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connecting the water supply to downtown Grand Rapids through
Michigan, Lyon and Monroe Streets. After a disastrous fire in 1873, the citizens of Grand Rapids realized they needed a larger supply of water. A water reservoir, which today holds 6 million US gallons (23,000 m) of water, was constructed within the neighborhood. This reservoir was intended to be a backup water supply for the City of Grand Rapids. In 1880, the reservoir leaked and flooded Ottawa St. In 1900, the reservoir failed again and flooded Coldbrook, Newberg, Coit, Clancy, and Bradford Streets. The latter flood caused more than a million dollars in damages.
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74:. Belknap was a Grand Rapids resident who came home from the Civil War in 1871 to serve Grand Rapids as the first commissioner of the Boy Scouts of America, as mayor in 1884 and as a U.S. congressman in 1888. The word Lookout comes from what is perhaps the neighborhood's most prominent feature, Belknap Hill: a 160 ft high bluff overlooking the downtown of the City of Grand Rapids.
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Construction of homes, in significant numbers, did not occur within the neighborhood until 1874. Heavy construction lasted until approximately 1888. Early residents of the
Belknap Lookout neighborhood included the mayor, city attorney, school principal, superintendent, bankers, newspaper editors,
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In its early days, the area was significant for several reasons. First, the neighborhood contained the city's first cemetery. More importantly, the neighborhood contained a spring known as an excellent supply of drinking water. Shortly after the spring's discovery, water pipelines were built
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Due to
Belknap's unique topography, there are over 400 steps on four staircases (Newberry Between Division Ave. and Fairview Ave., Fairbanks between Fairview Ave. and Division Ave., Bradford between Prospect Ave. and North Ave., and Gill Between Clancy Ave. and Barnett St.) throughout the
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I-196 was constructed in 1963, limiting access to the neighborhood from downtown. Fill for the construction came from
Belknap Park. The eroded hillside was rebuilt into the “Earthwork” project, also known as the “X”, by
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A 6-million-US-gallon (23,000 m) reservoir fed from a natural spring serves the city as emergency and evening water supply. The reservoir failed in both 1880 and 1900 causing over $ 1 million in damages to area
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Early residents of
Belknap were served by a complete business district on Michigan Avenue which contained many retail stores. In 1970s this corridor began to develop into a life sciences corridor with Butterworth
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The area which forms the
Belknap Lookout Neighborhood was purchased from the government in 1831 by Charles Dexter. In 1850 the area was included in the original organization of the city of Grand Rapids.
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Coit
Elementary School was built in 1880 and is the oldest operating school building in the state of Michigan. It was restored in 2003 when it merged with the Vandenberg Creative Arts Academy
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physicians, musicians, furniture carvers, and factory foreman. The homes on the West side of the neighborhood tend to be larger and more expensive than those on the East side.
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streets built in the mid-to-late 19th century on
Trowbridge St and North Ave . Local leaders designated both streets as local historic landmarks in 1975.
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The neighborhood is bound by
Leonard on the North, College Ave. on the east, Crescent Street on the south, and the Grand River on the west.
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Heart & Soul: The Story of Grand Rapids
Neighborhoods by Linda Samuelson (Author), Andrew Schrier (Editor)
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in 1974. It is the first major art earthwork to be supported by government funds, including from the
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The name "Belknap Lookout" has two separate derivations. The word Belknap comes from the surname of
262:"Community Research Institute - West Michigan's source for Demographic, Economic, and Social Data"
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Historical Profile, Community Research Institute, Grand Valley State University
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Belknap Lookout is home to several organizations and institutions
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32% of population is under 18 -and- 7% of population is over 65
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Community Insight, Grand Rapids Neighborhoods, Belknap Lookout
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Belknap Lookout area officially became a neighborhood in 1926
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104:- First Commissioner of the Boy Scouts of America, mayor of
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Neighbors of Belknap Lookout Neighborhood Association
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Human settlement in Michigan, United States of America
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Belknap Lookout contained the city's first cemetery
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227:Coit School, Grand Rapids Public Schools
366:Neighborhoods in Grand Rapids, Michigan
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182:American Indian and Alaska Native 1.3%
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108:in 1884, and U.S. Congressmen in 1888
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185:Asian or Pacific Islander 1.7%
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222:NEW Development Corporation
314:Teachable Moments Childcare
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232:Clancy Street Ministries
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92:Unique facts and features
191:Two or more races 5.0%
194:Hispanic/Latino 15.6%
128:Robert Morris (artist)
106:Grand Rapids, Michigan
43:Grand Rapids, Michigan
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188:Some other race 0.3%
167:(2000): 4,234 people
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310:neighborhood profile
342:42.9756°N 85.6633°W
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308:Rapid Growth Media
102:Charles E. Belknap
72:Charles E. Belknap
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347:42.9756; -85.6633
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
