus, drink and kids menus, hours of operation, and family four-pack specials. Other resources include a wine list, for retail purchase, sorted by sparkling and champagne, whites, rose and blush, reds, dessert, Michigan wines, and sake.
https://www.bluecowcafe.com/
Big Rapids is the county seat of Mecosta County. The official municipal website features a profile of the city, budget information, its capital improvement plan, strategic plan, and employment opportunities, as well as a directory of city council members, board members, and commissions, council agendas and minutes, and a calendar of events. A guide to municipal services, local schools, churches, organizations, and recreation groups is put forth, and public notices are posted to the site.
https://www.cityofbr.org/
Supported by Grand Valley State University, CCA is a K-12th-grade charter school in Big Rapids, Michigan. The school has arranged a dual enrollment process with Ferris State University to provide dual and concurrent enrollment options to high school students, as well as a direct credit option with Baker College of Cadillac. Featured are a student handbook, athletics programs, a calendar of events, and an overview of its enrollment process. Parent resources are also available.
https://www.ccabr.org/
Created and maintained by the Mecosta County Visitors Bureau, the site features annual events, sorted by season, as well as a community events calendar, and a guide to guest lodging in Big Rapids and the surrounding area, lodging special offers, and conference and meeting venues. Information on relocating to Big Rapids, transportation options, and an overview of the Big Rapids Region Safe Business Pledge, including businesses that have taken the Safe Business Pledge.
https://www.bigrapids.org/
FSU is a public research university whose main campus is in Big Rapids, Michigan. Founded in 1884 as Big Rapids Industrial School, FSU now has nineteen off-campus locations across the state, and an online program, as well as its Big Rapids campus. Its academic programs and degree programs are featured, along with its admissions policies and procedures, tuition, and student aid programs. A school calendar, maps, and directories are included.
https://www.ferris.edu/
The programs of Meceola Tech are designed to prepare students with the knowledge, technical skills, and credentials required for a successful career. Its faculty includes administrative, health sciences, hospitality, information technology, manufacturing technology, public safety, and transportation/logistics, representing the careers that the school can prepare a student for. Instructor, student, and training resources are provided on the site, and contacts are posted.
https://www.meceolatech.org/
NOCTI is the largest provider of partner industry certifications and industry-based credentials for career and technical education programs in the nation. Based in Big Rapids, Michigan, NOCTI offers performance testing, college credit, digital badges, and customized services, including various tests, reports, professional development, and other resources. Its services, credentials, credential preparation resources, parent and student resources, and teacher resources are included.
https://www.nocti.org/
Founded in 1966, NBS offers pre-employment testing and skills assessments and accreditation services, including custom assessments centered around a specific business, as well as developing company training programs, and a number of certification programs for companies and workers seeing certification for professional skills and knowledge, as well as a digital badging system, all of which are outlined here. Its clients and certifications are featured.
https://www.noctibusiness.com/
Published six days a week, The Pioneer covers the City of Big Rapids, greater Mecosta County, Osceola County, and parts of Lake and Newaygo counties, offering a focus on local news and community journalism, with a focus on school coverage, local governments, courts, and news of general interest, along with local sports coverage, including Ferris State University athletics, and a variety of editorial opinion from staff columnists and from letters to the editor.
https://www.bigrapidsnews.com/
