Editing Whitehall, Michigan

{{About|a city in Michigan|other uses|Whitehall (disambiguation)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}

{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Whitehall, Michigan
|settlement_type          = [[City]]
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    =

<!-- Images -->
|image_skyline            = 
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = 
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               =

<!-- Maps -->
|image_map                = Muskegon_County_Michigan_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Whitehall_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250x200px
|map_caption              = Location in Muskegon County and the state of Michigan
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             =

<!-- Location -->
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Michigan]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Michigan|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Muskegon County, Michigan|Muskegon]]

<!-- Government -->
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = [[Council-manager government|Commission-Manager]]
|leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name              = Steven Salter
|leader_title1            = [[City Manager]]
|leader_name1             = Scott Huebler
|establitshed_title        = 
|established_date         =

<!-- Area -->
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2023">{{cite web |title=2023 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Michigan |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2023_Gazetteer/2023_gaz_place_26.txt |publisher=United States Census Bureau |accessdate=December 14, 2023}}</ref>
|area_total_km2           = 9.84
|area_land_km2            = 8.33
|area_water_km2           = 1.51
|area_total_sq_mi         = 3.80
|area_land_sq_mi          = 3.22
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.58

<!-- 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=1600000US2686780&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P1| title=P1. Race – Whitehall city, Michigan: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| access-date=December 14, 2023}}</ref>
|population_total         = 2909
|pop_est_as_of            = 
|pop_est_footnotes        = 
|population_est           = 
|population_density_km2   = 349.30
|population_density_sq_mi = 904.54

<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
|utc_offset               = -5
|timezone_DST             = EDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -4
|elevation_footnotes      = 
|elevation_m              = 185
|elevation_ft             = 607
|coordinates              = {{coord|43|24|36|N|86|20|55|W|region:US-MI_type:city_source:GNIS|display=inline}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]s
|postal_code              = 49461, 49463
|area_code                = [[Area code 231|231]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 26-86780<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 1622149<ref>{{gnis|1622149}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|www.cityofwhitehall.org}}
|footnotes                = 
}}
'''Whitehall''' is a city in [[Muskegon County, Michigan|Muskegon County]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Michigan]]. The population was 2,909 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name="Census 2020"/> The city is located to the west of [[Whitehall Township, Michigan|Whitehall Township]]. [[Montague, Michigan|Montague]] is its neighbor.

==History==
It is located on [[White Lake (Michigan)|White Lake]] (actually the mouth of the [[White River (White Lake)|White River]]). Whitehall's recorded history ''circa'' 1859 when Charles Mears, a noted lumber baron to the area, platted the village along with Giles B. Slocum, naming it "Mears". The population continued to grow due to its strategic location for floating and distributing lumber.

In 1862, it was renamed "Whitehall" and incorporated as a village in 1867. It was incorporated as a city in 1943.<ref>{{Cite web| url=https://cityofwhitehall.org/| title=Welcome| publisher=City of Whitehall| access-date=December 22, 2023}}</ref>

==Geography==
Whitehall is in northwestern Muskegon County, about {{convert|5|mi|km}} inland from Lake Michigan. White Lake originally emptied into Lake Michigan through a natural channel (see Logging the White: The White Lake Lumber Industry: 1837-1900 by Daniel J. Yakes, Ph. D. and Steven S. Demos, M.D.[Montague, Michigan: Looking Aft Publications, 2010], p 2). It is now connected to Lake Michigan by a dredged canal. The city is bordered to the west, across White Lake, by the city of [[Montague, Michigan|Montague]]. [[Montague Township, Michigan|Montague Township]] is to the north, [[Whitehall Township, Michigan|Whitehall Township]] is to the east, and [[Fruitland Township, Michigan|Fruitland Township]] is to the south.

According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], Whitehall has a total area of {{convert|3.80|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|3.22|sqmi|sqkm|2}} are land and {{convert|0.58|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, or 15.3%, are water.<ref name ="CenPopGazetteer2023"/> The [[White River (White Lake)|White River]] enters White Lake between the cities of Whitehall and Montague. The White River is nearly {{Convert|24|mi}} in length and passes through White Lake before emptying into Lake Michigan. In 1675, [[Jacques Marquette]] stopped in the area and learned that the Native Americans called the stream ''Wabish-Sippe'', meaning "the river with white clay in the water", which gave rise to the names of White River and White Lake.

==Major highways==
*{{jct|state=MI|US|31}}, a four-lane freeway, crosses the northeast corner of the city, leading south {{convert|16|mi}} to [[Muskegon, Michigan|Muskegon]] and north {{convert|43|mi}} to [[Ludington, Michigan|Ludington]].
*{{jct|state=MI|US-Bus|31|dab1=Whitehall–Montague}} is a [[business loop]] through the downtowns of both Whitehall and Montague.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1870= 842
|1880= 1724
|1890= 1903
|1900= 1481
|1910= 1437
|1920= 1230
|1930= 1394
|1940= 1407
|1950= 1819
|1960= 2590
|1970= 3017
|1980= 2856
|1990= 3027
|2000= 2884
|2010= 2706
|2020= 2909
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}

===2010 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2012-11-25}}</ref> of 2010, there were 2,706 people, 1,153 households, and 678 families living in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|867.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 1,288 housing units at an average density of {{convert|412.8|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 95.0% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.4% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.6% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.5% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.1% [[Race (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.5% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 2.0% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 2.7% of the population.

There were 1,153 households, of which 29.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.4% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 41.2% were non-families. 35.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.89.

The median age in the city was 42.9 years. 22.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.9% were from 25 to 44; 26.6% were from 45 to 64; and 20.8% 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 [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 2,884 people, 1,165 households, and 739 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|960.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 1,262 housing units at an average density of {{convert|420.1|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 96.60% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.76% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 1.14% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.31% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.69% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.49% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 2.08% of the population.

There were 1,165 households, out of which 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.4% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.5% were non-families. 32.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.7% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 19.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $37,641, and the median income for a family was $50,944. Males had a median income of $41,964 versus $18,615 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $18,544. About 5.5% of families and 7.3% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 9.2% of those under age 18 and 8.8% of those age 65 or over.

==Culture and recreation==

===Music and fine arts===
[[Image:Howmet Playhouse.JPG|thumb|Howmet Playhouse]]
Whitehall is home to the Playhouse at White Lake. The 400-seat theater was built in 1916 to be a performance venue for the White Lake area. In 1973 the theater was in danger of demolition and was acquired and renovated by nearby [[Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp]] with the help of a local fund drive and the participation of Whitehall's largest employer at the time, [[Howmet Castings]]. Blue Lake had been putting out productions until they built their own on-site facility in 2006. The theater was then transferred to the city, which puts on a season of theater running through the summer.<ref>[http://www.cityofwhitehall.org/howmet_playhouse.php cityofwhitehall.org], 2007</ref> Community fund raising efforts to improve the playhouse and keep it running are ongoing.{{citation needed|date=September 2024}}

The Arts Council of White Lake has a 30-year history of providing high quality artistic support to the White Lake Community.  They provide numerous opportunities for members of the community and surrounding areas to view, listen to, create, and learn from the arts. ACWL programs, scholarships and grants reach thousands of people  each year, and help build a spirited, giving, and global White Lake culture. ACWL also sponsors a local Summer Concert Series and Artisan Market the first Saturday of every month that the Farmer's Market is open.{{citation needed|date=September 2024}}

Whitehall is also home to three Frank Lloyd Wright cottages and a house, built from 1897 to 1905.{{citation needed|date=September 2024}}

The [[White River Lighthouse]] was built in 1875 by Captain William Robinson and served the White Lake area until 1960, when it was deactivated by the U.S. Coast Guard. The brick lighthouse is now a museum and features exhibits about the area's history related to the shipping and logging industries. On May 17, 1953, Mrs. Frances Johnson, the then-keeper of the lighthouse, was a contestant on the long-running TV panel show ''[[What's My Line?]]''.<ref>{{Citation |title=What's My Line? - Mickey Mantle (May 17, 1953) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipU3xwSuQ3E |access-date=2023-08-07 |language=en}}</ref>
[[File:Inspiration Art Wall in Whitehall Michigan.jpg|thumb|Previously approved Inspiration Art Wall on the White Lake Pathway]]
In July 2023, the idea of a public inspirational [[graffiti]] art wall was approved by the city council. It was locatedon the White Lake Pathway bike trail under the Colby Street overpass in downtown Whitehall.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lajewski |first=Madison |date=2023-07-14 |title=Whitehall graduate to paint art wall on bike path |url=https://www.shorelinemedia.net/white_lake_beacon/news/whitehall-graduate-to-paint-art-wall-on-bike-path/article_29abf4cc-2284-11ee-8b66-331551cb48e9.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230807185220/https://www.shorelinemedia.net/white_lake_beacon/news/whitehall-graduate-to-paint-art-wall-on-bike-path/article_29abf4cc-2284-11ee-8b66-331551cb48e9.html |archive-date=2023-08-07 |access-date=2023-08-07 |website=Shoreline Media Group |language=en}}</ref>

Less than a year later, on March 12, 2024, the city council announced that the art wall would no longer be open for artistic expression and would be painted over later that day.<ref>{{Cite web |last=City of Whitehall |date=2024-03-12 |title=Facebook |url=https://www.facebook.com/cityofwhitehallmi/posts/pfbid02oiW63aAVzaTQsvNSGA7Ddy8hzXfMaKYg39FJoU89k5ycdnSuXtX5CwRA6wnr9dFXl |access-date=2024-03-24 |website=Facebook}}</ref>

===Festivals===
*Memorial Day Parade from downtown Montague and downtown Whitehall, meeting in the middle at Covell Park for a [[ceremony]], near the White Lake Bridge [[causeway]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jewell-Hammie |first=Skyla |date=2022-05-25 |title=Memorial Day events planned in West Michigan for 2022 |url=https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/2022/05/memorial-day-events-planned-in-west-michigan-for-2022.html |access-date=2023-04-06 |website=mlive |language=en}}</ref> - Last Monday in May.
*White Lake Area Arts & Crafts Festival in Goodrich Park features more than 150 talented and creative artists, live entertainment, jump houses, and food.<ref>{{Cite web |title=44th Annual Arts & Crafts Festival |url=https://www.whitelake.org/event/44th-annual-arts-crafts-festival/2023-06-17/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230406172420/https://www.whitelake.org/event/44th-annual-arts-crafts-festival/2023-06-17/ |archive-date=2023-04-06 |access-date=2023-04-06 |website=White Lake Area Chamber & Visitors Bureau |language=en}}</ref> - 3rd Saturday of June. 
*Fourth of July Parade from downtown Whitehall to downtown Montague.<ref>{{Cite web |title=4th of July Parade |url=https://www.whitelake.org/event/4th-of-july-parade/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230406171140/https://www.whitelake.org/event/4th-of-july-parade/ |archive-date=2023-04-06 |access-date=2023-04-06 |website=White Lake Area Chamber & Visitors Bureau |language=en}}</ref>
*Cruz'in: A parade and display of over 400 classic cars. Starts at Funnell Field in Whitehall and parades to downtown Montague.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-04-29 |title=Cruz'in Classic Car Show & Parade |url=https://www.whitelake.org/event/cruzin-classic-car-show-parade/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230406170617/https://www.whitelake.org/event/cruzin-classic-car-show-parade/ |archive-date=2023-04-06 |access-date=2023-04-06 |website=White Lake Area Chamber & Visitors Bureau |language=en}}</ref> - Last Friday in July.
*Taste of White Lake: Area business and food trucks come together at the Playhouse for a fun evening of food and drinks.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wittkowski |first=Tony |date=2014-05-27 |title=Taste of White Lake to provide food, drinks and live music |url=https://www.mlive.com/entertainment/muskegon/2014/05/taste_of_white_lake_to_provide.html |access-date=2023-04-06 |website=mlive |language=en}}</ref>
*FetchFest: Beer tent and food vendors come together in local brewery, Fetch Brewing Company, back parking lot.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Downtown brewery to offer beer tent |url=https://www.shorelinemedia.net/white_lake_beacon/features/entertainment/downtown-brewery-to-offer-beer-tent/article_de82beb0-6b73-11e5-aa1e-33553e09b8f3.html |access-date=2023-04-06 |website=Shoreline Media Group |language=en}}</ref>
*White Lake Chamber Music Festival: Features over 30 events during the 1st week of August. 
*Christmas Parade from downtown Whitehall to downtown Montague - First Saturday of December.<ref>{{Cite web |title=69th Annual White Lake Area Christmas Parade |url=https://www.whitelake.org/event/69th-annual-christmas-parade/ |access-date=2023-04-06 |website=White Lake Area Chamber & Visitors Bureau |language=en}}</ref>

== Economy ==
=== Major employers ===
* [[Howmet Aerospace|Howmet]] (Whitehall, Michigan, formerly Alcoa) – [[Aerospace engineering|aerospace]] components manufacturing
* [[Michigan's Adventure]] – amusement park (Michigan's largest amusement park and water park)

==Media==
===Radio===
Whitehall is home to several [[radio station]]s.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Call sign
! Frequency
! Format
|-
| [[WGVS-FM|WGVS]]
| 95.3
| Public radio
|-
| [[WLAW-FM]]
| 97.5
| Country
|-
| [[WAXT-LP|WAXT]]
| 98.9
| Oldies
|-
|[[WLAW (AM)|WLAW-AM]]
|1490 AM
|Country
|}

==Notable people==
* [[Nate McLouth]], former professional baseball player and [[Gold Glove]] winner
* [[Adella M. Parker]], suffragist, politician, lawyer, and educator<ref name="seattle-times-obit">{{Cite web|url=https://seattletimessubs.newsbank.com/sign-in?regurl=https%3A%2F%2Fverify1.newsbank.com%2Fcgi-bin%2Fngate%2FNGPA-WASTS%2Fec_paymentoptions%3Fdocref%3Dv2%3A127D718D1E33F961%40NGPA-WASTS-12C5508C9CDE0C9B%402435573-12BA2A0DF36A974E%4035-12BA2A0DF36A974E%40%26p_docid%3D12BA2A0DF36A974E%26pubcode%3Dimage%26from%3D%26url%3Dhttps%25253A%25252F%25252Fseattletimessubs.newsbank.com%25252Fdoc%25252Fimage%25252Fv2%25253A127D718D1E33F961%252540NGPA-WASTS-12C5508C9CDE0C9B%2525402435573-12BA2A0DF36A974E%25254035-12BA2A0DF36A974E%252540%25253Fsearch_terms%25253D%26pq%3D1|title=Miss Adele Parker, Writer, Dies|date=1956-04-09|website=Seattle Daily Times|access-date=2020-03-29}}</ref>
* [[Ruth Thompson]], first female [[Michigan House of Representatives|state representative]] of Michigan, first female [[U.S. representative]] from Michigan, first female on the [[U.S. House Judiciary Committee]]
* [[Ryan Van Bergen]], played [[defensive end]] for the [[Michigan Wolverines football|University of Michigan]], 2008-2011

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Official website|www.cityofwhitehall.org}}
*[http://www.whitelake.org/ White Lake Area Chamber of Commerce]

{{Muskegon County, Michigan}}
{{Authority control}}

{{Coord|43|24|36|N|86|20|55|W|type:city_region:US-MI_source:GNIS|display=title}}

[[Category:Cities in Muskegon County, Michigan]]