St. Clair | |
---|---|
Nickname: Saint Clair | |
Coordinates: 42°49′23″N82°29′32″W / 42.82306°N 82.49222°W | |
Country | United States |
State | Michigan |
County | St. Clair |
Government | |
• Type | Council–manager |
• Mayor | Bill Cedar |
Area | |
• Total | 3.62 sq mi (9.37 km2) |
• Land | 2.94 sq mi (7.61 km2) |
• Water | 0.68 sq mi (1.75 km2) |
Elevation | 584 ft (178 m) |
Population (2020) | |
• Total | 5,464 |
• Density | 1,858.50/sq mi (717.64/km2) |
Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
ZIP code(s) | 48079 |
Area code | 810 |
FIPS code | 26-70680 [2] |
GNIS feature ID | 1624881 [3] |
Website | Official website |
St. Clair is a city in St. Clair County in the eastern "Thumb" of the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 5,485 at the 2010 census. The city is located on the St. Clair River near the southeast corner of St. Clair Township.
Located on the western banks of the St. Clair River, the city's name is taken from the river, which in turn was named for Lake Saint Clair, named by French explorers in the 17th century. The expedition of French explorer René Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle entered the lake on August 12, 1679, the feast day of Saint Clare of Assisi, and named it Lac Sainte-Claire in her honor. [5] The lake is named on English maps as early as 1710 as Saint Clare. The spelling was anglicized as early as the 1755 Mitchell Map, when the lake's name was spelled as "St. Clair," as it is currently. [6] The name is sometimes attributed to honoring the American Revolutionary War General, President of the United States in Continental Congress during the drafting of the United States Constitution, and Governor of the Northwest Territory Arthur St. Clair, but it was in use with the current spelling long before St. Clair was a notable figure. The earlier name of the lake may have been conflated with that of the general in naming some of the political entities near the lake and the river, such as St. Clair County, St. Clair Township, and the cities of St. Clair and St. Clair Shores.
Some have thought that the name was in honor of Patrick Sinclair, a British officer who purchased land on the St. Clair River at the outlet of the Pine River. There in 1764 he built Fort Sinclair, which was in use for nearly twenty years before being abandoned. [7]
St. Clair was first platted under the name of Palmer by Thomas Palmer in 1828. [8] The city of St. Clair's roots go back to 1764, when a British fort was built on the south side of the Pine River near where it flows into the St. Clair River. Pontiac's Rebellion had taken place the year before and the British wanted a military base on the St. Clair River to protect their shipping route between Detroit and Fort Michilimackinac. Col. Patrick Sinclair was given the task of building it. He also made the new Fort Sinclair a trading post and sawmill center. The fort and the trading post both operated for about twenty years.
In 1817, Robert Fulton platted a town on the north side of the Pine River. He lobbied for the creation of St. Clair County, and then convinced the state to make his settlement the new county seat. St. Clair remained the county seat until 1871, when it was moved to Port Huron.
Thomas Palmer of Detroit bought Fulton's mostly undeveloped town in 1826, and for a time the village was called Palmer. The sawmill industry began to flourish due to the area's large supply of pine and oak. Clay from the Pine River's banks provided the material for several brickyards that operated into the Twentieth Century. Shipbuilding began in the 1820s and continued for a hundred years. Many of the town's men became sailors on the Great Lakes and numerous captains built homes in the city. In 1887, the Diamond Crystal Salt Company began tapping the area's vast underground salt deposits.
In the late 1800s, St. Clair became a well-known resort with the building of the luxurious Oakland Hotel in 1881 and the Somerville Hotel in 1888. In addition to the natural wonders of the area, both hotels offered mineral baths. Passenger steamers stopped daily at the hotel docks.
In the 1960s, the downtown area was redeveloped with the help of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The crown jewel of the project was the expansion of Palmer Park with its boardwalk along the St. Clair River. Today, this beautiful park draws visitors from all over.
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1860 | 1,530 | — | |
1870 | 1,790 | 17.0% | |
1880 | 1,923 | 7.4% | |
1890 | 2,353 | 22.4% | |
1900 | 2,543 | 8.1% | |
1910 | 2,633 | 3.5% | |
1920 | 3,204 | 21.7% | |
1930 | 3,389 | 5.8% | |
1940 | 3,471 | 2.4% | |
1950 | 4,098 | 18.1% | |
1960 | 4,538 | 10.7% | |
1970 | 4,770 | 5.1% | |
1980 | 4,780 | 0.2% | |
1990 | 5,116 | 7.0% | |
2000 | 5,802 | 13.4% | |
2010 | 5,485 | −5.5% | |
2020 | 5,464 | −0.4% | |
U.S. Decennial Census [9] |
As of the census [10] of 2010, there were 5,485 people, 2,306 households, and 1,521 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,872.0 inhabitants per square mile (722.8/km2). There were 2,523 housing units at an average density of 861.1 per square mile (332.5/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 97.1% White, 0.3% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.9% Asian, 0.3% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.6% of the population.
There were 2,306 households, of which 30.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.1% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 34.0% were non-families. 30.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.95.
The median age in the city was 42.5 years. 23.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.8% were from 25 to 44; 30.9% were from 45 to 64; and 15.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.3% male and 51.7% female.
As of the census [2] of 2000, there were 5,802 people, 2,322 households, and 1,613 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,093.7 inhabitants per square mile (808.4/km2). There were 2,432 housing units at an average density of 877.6 per square mile (338.8/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 96.4% White, 0.12% African American, 0.6% Native American, 0.86% Asian, 1.00% Pacific Islander, 0.14% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.2% of the population.
There were 2,322 households, out of which 34.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.7% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.5% were non-families. 27.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.05.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 27.3% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 29.0% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $52,957, and the median income for a family was $61,743. Males had a median income of $50,509 versus $28,224 for females. The per capita income for the city was $25,180. About 3.3% of families and 4.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.6% of those under age 18 and 3.1% of those age 65 or over.
St. Clair County is a county located in the U.S. state of Michigan and bordering the west bank of the St. Clair River. As of the 2020 census, the population was 160,383. It is the 13th-most populous county in the state. The county seat is Port Huron, located at the north end of the St. Clair River at Lake Huron. The county was created September 10, 1820, and its government was organized in 1821. It is located northeast of Detroit and is included within the Detroit–Warren–Dearborn Metropolitan Statistical Area by the Office of Management and Budget. It is also consider by the State of Michigan to be a part of The Thumb, a peninsula that surrounded by Lake Huron in the east-central area of the state. This area is sometimes dubbed the Blue Water Area.
Sanilac County is a county located in the Thumb region of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 40,611. The county seat is Sandusky. The county was created on September 10, 1822, and was fully organized on December 31, 1849. Sanilac County is considered to be part of the Thumb of Michigan, a subregion of the Flint/Tri-Cities. Sanilac County enjoys seasonal tourism in towns such as Lexington, Port Sanilac, and Carsonville. Sanilac County is economically attached to St. Clair County and Huron County and is largely composed of nearly flat areas of rich soil.
Iron River is a city in Iron County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 3,029. The city is situated at the southeast corner of Iron River Township, but is administratively autonomous. Iron River is the birthplace and home of four-time US Olympian and 2022 gold medalist Nick Baumgartner.
Harrison Charter Township is a charter township of Macomb County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 24,314 at the 2020 census.
New Baltimore is a city in Macomb County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 12,117 at the 2020 census. New Baltimore is a northern suburb of Metro Detroit and is located along the northern shores of Lake St. Clair.
St. Clair Shores is a suburban city bordering Lake St. Clair in Macomb County of the U.S. state of Michigan. It forms a part of the Metro Detroit area, and is located about 13 miles (21 km) northeast of downtown Detroit. Its population was 59,715 at the 2010 census.
The City of Orchard Lake Village is a city in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. A northern suburb of Detroit, Orchard Lake Village is located roughly 27 miles (43.5 km) from downtown Detroit, and about 3 miles (4.8 km) southwest of Pontiac. The city is mostly surrounded by West Bloomfield Township, with a small northeast border with Keego Harbor. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 2,375.
Algonac is a city in St. Clair County of the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 4,196 at the 2020 census.
Clay Township is a civil township of St. Clair County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 9,066 at the 2010 Census.
Cottrellville Township is a civil township of St. Clair County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,559 at the 2010 Census.
Kimball Township is a civil township of St. Clair County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the township population was 9,358.
Marine City is a city in St. Clair County in the U.S. state of Michigan. Located on the west bank of the St. Clair River, it is one of the cities in the River District north of Detroit and south of Lake Huron. In the late 19th century, it was a major center of wooden shipbuilding and lumber processing.
42°54′45″N82°29′13″W
St. Clair Township is a civil township of St. Clair County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 6,817 at the 2010 Census. The city of St. Clair is located near the southeast corner of the township.
Grosse Pointe Woods is a city in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 16,135 at the 2010 census.
Kenockee Township is a civil township of St. Clair County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,470 at the 2010 Census.
Sauk Centre is a city in Stearns County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 4,555 at the 2020 census. Sauk Centre is part of the St. Cloud Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Grosse Pointe Shores is a city in Macomb and Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,008 at the 2010 census.
Memphis is a city that straddles the border between Macomb and St. Clair counties in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,084 at the 2020 census.
Lake St. Clair is a freshwater lake that lies between the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of Michigan. It was named in 1679 by French Catholic explorers after Saint Clare of Assisi, on whose feast day they first saw the lake.