Ottawa County was named after the Indian tribe who lived along the banks of the Grand River . Ottawa County is located in the southwestern section of Michigan 's Lower Peninsula, with its western boundary being Lake Michigan . The word " Ottawa " comes from an Algonquin word " Adawe " meaning "to trade". The Ottawa were great hunters and fisherman and became important in the fur trade. One of the areas first settlers was a fur trader by the name of Rix Robinson who with his Indian wife established a trading post on the Grand River . This location in 1835 was given its name Grand Haven due to its location at the mouth of the Grand River . When fur trading declined, the lumber industry took over and in 1881; 200 million board feet of lumber were shipped from the port of Grand Haven . Just across the Grand River from Grand Haven is Spring Lake . The lake is known for its clear, magnetic mineral springs which are said to be especially great for swimming. In 1847 the city of Holland was established by an European immigrant by the name Albertus Christiaan Van Raalte who with his followers was seeking religious freedom in America .   He modeled a colony after his native Holland . Much of Ottawa County was settled by Dutch immigrants and forty-five percent of the population claim Dutch ancestry. Today people from all over the world come to the "Tulip Time" festival each spring and it's said to be the third largest such festival in the nation. With 30 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline, ample fishing and hunting opportunities all along the Grand River, Ottawa County makes a strong showing in our Michigan Heritage.

Ottawa County Websites and Locations of Interest

http://www.infomi.com/county/ottawa/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ottawa_County%2C_Michigan