Editing Ludington, Michigan

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Ludington, Michigan
| official_name = City of Ludington
| settlement_type = [[City]]
| nickname = 
| motto =

<!-- Images -->
| image_skyline = Downtown Ludington, MI 2023.jpg
| image_size = 275
| image_caption = Downtown along E. Ludington Avenue ([[U.S. Route 10 in Michigan|US 10]])
| image_flag = 
| image_seal =

<!-- Maps -->
| pushpin_map = Michigan#USA
| pushpin_label_position = right<!-- the position of the pushpin label: left, right, top, bottom, none -->
| pushpin_label = Ludington
| pushpin_map_caption = Location within the state of Michigan##Location within the United States
| pushpin_mapsize = 
| image_map = Ludington, MI location.png
| mapsize = 250
| map_caption = Location within [[Mason County, Michigan|Mason County]]

<!-- Location -->
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{Flagu|United States}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = {{Flag|Michigan}}
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of counties in Michigan|County]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Mason County, Michigan|Mason]]

<!-- Government -->
| government_footnotes = <ref>{{cite web |last = City of Ludington |url = https://www.ludington.mi.us/27/Government |title = Government of Ludington |date = 2020 |access-date = April 12, 2020 }}</ref>
| government_type = [[Council-Manager government|Council-Manager]]
| leader_title = Mayor
| leader_name = Mark Barnett
| leader_title1 = [[Municipal clerk|Clerk]]
| leader_name1 = Deborah Luskin
| leader_title2 = [[City manager|Manager]]
| leader_name2 = Mitchell Foster
| established_title = Settled
| established_date = 1847
| established_title1 = Incorporated
| established_date1 = 1873
| named_for = [[James Ludington]]

<!-- Area -->
| unit_pref = Imperial
| area_footnotes = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2022">{{cite web |title=2022 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Michigan |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2022_Gazetteer/2022_gaz_place_26.txt |publisher=United States Census Bureau |accessdate=August 24, 2023}}</ref>
| area_total_km2 = 9.34
| area_land_km2 = 8.70
| area_water_km2 = 0.63
| area_total_sq_mi = 3.61
| area_land_sq_mi = 3.36
| area_water_sq_mi = 0.25

<!-- Population -->
| population_as_of = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = <ref name="Census 2020">{{Cite web| url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=&g=1600000US2649640&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P1| title=P1. Race – Ludington city, Michigan: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| access-date=August 24, 2023}}</ref>
| population_total = 7655
| pop_est_as_of = 
| pop_est_footnotes = 
| population_est = 
| population_density_km2 = 879.56
| population_density_sq_mi = 2278.27

<!-- General information -->
| timezone = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
| utc_offset = -5
| timezone_DST = EDT
| utc_offset_DST = -4
| elevation_footnotes = 
| elevation_m = 180
| elevation_ft = 591
| coordinates = {{coord|43|57|25|N|86|26|40|W|region:US-MI|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type = [[ZIP Code|ZIP code(s)]]
| postal_code = 49431
| area_code = [[Area code 231|231]]
| blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info = 26-49640
| blank1_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info = 0631201<ref name="GR3">{{cite web |url = http://geonames.usgs.gov |access-date = January 31, 2008 |title = US Board on Geographic Names |publisher = [[United States Geological Survey]] |date = October 25, 2007 }}</ref>
| website = {{URL|https://www.ludington.mi.us/|Official website}}
| footnotes = 
}}
[[File:Downtown Ludington, MI.JPG|thumb|"The Clock Tower" Park]]
'''Ludington''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|l|ʌ|d|ɪ|ŋ|t|ən}} {{respell|LUH|ding|tən}}) is a [[city]] in the U.S. state of [[Michigan]]. It is the [[county seat]] and the largest city in [[Mason County, Michigan|Mason County]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web |url = http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date = June 7, 2011 |title = Find a County |publisher = National Association of Counties }}</ref> The population was 7,655 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], making it the fourth largest city in the northern Michigan area. <ref name="Census 2020"/>

The city is located at the mouth of the [[Pere Marquette River]] at [[Lake Michigan]]. Nearby are [[Ludington State Park]] (which includes the [[Big Sable Point Light]]), [[Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness]], and [[Manistee National Forest]], making the area a popular tourist destination in the summer. Ludington is the home port of the [[SS Badger|SS ''Badger'']], a vehicle and passenger ferry with daily service in the summer across Lake Michigan to [[Manitowoc, Wisconsin]].

==History==
{{see also|History of Northern Michigan}}
In 1675, Father [[Jacques Marquette]], [[French people|French]] [[missionary]] and explorer, died and was laid to rest near the modern site of Ludington.<ref>{{Cite web |date = November 3, 2013 |title = Marquette, Jacques 1637 - 1675 |url = http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/dictionary/index.asp?action=view&term_id=2376&keyword=marquette |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131103095054/http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/dictionary/index.asp?action=view&term_id=2376&keyword=marquette |archive-date = November 3, 2013 |access-date = March 3, 2022 }}</ref> A memorial and {{convert|40|ft|adj=on}} 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.<ref name=cabot>Cabot, James L. (2005). [https://books.google.com/books?id=fxC4hZNgay8C ''Ludington:  1830-1930''], p. 7.  Arcadia Publishing.</ref> 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).

[[File:LightningVolt Ludington Lighthouse.jpg|left|thumb|[[Ludington Light]]]]

The town was originally named '''Pere Marquette''',<ref>{{cite news |url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Z8NRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=0lUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6666%2C2546788 |title = Focus on our history: How county was named |work = Ludington Daily News |date = October 3, 1987 |access-date = April 30, 2015 |pages = 2 }}</ref> then later named after the industrialist [[James Ludington]], whose logging operations the village developed around.<ref>{{cite news |url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_lJOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=eDwDAAAAIBAJ&pg=700%2C3839446 |title = But little is known about man for whom Ludington was named |work = Ludington Daily News |date = October 10, 1953 |access-date = November 2, 2015 |author = Hanna, Frances Caswell |pages = 3 }}</ref> 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.<ref name=cabot/> The area's population boom in the late 19th century was due to these [[sawmill]]s and also the discovery of salt deposits.

By 1892, 162 million [[Board foot|board feet]] ({{convert|382,000|m3|ft3|disp=or}}) of lumber and 52 million wood shingles had been produced by the Ludington sawmills. With all of this commerce occurring, Ludington became a major Great Lakes shipping port.{{Citation needed|date=April 2017}}

In 1875, the [[Flint and Pere Marquette Railroad]] (F&PM) began cross-lake shipping operations with the sidewheel steamer [[SS John Sherman|SS ''John Sherman'']]. It became apparent quite early that the John Sherman was not large enough to handle the volume of freight, and the F&PM Railroad contracted with the Goodrich Line of Steamers to handle the break bulk freight out of the Port of Ludington.{{Citation needed|date=April 2017}}

In 1897, the F&PM railroad constructed the first steel car ferry, the ''[[SS Pere Marquette|Pere Marquette]]''. This was the beginning of the creation of a fleet of [[carferry|ferries]] to continue the [[railroad|rail]] cargo across Lake Michigan to [[Manitowoc, Wisconsin]]. The fleet was later expanded to carry cars and passengers across the lake. By the mid-1950s, Ludington had become the largest car ferry port in the world. Unfortunately, due to disuse and declining industry, the fleet eventually dwindled. Currently only one carferry, the [[SS Badger|SS ''Badger'']], makes regular trips across the lake from Ludington, one of only two lake-crossing car ferries on Lake Michigan.{{Citation needed|date=April 2017}}

During the late 1910s and early 1920s, Ludington was the home of the [[Ludington Mariners]] [[minor league baseball]] team.<ref name="MasonCountyPress.com 2020 h260">{{cite news | title=1921 professional baseball team named to sports hall of fame. | website=Mason County Press | date=November 28, 2020 | url=https://www.masoncountypress.com/2020/11/28/1921-professional-baseball-team-named-to-sports-hall-of-fame/ | access-date=April 30, 2024}}</ref>

==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 {{convert|58|mi}} north of [[Muskegon, Michigan|Muskegon]], {{convert|25|mi}} south of [[Manistee, Michigan]], and {{convert|50|mi}} west of [[Reed City, Michigan|Reed City]].

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], Ludington has a total area of {{convert|3.61|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|3.36|sqmi|sqkm|2}} are land and {{convert|0.25|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, or 6.80%, are water.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2022"/>

The [[Ludington Lighthouse|Ludington North Breakwall Light]] is at the end of the north pierhead on Lake Michigan. Ludington is part of [[Northern Michigan]].{{Citation needed|date=April 2017}}

==Climate==
Ludington has a [[humid continental climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''Dfb'') bordering on the hot-summer subtype ''Dfa'' seen further south in Michigan. Winters are cold and snowy, and summers too are moderated by [[Lake Michigan]], with the record high being below {{convert|100|F|C}}.

{{Weather box
| location    = Ludington
| single line = Y
| Jan record high F = 57 
| Feb record high F = 63 
| Mar record high F = 78 
| Apr record high F = 85 
| May record high F = 90 
| Jun record high F = 97 
| Jul record high F = 98 
| Aug record high F = 99 
| Sep record high F = 94 
| Oct record high F = 84 
| Nov record high F = 74 
| Dec record high F = 65 
| year record high F = 99 
| Jan high F = 29
| Feb high F = 33
| Mar high F = 42
| Apr high F = 56
| May high F = 66
| Jun high F = 75
| Jul high F = 80
| Aug high F = 78
| Sep high F = 70
| Oct high F = 57
| Nov high F = 45
| Dec high F = 33
| year high F =
| Jan low F = 18
| Feb low F = 19
| Mar low F = 25
| Apr low F = 35
| May low F = 44
| Jun low F = 54
| Jul low F = 59
| Aug low F = 58
| Sep low F = 51
| Oct low F = 41
| Nov low F = 32
| Dec low F = 23
| year low F =
| Jan record low F = −15 
| Feb record low F = −22 
| Mar record low F = −14 
| Apr record low F = 4  
| May record low F = 22  
| Jun record low F = 28  
| Jul record low F = 37  
| Aug record low F = 36  
| Sep record low F = 26  
| Oct record low F = 19  
| Nov record low F = −8  
| Dec record low F = −14 
| year record low F = −22
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation inch = 2.04 
| Feb precipitation inch = 1.68 
| Mar precipitation inch = 2.42 
| Apr precipitation inch = 3.30 
| May precipitation inch = 3.34 
| Jun precipitation inch = 3.52 
| Jul precipitation inch = 3.03 
| Aug precipitation inch = 3.55 
| Sep precipitation inch = 3.88 
| Oct precipitation inch = 3.63 
| Nov precipitation inch = 3.39 
| Dec precipitation inch = 2.48 
| year precipitation inch = 33.75
| source 1 = Weather Channel,<ref name = NCDC >
{{cite web |url = http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/USMI0500 |title = Monthly Weather for Ludington |publisher = [[The Weather Channel]] |access-date = September 13, 2012 }}</ref>
| date = September 2012}}

==Transportation==
All four highways in Mason County go through, or near Ludington.
*{{jct|state=MI|US|10|Tour|LMCT-Spur}} enters the city from the east, connecting with [[Reed City, Michigan|Reed City]], [[Clare, Michigan|Clare]], [[Midland, Michigan|Midland]] and [[Bay City, Michigan|Bay City]]. It continues across Lake Michigan into [[Wisconsin]] via the [[SS Badger|SS ''Badger'']], providing carferry service to [[Manitowoc, Wisconsin|Manitowoc]].<ref>{{Cite web |url = http://www.michiganhighways.org/listings/US-010.html |title = Michigan Highways: Route Listings: US-10 |last = Bessert |first = Christopher J. |website = Michigan Highways |access-date = April 4, 2017 }}{{self-published inline|certain=yes|date=January 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url = http://www.michiganhighways.org/other/lmct.html#SSBadger |title = Michigan Highways: Lake Michigan Circle Tour |last = Bessert |first = Christopher J. |website = Michigan Highways |access-date = April 4, 2017 }}{{self-published inline|certain=yes|date=January 2023}}</ref>
*{{jct|state=MI|US|31|Tour|LMCT}} is a [[freeway]] to the south of a junction with US&nbsp;10 east of Ludington. US&nbsp;31 and US&nbsp;10 [[concurrency (road)|run concurrently]] for about {{convert|5|mi|km|spell=in|0}} east of Ludington before US&nbsp;31 turns northerly again at [[Scottville, Michigan|Scottville]].<ref>{{Cite web |url = http://www.michiganhighways.org/listings/US-031.html |title = Michigan Highways: Route Listings: US-31 |last = Bessert |first = Christopher J. |website = Michigan Highways |access-date = April 4, 2017 }}{{self-published inline|certain=yes|date=January 2023}}</ref>
*{{jct|state=MI|US-Bus|31|dab1=Ludington}} is a section of the former US&nbsp;31 along Pere Marquette Highway east of the city.<ref>{{Cite web |url = http://www.michiganhighways.org/listings/MichHwysBus2-31.html#US-31BUS-L |title = Michigan Highways: Business Connections 2 through 31 |last = Bessert |first = Christopher J. |website = Michigan Highways |access-date = April 4, 2017 }}{{self-published inline|certain=yes|date=January 2023}}</ref>
*{{jct|state=MI|M|116}} is a spur route providing access to [[Ludington State Park]], to the north of the city, from US&nbsp;10 downtown.<ref>{{Cite web |url = http://www.michiganhighways.org/listings/MichHwys100-119.html#M-116 |title = Michigan Highways: Highways 100 through 119 |last = Bessert |first = Christopher J. |website = www.michiganhighways.org |access-date = April 4, 2017 }}{{self-published inline|certain=yes|date=January 2023}}</ref>
*{{jct|state=MI|USBR|20|USBR|35}} both run through Ludington; USBR 20 ends at the [[SS Badger|SS ''Badger'']].<ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.mlive.com/news/saginaw/index.ssf/2010/06/bike_routes_bring_big_bucks_wi.html |title = Bike routes bring big bucks with summer tourism, local communities on board with proposed bike route |first = Deborah |last = Brown |work = The Saginaw News |date = June 10, 2010 |access-date = July 7, 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url = http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mdot/USBR_20_RouteMap_WestHalf_Farwell_Ludington_424789_7.pdf#page=10 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140103131653/http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mdot/USBR_20_RouteMap_WestHalf_Farwell_Ludington_424789_7.pdf |archive-date = January 3, 2014 |url-status = live |title = US BR-20 Route West Half Farwell to Ludington |publisher = Michigan Department of Transportation |page = 27 |access-date = April 4, 2017 }}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1880= 4190
|1890= 7517
|1900= 7166
|1910= 9132
|1920= 8810
|1930= 8898
|1940= 8701
|1950= 9506
|1960= 9421
|1970= 9021
|1980= 8937
|1990= 8507
|2000= 8357
|2010= 8076
|2020= 7655
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |title = Census of Population and Housing |author = United States Census Bureau |author-link = United States Census Bureau |access-date = February 25, 2014 }}</ref><br />2012 Estimate<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2012/SUB-EST2012-3.html |title = Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012 |access-date = February 25, 2014 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131019235623/http://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2012/SUB-EST2012-3.html |archive-date = October 19, 2013 }}</ref>
}}

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]],<ref name="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web |url = https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/1600000US2649640 |title = 2010 Demographic Profile Data |website = United States Census Bureau |access-date = November 25, 2012 |archive-url = https://archive.today/20200213091147/https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/1600000US2649640 |archive-date = February 13, 2020 |url-status = dead }}</ref> there were 8,076 people, 3,549 households, and 2,004 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|2396.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 4,432 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1315.1|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 92.2% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.1% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 1.4% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.6% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 2.0% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 2.6% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|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 [[Marriage|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 United States Census|2000 census]],<ref>{{Cite web |url = https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/00_SF1/DP1/1600000US2649640 |title = Census 2000 Summary File 1 |website = United Census Bureau |language = en |access-date = April 4, 2017 |archive-url = https://archive.today/20200213051720/https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/00_SF1/DP1/1600000US2649640 |archive-date = February 13, 2020 |url-status = dead }}</ref> there were 8,357 people, 3,690 households, and 2,166 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|2,482.2|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 4,227 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1,255.5|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 95.0% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.0% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.9% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.2% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 1.1% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.8% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|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 [[Marriage|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 (metal)|fabrication]]), [[Occidental Petroleum Corporation]] (manufacturer of [[calcium chloride]] products), Great Lakes Castings Corporation, Amptech, Inc., and Carrom Company. The [[Fitch Four Drive|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 (AM)|WKLA]], which continues today with a [[talk radio]] format at 1450 AM. In the 1970s, [[WJML (FM)|WKLA-FM]] ([[Adult Contemporary]]) and [[WKZC]]-FM ([[Country music|Country]], licensed to nearby [[Scottville, Michigan|Scottville]]) were added. In 1999, WMOM-FM ([[Top 40]], licensed to [[Pentwater, Michigan|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.<ref>
{{Cite book |title = Mason County Pictorial History |publisher = Mason County Historical Society |year = 1987 |location = Ludington, MI |page = 277 }}
</ref> 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 "[[New World oriole|Orioles]]".<ref>{{Cite web |title = Ludington Area Schools |url = https://www.lasd.net/ |access-date = February 22, 2022 |website = www.lasd.net |language = en-US }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title = MHSAA > Schools |url = https://www.mhsaa.com/schools/ludington |access-date = February 22, 2022 |website = www.mhsaa.com }}</ref>

==Notable people==
* [[Merrie Amsterburg]] &ndash; musician
* Antoine Ephrem Cartier &ndash; early settler and developer of Ludington<ref name="CartierMansion">{{cite web |url = http://www.mynorth.com/My-North/February-2009/The-Life-of-Ludingtons-Cartier-Mansion/ |title = The Life of Ludington's Cartier Mansion |work = MyNorth.com |date = May 3, 2017 }}</ref>
* [[Warren Antoine Cartier]] &ndash; early settler and developer of Ludington<ref name="CartierMansion"/>
* [[Burr Caswell]] &ndash; early settler and developer of Ludington area and Mason County<ref name="caswellgenealogy">{{cite web |url = http://www.ludingtonmichigan.net/burrcaswell.htm |title = Aaron Burr Caswell genealogical family history |access-date = July 28, 2008 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080319002014/http://www.ludingtonmichigan.net/burrcaswell.htm |archive-date = March 19, 2008 }}</ref><ref name="caswellgenealogy2">{{cite web |url = http://ludingtonmichigan.net/history/Article-042.htm |title = Burr Caswell biography with family history |access-date = July 28, 2008 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091017093756/http://ludingtonmichigan.net/history/Article-042.htm |archive-date = October 17, 2009 }}</ref>
* [[Charles F. Conrad]] &ndash; founder of the [[SS Badger#Lake Michigan Carferry Service|Lake Michigan Carferry Service]]<ref name=ConradBio>{{cite web |url = http://www.ssbadger.com/about/conrad-biography.html |title = Conrad Biography |author = <!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date = 2014 |publisher = Lake Michigan Carferry |access-date = September 1, 2014 }}</ref>
* [[Mike Hankwitz]] &ndash; college football coach
* Henry L. Haskell &ndash; inventor of [[Haskelite]] and the carroms game
* [[Ike Kelley]] &ndash; National Football League player
* Père [[Jacques Marquette]] &ndash; 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.<ref name="Murals of Ludington">{{cite web |last = visitludington.com |title = Murals of Ludington |url = http://www.visitludington.com/stories/the_colorful_murals_of_ludington |access-date = May 3, 2011 }}</ref>
* [[William L. Mercereau]] &ndash; superintendent of steamships for the [[Pere Marquette Railway]]
* [[William Rath]], lumber baron and mayor

==Landmarks==
*[[Warren A. and Catherine Cartier House]], NRHP designated mansion

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:The Red Door1.jpg|The Red Door Art Gallery
File:Old Hamlin Restaurant.jpg|Old Hamlin Restaurant downtown
File:Ludington, Michigan harbor.jpg|Harbor View Marina
File:Harbor3.jpg|Ludington Municipal Marina
File:Harbor9.jpg|Playground at Harbor View Marina
File:Harbor18.jpg|The Small Pavilion at Harbor View Marina
File:U S Coast Guard.jpg|U.S. Coast Guard building
File:Ludingtonlight.jpg|Lighthouse by Stearns Park in Ludington
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)
</gallery>

==See also==
{{commons|Ludington, Michigan}}

*[[Epworth Heights]]
*[[Haskelite]]
*[[Henry Ludington]]
*[[Ludington Public Library]]
*[[Ludington State Park]]
*[[SS Pere Marquette]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Official website|www.ludington.mi.us}}
*[http://www.ludingtondailynews.com/ ''Ludington Daily News'']
*[http://www.pureludington.com/ Ludington Area Convention and Visitors Bureau]
*[http://www.ludington.org/ Chamber Alliance of Mason County]

{{Mason County, Michigan}}
{{Michigan county seats}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Mason County, Michigan]]
[[Category:County seats in Michigan]]
[[Category:Michigan populated places on Lake Michigan]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1847]]
[[Category:1847 establishments in Michigan]]