Ludington, Michigan

Ludington, Michigan
City of Ludington
Downtown along E. Ludington Avenue (US 10)
Location within Mason County
Ludington
Location within the state of Michigan
Ludington
Location within the United States
Coordinates: 43°57′25″N 86°26′40″W / 43.95694°N 86.44444°W / 43.95694; -86.44444
Country United States
State Michigan
CountyMason
Settled1847
Incorporated1873
Named afterJames Ludington
Government
  TypeCouncil-Manager
  MayorMark Barnett
  ClerkDeborah Luskin
  ManagerMitchell Foster
Area
  Total
3.61 sq mi (9.34 km2)
  Land3.36 sq mi (8.70 km2)
  Water0.25 sq mi (0.63 km2)
Elevation
591 ft (180 m)
Population
 (2020)
  Total
7,655
  Density2,278.27/sq mi (879.56/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
  Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code(s)
49431
Area code231
FIPS code26-49640
GNIS feature ID0631201
WebsiteOfficial website

Ludington (/ˈlʌdɪŋtən/ 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. The population was 7,655 at the 2020 census, making it the fourth largest city in the northern Michigan area.

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, a vehicle and passenger ferry with daily service in the summer across Lake Michigan to Manitowoc, Wisconsin.