Ludington, Michigan

thumb|"The Clock Tower" Park

Ludington ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is the county seat and the largest city in Mason County. The population was 7,655 at the 2020 census, making it the fourth largest city in the northern Michigan area. A memorial and iron cross were built in 1955 to mark the location.

In 1845, Burr Caswell moved to the area near the mouth of the Pere Marquette River as a location for trapping and fishing. In July 1847, when he brought his family to live there, they became the first permanent residents of European ancestry. Two years later they built a two-story wood-framed house on their farm. After the organization of Mason County in 1855, the first floor of this building was converted into the county's first courthouse. Restored in 1976 by the Mason County Historical Society, the structure stands today as a part of White Pine Village, a museum consisting of several restored and replica Mason County buildings (see external links).

The town was originally named Pere Marquette, then later named after the industrialist James Ludington, whose logging operations the village developed around. Ludington was incorporated as a city in 1873, the same year that the county seat was moved from the village of Lincoln to the city of Ludington.

Geography

Ludington is in western Mason County, on the east shore of Lake Michigan and north shore of its inlet, Pere Marquette Lake. It is north of Muskegon, south of Manistee, Michigan, and west of Reed City.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Ludington has a total area of , of which are land and , or 6.80%, are water.

| date = September 2012

Transportation

All four highways in Mason County go through, or near Ludington.

enters the city from the east, connecting with Reed City, Clare, Midland and Bay City. It continues across Lake Michigan into Wisconsin via the SS Badger, providing carferry service to Manitowoc.
is a freeway to the south of a junction with US 10 east of Ludington. US 31 and US 10 run concurrently for about east of Ludington before US 31 turns northerly again at Scottville.
is a section of the former US 31 along Pere Marquette Highway east of the city.
is a spur route providing access to Ludington State Park, to the north of the city, from US 10 downtown.
both run through Ludington; USBR 20 ends at the SS Badger.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Ludington had a population of 7,655. The median age was 47.7 years. 19.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 27.4% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 87.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 84.5 males age 18 and over.

98.8% of residents lived in urban areas, while 1.2% lived in rural areas.

There were 3,569 households in Ludington, of which 20.9% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 37.9% were married-couple households, 20.0% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 35.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 41.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 22.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. there were 8,076 people, 3,549 households, and 2,004 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 4,432 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 92.2% White, 1.1% African American, 1.4% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 2.0% from other races, and 2.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.3% of the population.

There were 3,549 households, of which 26.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.8% were married couples living together, 13.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 43.5% were non-families. 37.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.87.

The median age in the city was 43 years. 21.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.7% were from 25 to 44; 26.7% were from 45 to 64; and 21.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 45.8% male and 54.2% female.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 8,357 people, 3,690 households, and 2,166 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 4,227 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 95.0% White, 1.0% African American, 0.9% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 1.1% from other races, and 1.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.2% of the population.

There were 3,690 households, out of which 28.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.2% were married couples living together, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.3% were non-families. 36.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.88.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.0% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 19.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $28,089, and the median income for a family was $36,333. Males had a median income of $31,970 versus $22,809 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,215. About 12.9% of families and 16.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.7% of those under age 18 and 8.0% of those age 65 or over.

Industry

Just south of Ludington is the Ludington Pumped Storage Power Plant, which generates pumped storage hydroelectricity. In town, there are Whitehall Industries, a division of the UACJ group (aluminum extrusion and aluminum fabrication), Occidental Petroleum Corporation (manufacturer of calcium chloride products), Great Lakes Castings Corporation, Amptech, Inc., and Carrom Company. The Fitch Four Drive Tractor Company was founded in Ludington. FloraCraft, Great Lakes Castings, and Brill are also three big factories there. Whitehall Industries has three manufacturing facilities in Ludington.

Media

Ludington is home to four radio stations and one newspaper. The original radio station was WKLA, which continues today with a talk radio format at 1450 AM. In the 1970s, WKLA-FM (Adult Contemporary) and WKZC-FM (Country, licensed to nearby Scottville) were added. In 1999, WMOM-FM (Top 40, licensed to Pentwater) signed on the air. The Ludington Daily News has been serving the Ludington area from its location on N. Rath Avenue since the 1880s. The Daily News website records over 4,000 visitors each day.

Education

Students in Ludington attend Ludington Area Schools. Students attend Ludington Elementary School (grades PreK-5), O.J. DeJonge Middle School (grades 6–8), and Ludington High School (grades 9–12). Ludington's teams are known as the "Orioles".

Notable people

Merrie Amsterburg – musician
Warren Antoine Cartier – early settler and developer of Ludington
Burr Caswell – early settler and developer of Ludington area and Mason County
Mike Hankwitz – college football coach
Ike Kelley – National Football League player
Jacques Marquette – 17th century French missionary who on his way to St. Ignace was brought ashore near the present site of Ludington, where he later died. A shrine in Ludington, in the form of a cross, marks the place where Father Marquette died.
William Rath, lumber baron and mayor
Shubael F. White (1841–1914), Michigan state senator and judge

Landmarks

Warren A. and Catherine Cartier House, NRHP designated mansion

Gallery

File:The Red Door1.jpg|The Red Door Art Gallery

File:Old Hamlin Restaurant.jpg|Old Hamlin Restaurant downtown

File:House of Flavors.jpg|House of Flavors

File:Ludington, Michigan harbor.jpg|Harbor View Marina

File:Harbor3.jpg|Ludington Municipal Marina

File:U S Coast Guard.jpg|U.S. Coast Guard building

File:Ludington Light (August 2023).jpg|Ludington Light

File:SS Badger Ludington.JPG|SS Badger at Ludington

File:S.S. Badger leaving Ludington.webm|Video of SS Badger sailing from Ludington (1 minute)

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References

External links

Ludington Daily News
Ludington Area Convention and Visitors Bureau
Chamber Alliance of Mason County