Ottawa County is included in the Grand Rapids-Kentwood, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area and has a significant Dutch American population.

Much of what we know about the Native American presence in Ottawa County comes from the excavation of archeological artifacts at places like the Battle Point Site.

A fur trading outpost called Gabagouache was first established by Madeline La Framboise and her husband Joseph.

[5] The first permanent settler of the county was a Presbyterian minister, William Montague Ferry, who settled in Grand Haven in 1834.

[7] Dutch settlers started arriving in the area in 1847, led by Albertus van Raalte.

Port Sheldon Township has many lakefront homes and other inland retreats that serve as summer getaways for residents of Grand Rapids, Detroit, and Chicago.

Ottawa County operates the County jail, maintains rural roads, operates the major local courts, records deeds, mortgages, and vital records, administers public health regulations, and participates with the state in the provision of social services.

The county board of commissioners controls the budget and has limited authority to make laws or ordinances.

In Michigan, most local government functions – police and fire, building and zoning, tax assessment, street maintenance etc.

Most of the county's offices are located in either the city of Grand Haven or at the Fillmore complex in Olive Township.

[19] As of 2023, the county's board of commissioners, a majority of whom are members of the advocacy group Ottawa Impact, has been described as "far-right" by national and Michigan-based media organizations.

[28] 11 members, elected from districts (1 Democrat, 10 Republicans) [29] (information correct as of January 2025) Beginning in 2012, County Administrator Alan Vanderberg and the Board of Commissioners adopted the "Four Cs" Initiative including "Cultural Intelligence."

Vanderberg said the slogan is intended to let everyone know they are welcome in Ottawa County, regardless of color, ethnic background, sexual identity, religion or other qualifier.

[31] The county board made numerous changes at their first meeting when sworn in on January 3, 2023; the county slogan was changed to "Where Freedom Rings", the Diversity, equity, and inclusion office was dissolved, the head health official was replaced and a conservative law organization their main legal representative.

[32] The conservative group that promoted the new board members, according to Fox 17, was against the mandated COVID-19 safety measures and cultural diversity policies.

[40] As Pro Tempore, he became, upon the death of Vice President Henry Wilson on November 22, 1875, next in the line of presidential succession, and remained so until March 4, 1877.