Michigan

Kent

657,974
2020 population
1840
first census record
19
census records

About Kent

Kent, Michigan, first appears in the United States federal census in 1840, when it recorded a population of 2,587. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 657,974.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, one documented military engagement has been recorded within the county, among them Grand River Hopewell Conflict – Michigan, and 58 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020657,974
2010602,622
2000574,335
1990500,631
1980444,506
1970411,044
1960363,187
1950288,292
1940246,338
1930240,511
1920183,041
1910159,145
1900129,714
1890109,922
188073,253
187050,403
186030,716
185012,016
18402,587
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Kent

Military engagements that took place in Kent, Michigan.

Grand River Hopewell Conflict – Michigan
1100

Historic places in Kent

National Register of Historic Places listings in Kent, Michigan.

U.S. Post Office
Grand Rapids
Heritage Hill Historic District
Grand Rapids
Paddock, Augustus, House
Grand Rapids
Ledyard Block Historic District
Grand Rapids
Mt. Mercy Academy and Convent
Grand Rapids
Aldrich, Godfrey, and White Block
Grand Rapids
Fallasburg Historic District
Vergennes Township
Pike, Abram W., House
Grand Rapids
Ford, President Gerald R., Jr., Boyhood Home
Grand Rapids
Blodgett, John W., Estate
East Grand Rapids
Peck Block
Grand Rapids
Ladies' Literary Club
Grand Rapids
Fallasburg Covered Bridge
Lowell
Third Reformed Church
Grand Rapids
Division Avenue-Plaster Creek Bridge
Grand Rapids
Alten, Mathias., House and Studio
Grand Rapids
Ada Covered Bridge
Ada
Norton Mound Group
Grand Rapids
Thornapple River Drive Bridge
Cascade Township
Grand Rapids Savings Bank Building
Grand Rapids
Business Route M-21-Plaster Creek Bridge
Wyoming
Downtown Lowell Historic District
Lowell
Berkey and Gay Furniture Company Factory
Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids Christian High School
Grand Rapids
Browse all Michiganhistoric sites ›

Other counties in Michigan

Explore census history and historic records for more Michigan counties.

LeelanauLenaweeLivingstonLuceMackinacMacombManisteeManitouMarquetteMasonMecostaMenomineeMidlandMissaukeeMonroeMontcalmMontmorencyMuskegonNewaygoOakland
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Everything a full report reveals about Kent County, Michigan

This page charts the census history of Kent County, Michigan. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Kent

When does Kent first appear in the US census?
Kent, Michigan first appears in the federal census in 1840, with a recorded population of 2,587.
What is the population of Kent?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Kent had a recorded population of 657,974.
Were any battles fought in Kent?
1 documented military engagement took place in Kent, including Grand River Hopewell Conflict – Michigan.
How many historic places are in Kent?
58 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Kent, Michigan.
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