Saginaw, Michigan

Saginaw is a city in Saginaw County, Michigan, United States, and it is the county seat. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 44,202 people. It is located along the Saginaw River and is next to Saginaw Charter Township. Saginaw is part of the Greater Tri-Cities region in Central Michigan.

The city was established as a fort after the Treaty of Saginaw in 1819. In the 1800s, Saginaw became well known for its lumber industry. During much of the 1900s, it was a busy industrial city, especially for making cars and car parts, mostly because of General Motors.

Like many places in the Rust Belt, Saginaw faced hard times when many factories closed. This led to fewer jobs, some problems with safety, and many people moving away. Today, Saginaw is working to grow again by focusing on new technologies, clean energy, and keeping its manufacturing skills strong. Even with these changes, Saginaw still has more manufacturing jobs than most places in the United States.

Etymology

The name Saginaw is thought to come from the Ojibwe language. Many believe it means "where the Sauk were," because people told Samuel de Champlain that the Sauk nation lived near Lake Huron. However, it is more likely that the name means "place of the outlet," referring to where a river flows out.

Champlain never visited Michigan. He heard about the Sauk from others and made a mistake on his maps, placing them on the wrong lake. This mistake stayed on maps for a long time.

History

19th century

Early history

The area that became Saginaw was first home to the Anishnabeg people. French explorers arrived in the late 1600s and met the Ojibwe living there. In 1816, Louis Campau set up a trading spot on the Saginaw River's west side. Soon after, the United States built Fort Saginaw. Campau’s spot was also lived in by Metis people.

During Michigan’s early days as a territory, Saginaw became a county and township. The lumber industry helped the town grow quickly in the 1800s. Saginaw had many sawmills and was a port for ships on the Great Lakes. Today’s Saginaw formed when East Saginaw and Saginaw City joined together in 1889.

Fort Saginaw

In 1819, Lewis Cass talked with Ojibwe leaders and got permission for the United States to settle the area. In 1820, Campau tried to move to the river’s east side but was turned away. In 1822, the United States Army built Fort Saginaw on the west side. Two army groups stayed there. Investors bought land nearby and called it the Town of Sagana. But because of harsh weather and sickness, Fort Saginaw closed by 1824.

By the late 1820s, the American Fur Company had a post in Saginaw.

Not many plots were sold, and after the army left, the town slowed down for many years. It was re-platted in 1830, stretching from Cass Street to Harrison Street. Plots sold slowly. By 1835, only 24 had sold, and the rest changed owners. Another plan was made in 1837, but the Panic of 1837 made people less interested in buying land. After selling only 58 of 407 plots, the rest was sold again in 1841.

Native Americans

Saginaw was where the government gave yearly payments to the Ojibwe and Ottawa people starting in the 1830s. This drew many French-Canadian and Euro-American traders, especially those selling diluted whiskey.

Lumber boom

The growth of Saginaw was mostly because there was a big need for lumber as the United States grew west. Michigan had lots of white pine forests. The Saginaw River made it easy to move logs to sawmills in Saginaw, where they were put on ships and trains.

On the west side of the river, the first settlement near Fort Saginaw became Saginaw and was officially a city in 1857. On the east side, East Saginaw started as a village in 1855 and became a city in 1859. South of East Saginaw, a village called Salina formed, named after the brine that helped make salt. Both Saginaw and East Saginaw became centers for railroads and river ships. Lumber making was strongest in the early 1870s but mostly gone by the late 1800s. Besides salt, which also declined, new industries like farming support and manufacturing grew.

Consolidation

On June 28, 1889, Michigan law joined Saginaw and East Saginaw into one city. Before this, Salina had already joined East Saginaw. The joining happened after electing leaders on March 12, 1890.

The city’s rules were set by the same law that joined the cities. Saginaw would be led by a city council with two aldermen from 21 wards and a mayor with limited powers. Many elected or appointed groups controlled most of the city’s work. The city government worked less well because of old fights between people, business owners, and leaders from the two old cities. Differences between Saginaw’s east and west sides continued into the 1900s and still affect the city today.

20th century

Industrialization

In the early 1900s, automobile making grew a lot in Michigan, especially in Detroit. Other cities, including Saginaw, became places that made parts for Detroit factories. In 1906, Jackson-Church-Wilcox started making steering parts under the “Jacox” name. Buick bought them in 1909, and they became part of General Motors. In 1919, they joined with other factories to make the Saginaw Steering Gear Division in 1928. General Motors and others opened factories in Saginaw for making chemicals, glass, and metal parts. This early tie to the car industry shaped the city’s future.

Before the United States joined World War II, Saginaw’s factories switched to making things for the war. They made guns, parts for military vehicles, and other weapons. Saginaw became very important for helping the Allies win. During the war, many people moved to Saginaw to work, especially from the Southern United States, increasing the city’s population. Even before the war ended, Saginaw and nearby Midland built a long water pipe from Lake Huron to supply water. Midland, Bay City, and Saginaw also worked together to build an airport, which became MBS International Airport.

Governance

In 1908, Michigan changed its rules to give more power to local governments. In 1909, the state passed a law letting cities make their own rules. In 1913, Saginaw approved new rules using a commission style of government. Five commissioners were elected and also led city departments. One served as mayor, mostly a ceremony.

In 1935, after problems with the old system, Saginaw approved new rules using a council-manager style. A city manager, chosen by a nine-member council, would run the city. This was meant to fix inefficiency and fights between different parts of the city.

Post World War II

After World War II, Michigan made it harder for cities to grow by taking land from nearby areas. Townships could offer most of the same services as cities. Saginaw chose to sell water to nearby places, which let them grow more, taking people and businesses away from the city.

21st century

Population decline

Manufacturing in Saginaw fell in the late 1900s, causing high unemployment. The city’s population dropped a lot. From 2000 to 2010, Saginaw lost nearly 10,000 people. Michigan was the only U.S. state to lose people that decade. Saginaw also faced more poverty and crime because of job losses.

Unemployment and crime

Saginaw’s economy, hurt by the Great Recession, worried many people. Fewer manufacturing jobs led to higher unemployment. Property values fell, meaning the city made less money from taxes. Unemployment peaked at 23.5% in July 2009 but fell to 9.0% by April 2015; crime also went down.

Saginaw often has high crime rates in Michigan and the United States. In 2020, the homicide rate was 50.2 per 100,000 people.

Combating blight

Job losses and fewer people led to many empty homes, which sometimes helped crime. In recent years, city leaders, police, and neighborhood groups have worked to stop this by watching problem areas and offering rewards for reporting illegal activities.

In 2013, the United States Department of the Treasury gave a grant to tear down empty homes. Saginaw got $11.2 million to help remove unwanted buildings. City leaders made a plan to buy and list empty homes to tear down. They think about 1,200 homes in the city need demolition.

Efforts to bring life back to downtown grew in 2013. A television leader from Saginaw, David Strouse, planned to save buildings at Washington and Genesee, making apartments and shops. In 2012, similar work began on Bancroft and Eddy apartments, turning old housing into new apartments and shops.

The area’s economy now focuses on innovation, clean energy, and manufacturing exports. Saginaw has more patent applications per job and many jobs in photovoltaic technology than most similar places. The city still has more manufacturing jobs than the U.S. average.

Geography

Saginaw is a city in Michigan, United States, along the Saginaw River. It covers an area of 18.10 square miles, with 17.34 square miles of land and 0.76 square miles of water. The city is part of the Saginaw Bay watershed, which is the largest in Michigan and includes a big wetland area.

The city has many different neighborhoods, such as Downtown, Old Town, and Southwest Village. Saginaw has a humid continental climate because it is not near the shore of the Great Lakes.

Demographics

Saginaw is the largest city in a bigger area called the Saginaw-Midland-Bay City, MI CSA. This area includes Saginaw, Midland, and Bay City and had over 370,000 people in 2020.

2020 census

In 2020, Saginaw had 44,202 people. The average age was 35.7 years. About one-fourth of the people were younger than 18, and almost one-seventh were 65 or older. Most people lived in towns, with only a few living in the countryside.

There were about 18,100 homes in Saginaw. More than one-third of these homes had children under 18 living in them. Less than one-quarter of the homes were made up of married couples, while almost half had a woman as the main person living there with no husband. Over one-third of homes had just one person living in them.

2010 census

In 2010, there were 51,508 people living in Saginaw. The city had many different groups of people, including African American, White, Native American, Asian, and others. About one-seventh of the people were Hispanic or Latino.

Most homes had children under 18, and less than one-third were made up of married couples. The average family size was a little more than three people.

2000 census

In 2000, Saginaw had 61,799 people. Again, the city had many different groups of people. About one-eighth of the people were Hispanic or Latino.

Families in Saginaw often had children, and many homes were led by women without husbands. The average family size was about three people. Many people in Saginaw lived below the poverty line, especially children.

Economy

For much of the 1900s, Saginaw's economy was centered around making parts for cars. The city and nearby areas had many factories, including 12 big ones owned by General Motors. These factories made important car pieces like gearboxes and steering parts.

Today, some of these old factories are still used, while others have closed down. Shopping areas around Saginaw, such as Fashion Square Mall, offer many stores and restaurants for people to enjoy.

Arts and culture

Saginaw's downtown area is a lively place for entertainment. You can find venues like The Dow Event Center and the beautiful Temple Theatre where you can watch shows and concerts. The area also has a special castle-like building that belongs to the Saginaw Historical Society. Nearby, the Saginaw Art Museum has many artworks to see and was recently updated. In Celebration Square, you can visit a real Japanese Tea House, which is the only one in Michigan, and enjoy art shows, concerts, and fairs.

Downtown Saginaw has many cozy restaurants and coffee shops. There are also old office buildings from long ago near a social club started in 1889. A big public art gallery called "The Gallery: Art For Saginaw" opened in 2016. The Downtown Farmer's Market sells fresh fruits, flowers, and baked goods from local shops.

Parks and museums

The Castle Museum of Saginaw County History is a special museum in downtown Saginaw. It looks like a castle and has over 100,000 historical items to explore.

The Andersen Enrichment Center and its lovely Rose Garden host many events like art fairs and concerts. The Saginaw Art Museum has both permanent and changing art exhibits and is linked to a big research library about Michigan art.

Saginaw has a Japanese Cultural Center with a Tea House and Garden. Because of its friendship with Tokushima, Japan, this garden was finished in 1971, and the Tea House in 1986. You can enjoy traditional Japanese tea ceremonies and learn about Japanese culture during festivals held each year.

The city is also home to the Theodore Roethke Home Museum, which celebrates the life of a famous American poet who grew up in Saginaw.

Ojibway Island in the Saginaw River has a park and an outdoor stage for performances.

Sports

Saginaw is home to exciting sports teams. The Saginaw Spirit is a junior hockey team that became famous when a TV host talked about them on his show. They even won a big championship in 2024.

There used to be an indoor football team called the Saginaw Sting, but they are not playing right now.

A new basketball team, the Saginaw Soul, will start playing in 2025.

Students at Saginaw Valley State University can play many sports, including football, basketball, and volleyball.

Government

Main article: Government of Saginaw, Michigan

See also: List of mayors of Saginaw, Michigan

Saginaw is a Home Rule City, which means it has its own rules and ways of running things. It uses a council-manager form of government. This started in 1935 and began working on January 6, 1936. The city is led by a nine-member Council that is elected by everyone in the city. Each Council member serves for four years, but not all of them are elected at the same time. This way, either four or five members are elected every odd-numbered year. The city also has special taxes for residents and nonresidents to help pay for city services.

Education

The city of Saginaw has many schools to help children learn. The Saginaw Public Schools run several elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools. Two main public high schools are Saginaw United High School and the Saginaw Arts and Sciences Academy. There is also a private high school called Michigan Lutheran Seminary, along with some charter schools.

For students who want to study after high school, there are colleges nearby. Delta College and Saginaw Valley State University are located in the nearby area of University Center, Michigan. Central Michigan University also has a center in Saginaw where students can take classes.

Media

Television stations

Saginaw is part of the Flint-Saginaw-Bay City-Midland area, which is the 66th largest television market in the United States. Saginaw is home to CBS affiliate WNEM, which has its studios and offices in the city, even though its license is for Bay City, MI. ABC affiliate WJRT has its offices and newsrooms in Saginaw, but its studios are in Flint. Only WEYI and Christian station WAQP list Saginaw as their city, but both have their facilities outside the city. Charter Communications provides cable television to the city under a special agreement.

Radio stations

Saginaw and Saginaw Township have three major radio station groups that serve the Greater Tri Cities area. These include family-owned MacDonald Broadcasting based in Saginaw, and corporate broadcasters Alpha Media and Cumulus Media. Many places in Saginaw can also pick up stations from Bay City, Midland, Flint, and Lansing.

Newspapers

• The Saginaw News—published on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
• Review Magazine—published every two weeks
• The Saginaw Press—published weekly
• The Township Times—published weekly
• The Township View—published weekly

Infrastructure

Transportation

In the past, ships traveled along the river through Saginaw, but bridges now block that route. Saginaw was an important place for trains, with lines going to many cities such as Bay City, Port Huron, Toledo, Grand Rapids, Chicago, and Ludington. Today, trains still run through Saginaw, but most passenger trains stopped in the 1950s.

Saginaw has two main airports: MBS International Airport near Freeland and Bishop International Airport in Flint. There are also smaller airports close by. The city is connected by major highways like Interstate 75 and I-675, and buses help people get around the area.

Utilities

Saginaw gets its electricity and natural gas from Consumers Energy. The city has its own water system, which gets clean water from Lake Huron through a long pipeline. This water system is shared with the nearby city of Midland.

Healthcare

Saginaw has several hospitals that help take care of people. The Aleda E. Lutz Veterans Affairs Medical Center serves veterans. Covenant Medical Center is a big hospital with many services, including emergency care. MyMichigan Medical Center Saginaw also offers many health services for the community.

In popular culture

Saginaw has been featured in many songs, poems, and TV shows. Singer Brian D'Arcy James wrote a song called "Michigan Christmas" because he grew up in Saginaw. Another song named "Saginaw, Michigan" was written by Bill Anderson and Don Wayne and performed by famous country singer Lefty Frizzell.

In a Seinfeld episode, characters Kramer and Newman plan to take bottles and cans from New York to Saginaw by mail to earn more money. Poet Theodore Roethke, born in Saginaw in 1908, wrote a poem called "The Saginaw Song". Many famous songs like "All of Me" and "It Had to Be You" were written by songwriters from Saginaw. Singer Paul Simon mentioned Saginaw in his song "America" after visiting the city.

Notable people

Main article: List of people from Saginaw, Michigan

Saginaw, Michigan, has been home to many interesting people throughout history. Some of these individuals have made important contributions in fields like entertainment, sports, and more. You can learn more about them in the list of people from Saginaw, Michigan.

Sister cities

Saginaw has several sister cities around the world. These include Amanokrom in the Akuapim North District of Ghana, Awka in Anambra, Nigeria, Cambridge in Ontario, Canada, Tokushima in the Tokushima Prefecture, Japan, and Zapopan in Jalisco, Mexico. These partnerships help cities learn from each other and work together.