The village's Main Street was initially constructed on Ensley Street, which was named after early settler Benjamin Ensley. In 1883, however, many of the wooden buildings on Ensley Street burned down. Main Street was then shifted over to Edgerton Street, its present location. The Hudson Knife factory and the Skinner and Steenman sideboard factory were two of the earliest businesses. Later, Hudson Knife Co. went through changes and became the Joslin and eventually Olsen Knife Company, which had the somewhat famous jingle, "Fatty Fatty run for your life, here comes Skinny with an Olsen Knife." Howard City schools were combined with Sand Lake schools to the south in 1962, and renamed Tri County, because students from Kent, Montcalm, and Newaygo counties all attended. The school still runs under the same moniker.
The village's Main Street was initially constructed on Ensley Street which was named after early settler Benjamin Ensley In 1883 however many of the wooden buildings on Ensley Street burned down Main Street was then shifted over to Edgerton Street its present location The Hudson Knife factory and the Skinner and Steenman sideboard factory were two of the earliest businesses Later Hudson Knife Co went through changes and became the Joslin and eventually Olsen Knife Company which had the somewhat famous jingle "Fatty Fatty run for your life here comes Skinny with an Olsen Knife" Howard City schools were combined with Sand Lake schools to the south in 1962 and renamed Tri County because students from Kent Montcalm and Newaygo counties all attended The school still runs under the same moniker