Comstock Park is a census-designated place and unincorporated community in Alpine Township and Plainfield Township, Kent County, Michigan, in the Grand Rapids metropolitan area, United States. As of the 2010 census, the community had a population of 10,088, with the majority living in Alpine Township. The area is known for the flooding it experiences every spring from the Grand River, which runs just east of the community. Comstock Park is the home of the West Michigan Whitecaps, an affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. Comstock Park is known for its golf courses, having two courses and 45 total holes of golf in town. The best-known of these is Scott Lake Golf and Practice Center, the winner of the 2011 Michigan Golf Course Owners Association "Golf Course of the Year" and the 2012 National Golf Course Owners Association "Golf Course of the Year.
History
In 1838 a settlement known as "North's Mill" was established by Daniel North. The name changed to "Mill Creek" in 1848. The area became a major transportation hub, serving both the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad and Chicago and Western Indiana Railroad, and set the tone for becoming the northern Grand Rapids-area crossroads it is today. It was renamed "Comstock Park" in 1906, after Charles C. Comstock, who represented the district in Congress in 1885 and 1886. Comstock lived on the other side of the Grand River and never in Comstock Park.
Geography
Comstock Park is in western Kent County, in the southeast corner of Alpine Township and the southwest corner of Plainfield Charter Township. It is bordered to the south by the city ofWalker, to the west by Cordes Avenue and Alpine Avenue, to the north by 6 Mile Road, and to the east by Pine Island Drive, West River Drive, and U.S. Route 131, which leads south to downtown Grand Rapids. The Grand River flows just to the east of the CDP. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the Comstock Park CDP has a total area of, of which, or 0.23%, are water.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 10,674 people, 4,441 households, and 2,513 families residing in the community. The population density was 2,735.0 per square mile. There were 4,654 housing units at an average density of 1,192.5 per square mile. The racial makeup of the community was 87.30% White, 3.91% African American, 0.77% Native American, 1.92% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 3.33% from other races, and 2.73% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.22% of the population. Of the 4,441 households, 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.5% were married couples living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.4% were not families. About 27.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.98. In the community, the population was distributed as with 23.8% under the age of 18, 20.4% from 18 to 24, 31.8% from 25 to 44, 16.5% from 45 to 64, and 7.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 27 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.5 males. The median income for a household in the community was $40,202, and for a family was $47,154. Males had a median income of $36,076 versus $26,331 for females. The per capita income for the community was $19,911. About 7.9% of families and 9.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.7% of those under age 18 and 2.2% of those age 65 or over.
Transportation
Comstock Park, since it became a hub for rail transit in the mid 19th century, has evolved into a transportation crossroads in northern suburban Grand Rapids. "CP" is quickly accessible from surrounding suburbs, as well as downtown Grand Rapids.
White Pine Trail State Park runs through the core of the community, giving residents access to of biking/walking trails heading north to Cadillac or south, connecting to Kent Trails, which goes through Grand Rapids, Grandville, Walker, Wyoming, and Byron Township.
Education
Primary and secondary schools
serves the community. The district headquarters are in the Comstock Park CDP and in Plainfield Township. Stoney Creek Elementary School has Preschool, kindergarten, PPI and grades 1 and 2. Pine Island Elementary School serves 3 through 5. Mill Creek Middle School has grades 6 through 8. Comstock Park High School serves grades 9 through 12. All schools except Pine Island are located in the CDP limits. The Kent District Library KDL Service Center is near Comstock Park, in Plainfield Township. The Alpine Branch Library is near the CDP, in Alpine Township.
