Mason County (pop. 28.705), south of Manistee County, is one of six Mason counties in the U.S. The others are in Illinois, Kentucky, Texas, Washington, and West Virginia.

It’s the only Mason County named for Stevens T. Mason (1811-1843), the first governor of the state of Michigan. Mason (elected at age 23) was the youngest state governor in U.S. history.

The county seat of Mason County is Ludington (pop. 8,076). Ludington reached its peak population of 9,506 in 1950.

Mason County Courthouse (1894)

Ludington is located on Lake Michigan, at the mouth of the 64-mile-long Pere Marquette River.

Aerial view of Ludington Harbor and Pere Marquette Lake

The coal-burning car ferry S.S. Badger has been making daily trips across Lake Michigan from Ludington since 1953.

60 miles to Manitowoc, Wisconsin

The Big Sable Point Light Station (1867) is in Ludington State Park, just north of the city.

112 feet tall

Father Jacques Marquette (1637-1675), the Jesuit missionary and explorer, died in the Ludington area. He is honored by a shrine in Ludington.

He was buried in St. Ignace.

The Ludington Mariners Old Time Base Ball Team plays occasional exhibitions, using the early rules of baseball.

Uniforms in the style of the 1860s

The Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness, in Manistee National Forest north of Ludington, has four miles of roadless, undeveloped shoreline on Lake Michigan.

A 3,450-acre wilderness area

The city of Scottville (pop. 1,214) is the home of the Scottville Clown Band, which performs at many parades and other events around Michigan every summer.

The band was formed in 1903.

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