Allendale is a census-designated place (CDP) in Ottawa County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 27,073 at the 2020 census. It is a part of the Grand Rapids-Muskegon-Holland, Michigan combined statistical area, and is an exurb of Grand Rapids, due to its major commuter routes into the city (M-45 and I-96).

The CDP's ZIP code 49401 serves most of the township, as well as portions of Blendon Township to the south and Georgetown Township to the southeast.

Allendale is named for the township. The township was organized in 1849, state senator Pennoyer changed the name to Allendale, after Agnes Allen, the first person on the tax roll in the area and the widow of Hannibal Allen, who was the son of Revolutionary War hero Ethan Allen.

Allendale is home to the main campus of Grand Valley State University.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of , of which is land and (3.78%) is water.

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2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Allendale had a population of 27,073. The median age was 21.3 years. 15.3% of residents were under the age of 18 and 4.9% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 82.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 80.3 males age 18 and over.

There were 8,114 households in Allendale, of which 24.7% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 34.1% were married-couple households, 26.1% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 34.3% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 24.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

! Race !! Number !! Percent

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| White || 23,148 || 85.5%

|-

| Black or African American || 1,268 || 4.7%

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| American Indian and Alaska Native || 128 || 0.5%

|-

| Asian || 458 || 1.7%

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| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 3 || 0.0%

|-

| Some other race || 713 || 2.6%

|-

| Two or more races || 1,355 || 5.0%

|-

| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) || 1,807 || 6.7%

|}

2000 census

As of the census

Parks

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Allendale Community Park is a 40-acre park situated near the township office. It contains a Veterans Garden of Honor honoring U.S. soldiers. It contains nine statues representing veterans of U.S. wars. One of the statues, installed in 1998, depicting a Confederate and Union soldier standing back-to-back with a young slave crouched between them at their feet, has been controversial for seeming to honor the Confederacy.

During the George Floyd protests in 2020, the Allendale Township Board voted on June 30, 2020 to keep it.

Points of interest

On Campus

  • Lubbers Stadium, home of Grand Valley State Laker football.
  • Cook Carillon Tower
  • The Meadows at Grand Valley State University
  • GVSU Fieldhouse

Off Campus

  • Grand River
  • Bass River State Recreation Area
  • Placid Wake Park
  • Grand River Park

Local media

Newspapers

  • Grand Valley Lanthorn

Radio

  • WGVU-FM (88.5 FM Allendale/Grand Rapids) – GVSU Public Radio (NPR/Jazz)
  • WCKS "The Whale" – GVSU student run radio

Television

  • WGVU-TV – GVSU PBS member station
  • GVBN – GVSU student run television station

Transportation

Mass transit

  • The Rapid provides bus service to the Grand Valley State University Allendale campus. The Laker Line connects the Allendale campus to Downtown Grand Rapids, and The Rapid operates additional shuttle services in Allendale, connecting to off-campus housing.

Major highways

References

  • Allendale Charter Township