Middleville offers peaceful living in southwest Michigan
Middleville is a small village in Barry County, featuring picturesque surroundings and proximity to bigger cities. Sitting alongside nature trails and preserves, the Thornapple River flows through and bisects the community, offering many outdoor opportunities. Public schools and local businesses are concentrated in the village proper, and residents can shop or eat locally along Main Street. “Middleville is a rural community in nature,” says Kay Stolsonburg, managing broker at Bellabay Realty with over 30 years of experience. “It’s a small farming town surrounded by lots of farms, and it’s a family-oriented place with traditional values. Hastings, which is the biggest city in Barry County, is about 15 minutes away. Medical care and entertainment venues are in Grand Rapids.” The community has a CAP Index crime score of 2 out of 10, lower than the national average of 4.
Village homes mix 20th-century styles with new builds
The community landscape is shaped by rolling plains and farmlands,, with the village center nestled among mature trees and woodlands. Neighborhood streets are usually linear paths that gently curve into residential cul-de-sacs, and some roads have narrow sidewalks. Many houses were built throughout the 20th century, including a mix of cottages, ranch-style homes and split-levels. New builds are also available, many of which have New Traditional styles. Properties in the village usually have quarter-acre lots, while houses out in the country are farther apart, with bigger lots and more privacy from neighbors. Single-family homes typically go between approximately $200,000 and $550,000, with new developments starting at around $400,000. Condos and manufactured homes are in the $200,000s. Stolsonburg said houses outside the village use private septic tanks and well water.
Thornapple Kellogg schools serve most local students
The community is mostly served by Thornapple Kellogg Schools. Primary education is covered by three schools: McFall Elementary teaches prekindergarten and first graders, Lee Elementary School serves second and third grades, and Page Elementary School is for fourth and fifth-grade students. Each school earns a B, an A-minus and a B-plus grade from Niche, respectively. Thornapple Kellogg Middle School also has a B-plus, and Thornapple Kellogg High School gets a B, with sports teams for football, swimming, golf and tennis. Higher-education institutes like Grand Rapids Community College and Calvin University are about 25 miles away in Grand Rapids.
Parks and trails offer year-round recreation in Middleville
Middleville has several boat launches along the Thornapple River for boating and fishing. Stagecoach Park has a trail that runs parallel to the river, which doubles as a popular spot for cross-country skiing in winter. The park is also the gathering place for many community events, including concerts and local markets. Connecting Grand Rapids to Eaton Rapids, the multi-purpose Paul Henry Thornapple Trail offers biking and recreation opportunities. For sports activities, Calvin Hill Park has a basketball court and a skateboard park, and local baseball and softball leagues practice at Crane Road Ball Fields.
Shopping and dining options along village thoroughfares
Restaurants and businesses line around Main Street and Michigan Route 37. Riverdog Tavern serves classic American food, and Thornapple Kitchen is a popular place for breakfast and homestyle comfort meals. Groceries and daily essentials are available at Harding's Friendly Markets and Dollar General. The area’s farmers market, known as Middleville Market, runs from May to October, and residents can shop for locally-grown produce and artisan goods. The nearest Walmart is about 10 miles away in Hastings.
Distance to airport and hospitals in Grand Rapids
Michigan Route 37 runs through Middleville, and Grand Rapids, the region’s main metropolitan area, is about 25 miles north of the community. The city is also home to many medical centers, including Corewell Health Grand Rapids Hospitals and University of Michigan Health-West. “The availability of world-class medical care on the Medical Mile is huge,” Stolsonburg says. “There are lots of opportunities for people who want to go into the medical fields.” Gerald R. Ford International Airport is approximately 20 miles away.
Community celebrations in the village
The community celebrates Middleville’s history with a Heritage Day festival, featuring food, music, art, games and a local market. Other activities include a morning parade, a car show, a cornhole tournament and a long-held tradition of a turkey dinner at the local fire station.
