County in Michigan, United States
County in Michigan
Muskegon County
(
m?-
SKEE
-g?n
) is a
county
in the
U.S. state
of
Michigan
. As of 2020, the
population
was 175,824.
[2]
The
county seat
is
Muskegon
.
[3]
Muskegon County comprises the Muskegon, MI
Metropolitan Statistical Area
, which is part of the larger
Grand Rapids
-
Kentwood
-Muskegon, MI
Combined Statistical Area
.
History
[
edit
]
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.
[4]
Prior to 1859, the majority of Muskegon County was part of
Ottawa County
(the Southern three quarters).
Grand Haven
served as the County Seat of this combined County, and still serves as the Ottawa County seat today.
[5]
Muskegon County was organized in 1859. Its name is from the
Muskegon River
, which runs through it and empties into
Muskegon Lake
and subsequently flows into
Lake Michigan
. The word "Muskegon" comes from the
Ojibwa
/
Chippewa
word
mashkig,
meaning "marsh" or "swamp".
[1]
[6]
See
List of Michigan county name etymologies
.
Geography
[
edit
]
According to the
U.S. Census Bureau
, the county has a total area of 1,460 square miles (3,800 km
2
), of which 499 square miles (1,290 km
2
) is land and 961 square miles (2,490 km
2
) (66%) is water.
[7]
Michigan's second longest river,
Muskegon River
,
[8]
flows through the county with its north and south branches emptying into Muskegon Lake. Muskegon Lake then empties into Lake Michigan via the Muskegon Channel. Muskegon Lake is Michigan's only deep water port on Lake Michigan.
[9]
In the north the
White River
flows through the county into
White Lake
and then on to
Lake Michigan
. In the south, Black Creek flows into Mona Lake which also flow into Lake Michigan. These three lakes allow boat navigation to and from Lake Michigan, making it one of the states most boat accessible counties, with Muskegon Lake allowing access for additional large commercial vessels.
Bodies of water
[
edit
]
National protected area
[
edit
]
Transit
[
edit
]
Major highways
[
edit
]
Adjacent counties
[
edit
]
By land
By water
Demographics
[
edit
]
Historical population
Census
| Pop.
| Note
| %±
|
1860
| 3,947
| | ?
|
---|
1870
| 14,894
| | 277.3%
|
---|
1880
| 26,586
| | 78.5%
|
---|
1890
| 40,013
| | 50.5%
|
---|
1900
| 37,036
| | ?7.4%
|
---|
1910
| 40,577
| | 9.6%
|
---|
1920
| 62,362
| | 53.7%
|
---|
1930
| 84,630
| | 35.7%
|
---|
1940
| 94,501
| | 11.7%
|
---|
1950
| 121,545
| | 28.6%
|
---|
1960
| 129,943
| | 6.9%
|
---|
1970
| 157,426
| | 21.2%
|
---|
1980
| 157,589
| | 0.1%
|
---|
1990
| 158,983
| | 0.9%
|
---|
2000
| 170,200
| | 7.1%
|
---|
2010
| 172,188
| | 1.2%
|
---|
2020
| 175,824
| | 2.1%
|
---|
2023 (est.)
| 176,564
| [10]
| 0.4%
|
---|
As of the
2010 United States Census
,
[16]
there were 172,188 people living in the county. 77.4% were non-Hispanic
White
, 14.6%
Black or African American
, 0.6%
Asian
, 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
[17]
of 2000, there were 170,200 people, 63,330 households, and 44,267 families living in the county. The population density was 334 inhabitants per square mile (129/km
2
). There were 68,556 housing units at an average density of 135 per square mile (52/km
2
). The racial makeup of the county was 81.25%
White
, 14.20%
Black
or
African American
, 0.82%
Native American
, 0.42%
Asian
, 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
of any race. 17.2% were of
German
, 9.8%
Dutch
, 7.3%
American
, 7.2%
English
, 6.8%
Irish
and 5.5%
Polish
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
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
[
edit
]
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. It only supported a Democrat for president six times during this period; 1948 was the only election in this period that was not a national Democratic landslide.
Starting with the 1992 election, the county has consistently backed Democratic presidential candidates, and is one of the few Democratic bastions in traditionally Republican West Michigan. However,
Donald Trump
very narrowly lost the county in both
2016
and
2020
by 1,177 and 510 votes respectively amid his surge in the Rust Belt.
United States presidential election results for Muskegon County, Michigan
[18]
Year
|
Republican
|
Democratic
|
Third party
|
No.
|
%
|
No.
|
%
|
No.
|
%
|
2020
|
45,133
|
48.82%
|
45,643
|
49.37%
|
1,668
|
1.80%
|
2016
|
36,127
|
45.89%
|
37,304
|
47.39%
|
5,292
|
6.72%
|
2012
|
30,884
|
40.43%
|
44,436
|
58.16%
|
1,077
|
1.41%
|
2008
|
29,145
|
34.51%
|
53,821
|
63.73%
|
1,490
|
1.76%
|
2004
|
35,302
|
43.96%
|
44,282
|
55.14%
|
729
|
0.91%
|
2000
|
30,028
|
43.35%
|
37,865
|
54.66%
|
1,377
|
1.99%
|
1996
|
21,873
|
34.48%
|
35,328
|
55.69%
|
6,237
|
9.83%
|
1992
|
23,769
|
33.04%
|
32,515
|
45.19%
|
15,664
|
21.77%
|
1988
|
33,567
|
53.36%
|
28,977
|
46.06%
|
363
|
0.58%
|
1984
|
39,355
|
60.67%
|
25,247
|
38.92%
|
261
|
0.40%
|
1980
|
36,512
|
53.73%
|
26,645
|
39.21%
|
4,797
|
7.06%
|
1976
|
35,548
|
56.06%
|
27,013
|
42.60%
|
846
|
1.33%
|
1972
|
36,428
|
59.60%
|
22,804
|
37.31%
|
1,893
|
3.10%
|
1968
|
28,233
|
48.11%
|
24,492
|
41.74%
|
5,958
|
10.15%
|
1964
|
22,146
|
37.51%
|
36,769
|
62.28%
|
119
|
0.20%
|
1960
|
32,667
|
52.98%
|
28,755
|
46.63%
|
239
|
0.39%
|
1956
|
30,395
|
54.04%
|
25,679
|
45.65%
|
172
|
0.31%
|
1952
|
25,967
|
51.47%
|
23,826
|
47.23%
|
653
|
1.29%
|
1948
|
15,382
|
41.45%
|
20,631
|
55.60%
|
1,094
|
2.95%
|
1944
|
16,536
|
44.95%
|
19,963
|
54.27%
|
287
|
0.78%
|
1940
|
14,957
|
43.45%
|
19,257
|
55.94%
|
210
|
0.61%
|
1936
|
9,366
|
34.52%
|
17,252
|
63.58%
|
515
|
1.90%
|
1932
|
11,971
|
45.58%
|
13,497
|
51.39%
|
797
|
3.03%
|
1928
|
16,997
|
76.28%
|
5,158
|
23.15%
|
126
|
0.57%
|
1924
|
14,422
|
79.22%
|
1,462
|
8.03%
|
2,322
|
12.75%
|
1920
|
11,702
|
73.70%
|
3,468
|
21.84%
|
707
|
4.45%
|
1916
|
5,692
|
52.16%
|
4,465
|
40.91%
|
756
|
6.93%
|
1912
|
1,523
|
18.47%
|
1,678
|
20.35%
|
5,045
|
61.18%
|
1908
|
5,070
|
69.25%
|
1,794
|
24.50%
|
457
|
6.24%
|
1904
|
5,453
|
76.46%
|
1,181
|
16.56%
|
498
|
6.98%
|
1900
|
5,250
|
63.60%
|
2,796
|
33.87%
|
209
|
2.53%
|
1896
|
4,682
|
58.79%
|
3,110
|
39.05%
|
172
|
2.16%
|
1892
|
3,830
|
49.76%
|
3,301
|
42.89%
|
566
|
7.35%
|
1888
|
4,521
|
52.44%
|
3,514
|
40.76%
|
587
|
6.81%
|
1884
|
3,483
|
49.79%
|
3,171
|
45.33%
|
342
|
4.89%
|
County government
[
edit
]
The county government operates the
jail
, maintains rural roads, operates the
major local courts, keeps files of deeds and mortgages, maintains
vital records
, 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
[
edit
]
(information as of May 2017)
State representation
[
edit
]
The
Michigan Department of Corrections
operates the
Muskegon Correctional Facility
in southeastern
Muskegon
. The prison first opened in 1974.
[25]
Education
[
edit
]
Public School Districts in Muskegon County:
Private School Districts in Muskegon County:
Colleges and Universities:
Historical markers
[
edit
]
There are twenty-three recognized historical markers in the county:
[26]
They are:
- Bluffton
Actors' Colony
/ Buster Keaton
- Central United Methodist Church [Muskegon]
- 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
- Torrent House
- Union Depot (Muskegon)
- White Lake Yacht Club
Communities
[
edit
]
Cities
[
edit
]
Villages
[
edit
]
Charter townships
[
edit
]
Civil townships
[
edit
]
Census-designated places
[
edit
]
Unincorporated communities
[
edit
]
See also
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
a
b
"Bibliography on Muskegon County"
.
Clarke Historical Library
,
Central Michigan University
. Retrieved
January 20,
2013
.
- ^
"QuickFacts"
.
United States Census Bureau
. Retrieved
September 15,
2021
.
- ^
"Find a County"
. National Association of Counties
. Retrieved
June 7,
2011
.
- ^
Hoogterp, Edward (2006).
West Michigan Almanac
, p. 105. The University of Michigan Press.
- ^
"History of Muskegon | Muskegon County, MI"
.
www.co.muskegon.mi.us
. Retrieved
March 16,
2021
.
- ^
"Michigan History, Arts and Libraries on sources of County names"
.
- ^
"2010 Census Gazetteer Files"
. United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from
the original
on November 13, 2013
. Retrieved
September 27,
2014
.
- ^
"The 10 Longest Rivers in Michigan"
.
WorldAtlas
. August 2, 2018
. Retrieved
January 16,
2023
.
- ^
"Largest deep water port in West Michigan opens"
.
WOODTV.com
. August 21, 2022
. Retrieved
January 16,
2023
.
- ^
"Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023"
. United States Census Bureau
. Retrieved
April 4,
2024
.
- ^
"U.S. Decennial Census"
. United States Census Bureau
. Retrieved
September 27,
2014
.
- ^
"Historical Census Browser"
. University of Virginia Library
. Retrieved
September 27,
2014
.
- ^
"Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990"
. United States Census Bureau
. Retrieved
September 27,
2014
.
- ^
"Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000"
(PDF)
. United States Census Bureau.
Archived
(PDF)
from the original on March 27, 2010
. Retrieved
September 27,
2014
.
- ^
"State & County QuickFacts"
. United States Census Bureau. Archived from
the original
on July 7, 2011
. Retrieved
August 28,
2013
.
- ^
"U.S. Census website"
.
United States Census Bureau
. Retrieved
September 15,
2016
.
- ^
"U.S. Census website"
.
United States Census Bureau
. Retrieved
January 31,
2008
.
- ^
"Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections"
.
- ^
County Prosecutor
- ^
"Sheriff's Office | Muskegon County, MI"
.
www.co.muskegon.mi.us
.
- ^
"County Clerk | Muskegon County, MI"
.
- ^
Treasurer
- ^
Register of Deeds
- ^
"Muskegon County Drain Commissioner"
. Archived from
the original
on February 1, 2016.
- ^
"
Muskegon Correctional Facility (MCF)
.
Michigan Department of Corrections
. Retrieved on June 3, 2011.
- ^
"Michigan Historical Markers"
.
michmarkers.com
. Archived from
the original
on March 15, 2010
. Retrieved
January 12,
2008
.
Further reading
[
edit
]
External links
[
edit
]
Places adjacent to Muskegon County, Michigan
|
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Central cities
| |
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Counties
|
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Geography
| |
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Transportation
| |
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Economy
| |
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International
| |
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National
| |
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Other
| |
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43°17′N
86°27′W
/
43.29°N 86.45°W
/
43.29; -86.45