Polkton Township blends farm town living with highway access
Undeveloped land and rural roads give Polkton Township a small-town feeling while still being close to Interstate 96. “The first thing that comes to mind is that it’s a really quaint farm town,” says Stephanie Langeland, a Realtor with 616 Realty who lives and sells in the area. “Lots of farms, mostly dairy.” Some farms, like Sunflower Meadows, are even open to the public seasonally for corn mazes and pumpkin picking. Langeland says the area has a friendly, neighborly community that helps each other out in times of need. "A lot of people have been here for a very long time,” she says. “I call them lifers because they never move.”
Some farm houses date back to the 1800s, others are newly built
Polkton Township has a few different housing styles, but Langeland says farmhouses are the most common. “They don’t necessarily look like typical farmhouses, but they are,” she says. There are also some ranch-style homes and two-story Traditional options. Some homes date back to the late 1800s, but there is some new construction in the area. Prices typically range from around $180,000 to $520,000. Occasionally, a house will go for over $1 million. Properties tend to be more spread out than in neighboring Coopersville.
Early college program offers high schoolers a head start
Preschoolers through first graders can attend West Early Childhood Center, which earns a C-plus from Niche. East Elementary serves second and third grade, and students can continue to South Elementary for third through fifth grade. Both Schools get a B-minus grade. Coopersville Middle and Coopersville High each have a B rating. The early college program allows high schoolers to earn both a diploma and an associate degree from Muskegon Community College. Coopersville participates in Michigan’s Schools of Choice and offers interdistrict transfers. Lamont Christian School is a private option for preschool through eighth grade. It does not currently have a grade from Niche.
Parks and trails offer hiking, skiing, boating and horseback riding
Sheridan Park is owned by the township. It contains multiple creeks, different types of wildlife and wildflowers. In the winter, hiking trails are used for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. West Bur Oak Landing is a 145-acre open space near the Grand River that’s often used for hiking, fishing and archery deer hunting. Deer Creek County Park has a launch for small boats and canoes. Eastmanville Farm was turned into a park with equestrian trails and a park lot that can accommodate horse trailers. The North Bank Trail runs along the former Grand Trunk Western Railroad for 18 miles through several communities, including Polkton Township. The Musketawa Trail runs from Marne to Muskegon. “You can get on it from almost anywhere,” Langeland says. “A lot of people use it in the summer.”
Residents dine in Coopersville or drive to Muskegon for more options
"A lot of people go to the local places in Coopersville,” Langeland says. “There are a couple of small-town bars there, but they have good food.” Southside Bar and Grill has live music and outdoor seating in the summer. Coopersville Brewing Company has events like bingo and comedy shows. Green Vale Farm and other local farmers sell fresh goods like meats, eggs and cheese. There is a Family Fare Supermarket in Coopersville, but residents can drive around 16 miles to Muskegon for larger stores like Target and more restaurants.
Back roads and Interstate 96 connect the township to nearby cities
Residents will need a car to navigate the township, as there is little walkability and no public transportation. Interstate 96 runs west to Muskegon and Grand Haven, and 20 miles east to Grand Rapids. “Our roads are pretty long, we've got a lot of streets that just keep going,” Langeland says. “Instead of taking a highway, you can definitely take the back roads.” The nearest hospital is in Grand Rapids. Gerald R. Ford International Airport is around 30 miles from the township.
