Marne is an
unincorporated community in
Wright Township of
Ottawa County in the
U.S. state of
Michigan. Township offices are located in the community
The Marne
ZIP code 49435 serves areas in southern and eastern Wright Township, as well as areas of central
Tallmadge Township to the south and small areas of
Alpine Township to the east in
Kent County.
Marne is located at off exit 23 on
Interstate 96, just northwest of
Grand Rapids. The community was originally named
Berlin because of the many German settlers. It received a post office in 1852 and was
platted in 1857. Due to
anti-German sentiments during
World War I, the name was changed in 1919 to Marne, to honor those soldiers who fought in the
Battle of the Marne. However, the name Berlin continues to manifest in many ways, including , the Berlin Fairgrounds, Berlin Fair Drive and the
Berlin Raceway, where
Johnny Benson raced.
Marne(at the time Berlin) also served as a stop on the historic Grand Rapids, Grand Haven & Muskegon interurban railroad. The depot still remains to this day.
Ed Cole, an automotive executive for
General Motors, was born in Marne, where his father was a dairy farmer.
Marne serves as a
trailhead for the
Musketawa Trail
References
Read More