Michigan

Ottawa

296,200
2020 population
1840
first census record
19
census records

About Ottawa

Ottawa, Michigan, first appears in the United States federal census in 1840, when it recorded a population of 208. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 296,200.

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

On the ground today, 28 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020296,200
2010263,801
2000238,314
1990187,768
1980157,174
1970128,181
196098,719
195073,751
194059,660
193054,858
192047,660
191045,301
190039,667
189035,358
188033,126
187026,651
186013,215
18505,587
1840208
Source

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

Historic places in Ottawa

National Register of Historic Places listings in Ottawa, Michigan.

Piers and Revetments at Grand Haven, Michigan
Grand Haven
Holland Old City Hall and Fire Station
Holland
Cappon, Isaac, House
Holland
Olive Township District No. 1 School
Olive Township
Morrissey, Thomas and Anna, House
Holland
Grand Haven Historic District
Grand Haven
Holland Downtown Historic District
Holland
Ottawa Beach Historic District
Ottawa Beach
Van Raalte, Benjamin, House
Holland
Holland Reformed Protestant Dutch Church
Holland
De Zwaan Windmill
Holland
Holland Historic District
Holland
Robbins, Nathaniel and Esther (Savidge), House
Grand Haven
Fruitport Road-Pettys Bayou Bridge
Spring Lake Township
Grand Trunk Western Railroad Grand Haven Coal Tipple
Grand Haven
Gold, Egbert H., Estate
Holland
Holland Historic District (Boundary Increase)
Holland
De Pree, Max and Esther, House
Zeeland
Grand Rapids, Grand Haven and Muskegon Railway Depot
Coopersville
Spoonville Site
Crockery
Ferry, Edward P., House
Grand Haven
Bilz, Aloys, House
Spring Lake
Pere Marquette Railway Locomotive #1223
Grand Haven
Hudsonville Christian School
Hudsonville
Browse all Michiganhistoric sites ›

Other counties in Michigan

Explore census history and historic records for more Michigan counties.

InghamIoniaIoscoIronIsabellaIsle RoyalJacksonKalamazooKalkaskaKentKeweenawLakeLapeerLeelanauLenaweeLivingstonLuceMackinacMacombManistee
Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Ottawa County, Michigan

This page charts the census history of Ottawa 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.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Ottawa County, Michigan report
Or see a real report first

Explore Michigan records

Michiganhistory ›NRHP historic sites ›Notable people from Michigan›

Frequently asked about Ottawa

When does Ottawa first appear in the US census?
Ottawa, Michigan first appears in the federal census in 1840, with a recorded population of 208.
What is the population of Ottawa?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Ottawa had a recorded population of 296,200.
How many historic places are in Ottawa?
28 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Ottawa, Michigan.
Aubrey Research

Research the history of any US location

Aubrey searches federal archives, archaeological records, historic registers, and primary sources to build a full historical report for any address or place in the United States.

Research your locationView a free sample report