Muskegon Charter Township is a charter township of Muskegon County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 17,737 at the 2000 census. The City of Muskegon is at the southwest corner of the township and is administratively autonomous. The township shares all five of the city's zip codes. The township was organized in 1837. The township claims to be the "oldest Township in the State of Michigan" as it was the first township officially recognized in the newly created State of Michigan; however, many other townships were created earlier than Muskegon Township.