Muskegon ( ') is a city in
Michigan
Michigan () is a state in the Great Lakes region of the upper Midwestern United States. With a population of nearly 10.12 million and an area of nearly , Michigan is the 10th-largest state by population, the 11th-largest by area, and the ...
. It is the
county seat
A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or civil parish. The term is in use in Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, Taiwan, and the United States. The equivalent term shire town is used in the US st ...
of
Muskegon County.
Muskegon is known for fishing, sailing
regattas, pleasure boating, and as a commercial and cruise ship port. It is a popular vacation destination because of the expansive freshwater beaches, historic architecture, and public art collection. It is the most populous city along the western shore of Michigan. At the
2020 United States Census
The United States census of 2020 was the twenty-fourth decennial United States census. Census Day, the reference day used for the census, was April 1, 2020. Other than a pilot study during the 2000 census, this was the first U.S. census to of ...
the city population was 38,318. It is at the southwest corner of
Muskegon Township, but is administratively autonomous.
Muskegon is the center of the Muskegon
Metropolitan Statistical Area
In the United States, a metropolitan statistical area (MSA) is a geographical region with a relatively high population density at its core and close economic ties throughout the area. Such regions are neither legally incorporated as a city or tow ...
, which is coextensive with Muskegon County and had a population of 173,566 in 2019. It is also part of the larger
Grand Rapids-
Kentwood-Muskegon-
Combined Statistical Area
Combined statistical area (CSA) is a United States Office of Management and Budget (OMB) term for a combination of adjacent metropolitan (MSA) and micropolitan statistical areas (µSA) across the 50 US states and the territory of Puerto Ric ...
with a population of 1,433,288.
History
Early inhabitants
Human occupation of the Muskegon area goes back seven or eight thousand years to the nomadic
Paleo-Indian hunters who occupied the area following the retreat of the
Wisconsonian glaciations. The Paleo-Indians were superseded by several stages of
Woodland Indian developments, the most notable of whom were the
Hopewellian type-tradition, which occupied this area, perhaps two thousand years ago.
The Muskegon area was previously inhabited by various bands of the
Odawa (Ottawa) and
Pottawatomi
The Potawatomi , also spelled Pottawatomi and Pottawatomie (among many variations), are a Native American people of the western Great Lakes region, upper Mississippi River and Great Plains. They traditionally speak the Potawatomi language, a me ...
Indian tribes, but by 1830 Muskegon was solely an Ottawa village. Perhaps the best remembered of the area's Native inhabitants was the Ottawa Chief,
Pendalouan. A leading participant in the
French-inspired annihilation of the
Fox Indians
The Meskwaki (sometimes spelled Mesquaki), also known by the European exonyms Fox Indians or the Fox, are a Native American people. They have been closely linked to the Sauk people of the same language family. In the Meskwaki language, the ...
of
Illinois
Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolita ...
in the 1730s, Pendalouan and his people lived in the Muskegon vicinity during the 1730s and 1740s, until the French forced them to move their settlement to the
Traverse Bay area in 1742.
The name "Muskegon" is derived from the
Ottawa tribe term ''mashkiigong'', meaning "marshy river or swamp".
European arrival
The "Masquigon" River (
Muskegon River
Muskegon River is a river in the western portion of the lower peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. The river source is located at Houghton Lake in Roscommon County, flowing out of the North Bay into neighboring Missaukee County. The river ...
) was identified on French maps dating from the late seventeenth century, suggesting French explorers had reached Michigan's western coast by that time. Father
Jacques Marquette
Jacques Marquette S.J. (June 1, 1637 – May 18, 1675), sometimes known as Père Marquette or James Marquette, was a French Jesuit missionary who founded Michigan's first European settlement, Sault Sainte Marie, and later founded Saint Ign ...
traveled northward through the area on his fateful trip to
St. Ignace
St. Ignace is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Mackinac County. The city had a population of 2,452 at the 2010 census. St. Ignace Township is located just to the north of the city, but the two are administered auto ...
in 1675; and a party of French soldiers under La Salle's lieutenant,
Henry de Tonty
Henri de Tonti (''né'' Enrico Tonti; – September 1704), also spelled Henri de Tonty, was an Italian-born French military officer, explorer, and '' voyageur'' who assisted René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, with North American explora ...
, passed through the area in 1679.
The county's earliest known Euro-American resident was Edward Fitzgerald, a
fur trader and trapper who came to the Muskegon area in 1748 and who died there, reportedly being buried in the vicinity of White Lake. Between 1790 and 1800, a French-Canadian trader named
Joseph La Framboise established a fur-trading post at the mouth of Duck Lake. Between 1810 and 1820, several
French-Canadian fur traders, including Lamar Andie, Jean Baptiste Recollect, and Pierre Constant, had established fur-trading posts around
Muskegon Lake
Muskegon Lake is a fresh-water lake in Muskegon County, Michigan, USA. Located in the lower peninsula at the mouth of the Muskegon River, Muskegon Lake forms a broad harbor along the eastern shoreline of Lake Michigan, approximately wide by ...
.
Euro-American settlement of Muskegon began in earnest in 1837, which coincided with the beginning of the exploitation of the area's extensive timber resources. The commencement of the lumber industry in 1837 inaugurated what some regard as the most romantic era in the history of the region. Lumbering in the mid-nineteenth century brought many settlers, particularly from
Germany
Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...
,
Ireland
Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...
, and
Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...
.
Some Muskegon neighborhoods began as separate villages. Bluffton was founded as a lumbering village in 1862 in
Laketon Township. It had its own post office from 1868 until 1892. Muskegon annexed it in 1889.
Geography
According to the
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...
, the city has an area of , of which is land and is water.
The city is next to
Lake Michigan to the west and
Muskegon Lake
Muskegon Lake is a fresh-water lake in Muskegon County, Michigan, USA. Located in the lower peninsula at the mouth of the Muskegon River, Muskegon Lake forms a broad harbor along the eastern shoreline of Lake Michigan, approximately wide by ...
to the north. The
Muskegon River
Muskegon River is a river in the western portion of the lower peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. The river source is located at Houghton Lake in Roscommon County, flowing out of the North Bay into neighboring Missaukee County. The river ...
empties into Muskegon Lake at the city's northeast end.
Climate
Muskegon has a
humid continental climate
A humid continental climate is a climatic region defined by Russo-German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1900, typified by four distinct seasons and large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and freezing ...
(
Dfa) with hot summers and cold winters. Precipitation is consistent year round. Muskegon receives heavy
lake-effect snow from
Lake Michigan during winter time.
Demographics
2010 census
As of the
census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses incl ...
of 2010, there were 38,401 people, 13,967 households, and 7,895 families residing in the city. The
population density
Population density (in agriculture: standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical term.Matt RosenberPopul ...
was . There were 16,105 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 57.0%
White
White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White o ...
, 34.5%
African American
African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...
, 0.9%
Native American, 0.4%
Asian
Asian may refer to:
* Items from or related to the continent of Asia:
** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia
** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia
** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...
, 2.6% from
other races
Other often refers to:
* Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy
Other or The Other may also refer to:
Film and television
* ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack
* ''The Other'' (1930 film), a ...
, and 4.5% from two or more races.
Hispanic
The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad.
The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to viceroyalties forme ...
or
Latino
Latino or Latinos most often refers to:
* Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America
* Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States
* The people or cultures of Latin America;
** Latin A ...
of any race were 8.2% of the population.
There were 13,967 households, of which 32.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 27.9% were
married couples living together, 22.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 43.5% were non-families. 36.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 3.09.
The median age in the city was 34.1 years. 23.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 12.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 28.8% were from 25 to 44; 24.1% were from 45 to 64, and 11.6% were 65 years of age or older. The city's gender makeup was 52.1% male and 47.9% female.
2000 census
As of the
census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses incl ...
of 2000, there were 40,105 people, 14,569 households, and 8,537 families residing in the city. The
population density
Population density (in agriculture: standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical term.Matt RosenberPopul ...
was 2,794.5 per square mile (1,079.1/km
2). There were 15,999 housing units at an average density of 1,114.8 per square mile (430.5/km
2). The racial makeup of the city was 57.9%
White
White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White o ...
, 31.7%
African American
African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...
, 2.3%
Native American, 0.46%
Asian
Asian may refer to:
* Items from or related to the continent of Asia:
** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia
** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia
** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...
, 0.03%
Pacific Islander
Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the Pacific Islands. As an ethnic/racial term, it is used to describe the original peoples—inhabitants and diasporas—of any of the three major subregions of O ...
, 2.69% from
other races
Other often refers to:
* Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy
Other or The Other may also refer to:
Film and television
* ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack
* ''The Other'' (1930 film), a ...
, and 3.50% from two or more races.
Hispanic
The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad.
The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to viceroyalties forme ...
or
Latino
Latino or Latinos most often refers to:
* Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America
* Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States
* The people or cultures of Latin America;
** Latin A ...
of any origins were 6.4% of the population.
There were 14,569 households, of which 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 33.2% were married couples living together, 20.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.4% were non-families. 34.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.13.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.8% under the age of 18, 11.6% from 18 to 24, 32.2% from 25 to 44, 18.0% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 109.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 110.3 males.
The city's median household income was $27,929, and the median family income was $32,640. Males had a median income of $29,114 versus $22,197 for females. The
per capita income
Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population.
Per capita i ...
for the city was $14,283. About 16.8% of families and 20.5% of the population were below the
poverty line
The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for t ...
, including 27.6% of those under age 18 and 14.3% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
Downtown Muskegon
Downtown Muskegon serves as the hub for much of Muskegon County. Positioned along the southern shoreline of Muskegon Lake, it stretches for nearly two miles. Downtown is home to a number of hotels, a 25,000 square foot convention center completed in 2021, and the Historic Mercy Health Ice Arena. Downtown Muskegon is lauded for its walkability and ease of parking. The Muskegon Farmer's Market welcome more than 10,000 visitors every Saturday in the summer, and the boutique incubator shops and chalets on Western Avenue are a popular attraction for residents and tourists looking to support small local businesses.
In May 2022, local environmental groups announced cleanup efforts along Muskegon Lake have officially been completed, leading the Environmental Protection Agency to begin its study to remove Muskegon Lake from the EPA's list of "Areas of Concern", which is expected to be finalized by the end of 2022 and brings the promise of additional new economic activity in the downtown and nearby lakefront neighborhoods.
Major employers
* ADAC Automotive – automotive components manufacturing
*
Howmet
Howmet Aerospace Inc. (formerly Arconic Inc.) is an American aerospace company based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The company manufactures components for jet engines, fasteners and titanium structures for aerospace applications, and forged alumin ...
(Whitehall, Michigan, formerly
Alcoa) – aerospace components manufacturing
* Anderson Global (formerly Anderson Pattern)
*
Brunswick Bowling Products, LLC
* Cannon-Muskegon Corporation – specialty alloys
* Century Foundry
* Cole's Quality Foods – garlic bread, frozen foods
*
Consumers Energy
Consumers Energy is an investor owned utility that provides natural gas and electricity to 6.7 million of Michigan's 10 million residents. It serves customers in all 68 of the state's Lower Peninsula counties. It is the primary subsidiary of C ...
* Eagle Group
* Fleet Engineers
*
GE Aviation
GE Aviation, a subsidiary of General Electric, is headquartered in Evendale, Ohio, outside Cincinnati. GE Aviation is among the top aircraft engine suppliers, and offers engines for the majority of commercial aircraft. GE Aviation is part of t ...
(formerly Johnson Technology) – turbine engine components manufacturing
* Great Lakes Die Cast (formerly Dilesco)
* Kaydon Corp – precision bearings
* Knoll Inc. (formerly Shaw Walker)
*
L3 Communications
L3 Technologies, formerly L-3 Communications Holdings, was an American company that supplied command and control, communications, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance ( C3ISR) systems and products, avionics, ocean products, training ...
(formerly
Teledyne
Teledyne Technologies Incorporated is an American industrial conglomerate. It was founded in 1960, as Teledyne, Inc., by Henry Singleton and George Kozmetsky.
From August 1996 to November 1999, Teledyne existed as part of the conglomerate All ...
) – armored vehicle manufacturing
* Mahle (formerly Dana, formerly Sealed Power) – piston rings, aerospace
*
Meijer
Meijer Inc. (, ; stylized as meijer) is an American supercenter chain that primarily operates throughout the Midwest. Its corporate headquarters are in Walker, Michigan, which is a part of the Grand Rapids metropolitan area. Founded in 1934 ...
*
Mercy Health – member of Trinity Health
*
Michigan's Adventure
Michigan's Adventure is a amusement park in Muskegon County, Michigan, about halfway between Muskegon and Whitehall. It is the largest amusement park in the state and has been owned and operated by Cedar Fair since 2001. As of 2022, Michigan' ...
– amusement park (Michigan's largest amusement park and water park)
* Nugent Sand
* Port City Group
*
Pratt & Whitney Component Solutions – a Raytheon Technologies Company
* SAF-Holland – Muskegon (formerly Neway Equipment Company) – commercial vehicle axles, suspensions, and coupling devices
*
Wesco, Inc. (headquarters)
Shopping
Locally owned shops and a farmer's market are found in the historic downtown, with more shops along the Muskegon Lake waterfront and in neighborhoods. Regional shopping is found throughout the county, including several major retailers.
Arts and culture
Music and fine arts
The
Frauenthal Center for the Performing Arts
The Frauenthal Center for Performing Arts is located in downtown Muskegon in the U.S. state of Michigan. It consists of the Frauenthal Theater, formerly the Michigan Theater, and additional performance, exhibition, and support spaces in the Hilt B ...
includes two theaters (the main historic Frauenthal house and the smaller Beardsley Theater in the adjoining Hilt Building). It was refurbished in 1998 and again in 2021, and runs JAM Theatrical productions. Muskegon Civic Theatre productions, is home of the
West Michigan Symphony Orchestra
The West Michigan Symphony (formerly the West Shore Symphony Orchestra) is a professional orchestra made up of 60 core musicians, performing at the Frauenthal Center for the Performing Arts in Muskegon, Michigan. The current Music Director/ Con ...
, was the venue for all Muskegon Community Concert Association events, and formerly home to the now-defunct Cherry County Playhouse. The Frauenthal was originally built as the Michigan Theater in 1929.
Muskegon has a well-respected private collection of fine art at the Muskegon Museum of Art.
Muskegon has a growing collection of publicly owned and displayed art pieces. More than two dozen pieces are on permanent display, predominately in the downtown area. Notable pieces include Muskegon, Together Rising (Richard Hunt), The Arch (Stephen Urry), A City Built on Timbers (Erik and Israel Nordic), and various civil war statues in Hackley Park that date back to 1900 (Charles Niehaus and J. Massey Rhind).
Festivals
![Muskegon MI PO - NARA - 3281860](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/dc/Muskegon_MI_PO_-_NARA_-_3281860.jpg)
For many years, Muskegon was home to a 10-day music festival known as Muskegon Summer Celebration. Typically scheduled around July 4, Summer Celebration was known for bringing in major artists for multiple days and providing the community with an affordable music festival experience. The event ended after the 2011 show.
Events held in the town include:
*Taste of Muskegon in June
*Parties in the Park, every Friday from June to August at Hackley Park
*The Lakeshore Art Festival in June
*WeDiscover Festival in July, a two-day festival of electronic dance music, import and luxury cars, food, fireworks and family activities.
*Motorcycle rally in July
*Burning Foot Beer Festival held at Pere Marquette Beach
*The
Unity Christian Music Festival
Unity Christian Music Festival (''Unity'') is a four-day Christian music festival held annually during the month of August at Heritage Landing in Muskegon, Michigan.
Unity was started in 2001 to bring Christians together for public praise, wors ...
in August at Heritage Landing
*The Michigan Irish Music Festival in September at Heritage Landing
*The Muskegon Polish Festival on Labor Day weekend.
*The
International Buster Keaton Society The International Buster Keaton Society Inc.— a.k.a. "The Damfinos"—is the official educational organization dedicated to comedy film producer-director-writer-actor-stuntman Buster Keaton.
Mission
According to the Damfinos, their mission is "t ...
annual convention in October.
Museums and theater
Broadway at the
Frauenthal (fall through spring) brings Broadway musicals to Muskegon. Muskegon is also home to Muskegon Museum of Art and West Michigan Symphony Orchestra. The Muskegon Community Concert Association provides concerts from September through May.
Lakeshore Museum Center (formerly known as Muskegon County Museum) and Hackley & Hume Historic Site: Mansions built by Muskegon's
lumber barons themselves are restored to their old glory and open to the public. The
Hackley &
Hume mansions are part of downtown Muskegon's Heritage Village—two blocks from Muskegon Lake, and a National Register Historic District. The mansions are operated with the Lakeshore Museum Center, which details the grand, rich history of Muskegon County, from the
Pottawatomi
The Potawatomi , also spelled Pottawatomi and Pottawatomie (among many variations), are a Native American people of the western Great Lakes region, upper Mississippi River and Great Plains. They traditionally speak the Potawatomi language, a me ...
and
Ottawa
Ottawa (, ; Canadian French: ) is the capital city of Canada. It is located at the confluence of the Ottawa River and the Rideau River in the southern portion of the province of Ontario. Ottawa borders Gatineau, Quebec, and forms the core ...
Native American tribes and lakeside fur traders to the Lumber Queen of the World to today. Also includes science and nature exhibits.
The Muskegon Museum of Art (formerly known as the Hackley Art Gallery) opened in 1912. The Muskegon Museum of Art, founded on a tradition of aesthetic excellence, is committed to fostering the life-long study and appreciation of the visual arts by strengthening, preserving, and exhibiting its collections; offering a wide range of traditional and contemporary exhibitions; stimulating learning and creativity through diverse public and educational programming; and enhancing community involvement and support in a safe, accessible, and welcoming environment. Among the highlights of its permanent collection is ''Tornado Over Kansas'', by
John Steuart Curry
John Steuart Curry (November 14, 1897 – August 29, 1946) was an American painter whose career spanned the years from 1924 until his death. He was noted for his paintings depicting rural life in his home state, Kansas. Along with Thomas Hart B ...
(one of three leading painters, along with
Grant Wood and
Thomas Hart Benton, identified as
Regionalists and known for their canvases celebrating the rural Midwest).
Muskegon is also the home of the USS Silversides Submarine Museum which features , a World War II submarine; , a World War II
tank landing ship
Landing Ship, Tank (LST), or tank landing ship, is the naval designation for ships first developed during World War II (1939–1945) to support amphibious operations by carrying tanks, vehicles, cargo, and landing troops directly onto shore with ...
; and USCGC ''McLane'', a Prohibition-era
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is the maritime security, search and rescue, and law enforcement service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the country's eight uniformed services. The service is a maritime, military, mu ...
cutter.
In addition, Muskegon also berths , a former passenger ship built in 1904 that traveled the same route as
Lake Express
Lake Express High-Speed Ferry is an American company that operates a seasonal ferry service across Lake Michigan between Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Muskegon, Michigan. The Lake Express Milwaukee terminal and the company headquarters are located nea ...
does today. The ship (which is a
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark (NHL) is a building, district, object, site, or structure that is officially recognized by the United States government for its outstanding historical significance. Only some 2,500 (~3%) of over 90,000 places listed ...
) is in the middle of a process of being restored to its original form, but in the meantime is open for tours and hosts a museum aboard the vessel with information on both ''Milwaukee Clipper'', as well as the history of maritime in Muskegon, the Clipper is the last ship of its type. Muskegon is a historical port for commerce and lake travel. The lumbering era through World War II was its busiest historical use. Its image as a port the city has embraced with the local nickname 'The Port City'. It possesses a fine deep-water port and still functions delivering bulk cement, aggregate, and large cargoes to several lakeshore facilities, also coal to the B.C. Cobb power plant, an outdated coal-burning facility due to shut down.
* The Muskegon Heritage Museum-The Muskegon Heritage Association is a non-profit corporation founded in 1973 to promote the enhancement of Muskegon's Historic Resources. One of the MHA's missions is to maintain a museum to show the economic, industrial, and social history of the greater Muskegon area. The Museum was begun by the MHA in 1983 to accommodate the donated Corliss Valve 90 hp steam engine. The museum's goal is to preserve information, photos, and artifacts pertaining to The Industries of the Muskegon Area, Historic/Heritage Homes, and Businesses of Muskegon. In 2009 a revitalization of the museum began with a complete rearrangement of the main room adding new displays in the cases and on the walls. A print shop was set up and an Industrial section in the back building was rearranged. Printed signs for all displays were added. In 2010 the museum was expanded into what was the shoe store next door. During 2011-2012 we reconfigured and remodeled the second floor of the building where the Corliss Engine is housed. This is a "Made in Muskegon" exhibit. The museum also added a classroom that accommodates 35 people comfortably with all the AV equipment necessary for any presentation.
* Carr-Fles Planetarium, Muskegon
* The Muskegon Area Sports Hall of Fame exhibits, detailing the area's rich athletic past, are on display at the L.C. Walker Arena.
Sports
Previous sports teams to play in Muskegon have included:
The Seaway Run is run every year in late June. It features a 15k race, 5k race, 5k walk for fun, 15k wheelchair race.
Parks and recreation
Muskegon State Park has a Winter Sports Complex that features
ice fishing
Ice fishing is the practice of catching fish with lines and fish hooks or spears through an opening in the ice on a frozen body of water. Ice fishers may fish in the open or in heated enclosures, some with bunks and amenities.
Shelters
Longe ...
,
cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing is a form of skiing where skiers rely on their own locomotion to move across snow-covered terrain, rather than using ski lifts or other forms of assistance. Cross-country skiing is widely practiced as a sport and recreation ...
,
ice skating
Ice skating is the self-propulsion and gliding of a person across an ice surface, using metal-bladed ice skates. People skate for various reasons, including recreation (fun), exercise, competitive sports, and commuting. Ice skating may be per ...
, and a
luge track.
P.J.
Hoffmaster State Park has many
sand dunes as well as two
campgrounds and a public beach.
Pere Marquette Beach
Pere Marquette Beach in Muskegon, Michigan is a park comprising of public beach on Lake Michigan. In 2004 the beach appeared on lists of certified clean beaches published by the National Healthy Beaches Campaign and the Clean Beaches Council.
T ...
is the largest free public beach on the western shore of
Lake Michigan.
Windsurfing
Windsurfing is a wind propelled water sport that is a combination of sailing and surfing. It is also referred to as "sailboarding" and "boardsailing", and emerged in the late 1960s from the aerospace and surf culture of California. Windsurfing ga ...
,
kite boarding
Kiteboarding or kitesurfing is a sport that involves using wind power with a large power kite to pull a rider across a water, land, or snow surface. It combines aspects of paragliding, surfing, windsurfing, skateboarding, snowboarding, and wak ...
competitions, and professional
volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules. It has been a part of the official program of the Summ ...
tournaments are held there. Its quartz sand beach is a Clean Beaches Counsel-certified beach. The beach area is popular with cyclists, runners, and hikers, and sand dunes border the beach to the east.
Muskegon Lake is a first-class
walleye
The walleye (''Sander vitreus'', synonym ''Stizostedion vitreum''), also called the yellow pike or yellow pickerel, is a freshwater perciform fish native to most of Canada and to the Northern United States. It is a North American close relat ...
fishery and has many other freshwater species, including lake
perch
Perch is a common name for fish of the genus ''Perca'', freshwater gamefish belonging to the family Percidae. The perch, of which three species occur in different geographical areas, lend their name to a large order of vertebrates: the Per ...
. Lake Michigan hosts large numbers of coho and Chinook
salmon
Salmon () is the common name for several commercially important species of euryhaline ray-finned fish from the family Salmonidae, which are native to tributaries of the North Atlantic (genus ''Salmo'') and North Pacific (genus '' Oncorhy ...
,
steelhead
Steelhead, or occasionally steelhead trout, is the common name of the anadromous form of the coastal rainbow trout or redband trout (O. m. gairdneri). Steelhead are native to cold-water tributaries of the Pacific basin in Northeast Asia and ...
,
brown trout, lake perch, and other game fish.
Sailing
Sailing employs the wind—acting on sails, wingsails or kites—to propel a craft on the surface of the ''water'' (sailing ship, sailboat, raft, windsurfer, or kitesurfer), on ''ice'' (iceboat) or on ''land'' (land yacht) over a chosen cou ...
and
recreational boating
Recreation is an activity of leisure, leisure being discretionary time. The "need to do something for recreation" is an essential element of human biology and psychology. Recreational activities are often done for enjoyment, amusement, or pleasu ...
are major summer pastimes, with local services and marinas for boats of all sizes.
Muskegon Lakeshore Bike Trail allows for biking along the shores of Muskegon Lake to Lake Michigan, with two trails for bike paths, one on the east side of Muskegon and the other along the north side.
Michigan's Adventure
Michigan's Adventure is a amusement park in Muskegon County, Michigan, about halfway between Muskegon and Whitehall. It is the largest amusement park in the state and has been owned and operated by Cedar Fair since 2001. As of 2022, Michigan' ...
, the largest amusement park in the state, is in
Muskegon County, a few miles north of the city of Muskegon. Michigan's Adventure features a midway with roller coasters, other rides, amusements, and a full water park.
Muskegon Country Club
Muskegon Country Club was founded in 1908 and is a private country club owned by the RedWater Collection
The club features a private 18 hole golf course in Muskegon, Michigan located on 130 acres of dunes between Lake Michigan and Muskegon Lake ...
was founded in 1908 and features a course design by
Tom Bendelow
Tom Bendelow (1868–1936), nicknamed "The Johnny Appleseed of American Golf" and "The Dean of American Golf", was a Scottish American golf course architect during the first half of the twentieth century. He is credited with having designed some ...
and a course redesign by
Donald Ross.
Government
The city operates under a Commission-Manager form of local government. The seven-member city commission consists of four commissioners elected via a ward system and two commissioners elected at large. The mayor is also elected at large and serves on the city commission. The city commission hires a city manager to manage the daily operations of the city.
Education
Muskegon Public Schools was founded in 1860 and serves students from preschool through grade 12. Additionally, it runs the Muskegon Training and Education Center. Muskegon is also served by these private K-12 schools: Muskegon Catholic Central, Fruitport Calvary Christian, and
Western Michigan Christian.
In 2010, North Muskegon High School was noted as the top performing public school in the State of Michigan by the state Department of Education.
The City of Muskegon is also served by
Muskegon Community College
Muskegon Community College (MCC) is a public community college in Muskegon, Michigan. The college offers 49 associate degree programs and 33 certificate programs. The college's main campus is located on a 111-acre campus in Muskegon, with extens ...
and
Baker College
Baker College is a private college with its main campus in Owosso, Michigan. It was founded in 1911 and has additional campuses throughout the Lower Peninsula of Michigan.
The college has been accused of predatory practices. In 2022, a ProP ...
.
Grand Valley State University's Muskegon Campus is home to th
Muskegon Innovation Hub(formerly MAREC) and
Annis Water Resources Institute (AWRI) inside the Lake Michigan Center in downtown Muskegon.
Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University (Western Michigan, Western or WMU) is a public research university in Kalamazoo, Michigan. It was initially established as Western State Normal School in 1903 by Governor Aaron T. Bliss for the training of teachers ...
,
Ferris State University
Ferris State University (FSU or Ferris) is a public university with its main campus in Big Rapids, Michigan. It was founded in 1884 and became a public institution in 1950. Ferris is the ninth-largest institutions of higher education by enrol ...
, and
Grand Valley State University all operate programs out of the
Stevenson Center for Higher Education
Stevenson is an English language patronymic surname meaning "son of Steven". Its first historical record is from pre-10th-century England. Another origin of the name is as a toponymic surname related to the place Stevenstone in Devon, England. The ...
on
Muskegon Community College
Muskegon Community College (MCC) is a public community college in Muskegon, Michigan. The college offers 49 associate degree programs and 33 certificate programs. The college's main campus is located on a 111-acre campus in Muskegon, with extens ...
campus. It is designed so an undergraduate at MCC may transfer to any of the above schools and complete a bachelors and/or master's degree without leaving Muskegon.
Media
*Muskegon's leading newspaper is ''The
Muskegon Chronicle
The ''Muskegon Chronicle'' is a daily newspaper in Muskegon, Michigan, owned by Booth newspapers. In May 2007, the paper celebrated 150 years.
Because of common ownership with ''Grand Rapids Press'', the ''Chronicle''s coverage and distribution ...
''. ''The Chronicle'' is a daily newspaper owned by
Booth Newspapers. It started publication in 1857.
*Muskegon is served by several local television channels:
**
WMKG-CD
WMKG-CD, virtual and UHF digital channel 31, is a low-powered television station licensed to Muskegon, Michigan, United States. Its studios are located on Airline Road in Norton Shores, Michigan near the junction of I-96 and US 31. The sta ...
38 is a low-powered television station serving the area. This station features a homey mix of programming such as television bingo and ''Dial-A-Bargain''. The ''Dial-A-Bargain'' show includes a host reading menus from various local eateries. Viewers may then call in and purchase certificates for that establishment at 50% off the regular price.
**
DSETV-97 is the locally run
Government-access television
Government-access television (GATV) is a type of specialty television channel created by government entities (generally local governments) and broadcast over cable TV systems or, in some cases, over-the-air broadcast television stations. GATV pr ...
(GATV)
cable TV channel based out of City Hall, privately ran by Digital Spectrum Enterprises on
Comcast Cable Channel 97. It features live televised City Hall meetings as well as locally made television shows showcasing Muskegon, and is home to local sports events.
**
MCCTV-98 is Muskegon Community College's television outlet on Comcast Cable Channel 98.
**
WWMT-TV
WWMT (channel 3) is a television station licensed to Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States, serving West Michigan as an affiliate of CBS and The CW. The station is owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group, and maintains studios on West Maple Street in Ka ...
3 (CBS and CW),
WOOD-TV
WOOD-TV (channel 8) is a television station licensed to Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States, serving as the NBC affiliate for West Michigan. It is owned by Nexstar Media Group alongside Battle Creek–licensed ABC affiliate WOTV (channel 41 ...
8 (NBC),
WZZM-TV
WZZM (channel 13) is a television station licensed to Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States, serving West Michigan as an affiliate of ABC. Owned by Tegna Inc., the station has studios on 3 Mile Road NW in Walker (with a Grand Rapids mailing ...
13 (ABC),
WXMI-TV 17 (FOX),
WOMS-TV 29 (MNTV),
WGVU-TV
WGVU-TV, virtual channel 35 (VHF digital channel 11), is a Public Broadcasting Service ( PBS) member television station licensed to Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States. It operates a full-time satellite station, WGVK (virtual channel 52, VHF d ...
35 (PBS), WOTV (ABC), WZPX (ION), and WTLJ-TV 54 (TBN). Green Bay, Milwaukee, South Bend, and Chicago affiliates are also common in the warmer months.
*
Comcast holds the local cable franchise.
*The Muskegon area is also served by several radio stations. WUVS-LP 103.7 is a popular urban (hip-hop/R&B) and gospel station with local programming as well as Sunday religious programming and local-based talk. Another local low-powered FM station is WUGM-LP 106.1, owned by the Muskegon Training and Education Center, which airs an Urban adult contemporary, Urban Oldies format dubbed "M-TEC 106 FM, Rock 'n' Soul." A Newer LP-FM Station WFFR-LP 100.9 also offers local programming along with a classic hits format. The station is based out of nearby Roosevelt Park.
*Local radio talk shows include the Ramona Show on WKBZ 1090. On this show the host interviews local small business people. A once-a-week, Friday afternoon show on the same station is called "Talking Muskegon". Hosted by local celebrity Jon Van Wyke, it features homey conversations about area nightlife, his work life and volunteer activities, and the state of the professional hockey team, the Muskegon Fury. It is usually co-hosted.
*Other local FM stations include 90.3 WBLV-FM (classical/jazz/NPR), 91.7 WMCQ-FM (religious), WWSN (FM), WWSN FM 92.5 (adult contemporary), WGVS-FM 95.3 (public radio), WLAW-FM FM 97.5 (country), WLCS-FM 98.3 (oldies), WVIB-FM 100.1 (urban contemporary), WMRR-FM 101.7 (classic rock), WSNX-FM 104.5 (top 40, studios in Grand Rapids), WOOD-FM-FM 106.9 (news/talk, simulcast of WOOD-AM 1300/Grand Rapids), and WMUS FM 107.9 (country). Other local AM stations aside from WKBZ include WGVS (AM), WGVS 850, WLAW (AM), WLAW 1490 (country). Other area stations can be received from Grand Haven (WGHN-FM 92.1, adult contemporary), Grand Rapids (WGRD-FM 97.9, mainstream rock), Ludington, Holland, Zeeland (WJQK-FM 99.3, Christian pop), and Milwaukee.
*Clear Channel Communications, iHeartMedia is the major radio station owner in Muskegon, owning WKBZ-AM, WOOD-FM, WMUS-FM, WMRR-FM and, WSNX (although WSNX is considered primarily a Grand Rapids station despite being licensed to Muskegon). Cumulus Media owns WODJ-AM, WLAW-FM, WEFG-FM, WLCS-FM and WVIB-FM.
Infrastructure
Transportation
![ISS067-E-174325 Muskegon, Michigan](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/64/ISS067-E-174325_Muskegon%2C_Michigan.jpg)
Public transportation is provided by the Muskegon Area Transit System (MATS – "The Shore Line"), which operates nine bus routes, three trolley routes, and a paratransit system. MATS and Greyhound Lines, Greyhound serve the Herman Ivory Passenger Terminal.
MATS operates the Muskegon Trolley Company. Three routes cover north side, south side, and downtown; each trolley stops at 11 locations, including Hackley and Hume Historic Site, USS Silversides, and Muskegon State Park. (Memorial Day through Labor Day, daily; no trips during special events.)
Commercial air service is currently provided by United Express operating regional jet flights on behalf of United Airlines at Muskegon County Airport (MKG), with nonstop service to Chicago O'Hare Airport. Other airlines provide passenger service via the Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR) in
Grand Rapids.
Muskegon is the eastern port of the
Lake Express
Lake Express High-Speed Ferry is an American company that operates a seasonal ferry service across Lake Michigan between Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Muskegon, Michigan. The Lake Express Milwaukee terminal and the company headquarters are located nea ...
High Speed Car Ferry that crosses Lake Michigan to Milwaukee, Wisconsin offering three roundtrips a day in the summer, and two roundtrips in the fall. There are many bike paths being built around the area.
CSX Transportation, along with the Michigan Shore Railway, provide rail service for many of Muskegon's industries. Rail passenger services ended in the 1960s. The nearest passenger rail available is via Amtrak in nearby Holland, Michigan, Holland or Grand Rapids.
Several major highways serve the city, including:
Major roads
Interstates
*
U.S. Highways
*
*, a business loop
Other state highways
*
*
Rail
Until 1971, the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway (successor to the Pere Marquette Railway) operated day and night trains from Union Depot (Muskegon, Michigan), Union Station to Holland, Michigan, Holland and Chicago. The Grand Trunk Western and the Pennsylvania Railroad had earlier operated passenger trains out of another Muskegon station to various points in Michigan.
Ferries
In 1937, the Grand Trunk Western began operating ferries that met up with train and carried passengers and automobiles across Lake Michigan to Milwaukee. Earlier, the GTW had operated the ferries out of Grand Haven, Michigan, Grand Haven. The GTW stopped operating the ferries in 1978. The last remaining ferries across the lake would be the ones launching from Ludington, Michigan until the HSC Lake Express, Lake Express first came into service on June 1, 2004.
Notable people
* John Beyrle, son of Joseph Beyrle, U.S. Ambassador to the Russian Federation confirmed July 3, 2008.
* Joseph Beyrle, only soldier to have served in both the United States Army, US Army and the Soviet Army in World War II
* Nancy Fleming, Nancy Anne Fleming, Miss America 1961
* Seth Privacky, mass murderer
* Vonda Kay Van Dyke, Miss America 1965
* Captain Jonathan Walker (abolitionist), Jonathan Walker, "The Man With Branded Hand" Abolitionism in the United States, abolitionist
Business and politics
* Margaret Bailey Chandler, community leader and member of the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians
* Tudor Dixon, politician
* Charles Hackley (1837–1905),
lumber baron, philanthropist (Hackley Hospital, Hackley Library, Hackley Administration Building, Hackley Avenue, Hackley Art Gallery, Hackley Park); after a gift of $12 million to the community, the city of Muskegon considered changing its name to "Hackleyville"
* George Edward Hilt, founder of the largest U.S. farm-store retailer
* Richard Mell, politician
Religion
* Jim Bakker, TV evangelist
* Edmund Cardinal Szoka, Cardinal (Catholicism), cardinal, President Emeritus of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State
Science and technology
* Clara H. Hasse (1880–1926), botanist
* David Leestma, astronaut
* W. Wesley Peterson, mathematician and computer scientist, invented the Cyclic redundancy check, Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC)
Artists
* Haddon Sundblom, graphic artist, created popular images of Santa Claus for Coca-Cola
Authors
* Laurie Keller, children's book writer and illustrator best known for ''The Scrambled States of America'' and ''Grandpa Gazillion's Number Yard''
* Douglas Malloch, the “lumberman’s poet”
* John Frederick Nims, poet
* Cathy O'Brien (conspiracy theorist), Cathy O'Brien, conspiracy theorist and author
* Lewis B. Smedes, theologian and author
* Bob Wood (author), Bob Wood, author of ''Dodger Dogs to Fenway Franks'' and ''Big Ten Country''
Music
* Børns, singer and songwriter, born in Muskegon
* Steve Gorman, drummer, Black Crowes, born in Muskegon
* Rick Johnson (musician), Rick Johnson, musician, bass player for Mustard Plug
* Bettye LaVette, soul music, soul singer
* Iggy Pop, punk rock icon
*Louise Cooper Spindle, composer
* Wayne Static, lead singer and guitarist for industrial metal band, Static-X
* Bill Szymczyk, music producer of the Eagles (band), Eagles, The Who and others
* Gerry Teifer, Music publisher (popular music), music publisher, songwriter, performer
* Richard Versalle, opera singer
Stage
* Buster Keaton, iconic comedian and film director; born in Kansas and spent childhood summers in Muskegon with his family in the Muskegon Actors' Colony;
a vaudevillian who traveled constantly except in summer, Keaton regarded Muskegon as his home town.
* Kate Reinders, Broadway actress, played Glinda in ''Wicked (musical), Wicked'' and Caroline in ''Good Vibrations (musical), Good Vibrations''
* Carly Jibson, Broadway and television actress, played Tracy Turnblad in the first national tour company of Hairspray (musical), Hairspray and originated the role of Pepper in the musical Cry Baby (musical), Cry Baby.
Television
*Matt Crouch (TBN), Matt Crouch, film producer and CEO of TBN
* Harry Morgan, versatile stage, film and TV actor, played Colonel Potter on the TV series M*A*S*H (TV series), M*A*S*H (1972–1983)
* Frank Stanton (executive), Frank Stanton, former president of CBS
Sports
* Justin Abdelkader – National Hockey League, NHL player, Detroit Red Wings
* Curtis Adams (American football), Curtis Adams – NFL player, San Diego Chargers
* Beatrice Allard – All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player
* Virginia Bell (baseball), Virginia Bell – served in the Women's Army Corps in Japan during World War II and later joined the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
[W.C. Madden, Madden, W. C. (2005) ''The Women of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League: A Biographical Dictionary'' (2005). ]
* Donna Cook – AAGPBL player
* Doris Cook – AAGPBL player
* Deyonta Davis – National Basketball Association, NBA player, Memphis Grizzlies
* Miss Dougal – AAGPBL player, Muskegon Belles, 1953 Muskegon Belles
* Tony Ferguson – winner of Ultimate Fighter Season 13
* Bill Green (hammer thrower), Bill Green – hammer thrower, former U.S. record holder, 5th place in 1984 Olympic Games
* Bobby Grich – Major League Baseball, MLB All-Star second baseman for the Baltimore Orioles and California Angels
* Mark Grimmette – men's double luge, winner of Olympic Games, Olympic silver (2002) and bronze (1998) medals
* Mark Hughes (basketball), Mark Hughes – basketball player and coach
* Ronald Johnson (American football), Ronald Johnson – University of Southern California and San Francisco 49ers wide receiver
* Alta Little – AAGPBL player
* Ruvell Martin – NFL player for the Seattle Seahawks
* Nate McCrary, National Football League, NFL running back for the Baltimore Ravens
* Beulah McGillicutty – manager in Extreme Championship Wrestling
* Nate McLouth – MLB player for the Washington Nationals
* Earl Morrall – Michigan State and NFL quarterback, three-time Super Bowl champion
* Robert Morse – NFL player for the New Orleans Saints
* Drew Naymick – professional basketball player
* Don Nelson – NBA player for Boston Celtics and coach in Basketball Hall of Fame, University of Iowa basketball player
* Ray Newman – MLB pitcher
* Bennie Oosterbaan – three-time University of Michigan All-American football player and head coach
* Marley Shriver - Olympic swimmer
* Terrance Taylor (American football), Terrance Taylor – Detroit Lions defensive tackle
* Kalil Pimpleton - New York Giants wide receiver
Sister cities
* Ōmuta, Fukuoka, Ōmuta, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan
* Hartlepool, County Durham, United Kingdom
* Antalya, Turkey
See also
*Michigan Heritage Park
References
External links
*
Muskegon Area Chamber of Commerce*
{{Authority control
Muskegon, Michigan,
Cities in Muskegon County, Michigan
County seats in Michigan
Michigan populated places on Lake Michigan
Michigan Neighborhood Enterprise Zone
Populated places established in 1837
1837 establishments in Michigan