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SAULT STE MARIE, MICHIGAN - USA
Sault Ste. Marie is a city located in Chippewa County in the U.S. state of
Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 16,542.
It is the county seat of Chippewa County6. It is on the Canadian border,
separated by the St. Marys River from the city of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.
The city is the site of the Sault locks which let ships travel between Lake
Superior and the lower Great Lakes. Although not as busy as in past years, a
considerable amount of domestic and foreign commerce passes through the
locks. People come from around the world to view close up the ships passing
through the locks. The largest ships are 1,000 feet long by 105 feet wide.
Those large ships are domestic carriers (called lakers) that are too large
to transit the Welland Canal around Niagara Falls. Therefore, they're land-locked.
Foreign ships (termed salties) are smaller.
Sault Ste. Marie is home to Lake Superior
State University, located on what was once an army base.
Tourism is a major industry in what's usually referred to as the Soo. The
locks and nearby casinos are the major draws, as well as the forests, inland
lakes and Lake Superior shoreline. It's also a gateway to Lake Superior's
scenic north shore through its twin city Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. The two
cities are connected by the large International Bridge, a suspension bridge
passing over the St. Mary's River.
Ojibwa (Chippewa) Native Americans had lived at the Falls of St. Marys for
untold centuries, since they provided an excellent place to catch fish. In
1668 French missionaries Dablon and Marquette founded a mission, making the
Sault the third oldest city in the United States. The falls proved a choke
point for shipping. Early Lake Superior ships were hauled around the rapids,
much like moving a house. It took weeks. The first American locks were built
in 1855.
Transportation
Until 1984 it was the eastern terminus of the western segment of U.S. 2.
The city is the northern terminus of Interstate 75, which connects with the
Mackinac Bridge at St. Ignace 52 miles to the south. Michigan State Highway
129 also has its northern terminus in the city.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of
52.3 km˛ (20.2 mi˛). 38.4 km˛ (14.8 mi˛) of it is land and 13.9 km˛ (5.4 mi˛)
of it is water. The total area is 26.63% water.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there are 16,542 people, 5,742 households, and
3,301 families residing in the city. The population density is 431.0/km˛
(1,116.3/mi˛). There are 6,237 housing units at an average density of 162.5/km˛
(420.9/mi˛). The racial makeup of the city is 73.99% White, 6.51% African
American, 13.72% Native American, 0.65% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.47%
from other races, and 4.61% from two or more races. 1.86% of the population
are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 5,742 households out of which 28.8% have children under the age of
18 living with them, 39.9% are married couples living together, 13.2% have a
female householder with no husband present, and 42.5% are non-families.
33.8% of all households are made up of individuals and 13.3% have someone
living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is
2.28 and the average family size is 2.92.
In the city the population is spread out with 19.4% under the age of 18,
18.1% from 18 to 24, 31.9% from 25 to 44, 18.2% from 45 to 64, and 12.5% who
are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 33 years. For every 100
females there are 122.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there
are 128.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $29,652, and the median
income for a family is $40,333. Males have a median income of $29,656 versus
$21,889 for females. The per capita income for the city is $14,460. 17.5% of
the population and 12.7% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the
total people living in poverty, 19.6% are under the age of 18 and 12.5% are
65 or older.
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