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–Not graded
History · Beechwood

Half of Beechwood’s homes were built after 1978

Most of Beechwood was built recently: 2% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 1978. Below: maps from 1929 on.

0on the National Register
2%homes built before 1940
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What stands out about Beechwood’s past

Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.

A history waiting to be writtenNo old photos of Beechwood are in the public archives yet. The rest are in attics and albums.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start Beechwood’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Beechwood’s history is told.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
0 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
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The story so far

Beechwood, in brief

Wikipedia doesn’t have a history of Beechwood yet. The photos, dates and memories neighbors add here are how it gets written.

Beechwood is an unincorporated community in Ottawa County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a census-designated place (CDP) for statistical purposes, but is not an incorporated municipality. The population was 3,121 at the 2020 census. The CDP is considered to be part of the Holland urban area. It is located on the north shore of Lake Macatawa mostly within Holland Charter Township, although a small portion lies within Park Township.

Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population grew from 3,015 to 3,121 (+4%).

Intro from Wikipedia. Population: U.S. Census Bureau.

By decade

No old photos in the archives yet

Weddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.

Be the first to add onePhotograph a print flat, in daylight, no flash.
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On the map

Beechwood on the map, 1929 to 1972

Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Beechwood. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.

Beechwood on the 1929 USGS mapBeechwood on the 1932 USGS mapBeechwood on the 1972 USGS map1929Holland sheet · 1:62,500

U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Beechwood.

Famous people

Famous people close to Beechwood

Nobody well known was born in Beechwood itself, so here are the best known from just nearby.

See all →
Betsy DeVosAmerican politician and philanthropist · b. 1958
Richard GrenellAmerican politician · b. 1966
George David BirkhoffAmerican mathematician · b. 1884
Erik PrinceAmerican businessman, former US Navy SEAL offic… · b. 1969
Kennedy McMannAmerican actress · b. 1996
P
Paul de KruifAmerican microbiologist · b. 1890
Stories next door

History across the town line

Each neighbor’s History grade, on the same three inputs.

Holland11 historic placesAHolland TownshipIts storynot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its townPark Township3 historic placesB

Questions about Beechwood’s history

Memory lane

What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.

Town Square →
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Sources

Where this page comes from

Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021). How TownRatings grades history →

From U.S. Geological Survey historical maps. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.