[7] Situated around a harbor of Lake Michigan, Muskegon is known for fishing, sailing regattas, and boating.

[8] The name "Muskegon" is derived from the Ottawa mashkiigong, meaning "marshy river or swamp".

[11] The county's earliest known Euro-American resident was Edward Fitzgerald, a fur trader and trapper who came to the Muskegon area in 1748 and who died there, reportedly being buried in the vicinity of White Lake.

Between 1790 and 1800, a French-Canadian trader named Joseph La Framboise established a fur-trading post at the mouth of Duck Lake.

Between 1810 and 1820, several French-Canadian fur traders, including Lamar Andie, Jean Baptiste Recollect, and Pierre Constant, had established fur-trading posts around Muskegon Lake.

[11] Euro-American settlement of Muskegon began in earnest in 1837, which coincided with the beginning of the exploitation of the area's extensive timber resources.

The explosion of the lumber industry in 1837 inaugurated what some regard as the most romantic era in the history of the region.

In May 2022, local environmental groups announced cleanup efforts along Muskegon Lake officially have been completed, leading the Environmental Protection Agency to begin its study to remove Muskegon Lake from the EPA's list of "Areas of Concern", which was expected to be finalized by the end of 2022 and promised additional new economic activity in the downtown and nearby lakefront neighborhoods.

[14] Muskegon has a humid continental climate (Dfa) with hot summers and cold winters.

Downtown is home to a number of hotels, a 25,000-square-foot convention center completed in 2021, and the Trinity Health Arena.

[22] The Muskegon Farmer's Market welcomes more than 10,000 visitors every Saturday in the summer, and the boutique incubator shops and chalets on Western Avenue are a popular attraction for residents and tourists looking to support small businesses.

In addition, Muskegon also berths Milwaukee Clipper, a former passenger ship built in 1904 that traveled the same route as Lake Express does today.

Lakeshore Museum Center and Hackley & Hume Historic Site, built by Muskegon's lumber barons, are restored and open to the public.

The mansions are operated with the Lakeshore Museum Center, which details the history of Muskegon County, from the Pottawatomi and Ottawa Native American tribes and lakeside fur traders to the Lumber Queen of the World to today.

Events held in the town include: Fraternal organizations are a vibrant part of life in Western Michigan.

Michigan's Adventure features a midway with roller coasters, other rides, amusements, and a full water park.

Muskegon Country Club was founded in 1908 and features a course design by Tom Bendelow and a course redesign by Donald Ross.

A seven-member city commission, comprising a mayor and six commissioners, serves as the legislative and executive branch.

[citation needed] Muskegon Public Schools was founded in 1860 and serves students from preschool through grade 12.

A Newer LP-FM Station WFFR-LP 100.9 also offers local programming along with a classic hits format.

Other airlines provide passenger service via the Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR) in Grand Rapids.

CSX Transportation, along with the Michigan Shore Railway, provide rail service for many of Muskegon's industries.

[37] The Grand Trunk Western and the Pennsylvania Railroad had earlier operated passenger trains out of another Muskegon station to various points in Michigan.

[38] In 1937, the Grand Trunk Western began operating ferries that met up with train and carried passengers and automobiles across Lake Michigan to Milwaukee.

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