Port Huron, Michigan
| Port Huron, Michigan | |
|---|---|
| City | |
Young Thomas Edison, in front of the Blue Water Bridge
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| Nickname(s): Maritime Capital of the Great Lakes, Gateway to Canada | |
 Location within St. Clair county (left) and Michigan (right) |
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| Coordinates: 42°58′49″N 82°26′15″W / 42.98028°N 82.43750°WCoordinates: 42°58′49″N 82°26′15″W / 42.98028°N 82.43750°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Michigan |
| County | St. Clair |
| Incorporated | 1857 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council-Manager |
| • Mayor | Pauline Repp |
| Area | |
| • 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) | |
| • Total | 30,184 |
| • Estimate (2012) | 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 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1624839 |
| Website | porthuron.org |
Port Huron is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of St. Clair County. 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.
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.
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. By 1870, Port Huron's population exceeded that of surrounding villages. In 1871, the State Supreme Court designated Port Huron as the county seat.
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.
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