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87-502: The Pere Marquette was incorporated on November 1, 1899, in anticipation of a merger of three Michigan-based railroad companies that had been agreed upon by all parties. It began operations on January 1, 1900, absorbing the following companies: The first shop facilities were inherited from the Flint and Pere Marquette in Saginaw, Michigan . However, the city of Grand Rapids, Michigan was chosen as

174-465: A fort following the 1819 Treaty of Saginaw , Saginaw was a thriving lumber town in the 19th century. It was an important industrial city and manufacturing center throughout much of the 20th century due to its automobile and automotive parts production led by General Motors . As part of the Rust Belt , its industry and strong manufacturing presence declined, leading to increased unemployment, crime, and

261-402: A hand-written schedule on unlined paper whose columns did not line up, and was misread by the freight crew. The Interstate Commerce Commission investigation also cited safety violations, including use of pine instead of oak for car walls and the omission of steel plates required for mail cars. This was Michigan's worst rail disaster. The Pere Marquette operated a number of rail car ferries on

348-464: A mainly ceremonial executive mayor who was to have fairly weak powers. This was to be, as numerous other elected officials, along with elected or appointed boards, controlled much of the administrative and executive functions of government. The efficient and cohesive functioning of the Saginaw city government also was constrained by remaining rivalries between residents, business owners, and politicians from

435-508: A male householder with no wife present, and 38.1% were non-families. 32.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.19. The median age in the city was 33.5 years. 28.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 10.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.1% were from 25 to 44; 25% were from 45 to 64; and 10.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of

522-515: A massive renovation. The Celebration Square area of downtown boasts an authentic Japanese Tea House, the only one of its kind in Michigan. The Andersen Enrichment Center and Rose Gardens are another attraction in Celebration Square offering ongoing art exhibits, a summer jazz concert series, and winter and summer art fairs. Numerous other arts and cultural organizations serve the community including

609-476: A new Michigan state constitution was adopted. The new Michigan state constitution mandated increased home rule powers for local units of government, and the Michigan state legislature enacted the Home Rule Cities Act in 1909. Under this statute , cities were permitted to frame and adopt their own city charters and were given great flexibility in structuring their local governments. The government, under

696-642: A new owner, who made another plat in February 1837. However, the financial crisis of the Panic of 1837 dampened interest in purchasing properties. After selling only 58 of the 407 plots, the remainder was sold again in 1841. Saginaw was the location of the annual government payment to the Ojibwe and Ottawa of the area, starting in the 1830s. This also attracted many French-Canadian and Euro-American merchants, primarily involved in selling watered down whiskey. The main cause for

783-485: A policy of "No annexation, no water," Saginaw chose to sell water to neighboring communities under long-term contracts. This allowed the townships to further develop at the expense of the city, the limits of which changed little after consolidation in 1889–90. The unintended consequence of this choice was that Saginaw's population stopped growing, new housing development focused on the suburban townships, and businesses eventually followed. Manufacturing in Saginaw declined in

870-501: A population decline. Modern economic development is focused on comparative advantages in innovation, clean energy, and continued manufacturing exports. However, the city continues to have a higher proportion of manufacturing jobs than the U.S. average. The name Saginaw is widely believed to mean "where the Sauk were" in Ojibwe , from Sace-nong or Sak-e-nong (Sauk Town), due to the belief that

957-508: A port for Great Lakes vessels. What is now the city of Saginaw resulted from the consolidation of the cities of East Saginaw and Saginaw City (West Side) in 1889. In 1819, Lewis Cass , in the Treaty of Saginaw , negotiated the prerogative for the United States to own and settle the area with the leaders of the Ojibwe . In 1820, Campau attempted to expand across to the east bank of the river but

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1044-459: A program to purchase unwanted, abandoned structures from their owners, which would be then added to a list of homes to tear down. Officials estimate that there were nearly 1,200 homes within the city limits worthy of demolition. Efforts to revitalize downtown increased in 2013. CBS television executive and Saginaw native David Strouse announced an investment plan in late 2013 that would save nearly an entire block of buildings slated for demolition at

1131-608: A result of its high rate of unemployment. The crime rate has been a major area of concern for the community. Saginaw's economic conditions, compounded by the Great Recession , are a significant area of concern for the city's residents. The decline in manufacturing jobs has resulted in higher than average rates of unemployment. Property values in the city have declined, decreasing the amount the city government collects in property taxes. Unemployment in Saginaw peaked in July 2009, according to

1218-441: A single city. Prior to this consolidation, the nearby village of Salina had already become part of East Saginaw. The consolidation of Saginaw became effective with the election of officers on March 12, 1890. The provisions of the city charter were established by the same act of the legislature that provided for the consolidation. Saginaw was to be governed by a city council consisting of two aldermen elected from 21 wards and

1305-475: A single officer, the city manager , who was appointed by, and accountable to a city council of nine members elected as a group by the entire city at-large. The system was designed to address two principal issues with Saginaw's history of municipal government, the inefficiency and politics associated with having executive and administrative authority spread among many different officers and boards, and political rivalries and friction between various geographic areas of

1392-474: A trading post on the west bank of the Saginaw River. Shortly thereafter the United States established Fort Saginaw. Campau's trading post was also inhabited by Metis. During Michigan's territorial period, a county and township government were organized at Saginaw. Growth of the settlement was fueled rapidly during the 19th century by the lumber industry. Saginaw was the site of numerous sawmills and served as

1479-480: A two-story wood-framed house on their farm. After the organization of Mason County in 1855, the first floor of this building was converted into the county's first courthouse . Restored in 1976 by the Mason County Historical Society , the structure stands today as a part of White Pine Village, a museum consisting of several restored and replica Mason County buildings (see external links). The town

1566-527: Is a city in and the seat of Saginaw County, Michigan , United States. It had a population of 44,202 at the 2020 census . Located along the Saginaw River , Saginaw is adjacent to Saginaw Charter Township and considered part of Greater Tri-Cities region of Central Michigan . The Saginaw metropolitan area had a population of 190,124 in 2020, while the Tri-Cities area had 377,474 residents. Established as

1653-533: Is also home to the Theodore Roethke Home Museum, a National Literary Landmark. The museum honors one of America's greatest 20th-century poets, who was born and raised in Saginaw. Ludington, Michigan Ludington ( / ˈ l ʌ d ɪ ŋ t ən / LUH -ding-tən ) is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan . It is the county seat and the largest city in Mason County . The population

1740-500: Is at the end of the north pierhead on Lake Michigan. Ludington is part of Northern Michigan . Ludington has a humid continental climate ( Köppen Dfb ) bordering on the hot-summer subtype Dfa seen further south in Michigan. Winters are cold and snowy, and summers too are moderated by Lake Michigan , with the record high being below 100 °F (38 °C). All four highways in Mason County go through, or near Ludington. As of

1827-606: Is considered to be one of the ten most authentic Tea Houses outside the country of Japan. The site is open from April through October and offers traditional tea ceremonies by appointment, and on the second Saturday of each month. Each year in September a Japan Festival is held in the garden, featuring authentic Japanese singers, dancers, and performers, and offering demonstrations of Japanese Culture to those in attendance, including flower arranging, calligraphy, origami, and authentic Japanese cuisine, such as sushi and other dishes. The city

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1914-600: Is in western Mason County, on the east shore of Lake Michigan and north shore of its inlet, Pere Marquette Lake. It is 58 miles (93 km) north of Muskegon , 25 miles (40 km) south of Manistee, Michigan , and 50 miles (80 km) west of Reed City . According to the United States Census Bureau , Ludington has a total area of 3.61 square miles (9.35 km ), of which 3.36 square miles (8.70 km ) are land and 0.25 square miles (0.65 km ), or 6.80%, are water. The Ludington North Breakwall Light

2001-700: Is used to host private and public events throughout the year. These events include Hollyday Art Fair, Art & Garden Festival, the SAWA Fall Watercolor Exhibition, Jazz in the Rose Garden and Art @ the Andersen and a World AIDS Day service The garden includes a fountain with a sculpture by Marshall Fredericks . The Saginaw Art Museum hosts temporary exhibitions and permanent collections. The museum also houses The John and Michele Bueker Research Library and Archives of Michigan Art. The museum originated as

2088-531: The Pere Marquette . The train in the 2004 film The Polar Express was modeled after steam locomotive Pere Marquette 1225 . The film also included audio recordings of the locomotive in operation. It is the locomotive that Chris Van Allsburg said was the inspiration for the book, having seen it as a child when it was on the Michigan State University campus. The locomotive was scheduled to be at

2175-492: The 2010 census , there were 8,076 people, 3,549 households, and 2,004 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,396.4 inhabitants per square mile (925.3/km ). There were 4,432 housing units at an average density of 1,315.1 per square mile (507.8/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 92.2% White , 1.1% African American , 1.4% Native American , 0.6% Asian , 2.0% from other races , and 2.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.3% of

2262-524: The American Fur Company was operating a post at Saginaw. Few plots were sold and after the U.S. Army pulled out, the town languished for most of the following decade. The town was re-platted in December 1830, comprising riverfront from Cass Street, on the south, to Harrison Street, and north to Jefferson. These plots sold slowly. By 1835, only 24 plots had been sold and the remainder were transferred to

2349-474: The Detroit and St. Clair rivers and on Lake Erie and Lake Michigan . The PM's fleet of car ferries, which operated on Lake Michigan from Ludington, Michigan , to Milwaukee , Kewaunee , and Manitowoc, Wisconsin (see SS Badger ), were an important transportation link avoiding the terminal and interchange delays around the southern tip of Lake Michigan and through Chicago. Their superintendent for over 30 years

2436-510: The Saginaw Sting , an indoor football team. Downtown Saginaw has undergone a resurgence with locally-owned restaurants and coffee shops dotting the area. The downtown Saginaw area contains several office buildings from the late 19th century and early 20th century. They are located near the Saginaw Club, a social club founded in 1889. In December 2016 "The Gallery: Art For Saginaw" opened in

2523-607: The Saginaw-Saginaw Township North (Saginaw County), Midland ( Midland County ), and Bay City ( Bay County ) metropolitan areas, which had a combined population of 377,474 at the 2020 census . As of the census of 2010, there were 51,508 people, 19,799 households, and 12,252 families residing in the city (excludes townships). The population density was 2,970.5 inhabitants per square mile (1,146.9/km ). There were 23,574 housing units at an average density of 1,359.5 per square mile (524.9/km ). The racial makeup of

2610-524: The U.S. Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 18.10 square miles (46.88 km ), of which, 17.34 square miles (44.91 km ) is land and 0.76 square miles (1.97 km ) is water. Saginaw lies on the Saginaw River , 15 miles (24 km) inland from the Saginaw Bay , an arm of Lake Huron . The city sits in the middle of the Saginaw Bay watershed, the largest in the state of Michigan. It includes

2697-633: The United States Department of the Treasury approving a grant to demolish vacant and abandoned properties via the Michigan State Housing Development Authority. The $ 100 million grant contained $ 11.2 million set aside for Saginaw, with Detroit receiving $ 52.3 million, Flint $ 20.1 million, Pontiac $ 3.7 million, and the final $ 2.5 million going to Grand Rapids . After the grant's approval, Saginaw city officials announced

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2784-483: The 1889 charter, had continued to be inefficient and provided for much political infighting. In 1913, a new city charter was adopted with voter approval and which followed a commission form of city government that had gained in popular interest among various cities across the United States in the early 20th century. The new government consisted of five commissioners, each elected separately at-large , who served both as

2871-713: The 1970s and finally removed completely by CSX by 1984. The company was reincorporated on March 12, 1917, as the Pere Marquette Railway . In the 1920s the Pere Marquette came under the control of Cleveland financiers Oris and Mantis Van Sweringen . These brothers also controlled the New York, Chicago & St. Louis Railroad (Nickel Plate), the Erie Railroad and the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway , and planned to merge

2958-708: The Army thought possible, armor-piercing shells for anti-tank use, and more than half a million M1 carbine rifles for the US military during World War II, the "Gun Plant" that later became Steering Gear Plant 2. Saginaw Steering Gear's Plant   1 also began wartime production in 1941, concentrating on ball screws that would eventually be used in the wing flaps of the Boeing B-29 Superfortress . Malleable Iron converted its production of Armasteel from engine components to gun parts and tank treads, while Grey Iron specialized in

3045-450: The Bureau of Labor Statistics, standing at 23.5%. The unemployment rate dropped to 9.0% as of April 2015; crime has decreased as unemployment has decreased. Saginaw consistently ranks as having one of the highest crime rates in both Michigan and the United States at large. In 2020, Saginaw had a homicide rate of 50.2 per 100,000 people, narrowly surpassing Detroit's rate (49.7) and dwarfing

3132-558: The Goodrich Line of Steamers to handle the break bulk freight out of the Port of Ludington. In 1897, the F&;PM railroad constructed the first steel car ferry, the Pere Marquette . This was the beginning of the creation of a fleet of ferries to continue the rail cargo across Lake Michigan to Manitowoc, Wisconsin . The fleet was later expanded to carry cars and passengers across the lake. By

3219-611: The Jackson-Church-Wilcox Company began as a partnership in 1906 for producing steering gear under the "Jacox" brand. Jackson-Church-Wilcox was acquired by Buick in 1909, and as part of General Motors became the Jackson, Church and Wilcox Division, the first GM division devoted to parts production. In 1919 the Jacox division was merged with Saginaw Malleable Iron and Central Foundry into GM's Saginaw Products Company . This formed

3306-563: The Ludington sawmills. With all of this commerce occurring, Ludington became a major Great Lakes shipping port. In 1875, the Flint and Pere Marquette Railroad (F&PM) began cross-lake shipping operations with the sidewheel steamer SS John Sherman . It became apparent quite early that the John Sherman was not large enough to handle the volume of freight, and the F&PM Railroad contracted with

3393-685: The Saginaw Arts & Enrichment Commission, Eddy Band, Holidays in the Heart of the City, River Junction Poets, Theodore Roethke House of Poetry, Riverside Film Festival, Lawn Chair Film Festival, Friday Night Live Concerts, River Junction Poets and Saginaw Area Watercolor Society. The Dow Event Center is home to the city's junior ice hockey team, the Saginaw Spirit of the Ontario Hockey League as well as

3480-481: The Saginaw River. Lumber production peaked by the early 1870s, but had virtually disappeared by the end of the 19th century. In addition to salt production, which experienced an eventual decline as well, growing industries, such as those supporting the area's agriculture and manufacturing, developed. On June 28, 1889, the Michigan state legislature passed Act 455 to consolidate the cities of Saginaw and East Saginaw into

3567-458: The Sauk once lived there. But it is more likely that the name means "place of the outlet", from the Ojibwe sag (opening) and ong (place of). When Natives told Samuel de Champlain that the Sauk nation was on the western shore of Lake Michigan , Champlain mistakenly placed them on the western shore of Lake Huron . This mistake was copied on subsequent maps, and future references identified this as

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3654-603: The State and National Rates (7.6 and 6.5, respectively). Unemployment and population loss in the late 20th and early 21st centuries has led to urban decay , specifically a rise in abandoned homes that provided locations for criminal activity. In recent years, city officials, law enforcement, and neighborhood watch associations have made progress in preventing this activity by heavily patrolling target areas and offering rewards for reporting illegal or suspicious activities. Efforts to reduce blight in Saginaw increased greatly in 2013, with

3741-448: The United States entered World War II , Saginaw's industrial complex became directed towards military production. Turning its efforts to the production of munitions , ordnance and components for military vehicles made Saginaw a significant contributor to the Allies' victory. Saginaw was home to a production facility that produced .30 caliber machine guns more quickly and at lower cost than

3828-421: The age of 18 living with them, 42.2% were married couples living together, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.3% were non-families. 36.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.88. In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.0% under

3915-460: The age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 19.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.3 males. The median income for a household in the city was $ 28,089, and the median income for a family was $ 36,333. Males had a median income of $ 31,970 versus $ 22,809 for females. The per capita income for

4002-421: The air. The Ludington Daily News has been serving the Ludington area from its location on N. Rath Avenue since the 1880s. The Daily News website records over 4,000 visitors each day. Students in Ludington attend Ludington Area Schools . Students attend Ludington Elementary School (grades PreK-5), O.J. DeJonge Middle School (grades 6-8), and Ludington High School (grades 9-12). Ludington's teams are known as

4089-404: The automotive industry; most notably, manual transmission assemblies, steering gear boxes and power steering pumps. At the height of manufacturing in the 1960s and 1970s, the city and neighboring Buena Vista Township hosted 12 General Motors plants, an Eaton Manufacturing plant (demolished 2008) where 5,000 people produced auto parts, and numerous smaller concerns. The General Motors plants in

4176-403: The average family size was 3.23. In the city, the population was spread out, with 31.6% under the age of 18, 9.9% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 18.7% from 45 to 64, and 11.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.0 males. The median income for a household in the city

4263-474: The basis for the Saginaw Steering Gear Division, created in 1928. General Motors and other manufacturers established foundries and other automobile-related manufacturing facilities in Saginaw, for the production of chemicals and plate glass, as well as metal fabrication. This early development of a symbiotic relationship with the auto industry set the course for the future of the city. Before

4350-422: The city council and as the executive heads of various city government departments. One of the commissioners served as the mayor, which was a mostly ceremonial role. The 1913 city charter was followed for little more than two decades when the voters of the city again adopted another new city charter in 1935 following the council-manager form of government . The government under the 1913 city charter retained some of

4437-742: The city was $ 17,215. About 12.9% of families and 16.3% of the population were below the poverty line , including 27.7% of those under age 18 and 8.0% of those age 65 or over. Just south of Ludington is the Ludington Pumped Storage Power Plant , which generates pumped storage hydroelectricity . In town, there are Whitehall Industries , a division of the UACJ group ( aluminum extrusion and aluminum fabrication ), Occidental Petroleum Corporation (manufacturer of calcium chloride products), Great Lakes Castings Corporation, Amptech, Inc., and Carrom Company. The Fitch Four Drive Tractor Company

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4524-423: The city was 46.1% African American , 43.5% White , 0.5% Native American , 0.3% Asian , 5.2% from other races , and 4.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 14.3% of the population. There were 19,799 households, of which 36.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 26.9% were married couples living together, 28.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.3% had

4611-605: The city was 47.1% male and 52.9% female. As of the census of 2000, there were 61,799 people, 23,182 households, and 15,114 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,542.9 inhabitants per square mile (1,367.9/km ). There were 25,639 housing units at an average density of 1,469.9 per square mile (567.5/km ). The racial makeup of the city (excluding townships) was 47.02% White , 43.26% African American , 0.49% Native American , 0.33% Asian , 0.02% Pacific Islander , 5.86% from other races , and 3.03% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.75% of

4698-532: The city's infrastructure. In 1947, Saginaw and the nearby city of Midland constructed a 65-mile-long (105 km) water supply pipeline drawing water from Whitestone Point in Lake Huron to meet the anticipated needs of the communities. In addition, the cities of Midland and Bay City joined with Saginaw to develop and operate an airport on the site of a former POW camp in nearby Tittabawassee Township , which eventually became MBS International Airport . In 1908,

4785-494: The city, mainly the east side and the west side. In the years following World War II , the Michigan state legislature enacted laws making it increasingly difficult for incorporated cities to expand by annexing territory from neighboring townships. Townships, which had historically served an agrarian, smaller population than that of larger cities, were given the ability to provide nearly all the same services an incorporated city could. Although Midland pursued (and continues to pursue)

4872-481: The city. The population density was 2,482.2 inhabitants per square mile (958.4/km ). There were 4,227 housing units at an average density of 1,255.5 per square mile (484.8/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 95.0% White , 1.0% African American , 0.9% Native American , 0.2% Asian , 1.1% from other races , and 1.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.2% of the population. There were 3,690 households, out of which 28.0% had children under

4959-499: The county were: The Saginaw metropolitan area's main shopping district is located in neighboring Saginaw Township along Bay Road and Tittabawassee Road north of town, where several big box stores and regional restaurant chains can be found. Also in the same area is Fashion Square Mall , a regional shopping mall anchored by JCPenney and Macy's . Primary areas within the city of Saginaw for consumer shopping include Old Town and downtown. Saginaw's entertainment hub can be found in

5046-483: The distress call and sped to assist the distressed vessel. Shortly after SS Pere Marquette 17 arrived, the Pere Marquette 18 sank, resulting in the loss of 29 out of 62 total people onboard. The location of the wreck was unknown until July 23, 2020 when shipwreck hunters Ken Merryman and Jerry Eliason confirmed the location using sonar and drop cameras at a depth of approximately 500 feet (152 meters). Saginaw, Michigan Saginaw ( / ˈ s æ ɡ ɪ n ɔː / )

5133-588: The downtown area, where venues such as The Dow Event Center and the restored Temple Theatre offer live entertainment. The Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra and Saginaw Choral Society are housed in the Temple and each of these organizations performs a full concert series annually at the Temple venue. The Saginaw Historical Society is also located downtown in an elaborate castle. Nearby, the Saginaw Art Museum boasts an impressive permanent collection and recently underwent

5220-473: The former two cities. The distinctions and rivalries between Saginaw's east side and west side persisted into the 20th century in various forms, and continues to influence Saginaw's social, political, economic landscape, even into the 2010s. In the early 20th century, automobile production proliferated throughout Michigan, but most notably in Detroit . Other Michigan cities became suppliers to Detroit factories, sometimes with factories of their own. In Saginaw,

5307-417: The founding and subsequent development of Saginaw was the large demand for lumber as the United States expanded westward. A virgin growth forest principally consisting of white pine trees covered most of Michigan. The convenient access to transportation provided by the Saginaw River and its numerous tributaries fueled a massive expansion in population and economic activity. As the trees were being cut down in

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5394-676: The four companies. However, the ICC did not approve the merger and the Van Sweringens eventually sold their interest in the Pere Marquette to the C&;O in 1929. The company continued to operate separately as the Pere Marquette Railway until being fully merged into the C&O on June 6, 1947. Forty years later, the C&O was absorbed into CSX Transportation . In 1984, Amtrak named its passenger train between Chicago and Grand Rapids, Michigan ,

5481-424: The home of C.L. Ring who commissioned Charles A. Platt to design the house and gardens. The museum opened to the public in 1948. The museum is a Smithsonian Institution affiliate. Saginaw is home to a Japanese Cultural Center, Tea House and Garden, as a result of its 52-year Sister-City relationship with Tokushima, Japan. The Garden was completed in 1971. The Tea House, known as Saginaw Awa An, completed in 1986,

5568-513: The independent boards that were given authority independent of the elected city commissioners. This caused some inefficiency and political friction. The economic consequences of the Great Depression during the 1930s provided the final catalyst for municipal government reform. In contrast to the previous government structures, the 1935 charter, having taken effect in 1936, provided for all administration of city government to be headed directly by

5655-521: The intersection of Washington and Genesee, the core of downtown Saginaw. The plan called for the renovation and redevelopment of four buildings, creating market-rate apartments on the upper floors and retail space at ground level. In 2012 a similar deal was made for the Bancroft and Eddy apartments at the same intersection. Once Section   8 housing, these buildings are being transformed into market-rate apartments and retail space. Economic development in

5742-529: The largest contiguous fresh-water coastal wetland in the United States. The City of Saginaw consists of many diverse neighborhoods, including: Saginaw has a humid continental climate influenced by its inland position not on the shore of one of the Great Lakes of Michigan. Saginaw is the largest principal city of the Saginaw-Midland-Bay City, MI CSA , a Combined Statistical Area that includes

5829-438: The latter half of the 20th century, leading to high unemployment in the city. As a result, the city's population diminished dramatically. From 2000 to 2010, the population of Saginaw proper decreased by nearly 10,000. Michigan's population during that period decreased by 0.6% percent, the only U.S. state to lose population during the decade of the 2000s. In addition, Saginaw has faced increasing social problems relating to poverty as

5916-567: The mid-1950s, Ludington had become the largest car ferry port in the world. Unfortunately, due to disuse and declining industry, the fleet eventually dwindled. Currently only one carferry, the SS Badger , makes regular trips across the lake from Ludington, one of only two lake-crossing car ferries on Lake Michigan. During the late 1910s and early 1920s, Ludington was the home of the Ludington Mariners minor league baseball team. Ludington

6003-650: The newly redeveloped downtown. At roughly 5,000 square feet it is one of the largest public art galleries in Michigan. The Downtown Farmer's Market offers Michigan produce, flowers, and baked goods from local bakeries and will be moving to an indoor permanent location in 2017. Downtown is not to be confused with the Old Town/West Side City area located on the other side of the river and about one mile (1.6 km) southwest. Old Town has many popular bars, locally owned restaurants, and businesses. The city's roster of local arts organizations includes Pit and Balcony, one of

6090-702: The oldest continuously operating community theaters in the United States, founded in 1932. The Castle Museum of Saginaw County History is an important and prominent museum in downtown Saginaw. The museum is housed in a former post office which was built to resemble a castle, and pays homage to the historical French heritage of the area. With more than 100,000 artifacts in its collection, the Historical Society of Saginaw County displays items from their collection as well as those of traveling exhibits. The Andersen Enrichment Center and Lucille E. Andersen Memorial Rose Garden are part of Saginaw's park system. The facility

6177-536: The place of the Sauks. Champlain himself never visited what is now Michigan. The site of what later became the city of Saginaw was originally inhabited by the Anishnabeg . French missionaries and traders first appeared in the area during the late 17th century and encountered the Ojibwe (Chippewa) living in the area. The first permanent settlement by those other than Native Americans was in 1816 when Louis Campau established

6264-409: The population. There were 23,182 households, out of which 35.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.9% were married couples living together, 27.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.8% were non-families. 29.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and

6351-442: The population. There were 3,549 households, of which 26.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.8% were married couples living together, 13.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 43.5% were non-families. 37.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size

6438-594: The premiere in Grand Rapids, where the writer was born, but was canceled because of interferences with the schedule of CSX. It is now housed and maintained at the Steam Railroading Institute in Owosso, Michigan . On July 20, 1907, an excursion train carrying 800 passengers from Ionia to Detroit collided near Salem with a freight train, killing 31 and injuring 101. The accident apparently happened because of

6525-469: The primary repair facility for rolling stock in 1905, which became known as the Wyoming Shops after the neighborhood in which they were located. Wyoming Yard was one of the system's primary freight classification yards. The shops were renovated and expanded in 1923 after those of Saginaw were downgraded, and converted to service diesel engines in 1946. The massive roundhouse began to be slowly demolished in

6612-580: The production of magnesium for use in Pratt & Whitney aeroplane engines. Migration from across the country, particularly from the Southern United States , drastically increased Saginaw's population during the war years and through the 1950s. This population growth included the expanded presence of African Americans and Latinos in Saginaw. Even before the end of the war, the needs of Saginaw's growth became clear, and were met by significant investment in

6699-422: The region is focused on comparative advantages in innovation, clean energy, and continued manufacturing exports. Compared to other mid-sized communities, Saginaw has a high number of patent applications per job, and more than 81 times the average US share of jobs in photovoltaic technology research and production. The city continues to have a higher proportion of manufacturing jobs than the US average. According to

6786-470: The region, logs were floated down the rivers to sawmills located in Saginaw, destined to be loaded onto ships and later railroad cars. Multiple settlements comprise present-day Saginaw. On the west side of the river the first settlement around what had been Fort Saginaw developed into Saginaw, which was incorporated as a city in 1857, containing the seat of the Saginaw County government. On the east side of

6873-427: The river a parallel settlement, East Saginaw, developed which was incorporated first as a village in 1855, and then as a city in 1859. Also south of East Saginaw, on the east bank of the river, the village of Salina formed. Salina's name relates to the brine that led to a growing industry of salt production in the area. Both Saginaw and East Saginaw quickly became a hub for railroad transportation in addition to ships on

6960-499: Was William L. Mercereau . On September 10, 1910, the SS Pere Marquette No. 18 was bound for Milwaukee from Ludington, Michigan , with a load of 29 railroad freight cars and 62 people on board. Near midnight, the vessel began to take on massive amounts of water. The captain dumped nine railroad cars into Lake Michigan in a failed attempt to prevent the ship from sinking. The SS Pere Marquette 17, traveling nearby, picked up

7047-427: Was $ 26,485, and the median income for a family was $ 29,945. Males had a median income of $ 31,614 versus $ 22,714 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 13,816. About 24.7% of families and 28.5% of the population were below the poverty line , including 40.2% of those under age 18 and 16.3% of those age 65 and over. During much of the 20th century, Saginaw's economy was dominated by manufacturing related to

7134-433: Was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.87. The median age in the city was 43 years. 21.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.7% were from 25 to 44; 26.7% were from 45 to 64; and 21.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 45.8% male and 54.2% female. As of the 2000 census , there were 8,357 people, 3,690 households, and 2,166 families residing in

7221-628: Was 7,655 at the 2020 census . The city is located at the mouth of the Pere Marquette River at Lake Michigan . Nearby are Ludington State Park (which includes the Big Sable Point Light ), Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness , and Manistee National Forest . Ludington is the home port of the SS Badger , a vehicle and passenger ferry with daily service in the summer across Lake Michigan to Manitowoc, Wisconsin . In 1675, Father Jacques Marquette , French missionary and explorer, died and

7308-518: Was founded in Ludington. FloraCraft, Great Lakes Castings, and Brill are also three big factories there. Whitehall Industries has three manufacturing facilities in Ludington. Ludington is home to four radio stations and one newspaper. The original radio station was WKLA , which continues today with a talk radio format at 1450 AM. In the 1970s, WKLA-FM ( Adult Contemporary ) and WKZC -FM ( Country , licensed to nearby Scottville ) were added. In 1999, WMOM-FM ( Top 40 , licensed to Pentwater ) signed on

7395-476: Was laid to rest near the modern site of Ludington. A memorial and 40-foot (12 m) iron cross were built in 1955 to mark the location. In 1845, Burr Caswell moved to the area near the mouth of the Pere Marquette River as a location for trapping and fishing. In July 1847, when he brought his family to live there, they became the first permanent residents of European ancestry. Two years later they built

7482-566: Was originally named Pere Marquette , then later named after the industrialist James Ludington , whose logging operations the village developed around. Ludington was incorporated as a city in 1873, the same year that the county seat was moved from the village of Lincoln to the city of Ludington. The area's population boom in the late 19th century was due to these sawmills and also the discovery of salt deposits. By 1892, 162 million board feet (382,000 cubic metres or 13,500,000 cubic feet) of lumber and 52 million wood shingles had been produced by

7569-524: Was rejected by the Chippewas. In 1822, the United States Army established a fort on the west bank of the Saginaw River and named it Fort Saginaw. Two companies were stationed at the fort. A group of investors purchased some land near the fort and had it platted under the name, Town of Sagana. Due to the extremely harsh seasons and illnesses, Fort Saginaw was abandoned by 1824. By the late 1820s,

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