Sturgis is a city in
St. Joseph County in the
U.S. state
In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its sove ...
of
Michigan
Michigan () is a U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest, upper Midwestern United States. With a population of nearly 10.12 million and an area of nearly , Michigan is the List of U.S. states and ...
. The population was 10,994 at the
2010 census. The city is located at the northeast corner of
Sturgis Township and at the intersection of
US 12
U.S. Route 12 (US 12) is an east–west United States highway, running from Aberdeen, Washington, to Detroit, Michigan, for almost . The highway has mostly been superseded by Interstate 90 (I-90) and I-94, but unlike most U.S. routes that ...
and
M-66. Sturgis is just north of the Michigan–Indiana border and the
I-80/90 Indiana Toll Road.
Sturgis has been assigned a
ZIP code of 49091.
Geography
Sturgis is located at .
According to the
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of t ...
, the city has a total area of , all land.
Transportation
Major highways
* runs east and west through the city.
* runs north and south through the city.
* has an exit within three miles of Sturgis.
Airport
The City owns and operates Kirsch Municipal Airport (KIRS), which is located in northeast corner of the City. Kirsch Municipal is a general aviation airport and features two runways; the primary runway is 5,200 feet long with a secondary, crosswind runway 3,457 feet long.
Railroad
Sturgis is served by Michigan Southern Railroad Company for commercial rail service.
The historic Sturgis Train Depot, built in 1895, is one of the oldest train depots in West Michigan. In 2014, it was moved across town and is now being renovated to become the home of the Sturgis Historical Museum.
History
Founding of the community
![Carnegie Library Sturgis MI](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a6/Carnegie_Library_Sturgis_MI.jpg)
In 1827, Judge John Sturgis came to the St. Joseph Valley area in southern Michigan
territory
A territory is an area of land, sea, or space, particularly belonging or connected to a country, person, or animal.
In international politics, a territory is usually either the total area from which a state may extract power resources or a ...
and settled in what is now Sturgis. The original site of his home can be seen at Pioneer Park, maintained by the City of Sturgis. Legend has it that Sturgis was chosen as the town's name because Mrs. John Sturgis baked a pan of biscuits and sent them to a surveying party near their cabin. Lewis Cass, who later became governor, was part of that surveying party. When the time came to name the town, Governor Cass remembered the biscuits and was insistent that the town be named Sturgis. In 1896, Sturgis officially became a city.
Sturgis: the "Electric City"
Sturgis is known as the "Electric City" due to its municipal electric utility and
hydroelectric dam
A dam is a barrier that stops or restricts the flow of surface water or underground streams. Reservoirs created by dams not only suppress floods but also provide water for activities such as irrigation, human consumption, industrial use ...
, which date back to the early days of the community. The City-owned electric department has served the Sturgis area since the city's inception in 1896. In 1909, the City of Sturgis approved construction of a hydroelectric dam on the
St. Joseph River near
Centreville, Michigan. The dam began operation on September 3, 1911, and continues to serve the community. In 2011, the City celebrated the centennial of the Dam as part of "Sturgis Dam Days."
Sister City
Sturgis is a Sister City to
Wiesloch
Wiesloch (, locally ; South Franconian: ''Wissloch''), is a town in northern Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated 13 kilometres south of Heidelberg.
After Weinheim, Sinsheim and Leimen it is the fourth largest town in the Rhein-Neckar-Kre ...
,
Germany
Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...
. In 1966, the cities of Wiesloch and Sturgis decided to form a Sister City partnership that grew out of President Eisenhower's
People-to-People program which was formed to increase cultural awareness and promote friendship. In 1967 Wiesloch formally began the cultural exchange by sending a community choir to Sturgis. In 1969 Sturgis reciprocated, sending its community choir to Wiesloch. In 1977, the exchange program was expanded to include students, who each year spend three weeks in their partner's home. In 1989 a Sturgis teacher worked in Wiesloch as part of the Sister City program. This teacher exchange continues periodically as teachers from Wiesloch work in Sturgis and vice versa.
In 2016, Sturgis and Wiesloch celebrated the 50th Anniversary of their Sister City partnership.
Kickoff city for Michigan Week
For many years, in the third week of May, Sturgis served as the kickoff city for Michigan Week, a statewide celebration. Many prominent political figures walked in the parade annually. These included State Representatives and State Senators as well as the 6th District
U.S. Representative
The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they c ...
and periodically the
Governor of Michigan. With statewide celebration of Michigan Week waning, in 2010, Sturgis ended the tradition of holding the Michigan Week Kick-Off, opting to celebrate Sturgis Dam Days in June. Sturgis Dam Days was held in honor of the hydroelectric dam. The 100-year anniversary of the Sturgis Dam was celebrated at the Sturgis Dam Days in 2011. In 2012, the Sturgis community began celebrating Sturgis Fest during the last week in June.
Sturgis Rail Depot
On June 23–24, 2014, the historic Sturgis Rail Depot was moved from its location on West Main & N. Clay Streets to a more central location on W. Chicago Road.
The 120-year-old building, featuring masonry walls up to 2 feet thick and weighing 304 tons, was moved by Wolfe House & Building Movers.
The building was elevated by a Unified Jacking System and mounted on the Buckingham Dolly System for the quarter of a mile move across town.
The Depot underwent renovations to be used as a museum by the Sturgis Historical Society.
Abbott plant for infant formula
Abbott Laboratories produces
infant formula
Infant formula, baby formula, or simply formula (American English); or baby milk, infant milk or first milk (British English), is a manufactured food designed and marketed for feeding to babies and infants under 12 months of age, usually prepar ...
at a plant in Sturgis. In February 2022, the plant was shut down due to bacteria in some of the infant formula produced there, which led to a nationwide shortage. The plant resumed production in June 2022 after receiving FDA clearance, first making specialty formula for infants with special dietary needs. The operations at the plant were a focus of an investigation launched by the
House Oversight Committee
The Committee on Oversight and Reform is the main investigative committee of the United States House of Representatives.
The committee's broad jurisdiction and legislative authority make it one of the most influential and powerful panels in the ...
.
Government
The City of Sturgis is a
Council-Manager Form of government with a nine-member City Commission. The City is divided into four precincts and two members of the Commission are elected from each precinct with one member elected from the City at large. Members elected from precincts serve a term of four years while the member at large serves a two-year term. Each year in November the Commission nominates one of its members as Mayor and another as Vice-Mayor. The current Mayor is Jeff Mullins and the current Vice-Mayor is Aaron Miller.
The City Commission is the legislative body, responsible for the passage of municipal ordinances and the overall direction of City. The City Commission appoints a professional City Manager, who manages the day-to-day operations of the City, as well as the City Attorney, City Assessor, City Treasurer, and City Clerk. The Commission sets policy to be carried out by the City Manager and City staff.
Demographics
2010 census
As of the
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses in ...
of 2010, there were 10,994 people, 4,088 households, and 2,632 families residing in the city. The
population density
Population density (in agriculture: Stock (disambiguation), standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical ...
was . There were 4,595 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 73.6%
White
White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White o ...
, 1.4%
African American
African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...
, 0.3%
Native American, 0.9%
Asian, 1.6% from
other races
Other often refers to:
* Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy
Other or The Other may also refer to:
Film and television
* ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack
* ''The Other'' (1930 film), a ...
, and 3.2% from two or more races.
Hispanic
The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad.
The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to viceroyalties forme ...
or
Latino
Latino or Latinos most often refers to:
* Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America
* Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States
* The people or cultures of Latin America;
** Latin A ...
of any race were 20.8% of the population.
There were 4,088 households, of which 39.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.8% were
married couples living together, 15.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 35.6% were non-families. 30.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.28.
The median age in the city was 32.3 years. 30% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.1% were from 25 to 44; 22% were from 45 to 64; and 12.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.3% male and 52.7% female.
2000 census
As of the
census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses in ...
of 2000, there were 11,285 people, 4,293 households, and 2,726 families residing in the city. The
population density
Population density (in agriculture: Stock (disambiguation), standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical ...
was . There were 4,529 housing units at an average density of . As of 2000, the racial makeup of the city was 91%
White
White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White o ...
, 1%
African American
African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...
, 0.2%
Native American, 1.4%
Asian, 4.4% from
other races
Other often refers to:
* Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy
Other or The Other may also refer to:
Film and television
* ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack
* ''The Other'' (1930 film), a ...
, and 2.0% from two or more races.
Hispanic
The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad.
The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to viceroyalties forme ...
or
Latino
Latino or Latinos most often refers to:
* Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America
* Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States
* The people or cultures of Latin America;
** Latin A ...
of any race were 20% of the population.
There were 4,293 households, out of which 35.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.6% were
married couples living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.5% were non-families. 30.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.20.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 28.2% under the age of 18, 11.5% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 17.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,838, and the median income for a family was $43,381. Males had a median income of $29,508 versus $21,810 for females. The
per capita income
Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population.
Per capita i ...
for the city was $15,990. About 11.2% of families and 16.2% of the population were below the
poverty line
The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for t ...
, including 23.5% of those under age 18 and 10.0% of those age 65 or over.
Notable people
*
Tom Bodett
Thomas Edward Bodett ( ; born February 23, 1955) is an American author, voice actor, and radio personality, primarily as a host, correspondent and panelist for a number of shows that air on National Public Radio (NPR). Since 1986, he has been t ...
, author, voice actor, and radio host and spokesperson for Motel 6, was born in Illinois, raised in Sturgis.
*
Cameron S. Brown, former
state senator of the 16th Senate District of Michigan, is from Sturgis.
*
Walter T. Kelley, innovator of
Beekeeping methods and materials.
*
June MacCloy, actress, was born in Sturgis.
*
Perle Mesta
Perle Reid Mesta (born Pearl Skirvin; October 12, 1889March 16, 1975) was an American socialite, political hostess, and United States ambassador to Luxembourg (1949–53).
Mesta was known for her lavish parties for Washington, D.C., society. At ...
, socialite and Ambassador to Luxembourg, was born in Sturgis.
*
Frank W. Parker, New Mexico Supreme Court justice, was born in Sturgis.
*
William Balser Skirvin, business executive and oilman, was born in Sturgis.
*
Marlin Stutzman, former congressman from Indiana, was born in Sturgis.
*
Verne Troyer
Verne Jay Troyer (January 1, 1969 – April 21, 2018) was an American actor, comedian, YouTuber, and stunt performer. He was best known for his role of Mini-Me in the ''Austin Powers'' film series. He had cartilage–hair hypoplasia and was ...
, actor, was born in Sturgis, but grew up in the nearby town of
Centreville, Michigan.
*
Paul Weatherwax
Paul John Weatherwax (July 8, 1900 – September 13, 1960"California Death Index, 1940-1997," database, FamilySearch (26 November 2014), Paul J Weatherwax, 13 Sep 1960; Department of Public Health Services, Sacramento.) was an American film edito ...
, film editor, two-time Academy Award winner, was born in Sturgis.
See also
*
References
External links
City of Sturgis, MichiganSturgis Chamber of CommerceSturgis Historical SocietySturgis247.comRiver Country TourismSt. Joe H2O (County Tourism)
{{Authority control
1827 establishments in Michigan Territory
Cities in St. Joseph County, Michigan
Micropolitan areas of Michigan
Populated places established in 1827