Greenville, Michigan

Baldwin Lake Beach

Baldwin Lake Beach offers a pavilion and two acres of white sand beach on the cool shores of Baldwin Lake.[9]

The swimming area is small with no docks in water off the beach. The pavilion has vending machines and changing rooms. No lifeguard oversees swimmers.

Greenville Michigan Fred Meijer Trail

Greenville has a well-developed trail system. The eight mile long Fred Meijer Flat River Trail connects Greenville's major parks and circumnavigates the city.[10] Greenville is also the terminus of the 41 mile long Fred Meijer Heartland Trail.[11] This trail connects Greenville to Alma, and various other communities in Montcalm and Gratiot counties. Mountain biking is available at both the Shearer Road and Edward's Creek mountain bike paths.[12]

[13]

Tower Mountain Ski Area

The Tower Mountain ski area offers the county's only tow rope operated skiing/sledding area and is free to the public.[14] Greenville also offers miles of cross country skiing trails at both the Greenville Community Center and along the snow-covered bike trails in the winter.

Canoe access to the Flat River is available at Jackson's Landing, a popular starting point for paddling through the Flat River State Game area.[15]

Greenville has a proud culture of ice shanty building and annually displays some of its most technologically advanced creations on the area's many fishing lakes.[16]

This historic stadium was carved into a hillside south of the Union School building and was home to Greenville High School's football team since 1933. The field was donated to the school by Dr. D. K. Black and was officially dedicated on October 15, 1936. This field has since been retired and a new stadium has been built on site at Greenville Senior High.[17]

This historical structure was built in 1902 and was originally the Cass St School building.[7] The building was then used as the Board of Education before being renovated and turned into the Fighting Falcon Museum.

The multi-steepled First Congregational Church was completed on June 6, 1880. The front of the building is adorned with a twelve-foot wide rose window. This building is actually the second First Congregational Church in Greenville. The original First Congregational Church was built in 1856, bought by Saint Paul's Episcopal Church and moved down the street.[18]

Greenville's original shopping district on Lafayette street showcases early 20th century architecture from the bluffs of the Flat River to Greenville's city hall. Among longtime local businesses is Kemp Insurance Sure which has been located on Lafayette since 1879. Currently, several buildings are undergoing facade renovation, restoring them to original construction.

A copy of Denmark's The Little Mermaid sits along the banks of the Flat River. This little statue generated an international controversy when the City of Greenville was sued for copyright infringement by the heirs of the original sculptor, Edvard Eriksen.

Established October 10, 1972, the Flat River Historical Museum stands on the banks of the Flat River on the same site where John Green built his cabin, a dam across the flat river, and the sawmill that brought jobs and the village's first residents.[19]

The Washington Street Armory was un-commissioned after the completion of the modern armory that was built next door. In 1981 it was converted into a roller rink.

[20] The story book castle murals were completed by a local artist, Eston King. A fire in 2006 caused extensive damage to the roof and it was demolished in 2011.[20]

The third weekend in August celebrates Greenville's Danish heritage as well as its modern-day Midwestern spirit.

Greenville's farms are located in Montcalm County's Soil Preservation District. Greenville is surrounded by potato, corn, dairy, and Christmas tree farms. Greenville was home to Ore-ida's tater tots division, until Oreida consolidated its operation in 1986[21][22] and Greenville's farmers were forced to diversify their crops.

Greenville has an active 4H program and each summer hosts the Montcalm County 4H Fair. This fair displays livestock competitions, tractors pulls, a busy midway, and a demolition derby.[23]

Greenville is home to an active arts scene. The Greenville Area Recreation and Community Center is home to the Hans Christian Andersen Theater (HCAT), which puts on productions for children, teens, and adults.[24] The Flat River Community Players also stages productions of American plays at the Greenville Community Center Theater.[25] The award-winning Greenville High School music program consists of a marching band, concert band, jazz band, orchestra, symphonic orchestra, and the Village Green singers.[26]

As of the census[32] of 2010, there were 8,481 people, 3,464 households, and 2,138 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,337.7 inhabitants per square mile (516.5/km²). There were 3,826 housing units at an average density of 603.5 per square mile (233.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.3% White, 0.3% African American, 0.5% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.8% from other races, and 2.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.9% of the population.

There were 3,464 households, of which 35.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.8% were married couples living together, 17.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 38.3% were non-families. 32.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.98.

The median age in the city was 34.7 years. 26.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.3% were from 25 to 44; 22.4% were from 45 to 64; and 15.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.2% male and 52.8% female.