Ottawa County is growing. But where is it growing the most?
OTTAWA COUNTY — Ottawa County saw its population grow by nearly 2,500 residents in 2023, according to estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau compiled by the Department of Strategic Impact.
The estimates show the county population at 303,372 in 2023, up 0.8% over 2022.
Data shows 20 of the county’s 24 municipalities saw a population increase from 2022 to 2023. Of the four areas that saw a decrease, two were by less than 10 residents.
The largest percentage of growth was in Jamestown Township, which grew 2.5% from 9,950 residents to 10,199. That was followed by Grand Haven Township at 2.3% and the Hudsonville at 2.2%.
Grand Haven Township saw the most new residents, with a population increase of 435 people. Holland had the next largest increase at 376.
Spring Lake had the largest percentage decline, losing 0.6% of its population, followed by Zeeland at 0.5% and Ferrysburg at 0.3%.
Zeeland lost the most residents from 2022 to 2023, in total 27. Spring Lake lost 14 people, Ferrysburg lost eight and Coopersville lost just one, according to estimates.
Georgetown Township remains the county’s most populated municipality with 55,145 residents in 2023, up from 54,931 the year prior.
Holland Township was second with 39,997, followed by the Ottawa County portion of Holland with 26,713 (plus another 7,827 in Allegan County), Allendale Township at 26,691, Grand Haven Township at 19,255 and Park Township at 19,033.
The least populated municipalities in Ottawa County are Chester Township (2,106 residents), Spring Lake (2,521), Polkton Township (2,584), Ferrysburg (2,931) and Wright Township (3,179).
From 2020-23, Ottawa County’s overall population has grown by 2.2%, according to estimates. In that time, Grand Haven, Port Sheldon, Jamestown and Blendon Townships have all seen their populations grow by at least 5%. Zeeland has seen the largest decline in that span, dropping by 1.3%.
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According to census estimates, Ottawa County was the seventh most populated county in Michigan in 2023. It also saw the most year-over-year growth of any county in the Top 10.
For more information on the county’s population numbers, visit the Department of Strategic Impact at miottawa.org/strategicimpact.
— Contact reporter Mitchell Boatman at mboatman@hollandsentinel.com.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: These Ottawa County areas saw the most population growth in 2023
