Muskegon County, Michigan

Muskegon County, Michigan
Seal
Location in the state of Michigan
Michigan's location in the U.S.
Founded	1859
Seat	Muskegon
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	1,459.30 sq mi (3,780 km²) 509.12 sq mi (1,319 km²) 950.18 sq mi (2,461 km²), 65.11%
Population  - (2000)  - Density	170,200 334/sq mi (129/km²)
Website	www.co.muskegon.mi.us

Muskegon County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the population was 170,200, with the 2009 census estimate putting the county at a population of 173,951. The county seat is Muskegon.^[1] The county is the sole county in the Muskegon-Norton Shores Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is part of the larger Grand Rapids-Muskegon-Holland Combined Statistical Area.

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, opening the area to greater settlement.^[2]

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".^[3][4] See List of Michigan county name etymologies.

Geography

According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 1,459.30 square miles (3,779.6 km²), of which 509.12 square miles (1,318.6 km²) (or 34.89%) is land and 950.18 square miles (2,461.0 km²) (or 65.11%) is water.^[5]

Geographic features

• White Lake
• White River
• Muskegon Lake
• Muskegon River

National protected area

• Manistee National Forest (part)

Highways

Interstates I-96 U.S. highways US 31 BUS US 31, a loop route through downtown Muskegon. BUS US 31, a loop route through the downtown areas of Whitehall & Montague.

Michigan State Trunklines M-37 M-46 M-120

Muskegon County Intercounty Highways B-15 B-23 B-31 B-35 B-72 B-86

Adjacent counties

• Oceana County, Michigan - north
• Newaygo County, Michigan - northeast
• Kent County, Michigan, Ottawa County, Michigan - east
• Ottawa County, Michigan - south
• Milwaukee County, Wisconsin - southwest
• Ozaukee County, Wisconsin - west

Demographics

As of the census^[6] of 2000, there were 170,200 people, 63,330 households, and 44,267 families residing 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, 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 according to Census 2000. 95.9% spoke English and 2.6% Spanish as their first language.

There were 63,330 households out 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 median income for a household in the county was $38,008, and the median income for a family 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

County government

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.

Muskegon County elected officials

• Prosecuting Attorney: Tony Tague [1]
• Sheriff: Dean Roesler [2]
• County Clerk: Nancy A. Waters [3]
• County Treasurer: Tony Moulatsiotis [4]
• Register of Deeds: Mark F. Fairchild [5]
• Drain Commissioner: David Fisher [6]
• County Surveyor: Stephen Vallier

(information as of January 2009)

State representation

The Michigan Department of Corrections operates the Muskegon Correctional Facility in southeastern Muskegon. The prison first opened in 1974.^[7]

Cities, villages, and townships

Cities

Montague Muskegon Heights Muskegon

North Muskegon Norton Shores

Roosevelt Park Whitehall

Villages

• Casnovia
• Fruitport
• Lakewood Club
• Ravenna

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

Unincorporated communities

• Bailey
• Twin Lake, CDP
• Wabaningo
• Wolf Lake, CDP

Historical markers

There are twenty-three recognized historical markers in the county:^[8] 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

See also

Michigan portal

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Muskegon County, Michigan

Notes

1. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx. Retrieved 2011-06-07. 
2. ^ Hoogterp, Edward (2006). West Michigan Almanac, p. 105. The University of Michigan Press.
3. ^ Michigan History, Arts and Libraries on sources of County names.
4. ^ Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University, Bibliography on Muskegon County.
5. ^ "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Counties". United States Census. http://www.census.gov/tiger/tms/gazetteer/county2k.txt. Retrieved 2011-02-13. 
6. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
7. ^ "Muskegon Correctional Facility (MCF). Michigan Department of Corrections. Retrieved on June 3, 2011.
8. ^ Michigan Historical Markers.

Further reading

• Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University, Bibliography on Muskegon County

External links

• Michigan Historical Markers.
• Muskegon County web site
• Muskegon Area First - County-wide Economic Development agency
• Bluffton Church - Muskegon Independent Church

Coordinates: 43°17′N 86°27′W / 43.29°N 86.45°W / 43.29; -86.45