Danish heritage runs deep in this small Michigan city
Greenville’s history is synonymous with Danish heritage. In 1934, Hendrik Meijer, a Danish barber, and his 14-year-old son, Fredrik, opened the first Meijer grocery store in the city. Hendrik Meijer passed away in 1964, and Fred Meijer took over the company, expanding it across the Midwest. “We are the home of Frederik Meijer groceries, and that is what our city is known for,” says Mary Ann Rittersdorf, office administrator of Public Services for the City of Greenville. “We have very strong Danish roots that show in our annual Danish Festival.” The festival attracts thousands to the city each year and spans four days. While Meijer remains one of the area's most influential employers, Greenville is also known as a hub for refrigeration and automotive manufacturing. The city's proximity to Grand Rapids, 30 miles south, also means additional job opportunities for those who commute.
The City of Greenville is 45 minutes Northeast of Grand Rapids.
The deep Danish heritage can be felt around town, especially during the annual Danish Festival.
1/2
Over 100 acres of park space in Greenville
With 10 public parks spanning more than 100 acres of green space, Greenville has something for everyone. Baldwin Lake, located in the city’s southern half, features a 2-acre beach, the only public swimming area for residents. The Danish Kingdom Play Structure, located in the city’s eastern half, is a 14,000-square-foot wooden play structure with murals of Hans Christian Andersen, a famous Danish author.
Tower Riverside Park hosts free concerts, while Tower Mountain is a 10-acre park with a sledding and tubing hill. The Fred Meijer Flat River Valley Trail, which runs parallel to the Flat River, is a 21-mile trail that begins in Lowell, Michigan and ends at Jackson’s Landing Park in Greenville.
Alan G. Davis Park is known for the large playground, Danish Kingdom, in Greenville.
Tower Park in Greenville features a full disc-golf course, crossed by the Flat River Trail.
1/2
Danish Festival celebrates city heritage
As a resident of Greenville, chances are someone has mentioned or attended the annual Danish Festival. “The Danish Festival is a whole weekend at Veterans Park, filled with hot air balloons, a parade, and anything else you can think of when it comes to having fun,” says Rittersdorf. An open-air breakfast kicks off the festival season, offering a traditional Danish breakfast with sausage links, egg casserole, a slice of watermelon, and æbleskivers, traditional Danish pancake balls. The Danish Dash competition is a 5K run/walk accessible to people of all ages. The race begins near Baldwin Heights Elementary School and ends on Marvel Drive, with scenic views of Taylor Hops throughout the route. The Meijer Grand Dansk Parade immediately follows the conclusion of the race.
Scholarship program through the Education Foundation of Greenville
Greenville Public Schools is the area's primary school district here and serves nearly 3,000 students in pre-kindergarten through Grade 12. The district earns a B rating from Niche and oversees eight schools, supported by the Education Foundation of Greenville, a volunteer-based organization that provides scholarship opportunities to district students. Michigan State University and Grand Valley State University are the nearest four-year public universities.
Greenville Middle School has an overall B rating on Niche.com.
Greenville Senior High School has an overall B- rating on Niche.com.
1/2
Stroll along the Greenville Social District
The Greenville Social District, located in the heart of downtown, includes local restaurants like Winter Inn and Flo’s Pizzeria Ristorante & Sports Bar along Lafayette Street. Those aged 21 and older can consume alcohol publicly within this district. Novelty shops like O'Conner Shoe Store and Park End Books are also located on this main road. While big-box supermarket chains like Meijer and Walmart Supercenter are in the city's western half. National fast-food chains like McDonald's, Taco Bell and KFC are common along State Route 57.
O'Connor Shoes is a family-owned store in Greenville specializing in high-quality work boots.
Greenville's historic downtown features numerous older buildings built in the early 1900's.
1/2
New apartment homes near Meijer
With a population of 9,000, Greenville residents primarily live in 20th-century single-family bungalows and ranch-style homes. The median home price in Greenville is $240,000, about half the national median. “Our city is getting bigger each year as we are expanding, and one thing that is coming is new apartment complexes,” says Veronica Pitchford, assistant director of Flat River Community Library. These new apartment complexes, such as Crescent View Village, will offer 1- and 2-bedroom apartments behind Marketplace Shoppes.
Smaller bungalow style homes are common on the edges around downtown Greenville.
Spacious ranch-style homes become more common a few blocks away from downtown Greenville.
1/2
A car-dependent city with public transportation options
Greenville residents will need a car to navigate in and out of the city. However, Greenville offers public transportation via scheduled bus rides. “At this point, we do have a transit system, but I would say you need a car to get around,” says Pitchford. Long, sprawling rural roads comprise most of the city, with Michigan State Route 57 serving as the main thoroughfare. The nearest interstate is 30 miles outside of the city. The Gerald R. Ford International Airport, the nearest commercial airport, is 40 miles south in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Corewell Health Greenville Hospital is located within city limits.
Low crime and environmental concerns
According to the FBI Crime Data Explorer, Greenville’s crime rates, including larceny, have decreased over the past two years. Due to the city’s proximity to the Flat River, residents should expect flood warnings in the city's southern half.
Written By
Elgin Nelson
Photography Contributed By
Tyler Bolduc
Video By
Patrick Johnson
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Hunter Nelson,
an experienced agent in this area.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
On average, homes in Greenville, MI sell after 25 days on the market compared to the national average of 55 days. The median sale price for homes in Greenville, MI over the last 12 months is $290,000, up 8% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Private, wooded, waterfront setting best describes this four-bedroom, three-bath home featuring 2,700 square feet of finished living area. Main floor features large kitchen with island bar, eating area, slider to front deck , spacious living room with plenty of windows for natural lighting and great views. Primary suite with walk in closet, full bath and slider to private deck. 2nd bedroom and
Welcome to one of Baldwin Lake's most exceptional waterfront properties, where privacy, sandy shoreline, and panoramic lake and nature views create an unmatched retreat. Perfectly situated on 4+ acres, this custom 4000+ sq. ft. home offers 470' of frontage, mature trees, and a peaceful setting just minutes from downtown Greenville. Inside, contemporary architecture meets timeless craftsmanship
Welcome to this charming and meticulously maintained home in the highly sought-after Baldwin Woods neighborhood! Nestled on 1.27 acres with access to Baldwin Lake, this 3-bedroom, 3-bath home offers the perfect blend of comfort and space. The massive main-floor primary suite features two walk-in closets and a private slider leading out to the deck, while the main level also includes a spacious
New construction home in Hathaway Woods in the Greenville school district. This thoughtfully designed split-level home offers 2,072 square feet, 4 bedrooms, and 2 full baths with a layout that maximizes both shared living space and private retreats. The kitchen showcases desirable upgrades including quartz countertops, a tile backsplash, white cabinetry, and a complete stainless steel appliance
With over 2,000 square feet of living space, this 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath floorplan is sure to please! The home features a large great room along with a well-designed kitchen layout with an optional center island plus a spacious dining nook. The large mud room is a multi-functional space, tucked away from the main living space, and includes a walk in laundry room as well as a powder room. The second
This traditional 2 story home features 4 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths and over 1,900 sqft of living space. The sharp new design is efficiently laid out with a spacious, open concept first floor, bedrooms on the second, and plenty of storage throughout. The large great room is open to the kitchen and dedicated dining nook. Transition to the mudroom, which has access to a closet, guest powder room and
This unique traditional-yet-open floor plan features the kitchen and great room situated in the rear of the home. Multiple first floor and second floor options means this spacious home will fit a variety of needs! Finish the basement for even more space to include a guest bedroom with full bath and rec room.
Allen Edwin Homes invites you to experience a grand addition to the Elements Collection. This 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath home features over 2,700 sq. ft. of living space and seamlessly blends space with style in perfect harmony. The large two story foyer flows directly into a great multi-functional room that can used as a den or study. Right around the corner is a main floor powder room which is an
This traditional two story home features 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths and over 1,500 square feet of living space. The large great room has open sight lines into the kitchen and eating nook. The first floor also includes a guest powder room, laundry room and mudroom. Head upstairs to the primary suite, which features a private bath and spacious walk in closet. Two additional bedrooms and a full bath
This thoughtfully designed ranch home offers 1,252 square feet with 2 bedrooms and 1 full bath, delivering the ease of single-story living without sacrificing space or style. The open layout creates a natural flow between the great room, kitchen, and dining area, making the home feel bright, comfortable, and connected. Whether enjoying a quiet evening or hosting friends, the main living space
Located in Greenville Michigan, Central Park Apartments offers comfort and convenience for the most discerning tastes. Our apartment homes feature modern finishes in the kitchens & baths, available carports, and open 1, 2, & 3-bedroom floor plans. With a wide array of amenities to enjoy, such as our clubhouse with 24hr fitness center, playground, and many more you may never want to leave! If you
EDGEWATER PROPERTIES features three distinct communities: Edgewater Apartments located at 825 Greenville West Drive, offers two bedroom floor plans. Maplewood Square Apartments located at 134 Maplewood Drive, offers one and two bedroom floor plans. Meadow Ridge Apartments located at 1605 Meijer Drive, offers one, two and three bedroom floor plans. Edgewater Properties are conveniently located in
Located in Greenville these apartments are just minutes away from Greenville Middle school and High School. These apartments are near retail shopping, medical services, and the Fred Meijer Trail. Each unit features a Modern kitchen with dishwasher, entry intercom security system, carports available, Coin-operated laundry facility. Heat, water, sewer, and trash are all included.
BRAND NEW APARTMENTS AVAILABLE NOW! Granite Counter Tops, Stainless Steel Appliances, Washer and Dryer in unit, and more! Crescent View Village is a beautiful luxury community in a natural setting located conveniently in Greenville's "Walkable" west side with nearby access to retail shopping, medical services, the Fred Meijer Flat River Trail and Greenville Public Schools.
Property Id: 1530173 Welcome to your new home on this lower level, home apartment. This unit has new everything! Energy efficient windows, siding, insulation, plumbing, refinished kitchen cabinets, flooring throughout, doors, lights, forced air furnace, central ac unit, and bathroom are all completely new! It also has a new cement parking pad for ample off-street parking. It has a spacious
Property Id: 86135 Downtown Greenville apartment which is one block away from Winter Inn. This cozy one bedroom, one bathroom, upstairs apartment is just the right size for one or two people. No Smoking and No Pets. Income requirement is $2,475.00 per month take home pay. We require 6 weeks of income verification. Security is $825.00. Please complete prescreening
Local Logic measures the walkability, access to public transit and bikeability of any address. CAP Index provides objective, accurate, and consistent data to help measure, compare, and mitigate crime risks.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
