Muskegon

Formed January 1, 1859 (73^rd county)

Muskegon County (175,814), Muskegon (38,309)

A Modern masonry and concrete building, constructed in 1960, replaced a classier 1893 facility.  It is located at Terrace and Apple streets.  United States Highway 31 is three blocks north of the site.  The building was remodeled in 2001.  Magnuson and Sumner and O. J. Munson are the courthouse architects.  A liberty bell replica stills on the grounds.  There was an 1870 courthouse in Muskegon, the only county seat, in addition to the 1893 and 1960 courthouses.  The county was established on January 1, 1859 from parts of Oceana and Ottawa counties as the 73^rd county.  The county and county seat are named for the river which is Native American for “marsh.” 

Muskegon County government consists of a sheriff, an administrator, an attorney, a treasurer and a clerk (executive).  It has 7 Commissioners (legislative.)  Four Circuit Court Judges, Four District Court Judges, Three Probate Court Judges and court clerk serve Muskegon County (judicial.) The county is on the western coast of the southern peninsula.  Lake Michigan forms its western border.  The county center is 9.8 miles Northeast of Muskegon nearer Twin Lake.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Oceana, Newaygo, Kent, and Ottawa counties and Wisconsin. 

The area of the county is 1459 square miles.  It is 22 out of 83 in the state.  It ranks 12 out of 83 in population in the state.  It has a density of 120.5 persons per square mile making it 24 out of 83 in the state.  Muskegon County has 51.6% of its population in its incorporated areas.  Interstate Highway 96 enters the county from the east, Ottawa County, and terminates.  United States Highway 31 crosses north to south from Oceana County to Ottawa County.  The county looks like a chair.  The City of Muskegon is in the southwest quarter of the county.  Muskegon is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 21.8% of the county population.  The county and county seat are pronounced MUS-KEE-GON.  This county is in the Muskegon-Norton Shores Metropolitan Statistical Area.