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History
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Ionia is full of rich history, dating back to 1833. Here you can learn exciting
facts about the history of our town, our free fair, theatre and more!
Ionia: Proud of our past; confident of our future!
Ionia was founded in 1833 by Samuel Dexter who had journeyed to Ionia County from Herkimer, New York. He arrived here late in the summer with a small band of family. Thanks to the generous help of Ottawa Indian Chief Cabmoosa, the small party was able to purchase crops from the original inhabitants and survive the winter. The members of the local tribe moved on to other banks along the Grand River.
The Dexter colony continued to grow and Ionia was named the seat of the new
County of Ionia. In 1866, Ionia became a village and in 1872 a City.
A number of major events came to identify and beautify the City we have come to know as Ionia: First, while searching for access to coal reserves, a local group of businessmen discovered a reddish colored sandstone just east of the City. A railroad line was constructed, spanning the Grand River on a 568 foot span. The contents of the sandstone quarry were removed for facing of many of the buildings in and around Ionia as well as being sold to far off locations in Grand Rapids and Detroit. This quarry was shut down about the time of the Great Depression, restarted for a brief period after World War II, and then closed for good.
 The quarry is now home to a number of birds, including blue heron and osprey. The bridge that was constructed for the railroad now makes up part of the Ionia Grand Rivertrail and is the longest in the State of Michigan’s trail system.
Second, the Federal Land Office was located in Ionia. This meant that all lands settled north of the City of Ionia had to be recorded in Ionia. A number of lumber barons, entrepreneurs, and attorneys located in Ionia to settle and record these lands. This led to a number of beautiful homes being constructed in Ionia for these people to comfortably live. Most of these magnificent structures survive today on the National Historic Register.
Third, the City was host to the second prison facility constructed in the State of Michigan–the Michigan Reformatory built in 1877. Ionia has always been comfortable hosting State of Michigan facilities and now houses six prisons that employ more than 3,000 persons. Together, nearly 6,500
 persons are incarcerated in the Correctional Facilities that range in security from minimum to maximum (six different levels of security).
Those inmates have contributed much to the City of Ionia, particularly in the past 10 years. The City works closely with the State to create work projects for the inmates to complete. Among those projects: restoration of downtown buildings, construction of the rivertrail bridges, clearing of the rivertrail and park areas, restoration of the Ionia Theater, restoration of the Ionia City Hall and Armory Community Center, renovation of more than 40 low-income or middle income homes for residents, construction of picnic tables and benches, raking and mowing of city parks, and landscaping of many areas of the community. In addition, the inmates help with the sidewalk upgrade project each year in the City.
Lastly, the Ionia Free Fair. Governor Fred Green, a former Ionia Mayor, and his partner, Fred Chapman, wanted to give the residents of the Ionia area something different and spectacular. They envisioned a "free" fair that would provide free entry to the grounds. Today, Ionia’s "Free Fair" is the World’s Largest event of its type. It regularly hosts more than 500,000 persons who see headline entertainers, a spectacular midway, and a variety of animal and household exhibits. And, yes, it’s still free admission today!
Today, you’ll find more than 250 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places, a beautifully restored downtown, state-of-the-art City administration services, and more fun than you’ll know what to do with at the Ionia Free Fair and other yearly events.
Ionia has a beautiful park system, award-winning recreation department, Nationally acclaimed Water and Wastewater Department, State-Wide Winning Department of Public Works and Public Services, and a location tucked along the meandering Grand River.
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LINKS
The following links will take you outside of the City of Ionia
Website
Ionia Theatre
Ionia
Community Library
Ionia Free Fair
Ionia County Memorial Hospital
Chamber of Commerce
Ionia County
City Assessing Information
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114
N Kidd St