Muskegon County, Michigan
Encyclopedia
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 170,200 people, 63,330 households, and 44,267 families residing in the county. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
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
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 14.20% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.82% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.42% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.01% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 1.28% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 2.01% from two or more races. 3.53% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race. 17.2% were of German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
, 9.8% Dutch
Dutch people
The Dutch people are an ethnic group native to the Netherlands. They share a common culture and speak the Dutch language. Dutch people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in Suriname, Chile, Brazil, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and the United...
, 7.3% American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, 7.2% English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
, 6.8% Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
and 5.5% Polish
Poles
thumb|right|180px|The state flag of [[Poland]] as used by Polish government and diplomatic authoritiesThe Polish people, or Poles , are a nation indigenous to Poland. They are united by the Polish language, which belongs to the historical Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages of Central Europe...
ancestry according to Census 2000. 95.9% spoke English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and 2.6% Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
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
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
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
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
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.
County government
The county government operates the jail, maintains rural roads, operates themajor local courts, keeps files of deeds and mortgages, maintains vital records, administers
public health
Public health
Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals" . It is concerned with threats to health based on population health...
regulations, and participates with the state in the provision of welfare and
other social services. The county board of commissioners
County commission
A county commission is a group of elected officials charged with administering the county government in local government in some states of the United States. County commissions are usually made up of three or more individuals...
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 AttorneyProsecutorThe prosecutor is the chief legal representative of the prosecution in countries with either the common law adversarial system, or the civil law inquisitorial system...
: Tony Tague http://www.co.muskegon.mi.us/prosecutor/ - SheriffSheriffA sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
: Dean Roesler http://www.muskegonsheriff.com - County Clerk: Nancy A. Waters http://www.co.muskegon.mi.us/clerk/
- County TreasurerTreasurerA treasurer is the person responsible for running the treasury of an organization. The adjective for a treasurer is normally "tresorial". The adjective "treasurial" normally means pertaining to a treasury, rather than the treasurer.-Government:...
: Tony Moulatsiotis http://www.co.muskegon.mi.us/treasurer/ - Register of Deeds: Mark F. Fairchild http://www.co.muskegon.mi.us/deeds/
- Drain CommissionerDrain commissionerA drain commissioner is an elected official in counties of the U.S. state of Michigan with a population over 12,000. In counties with a population under 12,000, the statutory duties and responsibilities of the drain commissioner are performed by the county's board of road commissioners.The office...
: David Fisher http://www.co.muskegon.mi.us/drain/ - County SurveyorCounty surveyor1. A county surveyor is a public official in many counties of the USA. At the bottom of this page are working "External Links" as at 4 November 2011 to websites of a selection of such County Surveyor's departments. Most of these officials are elected on the partisan ballot to four-year terms...
: Stephen Vallier
(information as of January 2009)
State representation
The Michigan Department of CorrectionsMichigan Department of Corrections
The Michigan Department of Corrections oversees prisons and other correctional facilities in the state of Michigan, USA. It has 34 prison facilities, and a Special Alternative Incarceration program, together composing approximately 44,000 prisoners. Another 72,000 probationers and parolees are...
operates the Muskegon Correctional Facility
Muskegon Correctional Facility
Muskegon Correctional Facility is a closed prison of the Michigan Department of Corrections located in southeastern Muskegon, Michigan. The prison opened in 1974. Additional housing units opened since then to accommodate more prisoners....
in southeastern Muskegon
Muskegon, Michigan
Muskegon is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 38,401. The city is the county seat of Muskegon County...
. The prison first opened in 1974.
Cities
- MontagueMontague, MichiganMontague is a city in Muskegon County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 2,407. The city is located within Montague Township, but is politically independent....
- Muskegon HeightsMuskegon Heights, MichiganMuskegon Heights is a city in Muskegon County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 12,049 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.2 square miles , all land....
- MuskegonMuskegon, MichiganMuskegon is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 38,401. The city is the county seat of Muskegon County...
- North MuskegonNorth Muskegon, MichiganNorth Muskegon is a city in Muskegon County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 4,031 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.1 square miles , of which, 1.8 square miles of it is land and 2.3 square miles of it is...
- Norton ShoresNorton Shores, MichiganNorton Shores is a city in Muskegon County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 22,527 at the 2000 census.-Overview:Norton Shores is located on the shores of Lake Michigan in Muskegon County...
- Roosevelt ParkRoosevelt Park, MichiganRoosevelt Park is a city in Muskegon County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,890 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land.-Demographics:...
- WhitehallWhitehall, MichiganWhitehall is a city in Muskegon County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,884 at the 2000 census. The city is located in the southwest corner of Whitehall Township. Montague, Michigan is its neighbor....
Villages
- CasnoviaCasnovia, MichiganCasnovia is a village in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated on the boundary between Muskegon County and Kent County and lies partially within both. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 315. The village is located partially within the Casnovia Township, Michigan.Casnovia is...
- FruitportFruitport, MichiganFruitport is a village in Muskegon County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the village had a total population of 1,124. The community is located within Fruitport Charter Township....
- Lakewood ClubLakewood Club, MichiganLakewood Club is a village in Dalton Township of Muskegon County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 1,006.-Geography:...
- RavennaRavenna, MichiganRavenna is a village in Muskegon County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,206 at the 2000 census. The village is located with Ravenna Township.-Geography:...
Townships
- Blue Lake TownshipBlue Lake Township, Muskegon County, MichiganBlue Lake Township is a civil township of Muskegon County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 1,990...
- Casnovia TownshipCasnovia Township, MichiganCasnovia Township is a civil township of Muskegon County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,652 at the 2000 census.-Communities:...
- Cedar Creek TownshipCedar Creek Township, Muskegon County, MichiganCedar Creek Township is a civil township of Muskegon County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,109 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
- Dalton TownshipDalton Township, MichiganDalton Township is a civil township of Muskegon County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 8,047.-Communities:*Lakewood Club is a village on U.S...
- Egelston TownshipEgelston Township, MichiganEgelston Township is a general law township of Muskegon County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 9,537.-Geography:...
- Fruitland TownshipFruitland Township, MichiganFruitland Township is a civil township of Muskegon County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 5,235 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
- Fruitport Charter TownshipFruitport Charter Township, MichiganFruitport Charter Township is a charter township of Muskegon County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 12,533 at the 2000 census...
- Holton TownshipHolton Township, MichiganHolton Township is a civil township of Muskegon County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 2,532.-Communities:...
- Laketon TownshipLaketon Township, MichiganLaketon Township is a civil township of Muskegon County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 7,363 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
- Montague TownshipMontague Township, MichiganMontague Township is a civil township of Muskegon County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,637 at the 2000 census. The city of Montague is located within the township, on the shores of White Lake.-Geography:...
- Moorland TownshipMoorland Township, MichiganMoorland Township is a civil township of Muskegon County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,616 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , all land.-Demographics:...
- Muskegon Charter TownshipMuskegon Township, MichiganMuskegon Charter Township is a charter township of Muskegon County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 17,737 at the 2000 census. The City of Muskegon is at the southwest corner of the township and is administratively autonomous....
- Ravenna TownshipRavenna Township, MichiganRavenna Township is a civil township of Muskegon County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 2,856...
- Sullivan TownshipSullivan Township, MichiganSullivan Township is a civil township of Muskegon County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 2,477.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , all land....
- White River TownshipWhite River Township, MichiganWhite River Township is a civil township of Muskegon County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,338 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
- Whitehall TownshipWhitehall Township, MichiganWhitehall Township is a civil township of Muskegon County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,648 at the 2000 census. The city of Whitehall is located at the southwest corner of the township, but is administratively autonomous.-Geography:...
Unincorporated communities
- Bailey
- Twin LakeTwin Lake, MichiganTwin Lake is an unincorporated community in Muskegon County of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a census-designated place for statistical purposes. Local government services are provided by Dalton Township. As of the 2000 census, the community population was 1,613...
, CDPCensus-designated placeA census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages... - WabaningoWabaningo, MichiganWabaningo is a small unincorporated community of Fruitland Township, Muskegon County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated where the White Lake flows through a short navigation channel into Lake Michigan at ....
- Wolf LakeWolf Lake, MichiganWolf Lake is an unincorporated community in Egelston Township of Muskegon County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a census-designated place for statistical purposes, but has no official status as an incorporated municipality. The population was 4,455 at the 2000 census...
, CDPCensus-designated placeA census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
Historical markers
There are twenty-three recognized historical markers in the county: 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 ThompsonRuth ThompsonRuth Thompson was a Republican politician from the U.S. state of Michigan.-Biography:Thompson was born in Whitehall, Michigan and attended the public schools. She graduated from Muskegon Business College of nearby Muskegon in 1905, and became a lawyer with a private practice...
- Torrent House
- Union Depot [Muskegon]
- White Lake Yacht Club
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Muskegon County, Michigan