Montague, Michigan
Encyclopedia
Montague is a city in Muskegon County
in the U.S. state
of Michigan
. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 2,407. The city is located within Montague Township
, but is politically independent.
The Montague ZIP code
49437 also serves all of Montague Township and White River Township, as well as a small portions of Whitehall Township and Blue Lake Township
in Muskegon County and parts of Claybanks Township and Grant Township
in Oceana County
.
and Ferrysburg
in neighboring Ottawa County
. Ferry Church, built in 1874, is named in honor of Noah Ferry, who died fighting for the Union at the Battle of Gettysburg
in 1863.
At one time, Ferry Street, also named for the founder, was the main street through town. It was named for him because the city's post office operated on that street since its establishment in 1867, and Ferry was instrumental in getting a post office in the city. Although city hall, the city’s new post office (constructed in 2005), and a handful of businesses still operate on Ferry, Dowling Street has become the city's main fairway because of its eventual connection to neighboring communities and U.S. Highway 31.
Montague is home to the "World's Largest Working Weathervane" which was constructed in part by local manufacturer Whitehall Metal Studios. The weathervane is topped by the Ella Ellenwood, a lumbering Schooner that frequented White Lake
transporting lumber from Montague to Milwaukee, Wisconsin
. The ship became infamous after it sank in a storm in 1901, and the wooden nameplate of the schooner floated back to the shores of the City of Montague, where it was found in 1902. Many people believed that the boat was coming home, and as a result the ship is frequently associated with the city.
, the city has a total area of 3.2 square miles (8.3 km²), of which, 2.7 square miles (6.9 km²) of it is land and 0.5 square miles (1.4 km²) of it is water. The total area is 16.88% water.
The city is at the southern end of the Hart-Montague Trail
, a paved cycling and multiuse trail which attracts visitors during the warm months to Montague, Hart
, and the small towns and business in between.
of 2000, there are 2,407 people, 990 households, and 667 families residing in the city. The population density
is 905.1 per square mile (349.4/km²). There are 1,075 housing units at an average density of 404.3 per square mile (156.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city is 97.17% White, 0.37% African American, 0.46% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.58% from other races, and 1.16% from two or more races. 2.33% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 990 households out of which 32.1% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.5% are married couples
living together, 12.5% have a female householder with no husband present, and 32.6% are non-families. 28.3% of all households are made up of individuals and 11.7% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.43 and the average family size is 2.97.
In the city the population is spread out with 26.1% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 27.0% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.4% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 37 years. For every 100 females there are 89.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 87.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $40,677, and the median income for a family is $49,185. Males have a median income of $37,389 versus $25,282 for females. The per capita income
for the city is $21,238. 9.5% of the population and 6.6% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 9.1% of those under the age of 18 and 9.3% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
, Michigan
. The district serves students of both Muskegon County
and Oceana County
. This arrangement exists after voters living in the tiny district of Rothbury Public Schools agreed to merge with the slightly large district of Montague Public Schools. This merger of the two districts occurring in the 1950s to increase efficiency and decrease costs for both communities, led to the formation of "Montague Area Public Schools".
The district serves students living in the Muskegon County communities of the city of Montague, as well as Montague and White River
townships. In addition it serves students living in parts of Whitehall
and Blue Lake
townships. The district also serves students living in the Oceana County communities of the Village of Rothbury and Otto Township
. In addition it serves students living in parts of New Era
, Michigan
. Also, the district is a member of the "Muskegon County School of Choice" program; the district can serve anyone living in Muskegon County. The district has increased enrollment slightly from the program, but has limited growth in the past because the rural district has limited capacity for new enrollees.
The city of Montague is also the home of Saint James Catholic School. The small parochial school serves grades K-5 and has roughly 100 students. It serves students living in the Montague Area Public School District, as well as the Whitehall District Schools. The school shares busing with both districts, and dropped the sixth grade a few years after adding Kindergarten. Recently, White Lake Baptist Academy (grades K-12) and Mouth School (grades K-8) closed because of dwindling enrollment.
The team also won its second straight Division 6 state title in 2009 with a 24-21 victory over the Monroe St. Mary's Catholic Central Falcons.
Muskegon County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 170,200 people, 63,330 households, and 44,267 families residing in the county. The population density was 334 people per square mile . There were 68,556 housing units at an average density of 135 per square mile...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 2,407. The city is located within Montague Township
Montague Township, Michigan
Montague Township is a civil township of Muskegon County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,637 at the 2000 census. The city of Montague is located within the township, on the shores of White Lake.-Geography:...
, but is politically independent.
The Montague ZIP code
ZIP Code
ZIP codes are a system of postal codes used by the United States Postal Service since 1963. The term ZIP, an acronym for Zone Improvement Plan, is properly written in capital letters and was chosen to suggest that the mail travels more efficiently, and therefore more quickly, when senders use the...
49437 also serves all of Montague Township and White River Township, as well as a small portions of Whitehall Township and Blue Lake Township
Blue Lake Township, Muskegon County, Michigan
Blue Lake Township is a civil township of Muskegon County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 1,990...
in Muskegon County and parts of Claybanks Township and Grant Township
Grant Township, Oceana County, Michigan
Grant Township is a civil township of Oceana County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 2,932.-Geography:...
in Oceana County
Oceana County, Michigan
-US highways:* US-31* US 31 Business Route is a spur serving downtown Hart.* US 31 Business Route loops through downtown Pentwater, returning to mainline US-31 at both ends.-Michigan State Trunklines:* M-20* M-120-Intercounty Highways:*B-15...
.
History and culture
Noah Ferry, who named the city in honor of his father, William Montague Ferry, founded the city. William Ferry founded the cities of Grand HavenGrand Haven, Michigan
Grand Haven is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and is the county seat of Ottawa County. Grand Haven is located on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan at the mouth of the Grand River, for which it is named. As of the 2010 census, Grand Haven had a population of 10,412. It is part of the...
and Ferrysburg
Ferrysburg, Michigan
Ferrysburg is a city in Ottawa County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,040 at the 2000 census.Spring Lake Township borders the city on the north and east, though it is administratively autonomous. The village of Spring Lake is located to the southeast, on the opposite side of...
in neighboring Ottawa County
Ottawa County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 238,314 people, 81,662 households, and 61,328 families residing in the county. The population density was 421 people per square mile . There were 86,856 housing units at an average density of 154 per square mile...
. Ferry Church, built in 1874, is named in honor of Noah Ferry, who died fighting for the Union at the Battle of Gettysburg
Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg , was fought July 1–3, 1863, in and around the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The battle with the largest number of casualties in the American Civil War, it is often described as the war's turning point. Union Maj. Gen. George Gordon Meade's Army of the Potomac...
in 1863.
At one time, Ferry Street, also named for the founder, was the main street through town. It was named for him because the city's post office operated on that street since its establishment in 1867, and Ferry was instrumental in getting a post office in the city. Although city hall, the city’s new post office (constructed in 2005), and a handful of businesses still operate on Ferry, Dowling Street has become the city's main fairway because of its eventual connection to neighboring communities and U.S. Highway 31.
Montague is home to the "World's Largest Working Weathervane" which was constructed in part by local manufacturer Whitehall Metal Studios. The weathervane is topped by the Ella Ellenwood, a lumbering Schooner that frequented White Lake
White Lake (Michigan)
- Muskegon County :The largest White Lake is in Muskegon County, Michigan, formed by the White River. The city of Montague, Montague Township and White River Township are on the north side of the lake. The city of Whitehall, Whitehall Township, and Fruitland Township or on the south side of the lake...
transporting lumber from Montague to Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
. The ship became infamous after it sank in a storm in 1901, and the wooden nameplate of the schooner floated back to the shores of the City of Montague, where it was found in 1902. Many people believed that the boat was coming home, and as a result the ship is frequently associated with the city.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 3.2 square miles (8.3 km²), of which, 2.7 square miles (6.9 km²) of it is land and 0.5 square miles (1.4 km²) of it is water. The total area is 16.88% water.
The city is at the southern end of the Hart-Montague Trail
Hart-Montague Trail State Park
Hart-Montague Trail State Park is a linear state park in Michigan consisting of a bicycle trail running from the city of Montague in Muskegon County to the city of Hart in Oceana County. Recognizing its potential, Bill Field of Shelby purchased the former railroad and donated it for trail use to...
, a paved cycling and multiuse trail which attracts visitors during the warm months to Montague, Hart
Hart, Michigan
Hart is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 1,950. It is the county seat of Oceana County. The city is located within Hart Township, but is politically independent....
, and the small towns and business in between.
Major highways
BUS US 31 is a loop route through the downtowns of both Montague and Whitehall.-
B-15 -
B-86
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there are 2,407 people, 990 households, and 667 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
is 905.1 per square mile (349.4/km²). There are 1,075 housing units at an average density of 404.3 per square mile (156.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city is 97.17% White, 0.37% African American, 0.46% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.58% from other races, and 1.16% from two or more races. 2.33% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 990 households out of which 32.1% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.5% are married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 12.5% have a female householder with no husband present, and 32.6% are non-families. 28.3% of all households are made up of individuals and 11.7% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.43 and the average family size is 2.97.
In the city the population is spread out with 26.1% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 27.0% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.4% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 37 years. For every 100 females there are 89.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 87.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $40,677, and the median income for a family is $49,185. Males have a median income of $37,389 versus $25,282 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city is $21,238. 9.5% of the population and 6.6% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 9.1% of those under the age of 18 and 9.3% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Schools
Montague Area Public Schools (MAPS) is the local school district for the city of Montague. Three of the districts five schools are located in the city, Montague High School, Nellie B. Chisholm (NBC) Middle School, and R.R. Oherli (RRO) Elementary School. The districts other two schools, Oceana High School and Rothbury Elementary are located in the Village of RothburyRothbury, Michigan
Rothbury is a village in Grant Township, Oceana County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 416 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of , all land.-Demographics:...
, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. The district serves students of both Muskegon County
Muskegon County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 170,200 people, 63,330 households, and 44,267 families residing in the county. The population density was 334 people per square mile . There were 68,556 housing units at an average density of 135 per square mile...
and Oceana County
Oceana County, Michigan
-US highways:* US-31* US 31 Business Route is a spur serving downtown Hart.* US 31 Business Route loops through downtown Pentwater, returning to mainline US-31 at both ends.-Michigan State Trunklines:* M-20* M-120-Intercounty Highways:*B-15...
. This arrangement exists after voters living in the tiny district of Rothbury Public Schools agreed to merge with the slightly large district of Montague Public Schools. This merger of the two districts occurring in the 1950s to increase efficiency and decrease costs for both communities, led to the formation of "Montague Area Public Schools".
The district serves students living in the Muskegon County communities of the city of Montague, as well as Montague and White River
White River Township, Michigan
White River Township is a civil township of Muskegon County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,338 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
townships. In addition it serves students living in parts of Whitehall
Whitehall Township, Michigan
Whitehall Township is a civil township of Muskegon County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,648 at the 2000 census. The city of Whitehall is located at the southwest corner of the township, but is administratively autonomous.-Geography:...
and Blue Lake
Blue Lake Township, Muskegon County, Michigan
Blue Lake Township is a civil township of Muskegon County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 1,990...
townships. The district also serves students living in the Oceana County communities of the Village of Rothbury and Otto Township
Otto Township, Michigan
Otto Township is a civil township of Oceana County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 662 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water.-Demographics:As of the census of...
. In addition it serves students living in parts of New Era
New Era, Michigan
New Era is a village in Shelby Township, Oceana County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 461 at the 2000 census.New Era is the birthplace of Caldecott Medal-winning children's author Verna Aardema...
, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. Also, the district is a member of the "Muskegon County School of Choice" program; the district can serve anyone living in Muskegon County. The district has increased enrollment slightly from the program, but has limited growth in the past because the rural district has limited capacity for new enrollees.
The city of Montague is also the home of Saint James Catholic School. The small parochial school serves grades K-5 and has roughly 100 students. It serves students living in the Montague Area Public School District, as well as the Whitehall District Schools. The school shares busing with both districts, and dropped the sixth grade a few years after adding Kindergarten. Recently, White Lake Baptist Academy (grades K-12) and Mouth School (grades K-8) closed because of dwindling enrollment.
Sports
Montague has a successful football team, The Wildcats, that have won districts 5 years in a row, won regionals 4 years, appeared in the state semi-finals for 4 consecutive years, and won its first state championship in 2008 under head coach of 5 years Pat Collins, who was the former quarterback of the 1992 Montague football team, which also made an appearance in the state finals. In 2008 the Montague Wildcats football team won the Division 6 state championship over the Leslie Blackhawks 41-20.The team also won its second straight Division 6 state title in 2009 with a 24-21 victory over the Monroe St. Mary's Catholic Central Falcons.