Walker, Michigan

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Not to be confused with Walker Township, Michigan.
Walker, Michigan
City
Location of Walker, Michigan
Location of Walker, Michigan
Coordinates: Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Country United States
State Michigan
County Kent
Area[1]
 • Total 25.48 sq mi (65.99 km2)
 • Land 24.94 sq mi (64.59 km2)
 • Water 0.54 sq mi (1.40 km2)
Elevation 745 ft (227 m)
Population (2010)[2]
 • Total 23,537
 • Estimate (2012[3]) 24,003
 • Density 943.7/sq mi (364.4/km2)
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP codes 49534,
49544
Area code(s) 616
FIPS code 26-82960[4]
GNIS feature ID 1615688[5]
Website City Website

Walker is a city in Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan and a suburb of Grand Rapids. The population was 23,537 at the 2010 census.

History

Before incorporating as a city, it was known as Walker Township. The township was organized on December 30, 1837, the second to be organized in Kent County, and initially comprised all of the land in the county north of the Grand River. The earliest settlers of the township were Canadian immigrants. In 1867, a township hall was built. However, the area where the township hall was annexed into Grand Rapids in 1959.

Walker was established as a city in 1962 to prevent further annexation of the area into Grand Rapids. At the time, it was made a city Walker had a population of 11,000.[6]

On May 22, 2012, nearby Kenowa Hills High School briefly obtained notoriety for having its School Principal Katharine Pennington chastise, then suspend, a group of 64 senior students for the act of riding their bikes to school for Senior Prank day. This was followed by an endorsement of the disciplinary action by the School Superintendent Gerald Hopkins.[7][8][9][10]

A 5,000 seat arena called The DeltaPlex currently resides on Turner Avenue and is home to the Grand Rapids Drive of the NBA Development League.[11]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 25.48 square miles (65.99 km2), of which, 24.94 square miles (64.59 km2) of it is land and 0.54 square miles (1.40 km2) is water.[1]

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1970 11,492 —
1980 15,088 31.3%
1990 17,279 14.5%
2000 21,842 26.4%
2010 23,537 7.8%
Est. 2014 24,468 [12] 4.0%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010 census

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 23,537 people, 9,684 households, and 5,923 families residing in the city. The population density was 943.7 inhabitants per square mile (364.4/km2). There were 10,432 housing units at an average density of 418.3 per square mile (161.5/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 91.3% White, 2.8% African American, 0.5% Native American, 1.9% Asian, 1.4% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.1% of the population.

There were 9,684 households of which 29.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.8% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 38.8% were non-families. 30.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 3.05.

The median age in the city was 34.6 years. 22.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 12.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.7% were from 25 to 44; 25.3% were from 45 to 64; and 12.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.7% male and 51.3% female.

2000 census

As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 21,842 people, 8,805 households, and 5,379 families residing in the city. The population density was 868.3 per square mile (335.2/km²). There were 9,201 housing units at an average density of 365.8 per square mile (141.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.51% White, 1.47% African American, 0.46% Native American, 0.98% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.09% from other races, and 1.45% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.75% of the population.

There were 8,805 households out of which 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.0% were married couples living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.9% were non-families. 30.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.14.

In the city the population was spread out with 25.9% under the age of 18, 12.4% from 18 to 24, 32.1% from 25 to 44, 19.1% from 45 to 64, and 10.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 97.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $44,818, and the median income for a family was $58,912. Males had a median income of $37,438 versus $28,372 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,198. About 3.1% of families and 6.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.0% of those under age 18 and 8.9% of those age 65 or over.

Government

The city of Walker operates with a commission-manager style government, with seven elected officials serving plus the hired city manager. Two representatives are sent from the three wards that comprise Walker as well as the mayor who is elected at large. Unlike in the mayor-manager model, the mayor has no special power other than presiding over meetings. The current mayor is Mark E. Huizenga. Mayor Huizenga also works as a Health Care Consultant for Mark Huizenga Systems Consulting, LLC. Commissioners from the First ward are Al Parent and Dan Kent, Second Ward Gary Carey and Chuck Deschaine Third ward Cynthia Stek and Sandra Howland

The city includes the Dr. Mary E. Walker Memorial U.S. Army Reserve Center.[13]

Economy

Media

Newspaper

Television

  • WZZM 13 is located in Walker.
  • WXSP-CD 15 broadcast tower is located in Walker.

Radio

  • WTRV 100.5 MHz is licensed to Walker. However, the studio is located in downtown Grand Rapids.

Education

Primary and secondary schools

Public schools

School districts serving the City of Walker include Comstock Park Public Schools, Grand Rapids Public Schools, Grandville Public Schools, and Kenowa Hills Public Schools.[16]

Kenowa Hills schools in the Walker city limits include[13] the Kenowa Hills Early Childhood Center/Day Care & Learning Center,[17] (previously Walker Station Elementary School[18]) Kenowa Hills Central Elementary School,[19] (formerly Kenowa Hills Intermediate School[20]) and Zinser Elementary School.[21] The district previously operated Fairview Elementary School in Walker.[22] Kenowa Hills district residents are zoned to Kenowa Hills Middle School and Kenowa Hills High School in Alpine Township.

One Grandville school, Cummings Elementary, is in the city limits.[13][23]

One National Heritage Academies charter school, Walker Charter Academy, is in the city limits.[13][24]

Private schools

Covenant Christian High School and Hope Protestant Reformed Christian School are located in Walker.[13]

Public libraries

The Kent District Library Walker Branch is in Walker.[13][25]

Transportation

Highway

  • I-96 along the north side of the city.
  • US 131 passes through the extreme northeastern part of the city
  • M-11 (Wilson Avenue, Remembrance Drive)
  • M-37 (Alpine Avenue)
  • M-45 (Lake Michigan Drive)

Sister city

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ History of Walker
  7. ↑ Wood TV8, "Biking Kenowa Hills seniors punished".
  8. ↑ Wood TV8, "Parents outraged by bike ride reaction".
  9. ↑ City of Walker, MI "Police blotter May 2012".
  10. ↑ Kenowa Hills Public Schools "Press Release - Statements Regarding the Senior Bike Ride".
  11. ↑ "Fans get first taste of Grand Rapids Drive atmosphere at DeltaPlex Arena"
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 13.5 13.6 13.7 13.8 "Street Map." (Archive) City of Walker. Retrieved on December 25, 2012. The city hall, Fire Station No. 1, the Public Safety and 59th District Court, the Walker Ice & Fitness Center, and library (as "Lib.") are at B1. The Dr. Mary E. Walker Memorial U.S. Army Reserve Center is at B2. The headquarters of Meijer is at A4, labeled as "Meijer Headquarters" - The headquarters of Bissell Inc. are at B4, labeled as "Bissell". The Grand Rapids Press facility is at A3. Kenowa Hills Intermediate Sch. is at B1. Walker Station Elementary School is at B2. Zinser Elementary School is at C2. Cummings Elementary School is at E1. Fairview Elementary School is at B6. Walker Charter Academy is at A4. Covenant Christian High School and Hope Protestant Christian School are at G1. Riverbend Elementary is not in the city limits but is adjacent to G1 and is indicated on the map.
  14. ↑ "Ask a Question." Meijer. Retrieved on December 25, 2012. "Meijer 2929 Walker Ave., NW Grand Rapids, MI 49544-9424"
  15. ↑ "Contact Us." Bissell Inc. Retrieved on December 25, 2012. "2345 Walker Ave NW Grand Rapids, MI 49544"
  16. ↑ "School District Map." (Archive) City of Walker. Retrieved on December 25, 2012.
  17. ↑ "Kenowa Hills Early Childhood Center." Kenowa Hills Central Elementary School. Retrieved on December 26, 2012. "3971 Richmond Court NW Grand Rapids, MI 49534"
  18. ↑ "Walker Station Home Page." Walker Station Elementary School. February 17, 2006. Retrieved on December 26, 2012. "3971 Richmond Ct. NW Grand Rapids, MI 49534"
  19. ↑ "Welcome to Kenowa Hills Central Elementary School." Kenowa Hills Central Elementary School. Retrieved on December 26, 2012. "4252 3 Mile Road, NW Grand Rapids, MI 49534"
  20. ↑ "Kenowa Hills Intermediate School." Kenowa Hills Public Schools. October 18, 2006. Retrieved on December 26, 2012. "4252 Three Mile Road. N.W. Grand Rapids, MI 49534"
  21. ↑ "Welcome to Zinser Elementary." Zinser Elementary School. Retrieved on December 26, 2012. "1234 Kinney, NW Grand Rapids, MI 49534"
  22. ↑ "Fairview Elementary." Kenowa Hills Public Schools. January 12, 2008. Retrieved on December 26, 2012. "2396 Hillside N.W., Grand Rapids, Michigan 49544"
  23. ↑ "Cummings Elementary." Grandville Public Schools. Retrieved on December 26, 2012. "4261 Schoolcraft SW, Grand Rapids MI 49534"
  24. ↑ "Home." Walker Charter Academy. Retrieved on December 26, 2012. "1801 Three Mile Road NW Walker, MI 49544"
  25. ↑ "Walker Branch." Kent District Library. Retrieved on December 27, 2012. "4293 Remembrance Rd. NW, Walker, MI 49534"

External links

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