Port Huron, Michigan

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Port Huron, Michigan
City
Location of Port Huron, Michigan
Location of Port Huron, Michigan
CountryUnited States
StateMichigan
CountySt. Clair
Area
 • Total12.2 sq mi (31.7 km2)
 • Land8.1 sq mi (20.9 km2)
 • Water4.2 sq mi (10.8 km2)
Elevation
604 ft (184 m)
Population
 (United States Census, 2006)
 • Total31,302
 • Density4,001.9/sq mi (1,545.1/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
Area code810
FIPS code26-65820Template:GR
GNIS feature ID1624839Template:GR
File:BWBridge.jpg
A statue of Thomas Edison with the Blue Water Bridge in the background.

Port Huron is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The United States Census 2006 estimate of the city population was 31,302. It is the county seat of St. Clair County6. The city is adjacent to Port Huron Township, but is politically independent. It is joined by the Blue Water Bridge over the St. Clair River to Sarnia, Ontario in Canada. The city also lies at the southern end of Lake Huron. It is the easternmost point on land in Michigan.

Geography

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there were 32,338 people, 12,961 households, and 8,048 families residing in the city. The population density was 4,001.9 per square mile (1,545.3/km²). There were 14,003 housing units at an average density of 1,732.9/sq mi (669.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 86.69% White, 7.74% African American, 0.87% Native American, 0.55% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.32% from other races, and 2.81% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.28% of the population. 23.9% were of German, 10.1% Irish, 9.4% English, 8.6% United States or American and 6.1% Polish ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 12,961 households out of which 32.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.8% were married couples living together, 17.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.9% were non-families. 31.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the city the population was spread out with 27.0% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 29.6% from 25 to 44, 19.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 90.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $31,327, and the median income for a family was $39,869. Males had a median income of $32,053 versus $22,113 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,100. About 13.4% of families and 16.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.5% of those under age 18 and 14.2% of those age 65 or over.

Port Huron is the largest city in the thumb area, and is a major center of industry and trade in the thumb.

Government

The City of Port Huron is organized under the City Council/City Manager form of government. The City Council is responsible for appointing a City Manager, who is the Chief Administrative Officer of the City. The Manager supervises the administrative affairs of the City and carries out the policies established by the City Council. As the Chief Administrative Officer, the City Manager is responsible for the organization of the administrative branch and has the power to appoint and remove administrative officers who are responsible for the operation of departments which carry out specific functions. The City Council consists of seven elected officials a mayor and six council members who hold a two year term of office. The current mayor is Brian Moeller.

Transportation

See also: Port Huron (Amtrak station)
Location of Port Huron, Michigan

Automobiles

Interstates

Two Interstates terminate at the Port Huron-to-Sarnia Blue Water Bridge, and they meet Highway 402 (Ontario).

Michigan highways

Mass transit

The Blue Water Area Transit system, created in 1976, includes eight routes in the Port Huron area. Blue Water Transit operates the Blue Water Trolley, which provides a one hour tour of various local points of interest. Recently, Blue Water Area Transit received a grant from the state to buy new buses for a route between the Port Huron hub and New Baltimore, Michigan about 30 miles south. Commuters could take an express bus traveling down I-94 and get off at the 26 mile road SMART Bus stop. At the same time, another bus will travel down M-25 and M-29 and pick up commuters in Marysville, Michigan, Saint Clair, Michigan and Algonac before ending up at the same stop on 26 mile road. This new system will help the unemployed in St. Clair County, Michigan travel through Metro Detroit.

Rail

Airports

St. Clair County International Airport is a public airport located five miles (8 km) southwest of the central business district.

College

Parks

The City of Port Huron owns and operates 17 waterfront areas containing 102 acres (0.4 km2) and 3.5 miles (6 km) of water frontage. This includes two public beaches and six parks with picnic facilities. The city also has nine scenic turnout sites containing over 250 parking spaces. Port Huron operates the largest municipal marina system in the state and has five separate locations for boat mooring.

The City has 14 public parks, 4 smaller-sized “tot” parks, 19 playgrounds (City owned), 9 playgrounds (School owned), 33 tennis courts, including 16 at schools and 6 indoors, 2 public beaches, 4 public swimming pools, 1 community center, and 1 public parkway.

Media

Radio

The thumb lies between the Detroit Radio Market and the Tri-Cities Radio Market. Radio Stations heard throughout a large portion of the Thumb are WTGV-FM, WMIC-AM, and WPHM-AM. Template:Multicol

FM

  • WNFR 90.7 FM, Port Huron
  • WBGV 92.5 FM, Marlette WBGV, Todays Best Country
  • WBTI 96.9 FM, Lexington, The best of the 80s, 90s and now
  • WTGV 97.7 FM, Sandusky WTGV, Light & Easy Listining
  • CFGX 99.9 FM, The Fox FM, Your perfect Music Mix
  • WGRT 102.3 FM, Port Huron WGRT, Your Great Music Station
  • CHKS 106.3 FM, Sarnia ON, K106.3 Sarnia/Port Huron's Best Rock
  • WSAQ 107.1 FM, Port Huron WSAQ, Q Country 107

AM

  • WMIC 660 AM, Sandusky[3], The Thumb's Information Station
  • CHOK 1070 AM, Sarnia ON, CHOK Country
  • WPHM 1380 AM, Port Huron[4], Information Radio 1380
  • WHLS 1450 AM, Port Huron[5], America's Best Music

Newspaper

Broadcast Television

St. Clair County and the other southern Thumb counties lies in the Detorit Television Market. TV stations watched in the Port Huron Area are Bold Faced. Template:Multicol

Flint/Tri-Cities

Template:Multicol-break

Detroit Area

Template:Multicol-end

Culture

  • There are a number of recurring local events. A calendar is available.[8]
  • The main branch of the St. Clair County Library is located in downtown Port Huron. The library contains more than 285,300 books, nearly 200 magazine subscriptions, and over 22,700 books on tape, books on compact disc, music compact discs, cassettes, and videos.

Shopping

The largest shopping center in the Port Huron area is Birchwood Mall, located north of town on M-25. Several other chain retailers are also located around the mall.

History

In 1814, Fort Gratiot was established at the base of Lake Huron and was considered the first organized population in the area. In 1857, Port Huron became an incorporated city. Port Huron's population grew rapidly after the 1850's due in part to a successful shipbuilding and lumber trade. By 1870, Port Huron's population exceeded that of surrounding villages. In 1871, the Supreme Court designated Port Huron as the County Seat.

The following historic sites have been recognized by the State of Michigan through its historic marker program.

  • Fort St. Joseph. The fort was built in 1686 by the French explorer Duluth. This fort was the second European settlement in lower Michigan. This post guarded the upper end of the vital waterway joining Lake Erie and Lake Huron. Designed to bar English traders from the upper lakes, the fort in 1687 was the mobilization center for a war party of French and Indians. In 1688 it was abandoned, but the site became part of Fort Gratiot in 1814. A park now rests where the fort once stood.
  • Fort Gratiot Light. The Fort Gratiot Lighthouse was built in 1829 to replace a tower destroyed by a storm. In the 1860s workers extended the tower to its present height of 84 feet. The light, automated in 1933, continues to guide shipping on Lake Huron into the narrow and swift-flowing St. Clair River. It was the first lighthouse established in the State of Michigan.
The Fort Gratiot Lighthouse
  • Grand Trunk Railroad Deport. The depot, which is now part of the Port Huron Museum, is where 12-year-old Tom Edison departed daily on the Port Huron - Detroit run. In 1859, the railroad's first year of operation, Tom persuaded the company to let him sell newspapers and confections on the daily trips. He became so successful the he soon placed two newsboys on other Grand Trunk runs to Detroit. He made enough money to support himself and to buy chemicals and other experimental materials.
  • Port Huron Public Library. In 1902 the city of Port Huron secured money from philanthropist Andrew Carnegie to erect a municipal library. In 1904, a grand Beaux-Arts-style structure was built at a cost of $45,000. At its dedication, Melvil Dewey, creator of a widely used book classification system, delivered the opening address. The Port Huron Public Library served in its original capacity for over sixty years. In 1967 a larger public library was constructed. The following year the former library opened as the Port Huron Museum of Arts and History. A rear addition was constructed in 1988.
  • The Harrington Hotel. The Hotel opened in 1896. It is a blend of Romanesque, Classical and Queen Anne architecture. The hotel closed in 1986, but a group of investors bought the structure that same year to convert it into housing for senior citizens. The Harrington Hotel is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
  • The Grand Trunk Western Railroad Tunnel. The tunnel was opened in 1891 and links Port Huron, Michigan with Canada. This international submarine railway tunnel was the first international tunnel in the world. The tunnel's total length is 11,725 feet, with 2,290 feet underwater. The tunnel operations were electrified in 1908 and completely dieselized in 1958. Tracks were lowered in 1949 to accommodate larger freight cars. During World War I, a plot to blast the tunnel was foiled. A new tunnel has since been opened.

Notable Residents

Local Sports Teams

PROFESSIONAL
The following professional team plays at McMorran Place:

NON-PROFESSIONAL

Welkin Base Ball Club of Port Huron - Vintage Base Ball played by 1860's rules and customs

Notes

  1. ^ Michigan highway ends, photos and text
  2. ^ M=25 end point photos.
  3. ^ WMIC
  4. ^ WPHA
  5. ^ WHLM
  6. ^ Port Huron Museum
  7. ^ Carnegie Center, Port Huron Museum
  8. ^ Local event calendar.

See also

External links

Photo gallery

Surronding Communities

Template:Mapit-US-cityscale

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