Michigan

Muskegon

175,824

2020 population

1860

first census record

census records

About Muskegon

Muskegon, Michigan, first appears in the United States federal census in 1860, when it recorded a population of 3,947. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 175,824.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 14 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census Year	Population	Chart
2020	175,824
2010	172,188
2000	170,200
1990	158,983
1980	157,589
1970	157,426
1960	149,943
1950	121,545
1940	94,501
1930	84,630
1920	62,362
1910	40,577
1900	37,036
1890	40,013
1880	26,586
1870	14,894
1860	3,947

Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Historic places in Muskegon

National Register of Historic Places listings in Muskegon, Michigan.

Muskegon YMCA Building

Muskegon

Lewis, John C. and Augusta (Covell), House

Whitehall

Hovey, Horatio N., House

Muskegon

Hackley, Charles H., House

Muskegon South Pierhead Light

Muskegon

Navigation Structures at White Lake Harbor

Whitehall

Central Fire Station

Muskegon

Muskegon Historic District

Muskegon

Muskegon South Breakwater Light

Muskegon

Hume House

Muskegon

Other counties in Michigan

Explore census history and historic records for more Michigan counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Muskegon County, Michigan

This page charts the census history of Muskegon County, Michigan. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview

An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.

The Land

The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.

Geology

The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.

LiDAR Terrain

Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.

Conflict & War

The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.

The Civil War

The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.

The Soldiers

The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.

Native Heritage

The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.

Settlement

Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.

The Community

How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.

Rivers & Rail

The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.

Notable People

The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.

Historical Maps

Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.

Finds & Access

Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.

Literature

The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.

Spotlight

A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.

Points of Interest

The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.

Timeline

The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.

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Michiganhistory ›NRHP historic sites ›Notable people from Michigan›

Frequently asked about Muskegon

When does Muskegon first appear in the US census?

Muskegon, Michigan first appears in the federal census in 1860, with a recorded population of 3,947.

What is the population of Muskegon?

At the most recent federal census (2020), Muskegon had a recorded population of 175,824.

How many historic places are in Muskegon?

14 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Muskegon, Michigan.

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