Kentwood is a city in Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan.

After considering several options, the City of Kentwood was given that name because the driving force behind incorporation, first Mayor Peter M. Lamberts, decided to name it after the largest public school system in the area, the Kentwood Public Schools.

The city's first mayor was Peter M. Lamberts, who served in that post for its first 12 years, from 1967 until 1979.

Subsequent mayors have included Marvin Hoeflinger (1979–1981), Gerald DeRuiter (1981–1992), Bill Hardiman (1992–2002), Richard Root (2002–2012), Richard Clanton (2012–2013), and Stephen Kepley (2013–present).

As of the census[11] of 2010, there were 48,707 people, 19,741 households, and 12,345 families residing in the city.

30.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

30.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

The mayor pro tempore is selected by the city commission; Ward 1 Commissioner Robert Coughlin currently serves in this role.

Mayor Stephen Kepley, who at the time was the City Engineer, was the project manager for the new library.

The library was named the Richard L. Root Library after Kentwood's fifth mayor, who led the city commission and residents in approving a dedicated millage for its construction.

The library is located next to an old landfill that received federal funds to make it one of the many superfund sites in the United States.

Previously, the Kentwood Library had been located on Kalamazoo Avenue south of 44th Street, on property donated by the Bowen/Stauffer family.