MECOSTA COUNTY
County Offices
400 Elm Street
Big Rapids 231-796-2505
https://www.mecostacounty.org/
Chamber of Commerce
127 South State Street
Big Rapids 231-796-7649
https://www.mecostacounty.com/
Picturesque at every turn, panoramic Mecosta County features vast acreage of patchwork farmland. In fact, more than 70 percent of the area is devoted to agricultural activity, the leading economic driver. The major urban center is Big Rapids, a vibrant city just 57 miles north of Grand Rapids.
Services
The healthcare services and facilities in Mecosta County are among the finest available anywhere. The anchor of the county’s healthcare network is 74-bed Mecosta County Medical Center in Big Rapids, where the dedicated staff of skilled physicians represents a wide variety of specialties. The medical center has been the national winner of the “Top 100 Hospitals” award and consistently earns top national rankings for patient satisfaction. When indicated, patients can easily be referred and transferred quickly by air or highway to even more advanced trauma, cardiac, neonatal ICU and neurosurgical care facilities in metropolitan Grand Rapids. A complete array of health and medical professionals are available throughout the county, from chiropractors to dentists and physicians in group clinics.
Residents of Mecosta County have always valued education and support first-rate public and private schools from preschool through high school. Parents will have a range of educational choices and alternatives, especially in the Big Rapids community. Throughout the county, the public school districts are known for their effectiveness and innovative programs. The math/science center offers high school students accelerated opportunities in math, science, and technology. High school juniors and seniors have the opportunity to simultaneously earn college credit at Ferris State University. Big Rapids is also a university town that welcomes a diverse student body of more than 12,000 students to the city each year. Ferris State University draws students to the resources of a large public university within the context of a charming, small-town setting in the heart of west-central Michigan. More than 170 degrees are offered through the colleges of Allied Health Sciences, Arts and Sciences, Business, Education and Human Services, Optometry, Pharmacy, Professional and Technological Studies, and Engineering Technology. Small classes, individualized attention, and as high as 98 percent job placement success distinguishes the university as one of the finest in the state.
Lifestyle
The county seat of Big Rapids and the surrounding communities offer welcoming atmospheres for residential living, excellent transportation links, and open space for further growth and development. The city of Big Rapids towers over the region, drawing new permanent and seasonal residents as well as vacationers to a world of cultural, recreational, and entertainment attractions. Much of the rest of the county preserves vast agricultural land dotted with farmhouses and quaint small towns. Adjacent to the Manistee National Forest, Mecosta County provides a breathtaking backdrop for every imaginable outdoor adventure and sports activity. Tube down the majestic Muskegon River, stroll along the Big Rapids Riverwalk, catch the big one in more than 100 lakes, or take a thrilling snowmobile ride on the White Pine Trail. Chippewa Lake is the largest natural lake in the state and located just 12 miles northeast of Big Rapids, and two of Golf Magazine’s Top 100 Courses in America are located in Mecosta County. The State Conservation Fish Hatchery, Featherbed Marsh Wildlife Area, and the Haymarsh Lake State Game Area are other natural attractions.
Those who appreciate culture will be pleased that Ferris State University plays such a vital and enriching role in the community. The G. Mennin Williams Auditorium shines with ideas from some of the world’s brightest minds, exceptional performing arts talent including FSU Theatre, and celebrations of creativity. The university also adds the Rankin Art Gallery to the county’s cultural assets, which include art centers, galleries, and performing groups. Museums in Big Rapids include the Barryton Historical Museum in Barryton, the Big Rapids Historical Museum, the Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia, and FSU Card Wildlife Museum & Education Center. Lush parks are available for active and passive recreation in this attractive area, providing a serene oasis or providing a wealth of recreational and sports facilities. Live music is especially popular in this area, where celebrations like the Wheatland Music Festival in Remus or amenities like the Big Rapids Bandshell draw such enthusiastic support. Family attractions, wonderful libraries, strong neighborhoods, a traditional Midwestern ethic and friendliness, and spectacular scenery are sure to attract newcomers to Mecosta County for decades to come.
Big Rapids
City Offices
231-592-4020
www.ci.big-rapids.mi.us
Chamber of Commerce
231-796-7649
https://www.mecostacounty.com/
Big Rapids is the county seat of government and the leading hub city, serving as a center for healthcare, education, commerce, culture, commerce, industry, and entertainment. A significant number of the county’s population lives in or near Big Rapids, although residential development is scattered throughout the county in quiet townships and growing villages. The Riverwalk that graces the charming Big Rapids downtown district is one of the region’s most beloved features, stretching for nearly three miles to showcase nature at its most breathtakingly beautiful. The pathway is completely accessible as it winds gently along the contour of the majestic Muskegon River from the historic downtown to Northend Riverside Park. Riverwalk offers several connections to the White Pine Trail, part of Michigan “Rails to Trails” system that runs from Comstock Park to Cadillac. Residents and visitors benefit from the scenic Muskegon River and the many water-oriented recreational opportunities it provides. Canoeing, tubing, fishing, or just relaxing and taking in the splendor of nature are common activities. Local residents are like to take a morning jog, to biking the summer, take a “color walk” in the autumn, and cross-country ski over winter snow. The city itself offers fine museums, cultural centers, great shopping, Ferris State University, a major medical center, entertainment venues, outstanding schools, thriving businesses, and wonderful neighborhoods.
Chippewa Lake, Chippewa Township
Town Hall
231-867-3777
Chamber of Commerce
231-796-7649
https://www.mecostacounty.com/
The unincorporated community of Chippewa Lake offers a combination of home settings and natural environments, blending small cabins and cottages with spectacular waterfront views from the decks of handsome homes. Conservation and sportsmen’s clubs, nearby golf courses, the amenities of Big Rapids, and world-class recreational opportunities make small-town living a pure pleasure. Residents enjoy a living environment that is stepped in natural beauty and at a distance from larger developed cities yet close enough to be accessible to expanded conveniences. Nature seems to surround each home site, whether larger or small. The tranquility of the community, the cooperative spirit, the friendliness of local business people, and the beauty of the lake can be an enchanting combination for newcomers.
