This village was originally a lumberjack settlement on the shore of Lake Huron named "Bark Shanty." In the late 1840s and 1850s, the settlement gained its first sawmill, schoolhouse, and general store. In 1854, Bark Shanty's first post office opened. In 1857 the village was renamed to Port Sanilac, as it is in Sanilac Township in Sanilac County. Local legend attributes the name to a Wyandotte Indian Chief named Sanilac.[4] See List of Michigan county name etymologies.
Local landmarks include the Port Sanilac lighthouse (burning kerosene from its opening in 1886 until its electrification in 1924) and a twenty-room Victorian mansion (now the Sanilac County Museum) built in 1872 by a horse-and-buggy doctor, Dr. Joseph Loop.
Port Sanilac Harbor, Michigan is located on the west shore of Lake Huron, about 30 miles north of Port Huron, Michigan. The project was authorized by the River and Harbor Act of October 27, 1965. The existing project provides for a harbor of refuge protected by breakwater structures extending to 12-foot depth contour in lake; for dredging a harbor basin 10 feet deep; for dredging an entrance channel 12 feet deep; a 70-foot extension of the south breakwater; a 300-foot arm added to the north breakwater; and riprap placed at the lakeward side of the breakwater addition. The harbor services primarily recreational navigation interests.[6]
As of the census[8] of 2010, there were 623 people, 290 households, and 175 families residing in the village. The population density was 778.8 inhabitants per square mile (300.7/km2). There were 441 housing units at an average density of 551.3 per square mile (212.9/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 97.3% White, 0.2% African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 1.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.2% of the population.
There were 290 households, of which 23.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.8% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 39.7% were non-families. 36.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.09 and the average family size was 2.66.
The median age in the village was 51.1 years. 19.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 3.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 18.6% were from 25 to 44; 33% were from 45 to 64; and 25.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 45.4% male and 54.6% female.
2000 census
As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 658 people, 319 households, and 176 families residing in the village. The population density was 908.8 inhabitants per square mile (350.9/km2). There were 437 housing units at an average density of 603.6 per square mile (233.1/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 96.66% White, 0.76% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.61% from other races, and 1.82% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.13% of the population.
Port Sanilac Light House
There were 319 households, out of which 20.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.5% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.8% were non-families. 42.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 26.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.03 and the average family size was 2.77.
In the village, the population was spread out, with 19.9% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 20.1% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 28.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females, there were 77.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 72.2 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $28,409, and the median income for a family was $38,250. Males had a median income of $30,795 versus $21,875 for females. The per capita income for the village was $18,153. About 4.8% of families and 7.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.3% of those under age 18 and 7.1% of those age 65 or over.
Carsonville-Port Sanilac Schools has a combined high school and middle school off M-46 between Port Sanilac and Carsonville. Port Sanilac's last elementary school closed in the early 1980s and the building is now used as the Bark Shanty Community Center. Elementary students are bused to nearby Carsonville.
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.
Huron County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 31,407. The county seat is Bad Axe. Huron County is at the northern tip of the Thumb, which is a sub region of Mid Michigan. It is a peninsula, bordered by Saginaw Bay to the west and Lake Huron to the north and east, and has over 90 miles (140 km) of shoreline, from White Rock on Lake Huron to Sebewaing on the Saginaw Bay. Huron County's most prominent industry is agriculture, as with most of the other Thumb counties. Huron County enjoys seasonal tourism from large cities such as Detroit, Flint, and Saginaw. Much of the tourism is in the Port Austin and Caseville area.
Caseville is a city in Huron County in the U.S. state of Michigan, located at the mouth of the Pigeon River on Saginaw Bay of Lake Huron. The population was 652 at the 2020 census. The city is surrounded by Caseville Township. A popular destination for summer tourists, it sponsors the 10-day Cheeseburger in Caseville festival, a tribute to Jimmy Buffett's song "Cheeseburger in Paradise". It has been also called the "Perch Capital of Michigan" for its extraordinary catches of the native fish yellow "perch".
Harbor Beach is a city in Huron County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,604 at the 2020 census.
Putnam Township is a civil township of Livingston County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 7,890 at the 2020 census, down from 8,248 at the 2010 census. The village of Pinckney is located within the township.
Bridgehampton Township is a civil township of Sanilac County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 census, the township population was 745.
Carsonville is a village in Sanilac County of the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 527 at the 2010 census. The village is situated at 43°25′37″N82°40′17″W on the boundary between Bridgehampton Township and Washington Township, with about half the village in each.
Custer Township is a civil township of Sanilac County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 893 at the 2020 census.
Delaware Township is a civil township of Sanilac County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 784 at the 2020 census.
Forestville is a village in Sanilac County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 104 at the 2020 census, making it the least-populous village in Michigan. It does not have a true harbor onto Lake Huron, but the village does have a boat launch site. Forestville receives city water from nearby Harbor Beach. The village is within Delaware Township.
Lamotte Township is a civil township of Sanilac County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 764 at the 2020 census.
Lexington is a village in Sanilac County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,178 at the 2010 census. The village is located within Lexington Township.
Marion Township is a civil township of Sanilac County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,578 at the 2020 census.
Marlette is a city in Sanilac County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,855 at the time of the 2020 census. The city is surrounded by Marlette Township, but is administratively autonomous.
Marlette Township is a civil township of Sanilac County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,686 at the 2020 census.
Minden Township is a civil township of Sanilac County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 558 at the 2020 census.
Sandusky is the most populous city and county seat of Sanilac County, Michigan. The population was 2,679 at the 2010 census.
Sanilac Township is a civil township of Sanilac County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,301 at the 2020 census. The village of Port Sanilac is within the township.
Watertown Township is a civil township of Sanilac County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,263 at the 2020 census.
Brown City is a city in Lapeer and Sanilac counties in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,325 at the 2010 census. The city is located almost exclusively in Sanilac County, with only a small portion of the city extending into Lapeer County.
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