Muskegon County | |
|---|---|
 Muskegon County Courthouse | |
 Seal | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofMichigan | |
 Michigan's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:43°17′N86°27′W / 43.29°N 86.45°W /43.29; -86.45 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Michigan |
| Founded | 1859[1] |
| Named after | Muskegon River |
| Seat | Muskegon |
| Largest city | Norton Shores (area),Muskegon (population) |
| Area | |
• Total | 1,460 sq mi (3,800 km2) |
| • Land | 499 sq mi (1,290 km2) |
| • Water | 961 sq mi (2,490 km2) 66% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 175,824 |
• Estimate (2024) | 177,428 |
| • Density | 345/sq mi (133/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional districts | 2nd,3rd |
| Website | www |
Muskegon County (/məˈskiːɡən/mə-SKEE-gən) is acounty in theU.S. state ofMichigan. As of 2020, thepopulation was 175,824.[2] Thecounty seat isMuskegon.[3]
Muskegon County comprises the Muskegon, MIMetropolitan Statistical Area, which is part of the largerGrand Rapids-Kentwood-Muskegon, MICombined Statistical Area.
Around 1812, Jean Baptiste Recollect and Pierre Constant set uptrading posts in the area. By theTreaty 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 ofOttawa 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 theMuskegon River, which runs through it and empties intoMuskegon Lake and subsequently flows intoLake Michigan. The word "Muskegon" comes from theOjibwa/Chippewa wordmashkig, meaning "marsh" or "swamp".[1][6]SeeList of Michigan county name etymologies.
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,460 square miles (3,800 km2), of which 499 square miles (1,290 km2) is land and 961 square miles (2,490 km2) (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 theWhite River flows through the county intoWhite Lake and then on toLake Michigan. In the south, Black Creek flows into Mona Lake which also flows 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.
By land
By water
| 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% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 177,428 | [10] | 0.9% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[11] 1790-1960[12] 1900-1990[13] 1990-2000[14] 2010-2019[15] | |||
As of the2010 United States census,[16] there were 172,188 people living in the county. 77.4% were non-HispanicWhite, 14.6%Black or African American, 0.6%Asian, 0.9%Native American, and 2.5%of two or more races. 4.8% wereHispanic or Latino (of any race).
As of thecensus[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/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 orAfrican American, 0.82%Native American, 0.42%Asian, 0.01%Pacific Islander, 1.28% fromother races, and 2.01% from two or more races. 3.53% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race. 17.2% were ofGerman, 9.8%Dutch, 7.3%American, 7.2%English, 6.8%Irish and 5.5%Polish ancestry, 95.9% spokeEnglish 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% weremarried 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. Theper capita income for the county was $17,967. About 8.80% of families and 11.40% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 16.00% of those under age 18 and 8.20% of those age 65 or over.
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 candidateTheodore 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 became somewhat friendlier to Democratic presidential candidates, and for a quarter-century was one of the few Democratic bastions in traditionally Republican West Michigan. However, after narrowly losing the county in both2016 and2020 amid his surge in the Rust Belt,Donald Trump flipped it in2024. Generally, the more urbanized southwest corner of the county, namely Muskegon, Muskegon Heights, and Roosevelt Park, leans Democratic. Norton Shores is more of a swing area. The more rural areas of the county are powerfully Republican.
Beginning in 1972, Muskegon County has been a bellwether for the state of Michigan. Since that election, the only time it did not back the statewide winner in a presidential election was in 2016, and even in that election, it was the narrowest county win forHillary Clinton in Michigan, the state that gave Trump his narrowest win nationwide.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1884 | 3,483 | 49.79% | 3,171 | 45.33% | 342 | 4.89% |
| 1888 | 4,521 | 52.44% | 3,514 | 40.76% | 587 | 6.81% |
| 1892 | 3,830 | 49.76% | 3,301 | 42.89% | 566 | 7.35% |
| 1896 | 4,682 | 58.79% | 3,110 | 39.05% | 172 | 2.16% |
| 1900 | 5,250 | 63.60% | 2,796 | 33.87% | 209 | 2.53% |
| 1904 | 5,453 | 76.46% | 1,181 | 16.56% | 498 | 6.98% |
| 1908 | 5,070 | 69.25% | 1,794 | 24.50% | 457 | 6.24% |
| 1912 | 1,523 | 18.47% | 1,678 | 20.35% | 5,045 | 61.18% |
| 1916 | 5,692 | 52.16% | 4,465 | 40.91% | 756 | 6.93% |
| 1920 | 11,702 | 73.70% | 3,468 | 21.84% | 707 | 4.45% |
| 1924 | 14,422 | 79.22% | 1,462 | 8.03% | 2,322 | 12.75% |
| 1928 | 16,997 | 76.28% | 5,158 | 23.15% | 126 | 0.57% |
| 1932 | 11,971 | 45.58% | 13,497 | 51.39% | 797 | 3.03% |
| 1936 | 9,366 | 34.52% | 17,252 | 63.58% | 515 | 1.90% |
| 1940 | 14,957 | 43.45% | 19,257 | 55.94% | 210 | 0.61% |
| 1944 | 16,536 | 44.95% | 19,963 | 54.27% | 287 | 0.78% |
| 1948 | 15,382 | 41.45% | 20,631 | 55.60% | 1,094 | 2.95% |
| 1952 | 25,967 | 51.47% | 23,826 | 47.23% | 653 | 1.29% |
| 1956 | 30,395 | 54.04% | 25,679 | 45.65% | 172 | 0.31% |
| 1960 | 32,667 | 52.98% | 28,755 | 46.63% | 239 | 0.39% |
| 1964 | 22,146 | 37.51% | 36,769 | 62.28% | 119 | 0.20% |
| 1968 | 28,233 | 48.11% | 24,492 | 41.74% | 5,958 | 10.15% |
| 1972 | 36,428 | 59.60% | 22,804 | 37.31% | 1,893 | 3.10% |
| 1976 | 35,548 | 56.06% | 27,013 | 42.60% | 846 | 1.33% |
| 1980 | 36,512 | 53.73% | 26,645 | 39.21% | 4,797 | 7.06% |
| 1984 | 39,355 | 60.67% | 25,247 | 38.92% | 261 | 0.40% |
| 1988 | 33,567 | 53.36% | 28,977 | 46.06% | 363 | 0.58% |
| 1992 | 23,769 | 33.04% | 32,515 | 45.19% | 15,664 | 21.77% |
| 1996 | 21,873 | 34.48% | 35,328 | 55.69% | 6,237 | 9.83% |
| 2000 | 30,028 | 43.35% | 37,865 | 54.66% | 1,377 | 1.99% |
| 2004 | 35,302 | 43.96% | 44,282 | 55.14% | 729 | 0.91% |
| 2008 | 29,145 | 34.51% | 53,821 | 63.73% | 1,490 | 1.76% |
| 2012 | 30,884 | 40.43% | 44,436 | 58.16% | 1,077 | 1.41% |
| 2016 | 36,127 | 45.89% | 37,304 | 47.39% | 5,292 | 6.72% |
| 2020 | 45,133 | 48.82% | 45,643 | 49.37% | 1,668 | 1.80% |
| 2024 | 47,733 | 50.15% | 46,028 | 48.36% | 1,420 | 1.49% |
The county government operates thejail, maintains rural roads, operates themajor local courts, keeps files of deeds and mortgages, maintainsvital records, administerspublic health regulations, and participates with the state in the provision of welfare andother social services. Thecounty board of commissioners controls thebudget but has only limited authority to make laws or ordinances. In Michigan, most localgovernment functions — police and fire, building and zoning, tax assessment, streetmaintenance, etc. — are the responsibility of individual cities and townships.
(information as of May 2017)
TheMichigan Department of Corrections operates theMuskegon Correctional Facility in southeasternMuskegon. The prison first opened in 1974.[25]
In TheMichigan House of Representatives, Muskegon County is represented byWill Snyder (D) of the87th district,Greg VanWoerkom (R) of the88th district,Luke Meerman (R) of the89th district, andCurt VanderWall (R) of the102nd district.
In TheMichigan Senate, Muskegon County is represented byJon Bumstead (R) of the32nd district, andRick Outman (R) of the33rd district.
Public School Districts in Muskegon County:
Private School Districts in Muskegon County:
Colleges and Universities:
There are twenty-three recognized historical markers in the county:[26] They are:
Places adjacent to Muskegon County, Michigan | |
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Municipalities and communities ofMuskegon County, Michigan,United States | ||
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| General law townships | ||
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| Other communities | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
| Central cities | |||
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