 About 8.80% of families and 11.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.00% of those under age 18 and 8.20% of those age 65 or over.Prior to 1932, Muskegon County was a Republican Party stronghold in presidential elections, aside from 1912 where the split Republican vote primarily backed former president & third-party candidate Theodore Roosevelt.The county became a Republican-leaning swing county from 1932 to 1988, backing the national winner from 1920 to 1996 except for 1960 & 1976.