The City of Wayland, Michigan is in northeastern Allegan County, about twenty miles south of Grand Rapids and thirty miles north of Kalamazoo.
US Highway 131 forms the western boundary of the city, which is bordered to the south and east by Wayland Township, to the north and east by Leighton Township, to the northwest by Dorr Township, and to the west by Hopkins Township.
Most of the city is in Wayland Township, although it has incorporated a portion of land in southern Leighton Township, although the city is administered separately from the townships.
Cities and villages within twenty-five miles of Wayland include Martin, Hopkins, Middleville, Caledonia, Plainwell, Otsego, Wyoming, Hastings, Kentwood, Allegan, Grandville, Grand Rapids, Freeport, East Grand Rapids, and Hudsonville, while the unincorporated communities of Bradley, Moline, Hilliards, Hopkinsburg, Corning, Dorr, and Shelbyville are within ten miles.
First appearing on a US Census roll in 1870 with a population of 585, Wayland has enjoyed increases each decade except for 1880, 1890, 1940, and 1980, and these were relatively small declines. The city's population was 4,435 at the time of the 2020 census.
The land that would later become Wayland was inhabited by the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of the Potawatomi tribe prior to its settlement by European-Americans. Today, the tribe is federally recognized and headquartered in Wayland Township.
By the early 1800s, this area of the Michigan Territory faced pressure for development by European or European-American settlers. By 1826, the area was surveyed for development, and the first land acquisition in the area of Wayland was made by Colonel Isaac Barnes. In 1836, Barnes and his sons built a sawmill along the Rabbit River. The Chambers family came in 1837, establishing a farm.
Enough families had arrived by 1844 that a school was formed and, on May 4 of that year, a post office was established, with George Barnes as postmaster.
A few miles to the east, Nelson Chambers had founded Chambers Corners in 1838 and, when the Kalamazoo & Grand Rapids Plank Road came through in 1854, the Wayland post office was moved to Chambers Corners, but it retained the name of Wayland.
Isaac Kellogg platted and recorded the village as Lomax City in 1861, but it was changed back to Wayland when it was incorporated as a village in 1868. The Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad came through in 1870, spurring another period of growth, and US-131 replaced the plank road in the late 1920s.
Wayland businesses in operation during the early 1920s included the A.D. Hughes Flour Mill, Helvetia Milk Condensing Company, Henderson Milling Company, Hunsberger & Bowman Coal & Lumber Company, Libby McNeill & Libby Pickle Station, the Wayland Farm Bureau Cooperative, and the Business Men's Paper Press Company.
Today, the Gun Lake Casino, owned by the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Potawatomi Indians of Michigan, is a major employer, although the city supports several other commercial businesses, light industry, and schools.
The focus of this portion of our web guide is on the City of Wayland, Michigan, so online resources for the municipal government, as well as those of any businesses, industries, schools, churches, organizations, attractions, events, entertainment venues, and recreational opportunities.
Categories
Faith & Spirituality |
Recommended Resources
Situated in Allegan County, in the southwestern portion of Michigan's Lower Peninsula, Wayland has a population of just over four thousand. The official municipal website publishes meeting agendas and minutes, codes and ordinances, its master plan, and access to various forms and applications. The site also features administrative and departmental contacts and a guide to city services, schools, churches, medical facilities, financial institutions, and newspapers.
https://cityofwayland.org/
Offering a preschool to 5th-grade curriculum, the Catholic parochial school is in Wayland, Michigan. Located on South Main Street, the school is in the Diocese of Kalamazoo. An overview of the school is provided, including the Office of Schools policy manual, its Wellness Plan, a school improvement plan, and information and schedules for the school's weekly Mass and other programs and events. Other resources include photo albums and links to additional information sources.
https://www.sttcatholicschool.org/
Wayland Area Chamber of Commerce
The Chamber is a business membership organization representing local businesses. Board members, Chamber Ambassadors, and Connected Chamber Women are highlighted, along with information about the organization's scholarship programs, educational luncheons, community parades, and other events. A member database lists members by business type or alphabetically. Also included are a visitor guide, a history of the community, job openings, and links to local organizations and services.
https://www.waylandchamber.org/
The public K-12 district, headquartered in Wayland, Michigan, operates Baker Elementary School, Dorr Elementary School, Steeby Elementary School, Pine Street Elementary School, Wayland Middle School, and Wayland High School, each of which is featured here, along with faculty and staff contacts, office hours, and school schedules. Also included are contacts for the district's administrative and departmental offices, an overview of its athletics and fine arts programs, and job opportunities.
https://waylandunion.org/
The sports programs of Wayland Union High School, in Wayland, Michigan, are featured here, particularly its fall, winter, and spring programs, including baseball, basketball, bowling, competitive cheer, cross country, dance, equestrian, football, golf, ice hockey, soccer, swimming, tennis, track, volleyball, and wrestling. Boys and girls freshman, junior varsity, and varsity teams are featured, and final forms, online ticket sales, booster information, and a calendar of events are included.
https://waylandathletics.com/
