Grand Rapids, Michigan

===Topography===
[[File:Grand Rapids by Sentinel-2.jpg|thumb|The [[Grand Rapids metropolitan area]] taken by the [[Sentinel-2]] satellite in June 2022.]]

Grand Rapids developed on the banks of the [[Grand River (Michigan)|Grand River]], where there was once a set of rapids, at an altitude of {{convert|610|ft|m|0}} [[Above mean sea level|above sea level]]. Ships could navigate on the river up to this fall line, stopping because of the rapids. The river valley is flat and narrow, surrounded by steep hills and bluffs. The terrain becomes more rolling hills away from the river. The countryside surrounding the metropolitan area consists of mixed forest and farmland, with large areas of orchards to the northwest. It is approximately {{convert|25|mi|abbr=on}} east of [[Lake Michigan]]. The state capital of [[Lansing, Michigan|Lansing]] lies about {{convert|70|mi|abbr=on}} to the east-by-southeast, and [[Kalamazoo, Michigan|Kalamazoo]] is about {{convert|50|mi|abbr=on}} to the south.

Grand Rapids is divided into four [[Address (geography)#Quadrants|quadrants]], which form a part of mailing addresses in Kent County. The quadrants are NE (northeast), NW (northwest), SE (southeast), and SW (southwest). Fulton Street serves as the north–south dividing line, while Division Avenue serves as the east–west dividing line separating these quadrants.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|45.27|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which, {{convert|44.40|sqmi|sqkm|2}} of it is land and {{convert|0.87|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.<ref name="Gazetteer files">{{cite web |title = US Gazetteer files 2010 |url = https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110220065340/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archive-date = February 20, 2011 |publisher = United States Census Bureau |access-date = November 25, 2012 }}</ref>