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Muskegon County
countyMuskegon County, Michigan
Overview
- Classification
- County
- FIPS Code
- 26121
- Country
- United States
- County
- Muskegon County
Geography
- Region
- West Michigan
- Elevation
- 633 ft
- Total Area
- 1,460 sq mi
- Land Area
- 499 sq mi
- Water Area
- 961 sq mi
- Latitude
- 43.306849
- Longitude
- -86.142278
- Climate
- Muskegon has a humid continental climate with severe winters, no dry season, warm summers and strong seasonality. It experiences heavy lake-effect snow from Lake Michigan during winter.
- Notable Features
- Muskegon Lake · Muskegon River · Lake Michigan · Manistee National Forest (part) · White Lake · White River
- Neighboring Areas
- Oceana County (north) · Newaygo County (northeast) · Kent County (east) · Ottawa County (east, south) · Milwaukee County, Wisconsin (southwest) · Ozaukee County, Wisconsin (west)
Demographics
- Population (2020)
- 175,824
- Est. Population (2024)
- 177,428
- Median Age
- 39.9
- Median Income
- $63,495
- Poverty Rate
- 12.6%
- Owner-Occupied
- 78.3%
- Racial & Ethnic Composition
- In 2023, Muskegon County was 75.3% White (Non-Hispanic), 12.6% Black or African American (Non-Hispanic), 4.2% Two Races Excluding Other, & Three or More Races (Non-Hispanic), 2.52% Two Races Including Other (Hispanic), and 1.95% White (Hispanic).
Economy
- Unemployment Rate
- 5.1%
- Economic Profile
- Diverse, entrepreneur-driven economy
- Employment Sectors
- Manufacturing (21%) · Health Care & Social Assistance (18%) · Retail Trade
- Major Employers
- GE Aviation · Bayer CropScience · Pratt & Whitney · Arconic · Michigan's Adventure · Mercy General Health Partners
Education
- School Districts
- Muskegon Area Intermediate School District (MAISD)
- Colleges & Universities
- Muskegon Community College · Ferris State University (partnership at Stevenson Center) · Grand Valley State University (partnership at Stevenson Center) · Western Michigan University (partnership at Stevenson Center)
History
- Founded
- 1859
- Named After
- Muskegon River, from the Ojibwa/Chippewa word mashkig, meaning marsh or swamp
- Historical Significance
- Originally inhabited by the Ottawa Indians, Muskegon County became a center for fur trading and later a major lumbering area. Today, it has a diverse economy with manufacturing, healthcare, and tourism sectors.
- Key Events
- Jean Baptiste Recollect and Pierre Constant set up trading posts around 1812. · Muskegon County was organized in 1859 from Ottawa County. · Lumbering era from the late 1830s until 1900.