Muskegon, Michigan

Muskegon
City
City of Muskegon
Nickname(s): Lumbertown, Port City, Lumber Queen of the World, Skeetown

Location of Muskegon within Muskegon County, Michigan
Coordinates: 43°14′03″N 86°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 Stephen J. Gawron [1]
 • City Manager Frank Peterson
Area[2]
 • City 18.12 sq mi (46.93 km2)
 • Land 14.21 sq mi (36.80 km2)
 • Water 3.91 sq mi (10.13 km2)
Elevation 617 ft (191.4 m)
Population (2010)[3]
 • City 38,401
 • Estimate (2014[4]) 38,393
 • Density 2,702.4/sq mi (1,043.4/km2)
 • Urban 154,729
 • Metro 172,188
Time zone EST (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP codes 49440-49445
Area code(s) 231
FIPS code 26-56320[5]
GNIS feature ID 1620963[6]
Website http://www.muskegon-mi.gov/

Muskegon /ˌmʌsˈkiːɡən/ is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan, and is the largest populated city on the eastern shores of Lake Michigan. At the 2010 census the city population was 38,401. The city is the county seat of Muskegon County.[7] It is located at the southwest corner of Muskegon Township, but is administratively autonomous.

The Muskegon Metro area had a population of 172,188 in 2010. It is also part of the larger Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Muskegon-Combined Statistical Area with a population of 1,321,557.[8]

History

Early inhabitants

The entrance to Muskegon Lake from Lake Michigan at Muskegon, Michigan

Human occupation of the Muskegon area goes back seven or eight thousand years to the nomadic Paleo-Indian hunters who occupied the area following the retreat of the Wisconsonian glaciations. The Paleo-Indians were superseded by several stages of Woodland Indian developments, the most notable of whom were the Hopewellian type-tradition, which occupied this area, perhaps two thousand years ago.

During historic times, the Muskegon area was inhabited by various bands of the Ottawa and Pottawatomi Indian tribes. In 1830 Muskegon was solely an Ottawa village.[9] Perhaps the best remembered of the Indian inhabitants of the area was Ottawa Indian Chief, Pendalouan. A leading participant in the French-inspired annihilation of the Fox Indians of Illinois in the 1730s, he and his people lived in the Muskegon vicinity during the 1730s and 1740s until induced by the French to move the settlement to the Traverse Bay area in 1742.

The name "Muskegon" is derived from the Ottawa tribe term "Masquigon", meaning "marshy river or swamp".[10]

European arrival

The "Masquigon" River was identified on French maps dating from the late seventeenth century, suggesting that 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 earliest known Euro-American resident of the county was Edward Fitzgerald, a fur trader and trapper who first came to the Muskegon area in 1748 and who died there, reportedly being buried in the vicinity of White Lake. Sometime 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 commencement 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-nineteenth century brought many settlers, especially ones from Germany, Ireland, and Canada.[11]

Some neighborhoods of Muskegon 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. It was annexed by Muskegon in 1889.[12]

Geography and climate

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 18.12 square miles (46.93 km2), of which 14.21 square miles (36.80 km2) is land and 3.91 square miles (10.13 km2) is water.[2] The city is adjacent to Lake Michigan to the west and Muskegon Lake to the north. The Muskegon River empties into Muskegon Lake at the city's northeast end.

Climate data for Muskegon, Michigan
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)		 93
(34)		 98
(37)		 99
(37)		 99
(37)		 95
(35)		 86
(30)		 76
(24)		 64
(18)		 99
(37)
Average high °F (°C) 30.8
(−0.7)		 33.2
(0.7)		 43.0
(6.1)		 55.9
(13.3)		 66.9
(19.4)		 76.0
(24.4)		 80.4
(26.9)		 78.8
(26)		 71.3
(21.8)		 58.8
(14.9)		 46.4
(8)		 35.1
(1.7)		 56.4
(13.6)
Average low °F (°C) 19.1
(−7.2)		 20.1
(−6.6)		 26.0
(−3.3)		 36.3
(2.4)		 45.9
(7.7)		 55.6
(13.1)		 60.9
(16.1)		 60.0
(15.6)		 51.8
(11)		 41.5
(5.3)		 33.0
(0.6)		 24.3
(−4.3)		 39.5
(4.2)
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) 2.00
(50.8)		 1.82
(46.2)		 2.23
(56.6)		 2.91
(73.9)		 3.25
(82.6)		 2.55
(64.8)		 2.37
(60.2)		 3.39
(86.1)		 3.89
(98.8)		 3.11
(79)		 3.35
(85.1)		 2.55
(64.8)		 33.42
(848.9)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 29.7
(75.4)		 18.5
(47)		 8.8
(22.4)		 2.2
(5.6)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0.2
(0.5)		 6.0
(15.2)		 28.3
(71.9)		 93.7
(238)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 15.7 12.2 11.2 12.1 10.7 9.0 9.5 9.0 10.1 11.9 14.1 15.7 141.1
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 15.3 11.0 6.1 1.7 0 0 0 0 0 0.3 4.0 12.9 51.4
Source #1: NOAA (normals 1981−2010),[13]
Source #2: ThreadEx (extremes 1892−2012) [14]

Geographic features

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18601,450—
18706,002313.9%
188011,26287.6%
189022,702101.6%
190020,818−8.3%
191024,06215.6%
192036,57052.0%
193041,39013.2%
194047,69715.2%
195048,4291.5%
196046,485−4.0%
197044,631−4.0%
198040,823−8.5%
199040,283−1.3%
200040,105−0.4%
201038,401−4.2%
Est. 201438,393[15]0.0%
source:[16]

2010 census

As of the census[3] of 2010, there were 38,401 people, 13,967 households, and 7,895 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,702.4 inhabitants per square mile (1,043.4/km2). There were 16,105 housing units at 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. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.2% of the population.

There were 13,967 households of which 32.5% had children under the age of 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 non-families. 36.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age 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. 23.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 12.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 28.8% were from 25 to 44; 24.1% were from 45 to 64; and 11.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 52.1% male and 47.9% female.

2000 census

As of the census[5] of 2000,[17] there were 40,105 people, 14,569 households, and 8,537 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,794.5 per square mile (1,079.1/km²). There were 15,999 housing units at an average density of 1,114.8 per square mile (430.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 57.9% White, 31.7% African American, 2.3% Native American, 0.46% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 2.69% from other races, and 3.50% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any origins were 6.4% of the population.

There were 14,569 households out of which 31.1% had children under the age of 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 non-families. 34.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the city the population was spread out with 25.8% under the age of 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 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 109.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 110.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $27,929, and the median income for a family was $32,640. Males had a median income of $29,114 versus $22,197 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,283. About 16.8% of families and 20.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.6% of those under age 18 and 14.3% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Major employers
Shopping

In 1976, Muskegon Mall was built in downtown Muskegon, featuring Sears, Steketee's, and Hardy's-Herpolsheimer's. A second mall, The Lakes Mall, was built southeast of town in 2001, resulting in the closure of Muskegon Mall.

Other retail sectors include Apple Avenue, Sherman Boulevard, and Henry Street.

Government

The Michigan Department of Corrections operates the Muskegon Correctional Facility in southeastern Muskegon. The prison first opened in 1974.[18]

The United States Postal Service operates the Muskegon Post Office.[19]

Education

Muskegon Public Schools was founded in 1860 and serves students from preschool through 12th grade. Additionally, it runs the Muskegon Museum of Art and the Muskegon Training and Education Center. In addition to Muskegon Public Schools, Muskegon is served by these private K-12 schools: Muskegon Catholic Central, Fruitport Calvary Christian, and Western Michigan Christian.[20]

In 2010, North Muskegon High School was noted as the top performing public school in the State of Michigan by the state Department of Education.[21]

The City of Muskegon is also served by Muskegon Community College and Baker College.

Grand Valley State University's Muskegon Campus is home to the Michigan Alternative and Renewable Energy Center (MAREC) and Annis Water Resources Institute (AWRI) inside the Lake Michigan Center located in downtown Muskegon.

Western Michigan University, Ferris State University, and Grand Valley State University all operate programs out of the Stevenson Center for Higher Education on the campus of Muskegon Community College. It is designed so that an undergrad at MCC may transfer to any of the above schools and complete a bachelors and/or master's degree without having to leave Muskegon.

Culture and recreation

Music and fine arts

Winslow Homer, Answering the Horn / The Home Signal 1876, Muskegon Museum of Art.

Muskegon County is home to Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, located in the Manistee National Forest in the town of Twin Lake.

Once a movie house, the Frauenthal Center for the Performing Arts[22] includes two theaters (the main Frauenthal house and the smaller Beardsley Theater in the adjoining Hilt Building). It was refurbished in 1998, and runs JAM Theatrical productions, Muskegon Civic Theatre[23] productions, is home of the West Michigan Symphony Orchestra,[24] was the venue for all Muskegon Community Concert Association[25] events, and used to be home to the now-defunct Cherry County Playhouse. The Frauenthal was originally built as the Michigan Theater in 1929.

Muskegon also has one the of founding chapters of the Barbershop Harmony Society.

Muskegon also houses a moderate-sized private collection of fine art in the Muskegon Museum of Art.[26]

Festivals

The United States Post Office in Muskegon, 1904.

A lackluster attendance in 2011 caused the cancellation of the 2012 Muskegon Summer Celebration festival.[27] A new festival, Coast West[28] has taken its place.[29] The Art Fair also returned in 2013.[30]

Muskegon Bike Time[31] is held every July. From the website: Over 35,000 bikes (with 38 states and Canada represented) and 90,000 people visited the lakeshore community of Muskegon, Michigan for the event in 2010. Bike Time was attended by an estimated 100,000 people in 2012.

The Muskegon Motorcycle Club, organized in 1920, hosts the Hill Climb every other year, an American Motorcycle Association (AMA) sanctioned race.

The Muskegon Film Festival[32] is held in May.

Each August, the Unity Christian Music Festival takes place at Heritage Landing. In May, Rock the Coast[33] takes place at Michigan's Adventure. Both are organized by Alive on the Lakeshore.

In September, the Michigan Irish Music Festival brings renowned Celtic musicians to Heritage Landing on the shore of Muskegon Lake. Artists have included Tommy Makem, Gaelic Storm, Slide, The Old Blind Dogs, Scythian and many more. In addition to music, Irish food, beverages, merchandise and cultural exhibits contribute to the appeal of this event. The Michigan Feis (Irish Dance competition) is affiliated and is held at Muskegon Catholic Central High School.

In early October, the International Buster Keaton Society visit Muskegon to host their annual convention.[34] The event features public showings of Keaton films at the Frauenthal Theater.

Museums and theater

USS Silversides (SS-236) at The USS Silversides Submarine Museum, Muskegon, Michigan

Broadway at the Frauenthal (fall through spring) brings Broadway musicals to Muskegon. Muskegon is also home to Muskegon Museum of Art and West Michigan Symphony Orchestra. The Muskegon Community Concert Association provides concerts from September through May.

Lakeshore Museum Center (formerly known as Muskegon County Museum)[35] and Hackley & Hume Historic Site: Mansions built by Muskegon's lumber barons themselves are restored to their old glory and open to the public. The Hackley & Hume mansions are part of downtown Muskegon's Heritage Village—2 blocks from Muskegon Lake, and a National Register Historic District. The mansions are operated with the Lakeshore Museum Center, which details the grand, rich 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. Also includes science and nature exhibits.

The Muskegon Museum of Art is touted as one of the finest art museums in the Midwest. Among the highlights of its permanent collection is Tornado Over Kansas, by John Steuart Curry (one of three leading painters, along with Grant Wood and Thomas Hart Benton, identified as Regionalists and known for their canvases celebrating the rural Midwest).[36]

Muskegon is also the home of the USS Silversides Submarine Museum[37] which features the USS Silversides, a World War II submarine; the USS LST-393, a World War II amphibious landing ship; and the USCGC McLane, a Prohibition-era United States Coast Guard cutter.

In addition, Muskegon also berths the S.S. Milwaukee Clipper, a former car ferry that traveled the same route as Lake Express does today. The ship (which is a National Historic Landmark) is in the middle of a long process of being restored to its original form, but in the meantime is open for tours and hosts a museum aboard the vessel with information on both the Milwaukee Clipper, as well as the history of maritime in Muskegon. Muskegon is an historical port for commerce and lake travel. The lumbering era through World War II was its busiest historical use. Its image as a port the city has embraced with the local nickname 'The Port City'. It possesses a fine deep-water port and still functions delivering bulk cement, aggregate, and large cargoes to several lakeshore facilities, also coal to the B.C. Cobb power plant, an outdated coal-burning facility due to shut down.

Outdoor recreation

Muskegon Break Water Light on Lake Michigan, looking from Pere Marquette Beach

Muskegon State Park and Winter Sports Complex with all season Luge run.

P.J. Hoffmaster State Park[38]

Pere Marquette Beach is the largest free public beach on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan, and one of thee loveliest in the state. Windsurfing, kite boarding competitions, and professional volleyball tournaments are held there. Its quartz sand beach is a Clean Beaches Counsel certified beach. The beach area is popular with cyclists, runners and hikers, and sand dunes border the beach to the east.

Muskegon Lake is a 1st. class walleye fishery and has many other freshwater species including the Lake Perch. Lake Michigan off Muskegon host large numbers of coho and Chinook salmon, steelhead, and brown trout, lake perch and many other game fish.

Sailing and recreational boating are major summer pastimes with many services and marinas in the area for boats of all sizes.

Muskegon Lakeshore Bike Trail—Bike along the shores of Muskegon Lake to Lake Michigan. There are two trails that consist the Muskegon bike paths, one runs along the east side of Muskegon and the other along the north side.

Michigan's Adventure, the largest amusement park in the state, is located in Muskegon County, a few miles north of the city of Muskegon. Michigan's Adventure features a midway with roller coasters, general rides, amusements, and a full water park.

Sports

Muskegon has a long history of involvement in professional and nonprofessional sports.

Club Sport League Venue Championships
Muskegon Lumberjacks Ice hockey United States Hockey League L.C. Walker Arena

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 L.C. Walker Arena
Muskegon Thunder Indoor football 2007−2009 IFL L.C. Walker Arena
Michigan Mayhem Basketball 2004−2006 CBA L.C. Walker Arena
Muskegon Lumberjacks (1984–1992) Hockey 1984−1992 IHL L.C. Walker Arena
Muskegon Mohawks Hockey 1965−1984 IHL L.C. Walker Arena
Muskegon Zephyrs Hockey 1960−1965 IHL L.C. Walker Arena
Muskegon Lassies Baseball 1946−1949 AAGPBL Marsh Field

The Chronicle Seaway Run is run every year in late June. It features a 15k race, 5k race, 5k walk for fun, 15k wheelchair race.

Media

Transportation

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[39]

MATS operates the Muskegon Trolley Company. Three routes cover north side, south side, and downtown; each trolley stops at 11 locations, including Hackley and Hume Historic Site, USS Silversides, Muskegon State Park. (Memorial Day-Labor Day, daily; no trips during special events).

Commercial air service is provided by United Airlines at Muskegon County Airport (MKG). Other airlines service 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. There are many bike paths starting to be built around the area.

Several major highways serve the city, including:

Major roads

Interstates

U.S. Highways

Other state highways

Sister cities

Notable people

Noteworthy
Business and politics
Charles Hackley House
Religion
Science and technology
Artists
Authors
Music
Stage
Television
Sports

See also

References

  1. ↑ "City of Muskegon". Retrieved 2012-12-28.
  2. 1 2 "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on November 15, 2012. Retrieved 2012-11-25.
  3. 1 2 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-11-25.
  4. ↑ "Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2013-06-03.
  5. 1 2 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  6. ↑ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Muskegon, Michigan
  7. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  8. ↑ Population of Michigan Regions and Statistical Areas, 2000 and 2010, at www.michigan.gov
  9. ↑ Helen Hornbeck Tanner. Atlas of Great Lakes Indian History. (Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1987) p. 134
  10. ↑ Sherman, Elizabeth B. (2003). Beyond the Windswept Dunes: The Story of Maritime Muskegon, p. 2. Detroit: Wayne State University Press. ISBN 0-8143-3127-0.
  11. ↑ "History of the Churches of St. Mary's, Our Lady of Grace & St. Jean Baptiste". Our Lady of Grace & St Mary Catholic Parishes, Muskegon. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  12. ↑ Walter Romig, Michigan Place Names, p. 68
  13. ↑ "NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 2012-08-18.
  14. ↑ "Thread Stations Extremes". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 2011-01-29.
  15. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014". Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  16. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2014-01-19.
  17. ↑ "Muskegon, Michigan". city-data.com.
  18. ↑ "Muskegon Correctional Facility (MCF). Michigan Department of Corrections. Retrieved on June 3, 2011.
  19. ↑ "Post Office™ Location - MUSKEGON." United States Postal Service. Retrieved on June 3, 2011.
  20. ↑ "District Information". muskegonpublicschools.org. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  21. ↑ "North Muskegon High School top-performing in state; Muskegon Heights the lowest". MLive.com.
  22. ↑ "Frauenthal Center for Performing Arts". frauenthal.org.
  23. ↑ "Muskegon Civic Theatre". muskegoncivictheatre.org.
  24. ↑ "West Michigan Symphony Orchestra". westmichigansymphony.org.
  25. ↑ "Muskegon Community Concerts - Home". muskegonconcerts.org.
  26. ↑ "Muskegon Museum of Art". muskegonartmuseum.org.
  27. ↑ "Muskegon Summer Celebration Will Not Return In 2012". Channel 95.7.
  28. ↑ "coastwestfestival.com". coastwestfestival.com. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  29. ↑ Alexander, Dave (February 9, 2012). "New Muskegon music festival to have a different look and feel, organizers promise". Muskegon Chronicle. Retrieved March 27, 2013.
  30. ↑ "Muskegon summer art fair re-emerges as Lakeshore Art Festival". grbj.com.
  31. ↑ Super User. "Muskegon Bike Time - Home". muskegonbiketime.com.
  32. ↑ "muskegonfilmfestival.com". muskegonfilmfestival.com. Archived from the original on February 8, 2009.
  33. ↑ "Rock the Coast is back for 2013 - May 24-25". rockthecoast.net.
  34. ↑ "2014 Buster Keaton Convention". busterkeaton.com.
  35. ↑ http://www.muskegonmuseum.org/about_us.html Archived October 21, 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  36. ↑ Archived September 28, 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  37. ↑ ,silversidesmuseum.org
  38. ↑ "P.J. Hoffmaster State Park". michigandnr.com.
  39. ↑ http://www.co.muskegon.mi.us/catchthewave/mats/mats_history.html
  40. ↑ "Muskegon Actors' Colony - Home Page". actorscolony.com.

External links

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Coordinates: 43°14′03″N 86°14′54″W / 43.23417°N 86.24833°W / 43.23417; -86.24833

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