Georgetown Township

Georgetown Township Municipal Water Report Info

Georgetown Township has undergone numerous transformations since its founding. From a lumber town along the river to a peaceful farming settlement, and now a growing suburban community, traces of its history remain visible today.

The Jenison family arrived in 1836 and began harvesting white pine and hardwood trees. By 1838, they owned 1600 acres south of the Grand River along Rush Creek. George Ketchum built sawmills along Rush Creek in 1837, giving the area its name "George's Town." With the Grand River as its northern border, timber could be harvested, processed, and floated downstream to Grand Haven.

While most trees are gone, remnants of this era remain. Ottawa County maintains a timber museum at Hager Hardwood Park. Haire Cemetery on Fillmore is all that's left of Haire's landing. A few pilings in the Grand River mark Blendon Landing—once a company town with sawmill, housing, saloon and homes just south of Grand Valley State University.

The Grand River was a busy waterway between Grand Rapids and Grand Haven from 1836 until 1910. Today, the Grand Lady paddle wheeler operated by Bill Boynton helps recreate the atmosphere of this historic era. By the 1870s, most timber was gone, and fields required clearing of stumps before agricultural use.

Many successful farmers established themselves in Georgetown Township, including the Jenison and Lowing families along with Dutch immigrants. Grain crops and dairy farms like Blissveldt Farm and Cedar Crest Dairy thrived. The L and L Jenison Mill operated from 1864 until 1953, producing the popular Pride of the Valley flour. Today, the Jenison Historical Museum preserves much of this local history.