Muskegon, MI MSA
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Muskegon County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of 2020, the population was 175,824. The county seat is Muskegon. Muskegon County comprises the Muskegon, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is part of the larger
Grand Rapids Grand Rapids is a city and county seat of Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. At the 2020 census, the city had a population of 198,917 which ranks it as the second most-populated city in the state after Detroit. Grand Rapids is the ...
- Kentwood-Muskegon, MI Combined Statistical Area. The White River flows through the county to its mouth at
Lake Michigan Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is the second-largest of the Great Lakes by volume () and the third-largest by surface area (), after Lake Superior and Lake Huron. To the east, its basin is conjoined with that o ...
.


History

Around 1812, Jean Baptiste Recollect and Pierre Constant set up trading posts in the area. By the Treaty of Washington (1836), Native Americans ceded parts of Michigan, including future Muskegon County, to the United States. This opened up the area to greater settlement by European Americans, who developed farms. Prior to 1859, the majority of Muskegon County was part of Ottawa County (the Southern three quarters).
Grand Haven Grand Haven is a city within the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Ottawa County. Grand Haven is located on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan at the mouth of the Grand River, for which it is named. As of the 2010 census, Grand H ...
served as the County Seat of this combined County, and still serves as the Ottawa County seat today. Muskegon County was organized in 1859. Its name is from the Muskegon River, which runs through it and empties into
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 ...
and subsequently flows into
Lake Michigan Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is the second-largest of the Great Lakes by volume () and the third-largest by surface area (), after Lake Superior and Lake Huron. To the east, its basin is conjoined with that o ...
. The word "Muskegon" comes from the
Ojibwa The Ojibwe, Ojibwa, Chippewa, or Saulteaux are an Anishinaabe people in what is currently southern Canada, the northern Midwestern United States, and Northern Plains. According to the U.S. census, in the United States Ojibwe people are one of ...
/ Chippewa word ''mashkig,'' meaning "marsh" or "swamp". ''See''
List of Michigan county name etymologies There are 83 counties in the U.S. state of Michigan. The boundaries of these counties have not changed substantially since 1897. However, throughout the 19th century, the state legislature frequently adjusted county boundaries. County creation wa ...
.


Geography

According to the
U.S. 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 county has a total area of , of which is land and (66%) is water.


Bodies of water

* White Lake * White River *
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 ...
* Muskegon River * Mona Lake *
Little Black Lake Little is a synonym for small size and may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Little'' (album), 1990 debut album of Vic Chesnutt * ''Little'' (film), 2019 American comedy film *The Littles, a series of children's novels by American author John P ...
* Little Blue Lake * Wolf Lake * Fox Lake *
Big Blue Lake ''Big Blue Lake'' (, translit. Da lan hu) is a 2011 Hong Kong drama film directed by Jessey Tsang Tsui-Shan. Cast * Leila Tong * Lawrence Chou * Amy Chum * Angi Au Angi (formerly Angie's List) is an American home services website o ...
* Bear Lake * Duck Lake * Twin Lake


National protected area

* Manistee National Forest (part)


Major highways

* * * (Muskegon) * (Whitehall-Montague) * * * * * * * * *


Adjacent counties

*
Oceana County, Michigan Oceana County ( ) is a county located in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 26,659. The county seat is Hart. Long known as part of the large Ojibwe territory, the county was founded by European Americans in 18 ...
- north *
Newaygo County, Michigan Newaygo County ( ) is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 49,978. The county seat is White Cloud. The county was created in 1840, and was organized in 1851. It was either named for an ...
- northeast *
Kent County, Michigan Kent County is located in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 Census, the county had a population of 657,974, making it the fourth most populous county in Michigan, and the largest outside of the Detroit area. Its county seat is Grand ...
- east * Ottawa County, Michigan - east * Ottawa County, Michigan - south * Milwaukee County, Wisconsin - southwest * Ozaukee County, Wisconsin - west


Demographics

As of the
2010 United States Census The United States census of 2010 was the twenty-third United States national census. National Census Day, the reference day used for the census, was April 1, 2010. The census was taken via mail-in citizen self-reporting, with enumerators servin ...
, there were 172,188 people living in the county. 77.4% were non-Hispanic White, 14.6% Black or African American, 0.6%
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 ...
, 0.9% Native American, and 2.5% of two or more races. 4.8% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race). As of the census of 2000, there were 170,200 people, 63,330 households, and 44,267 families living in the county. The population density was 334 people per square mile (129/km2). There were 68,556 housing units at an average density of 135 per square mile (52/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 81.25% White, 14.20% Black or African American, 0.82% Native American, 0.42%
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 ...
, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.28% from other races, and 2.01% from two or more races. 3.53% of the population were Hispanic 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. 17.2% were of
German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...
, 9.8% Dutch, 7.3%
American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...
, 7.2% English, 6.8% Irish and 5.5%
Polish Polish may refer to: * Anything from or related to Poland, a country in Europe * Polish language * Poles, people from Poland or of Polish descent * Polish chicken *Polish brothers (Mark Polish and Michael Polish, born 1970), American twin screenwr ...
ancestry, 95.9% spoke English and 2.6% Spanish as their first language. There were 63,330 households, of which 34.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.60% were
married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between t ...
living together, 13.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.10% were non-families. 25.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.10. In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.50% under the age of 18, 8.70% from 18 to 24, 29.00% from 25 to 44, 21.90% from 45 to 64, and 12.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.40 males. The county's median household income was $38,008, and the median family income was $45,710. Males had a median income of $35,952 versus $25,430 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,967. About 8.80% of families and 11.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.00% of those under age 18 and 8.20% of those age 65 or over.


Government

Prior to 1932, Muskegon County was a Republican Party stronghold in presidential elections, aside from 1912 where the split Republican vote primarily backed former president & third-party candidate Theodore Roosevelt. The county became a Republican-leaning swing county from 1932 to 1988, backing the national winner from 1920 to 1996 except for 1960 & 1976, & those two years along with 2004 are the only years from 1920 on where it failed to back the winner of the national popular vote. Starting with the 1992 election, the county has consistently backed Democratic Party presidential candidates. In recent years, Muskegon County has become increasingly competitive, with Donald Trump very narrowly losing the county in both
2016 File:2016 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: Bombed-out buildings in Ankara following the 2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt; the impeachment trial of Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff; Damaged houses during the 2016 Nagorno-Karabakh ...
and
2020 2020 was heavily defined by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to global Social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, social and Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, economic disruption, mass cancellations and postponements of events, COVID- ...
.


County government

The county government operates the
jail A prison, also known as a jail, gaol (dated, standard English, Australian, and historically in Canada), penitentiary (American English and Canadian English), detention center (or detention centre outside the US), correction center, correc ...
, maintains rural roads, operates the major local courts, keeps files of deeds and mortgages, maintains
vital records Vital records are records of life events kept under governmental authority, including birth certificates, marriage licenses (or marriage certificates), separation agreements, divorce certificates or divorce party and death certificates. In some ...
, administers public health regulations, and participates with the state in the provision of welfare and other social services. The county board of commissioners controls the budget but has only limited authority to make laws or ordinances. In Michigan, most local government functions — police and fire, building and zoning, tax assessment, street maintenance, etc. — are the responsibility of individual cities and townships.


Elected officials

* Prosecuting Attorney: D.J. Hilso

*
Sheriff A sheriff is a government official, with varying duties, existing in some countries with historical ties to England where the office originated. There is an analogous, although independently developed, office in Iceland that is commonly transla ...
: Michael J. Pouli

*
County Clerk A clerk is a white-collar worker who conducts general office tasks, or a worker who performs similar sales-related tasks in a retail environment. The responsibilities of clerical workers commonly include record keeping, filing, staffing service ...
: Nancy A. Water

* Treasurer, County Treasurer: Tony Moulatsioti

*
Register of Deeds Recorder of deeds or deeds registry is a government office tasked with maintaining public records and documents, especially records relating to real estate ownership that provide persons other than the owner of a property with real rights over ...
: Mark F. Fairchil

*
Drain Commissioner A drain commissioner is an elected official in county government of the U.S. state of Michigan who is responsible for planning, developing and maintaining surface water drainage systems under Public Act 40 of 1956. In counties with a population unde ...
: Brenda M Moor

* County Surveyor: Stephen Vallier (information as of May 2017)


State representation

The Michigan Department of Corrections operates the
Muskegon Correctional Facility Muskegon Correctional Facility (MCF) is a prison of the Michigan Department of Corrections located in Muskegon, Michigan. The prison opened in 1974. Additional housing units opened since then to accommodate more prisoners. In 2010 the state of Mic ...
in southeastern Muskegon. The prison first opened in 1974.


Education

Public School Districts in Muskegon County: *
Fruitport Community Schools Fruitport Community Schools is a school district in Fruitport, Michigan, a village located in Muskegon County Muskegon County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of 2020, the population was 175,824. The county seat is Muskegon. M ...
*Holton Public Schools * Mona Shores Public Schools *Montague Area Public Schools *
Muskegon Public Schools Muskegon ( ') is a city in Michigan. It is the county seat 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 expan ...
*
Muskegon Heights Public Schools Muskegon ( ') is a city in Michigan. It is the county seat 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 expans ...
*
North Muskegon Public Schools North Muskegon Public Schools is a public school district located in North Muskegon, Michigan. It is a constituent of the Muskegon Area Intermediate School District in Muskegon County Muskegon County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. ...
*
Orchard View Schools Orchard View Schools is a school district in Muskegon Township, Michigan, south of the Muskegon River in Muskegon County, Michigan. It is a member of the Muskegon Area Intermediate School District. Schools * Orchard View High School (grades 9 t ...
*
Oakridge Public Schools {{Use mdy dates, date=July 2023 Oakridge Public Schools is a public school district in Egelston Township, Michigan, which is located inside of Muskegon, Michigan. The school mascot is the Eagle Eagle is the common name for many large birds o ...
*Ravenna Public Schools *
Reeths-Puffer School District The Reeths-Puffer School District is a public school district located in Muskegon, Michigan. Reeths-Puffer currently has an early education center, formally McMillan Elementary, 3 elementary schools, 1 intermediate school, 1 middle school, and 1 ...
*White Lake Area Community Ed. *
Whitehall District Schools Whitehall District Schools is a school district located in Muskegon County, Michigan. It serves the city of Whitehall and the townships of Whitehall, Fruitland, Dalton, Blue Lake and the Village of Lakewood Club. Its mascot is the Viking. ...
Private School Districts in Muskegon County: *Broadway Baptist School *Fruitport Calvary Christian * Muskegon Catholic Central * West Michigan Christian Colleges and Universities: *
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 ...
* Muskegon Community College * Ross Medical Education Center - Muskegon


Historical markers

There are twenty-three recognized historical markers in the county: They are: * Bluffton Actors' Colony / Buster Keaton * Central United Methodist Church uskegon* Evergreen Cemetery * Fruitland District No.6 School * Hackley House * Hackley Public Library * Hackley-Holt House * Hume House * Jean Baptiste Recollect Trading Post * Lakeside * Lebanon Lutheran Church * Lumbering on White Lake / Staples & Covell Mill * Marsh Field * Mouth Cemetery * Muskegon Business College * Muskegon Log Booming Company * Muskegon Woman's Club * Old Indian Cemetery * Pinchtown *
Ruth Thompson Ruth Thompson (September 15, 1887 – April 5, 1970) was a Republican politician from the U.S. state of Michigan. A lawyer by profession, she served three terms in the United States House of Representatives from 1951 to 1957. Biography Early l ...
* Torrent House * Union Depot (Muskegon) * White Lake Yacht Club


Communities


Cities

* Montague *
Muskegon Heights Muskegon Heights is a city in Muskegon County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 10,856 at the 2010 census. Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land. The city is surrounded o ...
* Muskegon (county seat) * North Muskegon *
Norton Shores Norton Shores is a city in Muskegon County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 23,994 at the 2010 census. Overview Norton Shores is located on the shores of Lake Michigan in Muskegon County. The community of 22,527 residents enco ...
* Roosevelt Park * Whitehall


Villages

* Casnovia * Fruitport * Lakewood Club * Ravenna


Census-designated places

*
Twin Lake Twin Lake is an unincorporated community in Muskegon County of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a census-designated place (CDP) for statistical purposes. Local government services are provided by Dalton Township. As of the 2000 census, the com ...
* Wolf Lake


Unincorporated communities

* Wabaningo * Brunswick (partially)


Townships

* Blue Lake Township * Casnovia Township * Cedar Creek Township * Dalton Township * Egelston Township * Fruitland Township * Fruitport Charter Township * Holton Township * Laketon Township * Montague Township * Moorland Township * Muskegon Charter Township * Ravenna Township * Sullivan Township * White River Township * Whitehall Township


See also

* List of Michigan State Historic Sites in Muskegon County, Michigan *
Muskegon Area Transit System The Muskegon Area Transit System is the primary provider of mass transportation in Muskegon County, Michigan Muskegon County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of 2020, the population was 175,824. The county seat is Muskegon. Mus ...
* National Register of Historic Places listings in Muskegon County, Michigan


References


Further reading

*


External links


Michigan Historical Markers.Muskegon County web siteMuskegon Area First - County-wide Economic Development agencyBluffton Church - Muskegon Independent Church
{{Coord, 43.29, -86.45, display=title, type:adm2nd_region:US-MI_source:UScensus1990 Michigan counties Grand Rapids metropolitan area 1859 establishments in Michigan Populated places established in 1859