Port Huron, Michigan

"Port Huron" redirects here. For other uses, see Port Huron (disambiguation).
Port Huron, Michigan
City

Young Thomas Edison, in front of the Blue Water Bridge
Nickname(s): Maritime Capital of the Great Lakes, Gateway to Canada

Location within St. Clair county (left) and Michigan (right)
Coordinates: 42°58′49″N 82°26′15″W / 42.98028°N 82.43750°W / 42.98028; -82.43750Coordinates: 42°58′49″N 82°26′15″W / 42.98028°N 82.43750°W / 42.98028; -82.43750
Country United States
State Michigan
County St. Clair
Incorporated 1857
Government
  Type Council-Manager
  Mayor Pauline Repp
Area[1]
  Total 12.26 sq mi (31.75 km2)
  Land 8.08 sq mi (20.93 km2)
  Water 4.18 sq mi (10.83 km2)
Elevation 604 ft (184 m)
Population (2010)[2]
  Total 30,184
  Estimate (2012[3]) 29,684
  Density 2,500/sq mi (950/km2)
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC−5)
  Summer (DST) EDT (UTC−4)
ZIP code 48060
Area code 810
FIPS code 26-65820 [4]
GNIS feature ID 1624839 [5]
Website porthuron.org

Port Huron is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of St. Clair County.[6] The population was 30,184 at the 2010 census. The city is adjacent to Port Huron Township but is administratively autonomous. Located along the St. Clair River, it is connected to Point Edward, Ontario in Canada via the Blue Water Bridge. The city lies at the southern end of Lake Huron and is the easternmost point on land in Michigan. Port Huron is home to two paper mills; Mueller brass; and many businesses related to tourism and the automotive industry. The city features a historic downtown area, boardwalk, marina, museum, lighthouse, and the McMorran Place arena and entertainment complex.

History

In 1814 following the War of 1812, the United States established Fort Gratiot at the base of Lake Huron. French colonists had a temporary trading post and fort at this site in the 17th century, but this developed as the first settled European-American population in the area. Until 1836, an Ojibwa reservation occupied land in part of the modern area of Port Huron. They were removed to west of the Mississippi in Wisconsin and Minnesota.[7]

In 1857, Port Huron became incorporated. Its population grew rapidly after the 1850s due a high rate of immigration attracted by the successful shipbuilding and lumber trade. In 1859 the city had a total of 4.031 residents; 1855 were of foreign birth or their children.[8] By 1870, Port Huron's population exceeded that of surrounding villages. In 1871, the State Supreme Court designated Port Huron as the county seat.[9]

On October 8, 1871, the city, as well as places north in Sanilac and Huron counties, burned in the Port Huron Fire of 1871. A series of other fires leveled Holland and Manistee, Michigan, as well as Peshtigo, Wisconsin and Chicago on the same day. The Thumb Fire that occurred a decade later, also engulfed Port Huron.

In 1895 the village of Fort Gratiot, in the vicinity of the former Fort Gratiot, was annexed by the city of Port Huron.[10]

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

In 1962, a convention of the Students for a Democratic Society was held in Lakeport, a community several miles north of the city. While there, they developed the Port Huron Statement, the SDS manifesto.

The city received the All-America City Award in 1955 and 2005.

Historic photographs

Geography

Climate

Climate data for Port Huron NOAA Station
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 64
(18)
69
(21)
82
(28)
87
(31)
96
(36)
102
(39)
103
(39)
102
(39)
101
(38)
90
(32)
81
(27)
66
(19)
103
(39)
Average high °F (°C) 31.3
(−0.4)
33.8
(1)
42.8
(6)
55.5
(13.1)
67.1
(19.5)
77.3
(25.2)
82.0
(27.8)
80.5
(26.9)
73.4
(23)
60.6
(15.9)
47.7
(8.7)
35.6
(2)
57.3
(14.1)
Daily mean °F (°C) 24.3
(−4.3)
26.2
(−3.2)
34.4
(1.3)
45.9
(7.7)
56.9
(13.8)
66.9
(19.4)
72.3
(22.4)
71.2
(21.8)
63.8
(17.7)
51.7
(10.9)
40.5
(4.7)
29.2
(−1.6)
48.61
(9.22)
Average low °F (°C) 17.4
(−8.1)
18.6
(−7.4)
26.0
(−3.3)
36.2
(2.3)
46.6
(8.1)
56.6
(13.7)
62.6
(17)
61.8
(16.6)
54.3
(12.4)
42.7
(5.9)
33.3
(0.7)
22.8
(−5.1)
39.9
(4.4)
Record low °F (°C) −19
(−28)
−26
(−32)
−7
(−22)
8
(−13)
21
(−6)
32
(0)
35
(2)
37
(3)
25
(−4)
20
(−7)
2
(−17)
−7
(−22)
−26
(−32)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 1.96
(49.8)
1.97
(50)
2.07
(52.6)
2.86
(72.6)
3.13
(79.5)
3.39
(86.1)
3.23
(82)
3.26
(82.8)
3.84
(97.5)
2.78
(70.6)
3.11
(79)
2.19
(55.6)
33.78
(858)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 11.0
(27.9)
9.9
(25.1)
5.0
(12.7)
0.7
(1.8)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
1.3
(3.3)
8.3
(21.1)
36.1
(91.7)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 13.0 10.0 10.5 12.9 11.7 10.7 10.1 10.7 10.8 11.9 12.5 13.4 138.2
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 7.4 5.9 2.9 0.6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.8 5.3 22.9
Source: NOAA [11]

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
18604,371
18705,97336.7%
18808,88348.7%
189013,54352.5%
190019,15841.5%
191018,863−1.5%
192025,94437.5%
193031,36120.9%
194032,7594.5%
195035,7259.1%
196036,0841.0%
197035,794−0.8%
198033,981−5.1%
199033,694−0.8%
200032,338−4.0%
201030,184−6.7%
Est. 201429,168[12]−3.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[13]

Port Huron is the largest city in the Thumb area, and is a center of industry and trade for the region.

2010 census

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 30,184 people, 12,177 households, and 7,311 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,735.6 inhabitants per square mile (1,442.3/km2). There were 13,871 housing units at an average density of 1,716.7 per square mile (662.8/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 84.0% White, 9.1% African American, 0.7% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 1.2% from other races, and 4.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.4% of the population.

There were 12,177 households of which 32.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.5% were married couples living together, 19.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 40.0% were non-families. 33.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.03.

The median age in the city was 35.8 years. 25.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.3% were from 25 to 44; 25.2% were from 45 to 64; and 13.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.8% male and 52.2% female.

Culture

Sports

Port Huron has had a strong tradition of minor league hockey for many years.

The Port Huron Flags played in the original International Hockey League from 1962-1981, winning three Turner Cup championships in 1966, 1971 and 1972. Its leading career scorers were Ken Gribbons, who played most of his career in the IHL; Bob McCammon, a lifelong IHLer who went on to be a National Hockey League coach with the Philadelphia Flyers and the Vancouver Canucks; Bill LeCaine and Larry Gould, who played a handful of NHL games with the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Vancouver Canucks, respectively.

Port Huron was also represented in the Colonial Hockey League (also operating under the names United Hockey League and International Hockey League), with franchises from 1996 until the league folded in 2010. Originally called the Border Cats, the team was renamed the Beacons in 2002, the Flags in 2005 and the Icehawks in 2007. Among the more notable players were Bob McKillop, Jason Firth, Tab Lardner and Brent Gretzky.

The Port Huron Fighting Falcons of the junior North American Hockey League played at McMorran Place, beginning in 2010 until 2013. The team moved to Connellsville, PA for the 2014 season. The team's name was changed to the Keystone Ice Miners.

The Port Huron Pirates indoor football team dominated the Great Lakes Indoor Football League up until their departure to Flint, MI. McMorran Arena once again hosted indoor football with the Port Huron Predators of the Continental Indoor Football League in 2011. The Predators failed to finish the 2011 season, and were replaced in 2012 by the Port Huron Patriots who also particiate in the CIFL.

Parks

The City of Port Huron owns and operates 17 waterfront areas containing 102 acres (0.4 km2) and 3.5 miles (5.6 km) of water frontage. This includes three 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, 3 public beaches, 4 public swimming pools, 1 community center, and 1 public parkway.

Government

The city government is organized under a council/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. Beginning with the 2011 election, citizens will vote separately for Mayor and Council. Council members will serve staggered four-year terms and the Mayor will serve a two-year term. The current mayor is former city clerk, Pauline Repp.

Federally, Port Huron is part of Michigan's 10th congressional district, represented by Republican Candice Miller, elected in 2002.

Education

Colleges

Media

Radio

See also: Thumb Radio

The thumb area is an unranked radio market with two commercial broadcasters licensed to serve the city. Radio First owns and operates five radio stations in the region while Port Huron Family Radio is the licensee of sole station WGRT.

The following is a list of broadcast radio stations that provide local content to the Port Huron Area. Other stations may be heard area over the air however their content is not directed to residents of the city.

Local FM

  • WNFA 88.3 FM, Port Huron, Power 883
  • CBEG-FM 90.3 FM, Sarnia, CBC Radio One (relays CBEW-FM Windsor)
  • WNFR 90.7 FM, Port Huron, 90.7 Hope FM
  • WSGR-FM 91.3 FM, Port Huron, The Eclectic Sound For The Bluewater Area
  • WORW 91.9 FM, Port Huron, "The Wave"
  • WBGV 92.5 FM, Marlette, Country 92.5
  • WBTI 96.9 FM, Lexington, Today's Hit Music
  • WTGV 97.7 FM, Sandusky, Light & Easy Listining
  • CBEF-3-FM 98.3 FM, Sarnia, Ici Radio-Canada Première (relays CBEF Windsor)
  • CFGX-FM 99.9 FM, The Fox FM, Your perfect Music Mix
  • WGRT 102.3 FM, Port Huron, Your Great Music Station
  • CHOK-1 103.9 FM, Sarnia, ONT, CHOK (relays CHOK AM)
  • W288BT 105.5 FM, Port Huron, Rock 105.5
  • CHKS-FM 106.3 FM, Sarnia ON, K106.3 Sarnia/Port Huron's Best Rock
  • WSAQ 107.1 FM, Port Huron, Q Country 107

Local AM

  • WMIC 660 AM, Sandusky, (Daytime Only)
  • CHOK 1070 AM, Sarnia ON, CHOK Adult Contempery
  • WHLS 1450 AM, Port Huron, Rock 105.5
  • WPHM 1380 AM, Port Huron, Information 1380
  • WHLX 1590 AM, Marine City, Rock 105.5

Newspaper

Broadcast television

St. Clair County lies in the Detroit television market. Channels available on Comcast are as follows:

Detroit Area

Southwestern Ontario

St. Clair County also receives the following stations from the Sarnia / London area, but are currently not carried on cable:

Transportation

Blue Water Bridge

Major highways

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

Mass transit

The Blue Water Area Transit system,[17] 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 about 30 miles (48 km) south. Commuters could take an express bus traveling down I-94 and get off at the 23 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, Saint Clair and Algonac before ending up at the same stop on 23 Mile Road. This new system will help people in St. Clair County travel through Metro Detroit.

Rail

Main article: Michigan Services

Airports

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

Sarnia Chris Hadfield Airport, located across the St. Clair River in Sarnia, Ontario, offers daily service to Toronto's Lester B. Pearson International Airport operated by Air Georgian, a regional affiliate of Air Canada.

Criminal Minds

In 2009 the TV show Criminal Minds used Port Huron, and Detroit as locations for an episode involveing crossing the border into Ontario. [18] [19]

Notable people

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-11-25.
  2. 1 2 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-11-25.
  3. "Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2013-06-03.
  4. "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  5. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Port Huron, Michigan
  6. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  7. Helen Hornbeck Tanner. Atlas of Great Lakes Indian History. (Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1987) p. 165
  8. "Population of Port Huron", East Saginaw Courier, 13 October 1859, View 2, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, accessed 5 September 2014
  9. "History of St. Clair County - Port Huron Township & City". ancestry.com.
  10. Walter Romig, Michigan Place Names, p. 204
  11. "NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved February 18, 2013.
  12. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014". Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  13. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  14. "Port Huron Museum". Port Huron Museum.
  15. Carnegie Center, Port Huron Museum
  16. Local event calendar.
  17. "Blue Water Area Transit". bwbus.com.
  18. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1422241/
  19. https://dira.dreamwidth.org/tag/criminal+minds

External links

Surrounding communities

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