State of Michigan Plat Maps - Explanation
Michigan State Law requires that the Office of the Great Seal is responsible for all Division Maps. These maps, recorded on the local level at the Kent County Register of Deeds, can be seen on microfich at that office. But they are very hard to read and the staff will not help. Kent County Mapping and Description has the originals which you can SEE (and they are neat) but you will not be allowed to photocopy. The State of Michigan has put them online www.cis.state.mi.us/platmaps/sr_subs.asp. Whoopee!!! Unfortunately, they are only searchable by County, then specific name of a specific plat as the name was entered. Enter the most unusual portion then page down to the right section. Less is more. Once you arrive at the site, there are some maneuvering buttons on top. The first click will not accomplish anything. You must click twice. The white rectangles in the upper left of the bar will advance you to the next page of a multiple-page plat, eventually. And if you don't understand Section numbers see Land 2 portion of Land Intro
The following instructions in finding early City of Grand Rapids include a follow-up to the location of the earliest cemetery, now defunct, within the City Limits for those coming from Kent Cem
Finding early Grand Rapids.
For the Village of Grand Rapids, select Kent Co, then type in "Campau". Every plat with the word "Campau" anywhere in the county will come up. Select "Campau plat #12166" which will give you Pearl Street to Fulton Street, the Grand River to Division Avenue within Walker Twp. The enter "Campau Add #3330".which will give you Fulton Street Park where the original county building was located.
For the Village of Kent, select Kent County, then type in "Kent". Every plat with the word "Kent" in the title anywhere in Kent County will come up. There will be so many, you will probably have to continue onto the next page. Select "Village of Kent #7596". Then t ype in "Taylor Tanner's" and selet #3447 to see how the cemetery was replaced.
For West Village of Grand Rapids Converse
From Heading Geography and the City of Grand Rapids
From web site: MyCityofGrandRapids.info