MUSKEGON

city, seat (1859) of Muskegon county, western Michigan, U.S., on Lake Michigan at the mouth of the Muskegon River (there forming Muskegon Lake), 40 miles (64 km) northwest of Grand Rapids. It is the largest port on Lake Michigan's eastern shore, with an extensive international trade. The name is from an Indian word meaning marshy river. Laid out in 1849 near the site of a fur trading post (established in 1812), Muskegon became a major sawmill centre and shipping point for lumber to Chicago. Destroyed by fire in 1890, the city was rebuilt, and with depletion of the forests it turned to industry, including the manufacture of tools and dies, machinery, chemicals, food products, and furniture. An Indian burial ground is in the centre of the city. Muskegon Community College (1926) is located there. The Seaway Festival, an annual (June-July) event, honours the city's port activities. Inc. village, 1861; city, 1869. Pop. (1990) city, 40,283; Muskegon MSA, 158,983.