Muskegon, Michigan | |
|---|---|
 Muskegon viewed from acrossMuskegon Lake | |
 Logo | |
| Nicknames: Port City, Lumber Queen of the World, Skeetown, Midwest Riviera, Lumbertown | |
 Location withinMuskegon County and the state ofMichigan | |
  Muskegon  Muskegon | |
| Coordinates:43°14′03″N86°14′54″W / 43.23417°N 86.24833°W /43.23417; -86.24833 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Michigan |
| County | Muskegon |
| Government | |
| • Type | Commission-Manager |
| • Mayor | Ken Johnson[1] |
| • City Manager | Jonathan Seyferth |
| Area | |
• City | 18.20 sq mi (47.13 km2) |
| • Land | 14.14 sq mi (36.63 km2) |
| • Water | 4.05 sq mi (10.50 km2) |
| Elevation | 628 ft (191.4 m) |
| Population | |
• City | 38,318 |
| • Density | 2,709.3/sq mi (1,046.05/km2) |
| • Metro | 175,824[3] |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP codes | 49440-49445 |
| Area code | 231 |
| FIPS code | 26-56320[5] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1620963[6] |
| Website | www |
Muskegon (/məˈskiːɡən/mə-SKEE-gən) is a city in and thecounty seat ofMuskegon County, Michigan, United States.[7] Situated around a harbor ofLake Michigan, Muskegon is known for fishing, sailingregattas, and boating. It is the most populous city along Lake Michigan's eastern shore. At the2020 census, the city's population was 38,318.[4] The city is administratively autonomous from adjacentMuskegon Township, and several locations in Muskegon Township and other surrounding townships have Muskegon addresses.
Muskegon is the center of the Muskegonmetropolitan statistical area, which is coextensive with Muskegon County and had a population of 175,824 as of the 2020 census.[3] It is also part of the largerGrand Rapids-Kentwood-Muskegon-combined statistical area.[8]
The name "Muskegon" is derived from theOttawamashkiigong, meaning "marshy river or swamp".[9][10]
The "Masquigon" River (Muskegon River) was identified on French maps dating from the late 17th century, suggesting French explorers had reached Michigan's western coast by that time. FatherJacques Marquette traveled northward through the area on his fateful trip toSt. Ignace in 1675, and a party of French soldiers underLa Salle's lieutenant,Henry de Tonty, passed through the area in 1679.[11]
The county's earliest known Euro-American resident was Edward Fitzgerald, afur trader and trapper who came to the Muskegon area in 1748 and who died there, reportedly being buried in the vicinity ofWhite Lake. Between 1790 and 1800, a French-Canadian trader namedJoseph La Framboise established a fur-trading post at the mouth of Duck Lake. Between 1810 and 1820, severalFrench-Canadian fur traders, including Lamar Andie, Jean Baptiste Recollect, and Pierre Constant, had established fur-trading posts aroundMuskegon Lake.[11]
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 explosion 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-19th century brought many settlers, particularly fromGermany,Netherlands, andSweden.[12]
Some Muskegon neighborhoods began as separate villages. Bluffton was founded as a lumbering village in 1862 inLaketon Township. It had its own post office from 1868 until 1892. Muskegon annexed it in 1889.[13]
Muskegon is in western Muskegon County, on the south side ofMuskegon Lake, a harbor ofLake Michigan. The city is bordered to the north, across Muskegon Lake, by the city ofNorth Muskegon andLaketon Township. It is bordered to the east byMuskegon Township, to the southeast byFruitport Township, to the south by the cities ofMuskegon Heights,Roosevelt Park, andNorton Shores, and to the west by Lake Michigan. It is 42 miles (68 km) northwest ofGrand Rapids, 36 miles (58 km) north ofHolland, and 58 miles (93 km) south ofLudington.
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the city has an area of 18.20 square miles (47.14 km2), of which 4.05 square miles (10.49 km2), or 22.3%, are covered by water.[2] TheMuskegon River empties into Muskegon Lake at the city's northeast end.
In May 2022, local environmental groups announced cleanup efforts along Muskegon Lake officially have 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 was expected to be finalized by the end of 2022 and promised additional new economic activity in the downtown and nearby lakefront neighborhoods.[14]
Muskegon has ahumid continental climate (Dfa) with hot summers and cold winters. Precipitation is consistent year-round. Muskegon receives heavylake-effect snow fromLake Michigan during winter.
| Climate data for Muskegon, Michigan (Muskegon County Airport) 1991–2020 normals,[a] extremes 1896–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 63 (17) | 67 (19) | 82 (28) | 86 (30) | 96 (36) | 98 (37) | 99 (37) | 99 (37) | 95 (35) | 86 (30) | 76 (24) | 66 (19) | 99 (37) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 50.3 (10.2) | 51.1 (10.6) | 65.6 (18.7) | 76.0 (24.4) | 83.6 (28.7) | 89.1 (31.7) | 89.8 (32.1) | 88.4 (31.3) | 85.8 (29.9) | 76.4 (24.7) | 63.4 (17.4) | 53.3 (11.8) | 91.6 (33.1) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 32.5 (0.3) | 34.5 (1.4) | 44.3 (6.8) | 56.6 (13.7) | 68.4 (20.2) | 77.7 (25.4) | 81.6 (27.6) | 80.2 (26.8) | 73.4 (23.0) | 60.6 (15.9) | 47.8 (8.8) | 37.4 (3.0) | 57.9 (14.4) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 26.6 (−3.0) | 27.7 (−2.4) | 35.7 (2.1) | 46.8 (8.2) | 57.9 (14.4) | 67.4 (19.7) | 71.9 (22.2) | 70.8 (21.6) | 63.5 (17.5) | 51.9 (11.1) | 41.0 (5.0) | 31.9 (−0.1) | 49.4 (9.7) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 20.7 (−6.3) | 20.8 (−6.2) | 27.1 (−2.7) | 36.9 (2.7) | 47.5 (8.6) | 57.2 (14.0) | 62.2 (16.8) | 61.3 (16.3) | 53.5 (11.9) | 43.2 (6.2) | 34.1 (1.2) | 26.3 (−3.2) | 40.9 (4.9) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | 0.7 (−17.4) | 2.4 (−16.4) | 8.3 (−13.2) | 21.8 (−5.7) | 32.2 (0.1) | 42.5 (5.8) | 49.3 (9.6) | 48.6 (9.2) | 38.3 (3.5) | 28.3 (−2.1) | 20.7 (−6.3) | 10.0 (−12.2) | −2.7 (−19.3) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −21 (−29) | −30 (−34) | −11 (−24) | 1 (−17) | 22 (−6) | 31 (−1) | 39 (4) | 36 (2) | 27 (−3) | 19 (−7) | −14 (−26) | −15 (−26) | −30 (−34) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 2.42 (61) | 2.11 (54) | 2.40 (61) | 3.47 (88) | 3.38 (86) | 3.05 (77) | 2.75 (70) | 3.10 (79) | 3.26 (83) | 3.80 (97) | 2.92 (74) | 2.42 (61) | 35.08 (891) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 29.1 (74) | 20.0 (51) | 7.5 (19) | 1.8 (4.6) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 6.5 (17) | 22.3 (57) | 87.2 (221) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 16.3 | 12.9 | 10.9 | 12.5 | 11.3 | 10.0 | 9.1 | 9.1 | 9.4 | 12.6 | 13.5 | 14.9 | 142.5 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 0.1 in) | 14.4 | 11.7 | 5.4 | 1.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 4.1 | 10.9 | 48.1 |
| Averagerelative humidity (%) | 78.1 | 75.2 | 71.1 | 65.4 | 64.1 | 68.2 | 70.6 | 74.5 | 76.4 | 74.3 | 74.9 | 78.6 | 72.6 |
| Averagedew point °F (°C) | 17.1 (−8.3) | 17.4 (−8.1) | 24.4 (−4.2) | 33.1 (0.6) | 43.0 (6.1) | 53.6 (12.0) | 59.5 (15.3) | 59.7 (15.4) | 53.2 (11.8) | 42.3 (5.7) | 31.8 (−0.1) | 22.3 (−5.4) | 38.1 (3.4) |
| Source 1:NOAA (relative humidity and dew point 1961–1990)[15][16][17] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2:World Meteorological Organization[18] | |||||||||||||
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1860 | 1,450 | — | |
| 1870 | 6,002 | 313.9% | |
| 1880 | 11,262 | 87.6% | |
| 1890 | 22,702 | 101.6% | |
| 1900 | 20,818 | −8.3% | |
| 1910 | 24,062 | 15.6% | |
| 1920 | 36,570 | 52.0% | |
| 1930 | 41,390 | 13.2% | |
| 1940 | 47,697 | 15.2% | |
| 1950 | 48,429 | 1.5% | |
| 1960 | 46,485 | −4.0% | |
| 1970 | 44,631 | −4.0% | |
| 1980 | 40,823 | −8.5% | |
| 1990 | 40,283 | −1.3% | |
| 2000 | 40,105 | −0.4% | |
| 2010 | 38,401 | −4.2% | |
| 2020 | 38,318 | −0.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[19] | |||
As of thecensus[20] of 2010, 38,401 people, 13,967 households, and 7,895 families resided in the city. Thepopulation density was 2,702.4 inhabitants per square mile (1,043.4/km2). The 16,105 housing units had an average density of 1,133.4 per square mile (437.6/km2). Theracial makeup of the city was 57.0% White, 34.5% African American, 0.9% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 2.6% from other races, and 4.5% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 8.2% of the population.
Of the 13,967 households, 32.5% had children under 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 not families. About 36.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 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; the age distribution was 23.3% were under 18; 12.2% from 18 and 24; 28.8% from 25 to 44; 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 11.6% were 65 or older. The city's gender makeup was 52.1% male and 47.9% female.
As of thecensus[5] of 2000,[21] 40,105 people, 14,569 households, and 8,537 families were residing in the city. The population density was 2,794.5 inhabitants per square mile (1,079.0/km2). The 15,999 housing units had an average density of 1,114.8/sq mi (430.4/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 57.9% White, 31.7% African American, 2.3% Native American, 0.46% Asian, 2.7% fromother races, and 3.50% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any origins were 6.4% of the population.
Of the 14,569 households, 31.1% had children under 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 not families. About 34.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.9% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.42, and the average family size was 3.13.
In the city, the age distribution was 25.8% under 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 age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 109.6 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 110.3 males.
The city's median income for a household was $27,929, and for a family was $32,640. Males had a median income of $29,114 versus $22,197 for females. Theper capita income for the city was $14,283. About 16.8% of families and 20.5% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 27.6% of those under age 18 and 14.3% of those 65 or over.
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 theTrinity Health Arena.[22] The Muskegon Farmer's Market welcomes 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 businesses.[23]
Muskegon is home to several historical war ships and vessels. The USS Silversides Submarine Museum[24] which featuresUSS Silversides, a World War II submarine;USS LST-393, a World War IItank landing ship; and USCGCMcLane, a Prohibition-eraUnited States Coast Guard cutter. In addition, Muskegon also berthsMilwaukee Clipper, a former passenger ship built in 1904 that traveled the same route asLake Express does today.
TheFrauenthal Center for the Performing Arts includes two theaters, the main historic Frauenthal house and the smaller Beardsley Theater in the adjoining Hilt Building.[25] It was refurbished in 1998 and again in 2021, and hosts JAM Theatrical productions, Muskegon Civic Theatre productions, and is home of theWest Michigan Symphony Orchestra.[26][27] The Frauenthal was originally built as the Michigan Theater in 1929.
The Muskegon Museum of Art opened in 1912. Among the highlights of its permanent collection isTornado Over Kansas, byJohn Steuart Curry.[28] 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.
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Lakeshore Museum Center and Hackley & Hume Historic Site, built by Muskegon'slumber barons, are restored and open to the public.[29] TheHackley &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 history of Muskegon County, from thePotawatomi andOdawaNative American tribes and lakeside fur traders to the Lumber Queen of the World to today.
Events held in the town include:
Fraternal organizations are a vibrant part of life in Western Michigan. Clubs with active memberships include:
Previous sports teams to play in Muskegon have included:
| Club | Sport | Played from | League | Stadium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muskegon Lumberjacks/Fury (1992–2010) | Hockey | 1992−2010 | IHL,UHL | Mercy Health Arena |
| Muskegon Thunder | Indoor football | 2007−2009 | IFL | Mercy Health Arena |
| Michigan Mayhem | Basketball | 2004−2006 | CBA | Mercy Health Arena |
| Muskegon Lumberjacks (1984–1992) | Hockey | 1984−1992 | IHL | Mercy Health Arena |
| Muskegon Mohawks | Hockey | 1965−1984 | IHL | Mercy Health Arena |
| Muskegon Zephyrs | Hockey | 1960−1965 | IHL | Mercy Health Arena |
| Muskegon Lassies | Baseball | 1946−1949 | AAGPBL | Marsh Field |
The Seaway Run is run every year in late June. It features a 15k race, 5k race, 5k walk for fun, 15k wheelchair race.
Pere Marquette Beach is the largest free public beach on the eastern shore ofLake Michigan.Windsurfing,kite boarding competitions, and professionalvolleyball tournaments are held there. Its quartz sand beach is expansive and bordered by large sand dunes. The beach area is popular with cyclists, runners, and hikers, and families. It faces to the west so sunsets are remarkable.
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, which northerly connects to other trails, such as theHart-Montague Bike Trail, making it possible to bike from Muskegon toHart, Michigan, without ever leaving a bike trail.
Muskegon State Park has a Winter Sports Complex that featuresice fishing,cross-country skiing,ice skating, and aluge track. P.J.Hoffmaster State Park has manysand dunes as well as twocampgrounds and a public beach.[33]
Michigan's Adventure, the largest amusement park in the state, is inMuskegon 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 was founded in 1908 and features a course design byTom Bendelow and a course redesign byDonald Ross.
The city operates under a Commission-Manager form of local government. A seven-member city commission, comprising a mayor and six commissioners, serves as the legislative and executive branch. Four commissioners are elected from wards, while two commissioners are elected at large. The mayor is also elected at large and serves as chairman of the commission. The city commission hires a city manager to manage the daily operations of the city.[citation needed]
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, andWestern Michigan Christian.[34]
Muskegon is also served byMuskegon Community College andBaker College.Western Michigan University,Ferris State University, andGrand Valley State University all operate programs out of theStevenson Center for Higher Education on theMuskegon Community College campus.
Muskegon's leading newspaper isTheMuskegon Chronicle.The Chronicle is a daily newspaper owned byBooth Newspapers. It started publication in 1857.
Muskegon is served by the local television stationWMKG-CD.
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 isWUGM-LP 106.1, owned by the Muskegon Training and Education Center, which airs anUrban Oldies format dubbed "M-TEC 106 FM, Rock 'n' Soul." A Newer LP-FM StationWFFR-LP 100.9 also offers local programming along with a classic hits format. The station is based out of nearby Roosevelt Park. Other local FM stations include 90.3WBLV-FM (classical/jazz/NPR), 91.7WMCQ-FM (religious),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 106.9 (news/talk, simulcast of WOOD-AM 1300/Grand Rapids), andWMUS FM 107.9 (country). Other local AM stations aside from WKBZ includeWSMZ 850,WLAW 1490 (country).
Public transportation is provided by theMuskegon Area Transit System (MATS – "The Shore Line"), which operates nine bus routes, three trolley routes, and a paratransit system.[35] MATS serves the Herman Ivory Passenger Terminal.[36]
MATS operates the Muskegon Trolley Company. Three routes cover the north side, south side, and downtown; each trolley stops at 11 locations, including Hackley and Hume Historic Site, USS Silversides, and Muskegon State Park.
Greyhound Lines operated out of downtown Muskegon for many years as the end point of their cross-state route along I-96 to Detroit. Services were suspended during the severe downturn in travel during the COVID Pandemic of 2020. While regional bus carrier Indian Trails picked up the bulk of Greyhound’s former Michigan services, no intercity coach service has been restored to Muskegon as of 2025.
Commercial air service is currently provided byDenver Air Connection operating regional jet flights atMuskegon County Airport (MKG), with nonstop service toChicago O'Hare Airport. Other airlines provide passenger service via theGerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR) inGrand Rapids.
Muskegon is the eastern port of theLake Express High-Speed Car Ferry that crosses Lake Michigan toMilwaukee,Wisconsin offering three roundtrips a day in the summer, and two roundtrips in the fall.
Several major highways serve the city, including:
Interstates | U.S. Highways | Other state highways
|
The Michigan Shore Railway, provides freight rail service for many of Muskegon's industries. Rail passenger services ended in 1971 with the advent of Amtrak; the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad’s routes in Michigan were not included in the initial Amtrak system. The nearest passenger rail available is viaAmtrak in nearbyHolland or Grand Rapids. Until 1971, theChesapeake & Ohio Railway (successor to thePere Marquette Railway) operated day and night trains fromUnion Station toHolland andChicago. The C&O became a unit ofChessie System in 1973 and subsequentlyCSX Transportation in 1987. CSX leased their Muskegon area lines to MS in 2005.[37] TheGrand Trunk Western and thePennsylvania Railroad had earlier operated passenger trains out of another Muskegon station to various points in Michigan.[38]
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 ofGrand Haven. The GTW stopped operating the ferries in 1978. The last remaining ferries across the lake would be the ones launching fromLudington, Michigan[39][40] until theLake Express first came into service on June 1, 2004.[41]
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Municipalities and communities ofMuskegon County, Michigan,United States | ||
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| Other communities | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
Great Lakes megalopolis as defined by theRPA | ||
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Includes all metropolitan areas that have a population of 150,000 or greater according to the most recent national census. | ||
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43°14′03″N86°14′54″W / 43.23417°N 86.24833°W /43.23417; -86.24833
