Norton Shores

History

The Ojibwe, Bodewadmi and Odawa Native Americans for hundreds of years occupied the wilds of western Michigan. When European immigrants arrived, they found openings in the forest made by the Native Americans, which were used to raise food. Norton Township was originally organized in 1845 by settlers of the village of Mill Point (now Spring Lake). The township was named in honor of Col. Amos Norton, a Canadian patriot who was implicated in the rebellion of 1837. Norton Township was part of Ottawa County and also included the townships of Fruitport and Sullivan. In 1855 Spring Lake Township was detached from Norton and organized as a township in Ottawa County. Also in 1855 the village of Black Lake was settled with a railroad station and a sawmill in Norton Township. 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.…

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. Mona Lake, is in the northern part of the city, while Little Black Lake is in the south. Hoffmaster State Park is in the western part of the city, occupying forested dune complexes along the Lake Michigan shoreline. The city offers educational opportunities from the Mona Shores Public Schools to Muskegon Community College, Baker College and Grand Valley State University.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Mallard

  Anas platyrhynchos Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  15,445
• American Crow

  Corvus brachyrhynchos C.L.Brehm, 1822 · Aves
  15,417
• Canada Goose (canadensis Group)

  Branta canadensis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  13,479
• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  13,463
• Black-capped Chickadee

  Poecile atricapillus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  13,098
• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  12,900
• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  12,578
• Mourning Dove

  Zenaida macroura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  12,431