Middleville, Michigan is a village surrounded by Thornapple Township, in the northwestern corner of Barry County.
Middleville is highly influenced by its proximity to the Grand Rapids Metro Region, as many of its newer residents have moved from the larger cities in the region to this smaller village that, nevertheless, allows them to commute to work in the city. M-6 and M-37 provide easy access to the Grand Rapids region and other metropolitan areas, such as Battle Creek, Kalamazoo, and Lansing. Additionally, several of the village's long-time or traditional residents are employed elsewhere.
while Middleville is home to several commercial businesses and service industries, heavy industry is sparse within the village itself.
Middleville also serves as a gateway to the Yankee Springs Recreation Area just south of the village. Operated by the state, Yankee Springs boasts more than four thousand acres that include nine lakes, with public access sites, campgrounds, historic sites, and a trail system for hiking and equine activities. In eastern Thornapple Township, the Middleville State Game Area offers opportunities for hunting, hiking, and snowmobiling. Still in development, the Paul Henry-Thornapple Trail is a rail-trail that will eventually connect to Kent Trails, yielding a 42-mile, multi-use recreation trail from Grand Rapids to Vermontville.
The Thornapple River flows through the center of the village, dividing it into two parts that are connected only by the Main Street Bridge and the Crane Road Bridge.
Cities and villages within twenty miles of Middleville include Caledonia, Wayland, Hastings, Freeport, Kentwood, and East Grand Rapids.
Despite population decreases in the early 1900s, due in part to a decline in the significance of the timber industries, Middleville has enjoyed sustained growth since 1910, with the exception of slight declines in 1930 and 1980. Approaching 3,500, its current population is its peak population.
Although the area was inhabited by the Ottawa and Pottawatomi people for centuries, and French explorers and fur traders came through the region, Calvin G. Hill is acknowledged as the first European-American settler in the area that was to become Middleville.
In 1834, Hill purchased four hundred acres on both sides of the Thornapple River, moving to his property in 1834, and later opening a sawmill. Over the years, he served in several capacities at the township and county levels. He was the first supervisor of Thornapple Township, and became the first postmaster in Middleville on May 18, 1843, although an earlier post office was in operation nearby, as Thornapple, from May 6, 1839, until it was moved to Middleville in 1843. The postmaster of that earlier post office was Benjamin S. Dibble.
Hill and his sons, Albert C. Hill and Alpheus M. Hill, played a significant role in the development of both the township and village, including the platting of the townsite. Calvin Hill's younger brother, Elias Hill, and his family moved to Middleville in the spring of 1836.
Middleville took its name from its proximity to a Pottawatomi village known as Middle Village, near the border of Thornapple and Yankee Springs townships. Middleville was incorporated as a village on March 27, 1867.
Development of the village was stimulated when the Michigan Central Railroad built a station in Middleville in 1870, on its line that ran from Jackson to Grand Rapids. The ability to transport products to market helped the village to become a local hub for agricultural, commercial, and industrial business during the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Industrial activity continued to be an important sector of the village's economy past the middle of the century. However, most of its agricultural industries had waned by the early 1970s, and the railroad was abandoned in the early 1980s, after which its industries became smaller and more locally focused. However, Middleville is not without large industries. The Bradford White Corporation has a manufacturing plant in the village, and Middleville maintains an industrial park near its northern border.
The focus of this portion of our guide is on the village of Middleville, Michigan. Appropriate resources for this category include websites representing the village government, other governmental bodies within the village, and local businesses, industries, schools, places of worship, organizations, attractions, events, sports activities, and recreational opportunities.
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Headquartered in Pennsylvania, Bradford White has manufacturing plants in Middleville and Niles, Michigan, and in Rochester, New Hampshire, manufacturing water heaters and boilers for heating buildings, as well as a distribution center in Halton Hills, Ontario. Its history, products, and design strategies are discussed, as well as its subsidiaries, and career opportunities. Its Middleville Scholars Program allows students to work at BWC while earning a degree at a local community college.
https://bradfordwhitecorporation.com/
Founded in 1999, the Senior community in Middleville, Michigan is family-owned and operated, offering a pet-friendly environment for assisted living, independent living, on-campus physical therapy, and respite care. An activities calendar, dining menu, and brochure are featured, and its independent living and assisted living options are outlined, and a gallery of photographs depict exterior and interior scenes from the facilities. Its location, office hours, and contacts are posted.
https://www.carvethvillage.com/
The village of Middleville is in Thornapple Township, Barry County, Michigan. The official municipal website publishes notices of public hearings, village council meeting agendas and minutes, and other public notices and announcements. Office hours, administrative contacts, and the location of the village offices are set forth, the village's history, master plan, maps, ordinances, and a guide to village services, programs, and facilities, as well as schools and other services, are included.
https://www.villageofmiddleville.org/
The Middleville, Michigan chapter of the American Youth Soccer Organization is a non-profit organization, and part of one of the two main national youth soccer organizations in the United States for children aged four through nineteen. Sponsors, national partners, and contacts are set forth, and a guide to online registration, a parent's guide to AYSO, an age determination chart, and Region 277 apparel are set forth, and its programs, fields, practice and game schedules, and rosters are posted.
https://www.middlevilleayso.org/
Middleville Downtown Development Authority
The Middleville, Michigan DDA was founded in 2002 to promote and support the economic well-being of the downtown area of the village. In conjunction with the municipal government, the DDA supports new businesses, downtown improvements, community events, and tourism in the district, village, and township. DDA contacts and meeting packets are posted, along with its grant programs, its partner program, a calendar of events, the Middleville Market, and a downtown business directory.
http://mymiddlevilledda.com/
Middleville Tool & Die Company
Founded in 1966, the company is currently housed in a 120,000 square foot facility in Middleville, Michigan, where it serves the automotive, office furniture, appliance, emissions control, and alternative energy markets. Its product development, prototyping, tooling, stamping, and welding services are highlighted, and career opportunities and openings are published on the site, including its apprenticeship program. Its IATF certificate, a map showing its location, and contacts are included.
https://mtd-inc.com/
TK serves northwest Barry County and south Kent County, providing a PK-12th-grade curriculum through an early childhood center, three elementary schools, a middle school, and a high school, each of which is featured here, with locations, school schedules, faculty and staff contacts, and announcements. The district's strategic plan, school emergency drills, and an overview of its curriculum, instruction, and assessment, operations, food services, business offices, and athletics programs.
https://www.tkschools.org/
Situated in Barry County, the civil township includes the village of Middleville, Michigan. The official township website includes general information about the township government and community, as well as a guide to township departments and services, area recreational opportunities, utilities, and schools. A township calendar, meeting schedules, agendas, and minutes, and access to various forms are included and made available in PDF format. Job opportunities are published on the site.
https://www.thornappletownship.com/
