Norton Shores is a city in Muskegon County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 25,030 at the 2020 census. Norton Township was separated from Ottawa County in 1859 and became a part of Muskegon County. The population of Norton Township in 1860 was 197 and in 1864 was 229.
In 1847 the first sawmill in Norton Township was built. It was known as Robinson's Mill and was located at the head of Black Lake (now known as Mona Lake).
In 1850, Ira Porter arrived at Mona Lake. He operated Porter Sawmill and a fruit farm. One of the largest fruit farms in Norton Township was operated by G. N. Cobb, who also operated a box factory for fifteen years beginning in 1869. With the closing of the sawmills and the box factory, residents turned to raising fruit, which became a very profitable industry. Boats would enter Lake Harbor and make a trip around the lake picking up crates of berries at the docks of the growers. They would then return to Lake Michigan with their cargo and transfer it to large steamers bound for Chicago.
In 1894 a summer resort community called Hackley Park was established on Lake Michigan and Mona Lake. It was named for Charles Hackley. The name was shortened to "Hackley" when it got a post office in 1895, although the post office closed in 1897. Roosevelt Park was built as a subdivision in 1926 and incorporated as a city in 1946. The remainder of the township was incorporated as the City of Norton Shores in 1968; the move protected it from annexation by nearby cities.
Geography
The city is in southwestern Muskegon County, bordered to the west by Lake Michigan and to the south by Ottawa County. The cities of Muskegon, Roosevelt Park, and Muskegon Heights border Norton Shores to the north.
Norton Shores has a total area of , of which , or 5.6%, are water.
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2020 census
As of the 2020 census, Norton Shores had a population of 25,030. The median age was 43.3 years. 21.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 21.8% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 94.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 91.8 males age 18 and over.
There were 10,406 households in Norton Shores, of which 26.8% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 50.1% were married-couple households, 16.8% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 26.3% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 28.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
! Race !! Number !! Percent
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| White || 21,670 || 86.6%
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| Black or African American || 912 || 3.6%
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| American Indian and Alaska Native || 120 || 0.5%
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| Asian || 342 || 1.4%
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| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 4 || 0.0%
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| Some other race || 319 || 1.3%
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| Two or more races || 1,663 || 6.6%
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| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) || 1,299 || 5.2%
|}
2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 23,994 people, 9,977 households, and 6,667 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 10,939 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 91.8% White, 3.2% African American, 0.8% Native American, 1.2% Asian, 1.0% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race were 3.8% of the population.
There were 9,977 households, of which 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.8% were married couples living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 33.2% were non-families. 27.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.90.
The median age in the city was 43.3 years. 22% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.3% were from 25 to 44; 29.9% were from 45 to 64; and 17.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.6% male and 51.4% female.
2000 census
As of the census
Government
Norton Shores is governed by a mayor and city council who are elected in a non-partisan elections. The mayor is elected along with four city council members in citywide elections while the remaining four city council members are elected by one of the city's two wards in the alternating two years.