Whitehall, Michigan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Whitehall, Michigan
City
Location in Muskegon County and the state of Michigan
Country	United States
State	Michigan
County	Muskegon
Government
• Type	Commission-Manager
Area
• Total	3.80 sq mi (9.84 km2)
• Land	3.22 sq mi (8.33 km2)
• Water	0.58 sq mi (1.51 km2)
Elevation	607 ft (185 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	2,909
• Density	904.54/sq mi (349.30/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes	49461, 49463
Area code(s)	231
FIPS code	26-86780
GNIS feature ID	1622149

Whitehall is a city in Muskegon County, located in the U.S. state of Michigan. In 2020, about 2,909 people lived here. The city is found west of Whitehall Township. It shares a border with its neighbor, Montague.

History of Whitehall

Whitehall is located on White Lake. This lake is actually where the White River flows into a larger body of water. The city's history began around 1859.

At that time, a man named Charles Mears, who was famous for his lumber business, planned out the village. He did this with Giles B. Slocum, and they first called the village "Mears." The number of people living there kept growing. This was because it was a great spot for moving and sharing lumber.

In 1862, the village was given a new name: "Whitehall." It officially became a village in 1867. Later, in 1943, Whitehall became a city.

Geography and Natural Features

Whitehall is in the northwest part of Muskegon County. It is about 5 miles (8 km) away from Lake Michigan. White Lake used to flow into Lake Michigan through a natural channel. Now, a canal that was dug connects White Lake to Lake Michigan.

The city of Montague is to the west of Whitehall, across White Lake. Montague Township is to the north. Whitehall Township is to the east, and Fruitland Township is to the south.

Whitehall covers a total area of about 3.80 square miles (9.84 square kilometers). About 3.22 square miles (8.33 square kilometers) of this is land. The rest, about 0.58 square miles (1.51 square kilometers), is water.

The White River flows into White Lake between Whitehall and Montague. The White River is almost 24 miles (39 km) long. It goes through White Lake before reaching Lake Michigan. In 1675, Jacques Marquette visited this area. He learned that Native Americans called the river Wabish-Sippe. This meant "the river with white clay in the water." This is how White River and White Lake got their names.

Major Roads and Travel

• US 31 is a four-lane highway. It goes through the northeast part of Whitehall. This highway leads south 16 miles (26 km) to Muskegon. It also goes north 43 miles (69 km) to Ludington.
• 
  Bus. US 31 is a special road for businesses. It goes through the downtown areas of both Whitehall and Montague.

Population and People

Whitehall's Population in 2010

In 2010, the city had 2,706 people living there. There were 1,153 households, and 678 families. The city had about 867 people per square mile (335 per square kilometer). Most residents, 95.0%, were White. About 2.7% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

The average age in Whitehall was 42.9 years. About 22.7% of the people were under 18 years old. Also, 20.8% were 65 years or older. There were more females (54.2%) than males (45.8%) living in the city.

Culture and Fun Activities

Music, Arts, and Local Landmarks

Howmet Playhouse

Whitehall is home to the Playhouse at White Lake. This theater has 400 seats and was built in 1916. It was made for performances in the White Lake area. In 1973, the theater was almost torn down. Luckily, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp bought and fixed it up. They got help from local fundraising and a company called Howmet Castings.

Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp used the theater until they built their own place in 2006. Then, the theater was given to the city. Now, the city puts on plays and shows during the summer. People in the community are still raising money to make the playhouse even better.

The Arts Council of White Lake has been supporting the arts for 30 years. They help people in the community enjoy and learn about art. Their programs, scholarships, and grants reach thousands of people each year. They also help create a lively and giving culture in White Lake. The Arts Council also organizes a Summer Concert Series and an Artisan Market. This market happens on the first Saturday of every month when the Farmer's Market is open.

Whitehall also has three cottages and one house designed by the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright. These buildings were built between 1897 and 1905.

The White River Lighthouse was built in 1875 by Captain William Robinson. It helped guide ships in the White Lake area until 1960. That's when the U.S. Coast Guard stopped using it. This brick lighthouse is now a museum. It shows exhibits about the area's history, especially about shipping and the lumber industry.

The Inspiration Art Wall on the White Lake Pathway

In July 2023, the city council approved a public art wall. It was meant for inspirational graffiti art. This wall was located on the White Lake Pathway bike trail. It was under the Colby Street overpass in downtown Whitehall.

However, less than a year later, on March 12, 2024, the city council announced a change. They said the art wall would no longer be open for artistic expression. It was painted over later that same day.

Fun Festivals and Events

• Memorial Day Parade: This parade goes from downtown Montague to downtown Whitehall. Everyone meets in the middle at Covell Park for a special ceremony. This happens on the last Monday in May.
• White Lake Area Arts & Crafts Festival: Held in Goodrich Park, this festival features over 150 talented artists. There's also live entertainment, bounce houses, and food. It takes place on the third Saturday of June.
• Fourth of July Parade: This parade goes from downtown Whitehall to downtown Montague.
• Cruz'in: This event includes a parade and a display of over 400 classic cars. It starts at Funnell Field in Whitehall and parades to downtown Montague. It's held on the last Friday in July.
• Taste of White Lake: Local businesses and food trucks gather at the Playhouse. It's a fun evening with food and drinks.
• FetchFest: A beer tent and food vendors come together in the back parking lot of Fetch Brewing Company, a local brewery.
• White Lake Chamber Music Festival: This festival features over 30 events during the first week of August.
• Christmas Parade: This parade goes from downtown Whitehall to downtown Montague. It happens on the first Saturday of December.

Economy and Jobs

Main Employers in Whitehall

• Howmet (formerly Alcoa) makes parts for aerospace (like planes and rockets).
• Michigan's Adventure is the biggest amusement park and water park in Michigan.

Media and Radio Stations

Whitehall is home to several radio stations.

Famous People from Whitehall

• Nate McLouth: A former professional baseball player who won a Gold Glove award.
• Adella M. Parker: A woman who worked for women's right to vote, was a politician, a lawyer, and a teacher.
• Ruth Thompson: The first woman to be a state representative in Michigan. She was also the first woman to be a U.S. representative from Michigan. Plus, she was the first woman on the U.S. House Judiciary Committee.
• Ryan Van Bergen: Played defensive end for the University of Michigan football team from 2008 to 2011.

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See also

In Spanish: Whitehall (Míchigan) para niños