Port Sheldon Township is a waterfront recreational destination
Port Sheldon Township is settled on the banks of Lake Michigan, offering waterfront homes and outdoor activities. Farmers relocated to the area from the nearby Olive Township in the early 20th century. The community celebrated its centennial in 2024, but the landscape remains a natural space featuring blueberry farms and public parks. "Port Sheldon is a small town that's part of the Grand Haven School District. The town is in the bigger Ottawa County. There are a nice amount of things going on," says Tami Swart, a county resident and agent with HomeRealty. According to the U.S. Census, the township experienced a population increase of approximately 22% between 2010 and 2020. Snowbirds visit during warmer months, but the waterside community also attracts tourists from the Grand Rapids area and commuters from surrounding cities like Holland, Grand Haven and Allendale. Following the announcement of the local J.H. Campbell Plant's closure, community leaders developed an Economic Resiliency Plan in 2025 that focuses on tourism.
Homes range from waterfront dwellings to recent constructions
Port Sheldon Township has a mix of 20th-century dwellings and custom-built New Traditional homes constructed over the last 10 years. There are also several midcentury cottages, ranch styles and colonial-inspired homes. Many properties along the water include outdoor stairs that lead to the sandy lakefront. Some of the most recent constructions are inside subdivisions like The Corner and Ventura Shores. Many homes double as short-term rentals. In 2024, the town updated zoning and regulations, requiring homeowners to register annually. The township's median single-family home sale price is around $635,000. However, pricing runs the gamut; A handful of residences over 3,000 square feet and waterfront properties can cost between $900,000 and $1.8 million.
Beachfront parks and forest trails attract nature lovers
Port Sheldon Township is an outdoor haven with ample recreational opportunities. The community offers direct access to Lake Michigan. Windsnest Park and Kouw Park have playgrounds in addition to beachfronts suitable for swimming and waterside sunsets. Locals can navigate to the lake via the Pigeon Lake Boat Ramp and Pigeon Creek Kayak Launch. Olive Shores County Park features trails and boardwalks leading through forests and sandy dunes. Visitors can swim along the lakefront. Van Buren Street Dunes is a hot spot for off-trail hiking and seasonal hunting. The park's regulations also allow visitors to bring dogs without a leash. The private Wuskowhan Players Club offers an 18-hole course and a newly renovated dining room overlooking the greens.
Children attend highly rated public schools
The Grand Haven Area Public Schools earns an A-minus rating from Niche. The district includes multiple blue-ribbon schools, including Rosy Mound Elementary and Mary A. White Elementary; the schools have A and A-minus ratings, respectively. White Pines Intermediate and Grand Haven High both have A-minus ratings. Children may also enroll in the West Ottawa School District, which has an A. School choice options are offerd through the Ottawa Area Intermediate School District.
Local dining and farm markets serve the small-town community
The community has just a handful of businesses, including The Pipeline Underground Saloon and Sandy Point Beach House for dining. Shoppers can find local produce and other goods from regional farmers at nearby Green Acres Farm Market and throughout the area. "The whole county is a huge producer of blueberries, a lot of flowers, shrubs and Christmas trees," Swart says. The nearest grocery store is around 10 miles from the center of town. Both Holland and Grand Haven contain a Meijer supermarket and a Walmart Supercenter.
U.S. Highway 31 connects residents to Grand Haven
The area is car-dependent; commuters can drive along U.S. Highway 31 to reach Grand Haven in roughly 15 miles. The major medical provider, Trinity Health Grand Haven Hospital, provides general and emergency care. Gerald R. Ford International Airport is about 40 miles away in Grand Rapids.
A low crime score and environmental challenges
The township's CAP Index Crime Score is 1 out of 10, much lower than the national average of 4.
Air pollution has affected the area as a result of operations at the J.H. Campbell facility. The county also faces groundwater shortages during time of drought. The county government conducts septic systems inspections before property sales and tests water quality at public beaches during the summer.
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Written By
Ashley Kennedy
