[1] It is named for New York jurist and legal scholar James Kent,[4] who represented the Michigan Territory in its dispute with Ohio over the Toledo Strip.

Kent County is part of the Grand Rapids–Kentwood Metropolitan Statistical Area and is West Michigan's economic and manufacturing center.

[5] In the 18th century the Odawa migrated to this area and established multiple villages along the Grand River valley.

[9][10][11] One year later, government surveyor Lucius Lyon purchased land north of Campau's property.

By the end of the century, stimulated by the construction of several sawmills, the area was a significant center for agriculture, logging, and manufacturing furniture.

[13] Kent County's highest point is Fisk Knob Park,[14] in Solon Township, at 1048 feet.

Commercial air service to Grand Rapids is provided by Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR).

Amtrak provides direct train service to Chicago from the passenger station via the Pere Marquette line.

CPMY is independent, and focuses more on their excursion service between their namesake cities in Ottawa County than on their small freight business in Kent.

These corporations are headquartered in Kent County, in the following communities: The county government operates the jail, maintains rural roads, operates the major local courts, keeps files of deeds and mortgages, maintains vital records, administers public health regulations, and participates with the state in the provision of welfare and other social services.

In Michigan, most local government functions—police and fire, building and zoning, tax assessment, street maintenance, etc.—are the responsibility of individual cities and townships.

(information as of 2022 election) In 1996, Kent County prosecutors were responsible for charging James King, a College student who was beaten by police.

The GOP only lost the county in four presidential elections from 1888 to 2004, two of which saw the Democratic Party win over 400 electoral votes nationwide.

In 2008, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama narrowly carried the county, receiving 49.34% of its votes to Republican John McCain's 48.83%.

[30] Four years later, Republican Donald Trump won the county with 47.66% of the vote, to 44.61% for his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton, while Gary Johnson of the Libertarian Party received 4.58%.

[35][36][37] In the House of Representatives, the bulk of the county has been located in Michigan's 3rd congressional district since the 1993 redistricting cycle.

Vander Veen was ousted by Republican Harold S. Sawyer in 1976, and the GOP held the seat without interruption until Scholten's win in 2022.

A sliver of northern and eastern Kent County, including Cedar Springs and Lowell, is in the 2nd congressional district, represented by Republican John Moolenaar.