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"Muskegon" redirects here. For other uses, see Muskegon (disambiguation).
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Muskegon, Michigan
City
Muskegon viewed from across Muskegon Lake
Muskegon viewed from across Muskegon Lake
Nickname(s): 
Port City, Lumber Queen of the World, Skeetown, Midwest Riviera, Lumbertown
Location within Muskegon County and the state of Michigan
Location within Muskegon County and the state of Michigan
Muskegon, Michigan is located in Michigan
Muskegon, Michigan
Muskegon, Michigan
Location in Michigan
Muskegon, Michigan is located in the United States
Muskegon, Michigan
Muskegon, Michigan
Location in the United States
Country United States
State Michigan
County Muskegon
Government
 • Type Commission-Manager
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
617 ft (191.4 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • City 38,318
 • Density 2,709.33/sq mi (1,046.05/km2)
 • Metro
175,824
Time zone UTC−5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP codes
49440-49445
Area code(s) 231
FIPS code 26-56320
GNIS feature ID 1620963

Muskegon (/məˈskiːɡən/ mə-SKEE-gən) is a city in and the county seat of Muskegon County, Michigan, United States. Situated around a harbor of Lake Michigan, Muskegon is known for fishing, sailing regattas, and boating. It is the most populous city along Lake Michigan's Western shore. At the 2020 census, the city's population was 38,318. The city is administratively autonomous from adjacent Muskegon Township.

Muskegon is the center of the Muskegon metropolitan statistical area, which is coextensive with Muskegon County and had a population of 175,824 as of the 2020 census. It is also part of the larger Grand Rapids-Kentwood-Muskegon-combined statistical area.

History

Muskegon Michigan harbor entrance
The entrance to Muskegon Lake from Lake Michigan

The name "Muskegon" is derived from the Ottawa mashkiigong, meaning "marshy river or swamp".

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. Father Jacques Marquette traveled northward through the area on his fateful trip to St. Ignace in 1675, and a party of French soldiers under La Salle's lieutenant, Henry de Tonty, passed through the area in 1679.

The county's earliest known Euro-American resident was Edward Fitzgerald, a fur trader and trapper who came to the Muskegon area in 1748 and who died there, reportedly being buried in the vicinity of White Lake. Between 1790 and 1800, a French-Canadian trader named Joseph La Framboise established a fur-trading post at the mouth of Duck Lake. Between 1810 and 1820, several French-Canadian fur traders, including Lamar Andie, Jean Baptiste Recollect, and Pierre Constant, had established fur-trading posts around Muskegon Lake.

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 from Germany, Netherlands, and Sweden.

Some Muskegon neighborhoods began as separate villages. Bluffton was founded as a lumbering village in 1862 in Laketon Township. It had its own post office from 1868 until 1892. Muskegon annexed it in 1889.

Geography

Muskegon is in western Muskegon County, on the south side of Muskegon Lake, a harbor of Lake Michigan. The city is bordered to the north, across Muskegon Lake, by the city of North Muskegon and Laketon Township. It is bordered to the east by Muskegon Township, to the southeast by Fruitport Township, to the south by the cities of Muskegon Heights, Roosevelt Park, and Norton Shores, and to the west by Lake Michigan. It is 42 miles (68 km) northwest of Grand Rapids, 36 miles (58 km) north of Holland, and 58 miles (93 km) south of Ludington.

According to the U.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. The Muskegon 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.

Climate

Muskegon has a humid continental climate (Dfa) with hot summers and cold winters. Precipitation is consistent year-round. Muskegon receives heavy lake-effect snow from Lake Michigan during winter.

Climate data for Muskegon, Michigan (Muskegon County Airport) 1991–2020 normals, 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)
Average precipitation 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
Average relative 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
Average dew 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)
Source 2: World Meteorological Organization

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
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

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, 38,401 people, 13,967 households, and 7,895 families resided in the city. The population 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). The racial 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.

Economy

VanDyk Mortgage Convention Center 01
VanDyk Mortgage Convention Center

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 the Historic Mercy Health Ice Arena. 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.

Arts and culture

Michigan Theater
Frauenthal Center for the Performing Arts

Muskegon is home several historical war ships and vessels. The USS Silversides Submarine Museum which features USS Silversides, a World War II submarine; USS LST-393, a World War II tank landing ship; and USCGC McLane, a Prohibition-era United States Coast Guard cutter. In addition, Muskegon also berths  Milwaukee Clipper, a former passenger ship built in 1904 that traveled the same route as Lake Express does today.

The Frauenthal Center for the Performing Arts includes two theaters, the main historic Frauenthal house and the smaller Beardsley Theater in the adjoining Hilt Building. It was refurbished in 1998 and again in 2021, and hosts JAM Theatrical productions, Muskegon Civic Theatre productions, and is home of the West Michigan Symphony Orchestra. 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 is Tornado Over Kansas, by John Steuart Curry. 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.

USS Silversides - 2017 (37055099595)
USS Silversides at the USS Silversides Submarine Museum

Lakeshore Museum Center and Hackley & Hume Historic Site, built by Muskegon's lumber barons, are restored and open to the public. The Hackley & 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 the Pottawatomi and Ottawa Native American tribes and lakeside fur traders to the Lumber Queen of the World to today.

Festivals

Events held in the town include:

  • Taste of Muskegon in June
  • Parties in the Park, every Friday from June to August at Hackley Park
  • The Lakeshore Art Festival in June
  • WeDiscover Festival in July, a two-day festival of electronic dance music, import and luxury cars, food, fireworks and family activities.
  • Motorcycle rally in July
  • Burning Foot Beer Festival held at Pere Marquette Beach
  • The Unity Christian Music Festival in August at Heritage Landing
  • The Michigan Irish Music Festival in September at Heritage Landing
  • The Muskegon Polish Festival on Labor Day weekend.
  • The International Buster Keaton Society annual convention in October.

Fraternal Organizations

Fraternal organizations are a vibrant part of life in Western Michigan. Clubs with active memberships include:

  • Independent Order of Vikings
  • Fraternal Order of Eagles
  • Knights of Columbus
  • Polish Falcons
  • Lithuanian Club
  • Muskegon Recreational Club
  • Lakeside Veterans Club

Sports

Club Sport League Venue
Muskegon Lumberjacks Ice hockey United States Hockey League Mercy Health Arena
West Michigan Ironmen Indoor football American Arena League Mercy Health Arena
Muskegon Risers SC Soccer UPSL & Premier Arena Soccer League Mercy Health Arena and Kehern Stadium

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.

Parks and recreation

Muskegon Breakwater light
Muskegon Break Water Light on Lake Michigan

Pere Marquette Beach is the largest free public beach on the western shore of Lake Michigan. Windsurfing, kite boarding competitions, and professional volleyball 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 the Hart-Montague Bike Trail, making it possible to bike from Muskegon to Hart, Michigan, without ever leaving a bike trail.

Muskegon State Park has a Winter Sports Complex that features ice fishing, cross-country skiing, ice skating, and a luge track. P.J. Hoffmaster State Park has many sand dunes as well as two campgrounds and a public beach.

Michigan's Adventure, the largest amusement park in the state, is in Muskegon 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 by Tom Bendelow and a course redesign by Donald Ross.

Education

Hackley Public Library
Hackley Library

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, and Western Michigan Christian.

Muskegon is also served by Muskegon Community College and Baker College. Western Michigan University, Ferris State University, and Grand Valley State University all operate programs out of the Stevenson Center for Higher Education on the Muskegon Community College campus.

Media

Muskegon's leading newspaper is The Muskegon Chronicle. The Chronicle is a daily newspaper owned by Booth Newspapers. It started publication in 1857.

Muskegon is served by the local television station WMKG-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 is WUGM-LP 106.1, owned by the Muskegon Training and Education Center, which airs an Urban Oldies format dubbed "M-TEC 106 FM, Rock 'n' Soul." A Newer LP-FM Station WFFR-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 90.3 WBLV-FM (classical/jazz/NPR), 91.7 WMCQ-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-FM 106.9 (news/talk, simulcast of WOOD-AM 1300/Grand Rapids), and WMUS FM 107.9 (country). Other local AM stations aside from WKBZ include WSMZ 850, WLAW 1490 (country).

Transportation

ISS067-E-174325 Muskegon, Michigan
Muskegon as seen from the International Space Station in 2022

Public transportation is provided by the Muskegon Area Transit System (MATS – "The Shore Line"), which operates nine bus routes, three trolley routes, and a paratransit system. MATS serves the Herman Ivory Passenger Terminal.

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.

Commercial air service is currently provided by United Express operating regional jet flights on behalf of United Airlines at Muskegon County Airport (MKG), with nonstop service to Chicago O'Hare Airport. Other airlines provide passenger service via the Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR) in Grand Rapids.

Muskegon is the eastern port of the Lake Express High-Speed Car Ferry that crosses Lake Michigan to Milwaukee, Wisconsin offering three roundtrips a day in the summer, and two roundtrips in the fall.

Major roads

Several major highways serve the city, including:

Rail

Union Depot - Muskegon 01
Union Depot


CSX Transportation, along with the Michigan Shore Railway, provide rail service for many of Muskegon's industries. Rail passenger services ended in the 1960s. The nearest passenger rail available is via Amtrak in nearby Holland or Grand Rapids. Until 1971, the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway (successor to the Pere Marquette Railway) operated day and night trains from Union Station to Holland and Chicago. The Grand Trunk Western and the Pennsylvania Railroad had earlier operated passenger trains out of another Muskegon station to various points in Michigan.

Ferries

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 of Grand Haven. The GTW stopped operating the ferries in 1978. The last remaining ferries across the lake would be the ones launching from Ludington, Michigan until the Lake Express first came into service on June 1, 2004.

Notable people

  • John Beyrle, son of Joseph Beyrle, U.S. ambassador to the Russian Federation; confirmed July 3, 2008
  • Joseph Beyrle, only soldier to have served in both the US Army and the Soviet Army in World War II
  • Nancy Anne Fleming, Miss America 1961
  • Seth Privacky, mass murderer
  • Chad R. Vander Ven, Expert in Freemasonry, Rosicrucianism, and Western Esotericism.
  • Vonda Kay Van Dyke, Miss America 1965
  • Captain Jonathan Walker, "The Man With the Branded Hand" abolitionist

Business and politics

  • Margaret Bailey Chandler, community leader and member of the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians
  • Tudor Dixon, politician
  • Charles Hackley (1837–1905), lumber baron, philanthropist (Hackley Hospital, Hackley Library, Hackley Administration Building, Hackley Avenue, Hackley Art Gallery, Hackley Park). After a gift of $12 million to the community, the city of Muskegon considered changing its name to "Hackleyville".
Hackley House
Charles Hackley House
  • Richard Mell, politician

Religion

  • Jim Bakker, TV evangelist
  • Edmund Cardinal Szoka, cardinal, President Emeritus of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State

Science and technology

Artists

  • Haddon Sundblom, graphic artist, created popular images of Santa Claus for Coca-Cola

Authors

  • Laurie Keller, children's book writer and illustrator best known for The Scrambled States of America and Grandpa Gazillion's Number Yard
  • Douglas Malloch, the “lumberman’s poet”
  • John Frederick Nims, poet
  • Cathy O'Brien, conspiracy theorist and author
  • Lewis B. Smedes, theologian and author
  • Bob Wood, author of Dodger Dogs to Fenway Franks and Big Ten Country

Music

  • Wayne Static, lead singer and guitarist for industrial metal band Static-X
  • Bill Szymczyk, music producer of the Eagles, The Who and others
  • Gerry Teifer, music publisher, songwriter, performer
  • Richard Versalle, opera singer

Stage

  • Carly Jibson, Broadway and television actress, played Tracy Turnblad in the first national tour company of Hairspray and originated the role of Pepper in the musical Cry Baby
  • Buster Keaton, iconic comedian and film director; born in Kansas and spent childhood summers in Muskegon with his family in the Muskegon Actors' Colony. A vaudevillian who traveled constantly except in summer, Keaton regarded Muskegon as his home town.
  • Kate Reinders, Broadway actress, played Glinda in Wicked and Caroline in Good Vibrations

Television

  • Matt Crouch, film producer and CEO of TBN
  • Harry Morgan, versatile stage, film and TV actor, played Colonel Potter on the TV series M*A*S*H (1972–1983)
  • Frank Stanton, former president of CBS
  • Quincy Isaiah, actor and former football player, played Magic Johnson in the HBO series Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty

Sports

Sister cities

See also

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