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The Thumb is a region and a peninsula of the U.S. state 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 ...
, so named because the Lower Peninsula is shaped like a
mitten A mitten is a type of glove that covers the hand but does not have separate finger openings or sheaths. Generally, mittens still separate the thumb from the other four fingers. They have different colours and designs. Mittens provide greater t ...
. The Thumb area is generally considered to be in the Central Michigan region, east of the
Tri-Cities Tri-Cities most often refers to: *Tri-Cities, Tennessee, United States *Tri-Cities, Washington, United States Tri-City, Tricity or Tri-Cities may also refer to: Populated places Americas Canada *Tri-Cities (British Columbia), consisting of Co ...
and north of
Metro Detroit The Detroit metropolitan area, often referred to as Metro Detroit, is a major metropolitan area in the U.S. State of Michigan, consisting of the city of Detroit and its surrounding area. There are varied definitions of the area, including the ...
. The region is also branded as the Blue Water Area. The counties that constitute the Thumb form the peninsula that stretches northward into
Lake Huron Lake Huron ( ) is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. Hydrologically, it comprises the easterly portion of Lake Michigan–Huron, having the same surface elevation as Lake Michigan, to which it is connected by the , Straits of Ma ...
and Saginaw Bay. There is no formal list of which counties are part of the Thumb, but virtually all definitions include Huron, Tuscola, and Sanilac Counties, and most include Lapeer and St. Clair Counties.


Economy

The Thumb region is very flat with fertile
soil Soil, also commonly referred to as earth or dirt, is a mixture of organic matter, minerals, gases, liquids, and organisms that together support life. Some scientific definitions distinguish ''dirt'' from ''soil'' by restricting the former ...
, the reason for its historical role as a chiefly agricultural area. Major agricultural products include
sugar beet A sugar beet is a plant whose root contains a high concentration of sucrose and which is grown commercially for sugar production. In plant breeding, it is known as the Altissima cultivar group of the common beet ('' Beta vulgaris''). Together ...
s,
navy bean The navy bean, haricot, pearl haricot bean, Boston bean, white pea bean, or pea bean is a variety of the common bean (''Phaseolus vulgaris'') native to the Americas, where it was first domesticated. It is a dry white bean that is smaller than m ...
s,
corn Maize ( ; ''Zea mays'' subsp. ''mays'', from es, maíz after tnq, mahiz), also known as corn ( North American and Australian English), is a cereal grain first domesticated by indigenous peoples in southern Mexico about 10,000 years ago. ...
, fruits, and fish from the Saginaw Bay and
Lake Huron Lake Huron ( ) is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. Hydrologically, it comprises the easterly portion of Lake Michigan–Huron, having the same surface elevation as Lake Michigan, to which it is connected by the , Straits of Ma ...
. Manufacturing—particularly concerning the
automotive industry The automotive industry comprises a wide range of companies and organizations involved in the design, development, manufacturing, marketing, and selling of motor vehicles. It is one of the world's largest industries by revenue (from 16 % su ...
—is also prevalent in Michigan's Thumb due to the region's proximity to the automotive centers of
Detroit Detroit ( , ; , ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is also the largest U.S. city on the United States–Canada border, and the seat of government of Wayne County. The City of Detroit had a population of 639,111 at ...
and
Flint Flint, occasionally flintstone, is a sedimentary cryptocrystalline form of the mineral quartz, categorized as the variety of chert that occurs in chalk or marly limestone. Flint was widely used historically to make stone tools and sta ...
.


Industry

The Thumb has many notable businesses, many linked to agriculture. * Intertape Polymer Group, Inc. has a major factory in Marysville. *
Cargill Cargill, Incorporated, is a Privately held company, privately held American global food corporation based in Minnetonka, Minnesota, Minnetonka, Minnesota, and incorporated in Wilmington, Delaware. Founded in 1865, it is the largest privatel ...
Salt operates a large salt mine and factory in St. Clair. This is the only plant in the U.S.A. that produces Alberger
salt Salt is a mineral composed primarily of sodium chloride (NaCl), a chemical compound belonging to the larger class of salts; salt in the form of a natural crystalline mineral is known as rock salt or halite. Salt is present in vast quanti ...
, which is especially prized in the fast food industry because of its higher volume (due to its unique shape) and lower sodium content (for a given volume, not weight). This is part of Michigan's large salt-mining industry. *Cooperative Elevator Company has been named the top Michigan Agriculture Exporter by the Michigan Department of Agriculture. Its headquarters are in
Pigeon Columbidae () is a bird family consisting of doves and pigeons. It is the only family in the order Columbiformes. These are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills that in some species feature fleshy ceres. They primarily ...
, and it has branch elevators in Deckerville, Akron, Gagetown, Sebewaing, Elkton, and Bad Axe. * Detroit Edison is the operator of three power plants in the Thumb area: St. Clair and
Belle River Power Plant Belle River Power Plant is a major coal- and natural gas-fired power plant owned by Detroit Edison, a subsidiary of DTE Energy. It is located in St. Clair County, Michigan St. Clair County is a county located in the U.S. state of Michigan ...
s in East China Township, and Greenwood Energy Center in Greenwood Township. * Dow AgroSciences Harbor Beach manufactures agricultural chemicals: weed killer, fungicides, fertilizers and plant nutrients and herbicides. *Mueller Industries owns and operates Mueller Brass in
Port Huron 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 administered separately. Located along the St. Clair ...
. * Grand Trunk Western Railway has a major rail yard in
Port Huron Township Port Huron Charter Township is a charter township of St. Clair County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 10,654 at the 2010 Census. The city of Port Huron is adjacent to the township. Communities There are two unincorporated ...
. *Marysville Hydrocarbons is an
ethanol Ethanol (abbr. EtOH; also called ethyl alcohol, grain alcohol, drinking alcohol, or simply alcohol) is an organic compound. It is an alcohol with the chemical formula . Its formula can be also written as or (an ethyl group linked to a h ...
plant in Marysville. * SMR Automotive manufactures rear view mirrors at facilities in Port Huron and Marysville. *Port Huron-based P.J. Wallbank Spring manufactures components for transmissions. *Port Huron's industrial park is home to many companies that produce plastic components for vehicles, such as Prism Plastics, Huron Plastics Group, and International Automotive Components. *Michigan Ethanol, a partner of Broin Companies, operates a
corn ethanol Corn ethanol is ethanol produced from corn biomass and is the main source of ethanol fuel in the United States, mandated to be blended with gasoline in the Renewable Fuel Standard. Corn ethanol is produced by ethanol fermentation and distillat ...
production facility in southwest Caro. * Michigan Sugar Company, an
agricultural cooperative An agricultural cooperative, also known as a farmers' co-op, is a cooperative in which farmers pool their resources in certain areas of activity. A broad typology of agricultural cooperatives distinguishes between agricultural service cooperati ...
owned by 1200 farmers, operates four plants in the area. It is the successor to the 100-year-old "Big Chief" and "Pioneer" Sugar companies. Local plants are located in Caro, Sebewaing, Croswell, and headquarters in Bay City. * Domtar operates a paper mill in
Port Huron 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 administered separately. Located along the St. Clair ...
. The plant will close in 2021. *Dunn Paper is located at the mouth of the St. Clair River just north of the Blue Water Bridge and produces specialty papers. *Keihin Michigan Manufacturing operates an auto part manufacturing plant in Capac, they build
HVAC Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) is the use of various technologies to control the temperature, humidity, and purity of the air in an enclosed space. Its goal is to provide thermal comfort and acceptable indoor air quality. ...
and intake manifold assemblies that are used in Honda vehicles. The plant is scheduled to close in 2021. *Champion manufactures small and mid size buses at their facility in Lapeer County's
Imlay Township Imlay Township is a civil township of Lapeer County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,128 at the 2010 Census. Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , of which is land and (0. ...
. *
Sensient Technologies Corporation Sensient Technologies is a global manufacturer and marketer of colors, flavor Flavor or flavour is either the sensory perception of taste or smell, or a flavoring in food that produces such perception. Flavor or flavour may also refer to: ...
, Harbor Beach, makes food flavors and colors, yeast dehydrated products and vegetable protein extract. *Star of the West Milling Co. which has grain elevators in Vassar and
Cass City Cass City is a village in Elkland Township, Tuscola County in the Flint/Tri-Cities area of the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,428 at the 2010 U.S. Census and 2,643 at the 2000 U.S. Census (a decrease of about 8%). It is located al ...
, joined with Eastern Michigan Grain in
Emmett Emmett may refer to: Places ;In the United States * Emmett, Idaho * Emmett, Kansas * Emmett, Michigan, a village in St. Clair County * Emmett Charter Township, Michigan in Calhoun County * Emmett Township, St. Clair County, Michigan * Emmett, Misso ...
. *Huron Castings produces shell molded steel castings in
Pigeon, Michigan Pigeon is a village in Huron County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,208 at the 2010 census. The village is within Winsor Township. Geography *According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of , ...
. *Pigeon Telephone Co. has been meeting telecommunications needs of the rural communities it serves since 1908. *Agri-Valley Services, more commonly known as AVCI, is an internet service provider based out of
Pigeon, Michigan Pigeon is a village in Huron County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,208 at the 2010 census. The village is within Winsor Township. Geography *According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of , ...
. *
Thumb Cellular The thumb is the first digit of the hand, next to the index finger. When a person is standing in the medical anatomical position (where the palm is facing to the front), the thumb is the outermost digit. The Medical Latin English noun for thumb ...
has been providing rural cellular service to the thumb area since 1991.


International Trade Corridor

The I-69 International Trade Corridor is a strategic commercial gateway between the
Midwestern United States The Midwestern United States, also referred to as the Midwest or the American Midwest, is one of four census regions of the United States Census Bureau (also known as "Region 2"). It occupies the northern central part of the United States. I ...
and
Ontario, Canada Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...
, with multi-modal transportation infrastructure that offers a wide range of distribution options. The I-69 International Trade Corridor Next Michigan Development Corporation (NMDC) offers economic incentives to growing businesses, both existing and new, that utilize two or more forms of transportation to move their products and are located within the territory of the NMDC. The I-69 International Trade Corridor Next Michigan Development Corporation is the largest in the state of Michigan with 35 municipal partners. Constituent counties of the trade corridor are: Shiawassee,
Genesee Genesee, derived from the Seneca word for "pleasant valley", may refer to: Geographic features Canada * Genesee, Alberta, an unincorporated community United States * Genesee, California *Genesee, Colorado *Genesee County, Michigan *Genesee C ...
, Lapeer, and St. Clair Counties.


Tourism

Some towns, such as Bay Port, Caseville, Harbor Beach, Lakeport, Lexington, Port Austin, Port Hope,
Port Huron 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 administered separately. Located along the St. Clair ...
, Port Sanilac, Sebewaing, and St. Clair enjoy seasonal tourism, due to their locations on
Lake Huron Lake Huron ( ) is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. Hydrologically, it comprises the easterly portion of Lake Michigan–Huron, having the same surface elevation as Lake Michigan, to which it is connected by the , Straits of Ma ...
, Saginaw Bay, or St. Clair River. Tourism and farming drive the local economy. The Tip of The Thumb Heritage Water Trail is a nonprofit citizens organization working with the Huron County Parks to establish and maintain a water trail along Michigan's Lake Huron's shoreline.


Unique to the Thumb

Many of the residents commute for work to
Metro Detroit The Detroit metropolitan area, often referred to as Metro Detroit, is a major metropolitan area in the U.S. State of Michigan, consisting of the city of Detroit and its surrounding area. There are varied definitions of the area, including the ...
,
Flint Flint, occasionally flintstone, is a sedimentary cryptocrystalline form of the mineral quartz, categorized as the variety of chert that occurs in chalk or marly limestone. Flint was widely used historically to make stone tools and sta ...
or the
Tri-Cities Tri-Cities most often refers to: *Tri-Cities, Tennessee, United States *Tri-Cities, Washington, United States Tri-City, Tricity or Tri-Cities may also refer to: Populated places Americas Canada *Tri-Cities (British Columbia), consisting of Co ...
. Incorporated cities with 2,000+ population in the Thumb area are
Port Huron 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 administered separately. Located along the St. Clair ...
, Marysville, Lapeer, St. Clair, Marine City, Algonac, Caro, Imlay City, Bad Axe, Vassar, Sandusky and Croswell. The majority of these cities are in the southern portion of the Thumb. Unique features in the area include the following: * Algonac, known as the
Venice Venice ( ; it, Venezia ; vec, Venesia or ) is a city in northeastern Italy and the capital of the Veneto region. It is built on a group of 118 small islands that are separated by canals and linked by over 400 bridges. The isla ...
of Michigan because of its many canals, is a part of the largest freshwater delta in the world, that of the St. Clair River into Lake St. Clair. * Bad Axe was named after a broken axe found lodged in the knot of a tree at the clearing of the settlement's chief crossroads. * Bay Port, is the world's largest freshwater fishing port. * Harbor Beach is the home of the largest man-made harbor and the Harbor Beach Light. *Harvest Wind Farm, an
electrical generation Electricity generation is the process of generating electric power from sources of primary energy. For utilities in the electric power industry, it is the stage prior to its delivery (transmission, distribution, etc.) to end users or its storag ...
project of Exelon Wind and Wolverine Power Supply Cooperative. Harvest II is scheduled for completion in December 2012. * Huron County Nature Center includes a wilderness arboretum that has been under the care of the Huron County Women's Clubs for more than 50 years. *Kernan Memorial Nature Sanctuary is a refuge with of shoreline acquired October 30, 1989 on
Lake Huron Lake Huron ( ) is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. Hydrologically, it comprises the easterly portion of Lake Michigan–Huron, having the same surface elevation as Lake Michigan, to which it is connected by the , Straits of Ma ...
, in Huron County. On the western coast of Whiskey Harbor, this area is a great place to see migratory birds in early March and November. * Kinde was once the bean capital of the world. Michigan Bean soup has been a staple for over a hundred years in the U.S. Senate dining room (
Senate bean soup United States Senate Bean Soup or simply Senate bean soup is a soup made with navy beans, ham hocks, and onion. It is served in the dining room of the United States Senate every day, in a tradition that dates back to the early 20th century. The ...
). *
Pigeon Columbidae () is a bird family consisting of doves and pigeons. It is the only family in the order Columbiformes. These are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills that in some species feature fleshy ceres. They primarily ...
is the home of the Cooperative Elevator Company, one of the largest
grain elevator A grain elevator is a facility designed to stockpile or store grain. In the grain trade, the term "grain elevator" also describes a tower containing a bucket elevator or a pneumatic conveyor, which scoops up grain from a lower level and deposit ...
s in the state. *
Port Huron 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 administered separately. Located along the St. Clair ...
is the maritime capital of the
Great Lakes The Great Lakes, also called the Great Lakes of North America, are a series of large interconnected freshwater lakes in the mid-east region of North America that connect to the Atlantic Ocean via the Saint Lawrence River. There are five la ...
, where
Lake Huron Lake Huron ( ) is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. Hydrologically, it comprises the easterly portion of Lake Michigan–Huron, having the same surface elevation as Lake Michigan, to which it is connected by the , Straits of Ma ...
flows into the St. Clair River. This is the largest city in the Thumb area. It was the boyhood home of
Thomas Edison Thomas Alva Edison (February 11, 1847October 18, 1931) was an American inventor and businessman. He developed many devices in fields such as electric power generation, mass communication, sound recording, and motion pictures. These invent ...
. *The Sanilac Petroglyphs were discovered after massive fires swept the Lower Peninsula in 1881. Native Americans created this unusual artwork 300 to 1,000 years ago. The
petroglyphs A petroglyph is an image created by removing part of a rock surface by incising, picking, carving, or abrading, as a form of rock art. Outside North America, scholars often use terms such as "carving", "engraving", or other description ...
provide a glimpse into the lives of an ancient woodland people who occupied Michigan's Thumb area. * Sebewaing is the
sugar beet A sugar beet is a plant whose root contains a high concentration of sucrose and which is grown commercially for sugar production. In plant breeding, it is known as the Altissima cultivar group of the common beet ('' Beta vulgaris''). Together ...
capital of the world, and home to one of the four Michigan Sugar Company factories in the Thumb region. The sugar companies were organized with money from
lumber baron A business magnate, also known as a tycoon, is a person who has achieved immense wealth through the ownership of multiple lines of enterprise. The term characteristically refers to a powerful entrepreneur or investor who controls, through perso ...
s such as Rasmus Hanson. * St. Clair boasts the world's largest boardwalk along freshwater, the St. Clair River. * Turnip Rock, an unusual undercut sea stack at the extreme northern tip of the Thumb. * Michigan Underwater Preserves are protected areas of the
Great Lakes The Great Lakes, also called the Great Lakes of North America, are a series of large interconnected freshwater lakes in the mid-east region of North America that connect to the Atlantic Ocean via the Saint Lawrence River. There are five la ...
on
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 ...
's coast. There are nineteen major shipwrecks in the of the Thumb Area Bottomland Preserve and the Sanilac Shores Underwater Preserve which expands a total of of
Lake Huron Lake Huron ( ) is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. Hydrologically, it comprises the easterly portion of Lake Michigan–Huron, having the same surface elevation as Lake Michigan, to which it is connected by the , Straits of Ma ...
. * Caseville is the home of the annual Cheeseburger in Caseville festival, a hometown festival devoted to
Jimmy Buffett James William Buffett (born December 25, 1946) is an American singer-songwriter, musician, author, and businessman. He is best known for his music, which often portrays an "island escapism" lifestyle. Together with his Coral Reefer Band, Buffe ...
's song " Cheeseburger in Paradise".


Traveling around the Thumb

A favorite of tourists who visit this area is traveling the
Lake Huron Lake Huron ( ) is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. Hydrologically, it comprises the easterly portion of Lake Michigan–Huron, having the same surface elevation as Lake Michigan, to which it is connected by the , Straits of Ma ...
and Saginaw Bay shoreline via M-25 (formerly US Highway 25 until 1973). M-25 starts at the end of I-69/ I-94 in
Port Huron 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 administered separately. Located along the St. Clair ...
at the foot of the
Blue Water Bridge The Blue Water Bridge is a twin-span international bridge across the St. Clair River that links Port Huron, Michigan, United States, and Sarnia, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Water Bridge connects Highway 402 in Ontario with both Interstate 6 ...
and ends in Bay City. The whole highway is about , and passes through quaint cities and villages. Located along Lake Huron through which M-25 passes are five lighthouses:
Fort Gratiot Lighthouse Fort Gratiot Light , the first lighthouse in the state of Michigan, was constructed north of Fort Gratiot in 1829 by Lucius Lyon, who later became one of Michigan's first U.S. Senators. The Fort Gratiot Light marks the entrance to the St. Clair ...
, Port Sanilac lighthouse,
Pointe aux Barques Lighthouse Pointe aux Barques Lighthouse ( ) is an active lighthouse located in Huron County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located along the shores of Lake Huron on the northeastern tip of the Thumb. Originally constructed in 1848, it is one of th ...
, Harbor Beach Light, and the
Port Austin Lighthouse Port Austin Lighthouse (or Port Austin Reef Light) is a lighthouse off the shore of Lake Huron, about north of Port Austin, Huron County Michigan sitting on a rocky reef (shoal), which is just north of the tip of the Thumb and a real hazard ...
. The
Great Lakes Circle Tour The Great Lakes Circle Tour is a designated scenic road system connecting all of the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River. It consists of routes for circumnavigating the lakes, either individually or collectively. It was designated by the Gre ...
is a designated scenic road system connecting all of the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River. Many visitors choose to begin the circle tour in Port Huron, from which they can circle Lake Huron. M-25 winds around the Thumb and along the Saginaw Bay to Saginaw and Bay City. Lexington and Port Austin feature beaches and boardwalks that are favorites with visitors.


Lighthouse Tour

In order from east to west: * Huron Lightship —
Lake Huron Lake Huron ( ) is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. Hydrologically, it comprises the easterly portion of Lake Michigan–Huron, having the same surface elevation as Lake Michigan, to which it is connected by the , Straits of Ma ...
/ St. Clair River —
Port Huron 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 administered separately. Located along the St. Clair ...
* Fort Gratiot Light—Lake Huron / St. Clair River—Port Huron *
Port Sanilac Light Port Sanilac Light is a United States Coast Guard lighthouse located on Point Sanilac, near Port Sanilac on the eastern side of Michigan's Thumb. It is an automated and active aid to navigation on Lake Huron. History Characterized by shallow w ...
—Lake Huron— Port Sanilac—Private
White Rock Memorial Light
€”Lake Huron — White Rock—Private * Harbor Beach Light—Lake Huron — Harbor Beach * Pointe aux Barques Light—Lake Huron—near Port Hope * Port Austin Light—Lake Huron — Port Austin * Charity Island Light — Saginaw Bay *
Saginaw River Light The first Saginaw River lighthouse was constructed from 1839 to 1841, in a period when large quantities of lumber were being harvested and shipped from the heart of Michigan via river and the Great Lakes to the East Coast of the United States via ...
— Saginaw River


Area festivals and events


''Antique and Yard Sale Trail''
2nd weekend in August, ( Algonac to Sebewaing)
Art on the River
third week in June, St. Clair.

downtown Port Huron, 3rd week in August. * around the state.

( Bay Port)
''Blue Water Ramble''
( St. Clair) Annual International Bicycling Event along the St. Clair River in Michigan and
Ontario, Canada Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...
, involving two ferry boat crossings, first weekend in October. *''Boat Night & Port Huron to Mackinac Boat Race'' (
Port Huron 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 administered separately. Located along the St. Clair ...
to Mackinac Island)
''Cheeseburger in Caseville Festival''
( Caseville)
''Croswell Agricultural Society Fair''
( Croswell) celebrating its 125th year in 2009
''Croswell Swinging Bridge Festival''
(Croswell)
''Feast of the Sainte Claire''
sponsored by the Port Huron Museum of Arts and History, a large living reenactment of 18th century life—Memorial Day weekend, (
Port Huron 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 administered separately. Located along the St. Clair ...
).
''Harbor Beach Maritime Festival''
Harbor Beach) *''Huron County Fair'' ( Bad Axe)
''Michigan Bean Festival''
Labor Day Labor Day is a federal holiday in the United States celebrated on the first Monday in September to honor and recognize the American labor movement and the works and contributions of laborers to the development and achievements of the United ...
weekend ( Fairgrove) * Farmer's Festival (
Pigeon Columbidae () is a bird family consisting of doves and pigeons. It is the only family in the order Columbiformes. These are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills that in some species feature fleshy ceres. They primarily ...
) * Michigan Sugar Festival ( Sebewaing)
"Port Huron Float Down"
Third Sunday in August (
Port Huron 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 administered separately. Located along the St. Clair ...
)
''"The Original" Country Christmas Lighted Farm Implement Parade''
( Sandusky)
''Tuscola County Pumpkin Festival''
( Caro)
''Sanilac County 4-H Fair''
(Sandusky)
''St. Clair County 4-H Fair''
(Goodells County Park)
''Thumbfest''
( Lexington)
''Yale Bologna Festival''
(
Yale Yale University is a private research university in New Haven, Connecticut. Established in 1701 as the Collegiate School, it is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and among the most prestigious in the wo ...
)


Thumb counties


Huron

Huron County is located at the tip of the thumb. The county is surrounded on three sides by water – Saginaw Bay and
Lake Huron Lake Huron ( ) is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. Hydrologically, it comprises the easterly portion of Lake Michigan–Huron, having the same surface elevation as Lake Michigan, to which it is connected by the , Straits of Ma ...
, and has over of shoreline, from White Rock on
Lake Huron Lake Huron ( ) is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. Hydrologically, it comprises the easterly portion of Lake Michigan–Huron, having the same surface elevation as Lake Michigan, to which it is connected by the , Straits of Ma ...
to Sebewaing on Saginaw Bay, and more shoreline parks than any other county in the state.
The county's economy relies on agriculture and ranks as one of the top agricultural counties in Michigan. Rich farmland inland produces beans, sugar beets and grain, including most of the world's supply of navy beans. Tourism is also important to Huron County with bay front and lakefront towns such as Sebewaing, Caseville, Port Austin, Port Hope, and Harbor Beach, attracting tourists from all over. Huron County borders the Saginaw Bay and
Lake Huron Lake Huron ( ) is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. Hydrologically, it comprises the easterly portion of Lake Michigan–Huron, having the same surface elevation as Lake Michigan, to which it is connected by the , Straits of Ma ...
. There are two state parks –
Sleeper State Park Albert E. Sleeper State Park is a public recreation area on Lake Huron in Lake Township, Huron County, Michigan. The state park encompasses four miles northeast of Caseville, close to the tip of The Thumb of Michigan. History The park was c ...
and Port Crescent State Park. Three roadside parks – Jenks Park, Brown Park, and White Rock Park. Also, Huron County maintains nine county parks along the shoreline, which are Caseville Park, Lighthouse Park, Stafford Park, McGraw Park, Philp Park, Port Austin Bird Creek Park, Wagener Park, Oak Beach Park, and Sebewaing Park.
The county seat is Bad Axe, located in the center of the county.


Lapeer

The origin of the name of the county is often disputed, but it may have derived from the French words ''la pierre'', meaning "the stone". This name could be a reference to the rounded stones, or
flint Flint, occasionally flintstone, is a sedimentary cryptocrystalline form of the mineral quartz, categorized as the variety of chert that occurs in chalk or marly limestone. Flint was widely used historically to make stone tools and sta ...
pebbles, found in the rivers and streams throughout the area. Another theory is that it may be an English variation of ''Le Pays Plat'', meaning "the flat land", which is one of the original names given to the area by the French, and can be found on many early fur trader maps of the area. The idea is that "Le Pays" may have evolved into the current pronunciation, "Lapeer".
Lapeer County Lapeer County is a county located in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 88,619. The county seat is Lapeer. The county was created on September 18, 1822, and was fully organized on February 2, 1835. The ...
is in many ways different from the other counties of the Thumb. First, it is heavily influenced by its proximity to
Flint Flint, occasionally flintstone, is a sedimentary cryptocrystalline form of the mineral quartz, categorized as the variety of chert that occurs in chalk or marly limestone. Flint was widely used historically to make stone tools and sta ...
and
Detroit Detroit ( , ; , ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is also the largest U.S. city on the United States–Canada border, and the seat of government of Wayne County. The City of Detroit had a population of 639,111 at ...
, so as a result, its economy depends more heavily on manufacturing than the other counties of the region. Second, although agriculture is still a key economic factor in Lapeer County, it is not as important to the economy as in the other counties. Although there are still a few large-scale farms located in the county, the numbers are not found to the same extent, and these days, most farming in Lapeer now takes place on smaller, independent farms, which usually supply the local markets only. Lastly, in addition to its economic and agricultural differences, Lapeer County's geography is very different from the other counties of the Thumb. Its topography is generally gently rolling to quite hilly, and unlike its neighbors, which are flatter, and border on
Lake Huron Lake Huron ( ) is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. Hydrologically, it comprises the easterly portion of Lake Michigan–Huron, having the same surface elevation as Lake Michigan, to which it is connected by the , Straits of Ma ...
or Lake St. Clair, Lapeer County is landlocked. The county still has hundreds of acres of inland lakes such as Barnes Lake, Miller Lake, Lake Neppessing, the Holloway Reservoir, Big Fish Lake, and Lake Metamora, and several state recreation areas, including the
Ortonville Recreation Area Ortonville State Recreation Area is a recreation area, located in Oakland County and Lapeer County Lapeer County is a county located in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 88,619. The county seat is L ...
and the
Metamora-Hadley Recreation Area Metamora-Hadley State Recreation Area is a state-managed protected area in the U.S. state of Michigan, located in Hadley Township in Lapeer County, northwest of Detroit. It is located eight miles south of the city of Lapeer. The closest urban c ...
, which still bring in many campers and tourists.


Sanilac

The County of Sanilac has the largest area of land in The Thumb. Like other counties, Sanilac has fertile and flat land, great for growing crops. Towns like Lexington and Port Sanilac bring in many tourists from the Detroit Area. Sandusky is the county seat and largest city.


St. Clair

St. Clair County has the largest population in The Thumb, and is considered part of the Metro Detroit MSA. Many residents farther north in The Thumb, especially
Sanilac County Sanilac County ( ) is a county located in the Thumb region of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 40,611. The county seat is Sandusky. The county was created on September 10, 1822, and was fully organized on ...
, travel to
Port Huron 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 administered separately. Located along the St. Clair ...
for shopping and work. It is the farthest county to the east in Michigan, and most of the eastern border is the St. Clair River, which separates
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 ...
from
Ontario Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central C ...
. For the most part, St. Clair County is flat with an agricultural economy dominating in the north and west; in the 19th century, agriculture and lumbering were important east to the St. Clair River.
Sugar beet A sugar beet is a plant whose root contains a high concentration of sucrose and which is grown commercially for sugar production. In plant breeding, it is known as the Altissima cultivar group of the common beet ('' Beta vulgaris''). Together ...
s were cultivated and annual festivals were held at harvest time. In addition, many farms had mixed agriculture. There are steep hills and small canyons near the Black River. Since the mid-20th century, manufacturing had dominated in and around
Port Huron 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 administered separately. Located along the St. Clair ...
.


Tuscola

Like Huron County, Tuscola is mostly dependent on agriculture. Industries such as sugar refining and ethanol processing, as well as growing various grains and beans, make up most of the economy. Caro, one of the largest cities in The Thumb (the largest if you exclude St. Clair and Lapeer Counties), is named after Cairo, Egypt and is the county seat. Tuscola County only has of shoreline along Saginaw Bay, so it is not as dependent on tourism as the other counties in the area. Tuscola County is economically tied to the surrounding region as well as to the Saginaw, Bay City, and
Flint Flint, occasionally flintstone, is a sedimentary cryptocrystalline form of the mineral quartz, categorized as the variety of chert that occurs in chalk or marly limestone. Flint was widely used historically to make stone tools and sta ...
areas.


Borderline regions

The boundaries of what is included in the Thumb are often debated, but nearly all definitions include Huron, Sanilac, and Tuscola counties, known as the tri-county region. Disputed areas include: * St. Clair County, especially the southern portion, as the county is now classified as part of Metro Detroit by the Census Bureau. *
Lapeer County Lapeer County is a county located in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 88,619. The county seat is Lapeer. The county was created on September 18, 1822, and was fully organized on February 2, 1835. The ...
* Richmond and northern Macomb County. * Genesee County


Blue Water Area

The Blue Water Area is another term describing the Thumb of Michigan. The term usually applies to St. Clair County and surrounding areas. The title is also extended to include all of Michigan's Thumb. The name refers to the county being bordered by water: on the east is the St. Clair River, connecting
Lake Huron Lake Huron ( ) is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. Hydrologically, it comprises the easterly portion of Lake Michigan–Huron, having the same surface elevation as Lake Michigan, to which it is connected by the , Straits of Ma ...
to the north to Lake St. Clair. Below that is the Detroit River. The namesake
Blue Water Bridge The Blue Water Bridge is a twin-span international bridge across the St. Clair River that links Port Huron, Michigan, United States, and Sarnia, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Water Bridge connects Highway 402 in Ontario with both Interstate 6 ...
spans the St. Clair river, connecting
Port Huron 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 administered separately. Located along the St. Clair ...
to
Sarnia, Ontario Sarnia is a city in Lambton County, Ontario, Canada. It had a Canada 2021 Census, 2021 population of 72,047, and is the largest city on Lake Huron. Sarnia is located on the eastern bank of the junction between the Upper and Lower Great Lakes w ...
. A similar name, "Blue Water Country," is used to describe the same region on the Canadian side.


Discover the Blue

''Discover the Blue'' is a promotion by the Blue Water Area Convention and Visitor's Bureau. It is designed to attract visitors to the shoreline of eastern Michigan. Communities participating in Discover the Blue include Algonac in St. Clair County (at the southern end of the Thumb) and others to the north, such as Port Austin (at the tip of the Thumb).


Geography


Land features

''See also'' List of Michigan state parks and geography 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 Thumb's landscape ranges from a flat sandy plain along the shores of Lake Huron and Saginaw Bay, to a gently rolling topography. This land is fertile and well suited for agriculture. The most unusual geographic formation is a rugged glacial
moraine A moraine is any accumulation of unconsolidated debris ( regolith and rock), sometimes referred to as glacial till, that occurs in both currently and formerly glaciated regions, and that has been previously carried along by a glacier or ice sh ...
, known collectively as the
Hadley Hills The Hadley Hills are a rugged glacial moraine located in The Thumb of Michigan, that extend from northern Oakland County and into southern Lapeer County. The Hadley Hills surround the village of Hadley; The highest points and most prominent outcr ...
, which extends in a northeasterly direction through the center of The Thumb, from the southwestern portion of the peninsula. *All counties except for Lapeer border the Saginaw Bay or
Lake Huron Lake Huron ( ) is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. Hydrologically, it comprises the easterly portion of Lake Michigan–Huron, having the same surface elevation as Lake Michigan, to which it is connected by the , Straits of Ma ...
. *The places with the highest elevation are all associated with the
Hadley Hills The Hadley Hills are a rugged glacial moraine located in The Thumb of Michigan, that extend from northern Oakland County and into southern Lapeer County. The Hadley Hills surround the village of Hadley; The highest points and most prominent outcr ...
, and are located in
Lapeer County Lapeer County is a county located in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 88,619. The county seat is Lapeer. The county was created on September 18, 1822, and was fully organized on February 2, 1835. The ...
, they are: Pinnacle Point, at , Kerr (Cemetery) Hill, at , both in Hadley Township, Mt Christie, at , in Metamora Township, and a point near Mayville, reaching up to above sea level. *The lowest point in the Thumb region is the shore of Lake St. Clair, at a low of above sea level. * Huron County is very flat. It has large fields that were used for agriculture and now are the sites of numerous
wind turbine A wind turbine is a device that converts the kinetic energy of wind into electrical energy. Hundreds of thousands of large turbines, in installations known as wind farms, now generate over 650 gigawatts of power, with 60 GW added each year. W ...
s to generate electricity. *The "tip of the Thumb" is Pointe Aux Barques, between Port Austin and Grindstone City. * Marlette is called the "heart of the Thumb," because of its central position on the peninsula.


Major rivers

The Thumb has many waterways. * Cass River has many branches, one of which flows into the Shiawassee River in the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge at less than from where the Shiawassee merges with the Tittabawassee River to form the Saginaw River *The Pinnebog, Shebahyonk, and
Pigeon Columbidae () is a bird family consisting of doves and pigeons. It is the only family in the order Columbiformes. These are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills that in some species feature fleshy ceres. They primarily ...
rivers all rise in the center of Huron County and empty into the Saginaw Bay. * St. Clair River, connects
Lake Huron Lake Huron ( ) is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. Hydrologically, it comprises the easterly portion of Lake Michigan–Huron, having the same surface elevation as Lake Michigan, to which it is connected by the , Straits of Ma ...
to Lake St. Clair, and is the farthest east border in Michigan. It forms a low impression in eastern St. Clair County, and has a delta at its mouth (North America's largest freshwater delta), which includes Harsens Island and Walpole Island, Ontario. Ferries cross the river at Algonac and Marine City, these being international border crossings. * Black River rises near Minden City and flows into the St. Clair River at
Port Huron 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 administered separately. Located along the St. Clair ...
. The Black River forms a basin in
Sanilac County Sanilac County ( ) is a county located in the Thumb region of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 40,611. The county seat is Sandusky. The county was created on September 10, 1822, and was fully organized on ...
, and northern St. Clair County. *The north branch of the Flint River lies in northern
Lapeer County Lapeer County is a county located in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 88,619. The county seat is Lapeer. The county was created on September 18, 1822, and was fully organized on February 2, 1835. The ...
. It rises near North Branch. The southern branch flows through the central and southern portion of Lapeer County, originates in Brandon, Atlas, Hadley, and Metamora townships before merging with the North Branch just north of the Holloway Reservoir.


History and local culture


Culture

Since the late 18th century, ethnic European Americans have displaced the Native American tribes that historically occupied this territory. Since the early 20th century, they have dominated the population and culture of The Thumb. The French were the first Europeans to arrive, and thus influenced much of the early culture. They were mostly engaged in the fur trading and lumber industries, and had relatively few settlers. After the British won the French and Indian War, they took over this former French territory. Many of these new settlers were sent into the area by the British from Canada in an effort to establish their dominance over the Great Lakes. In 1783, control of The Thumb was officially transferred to the newly formed United States, after the American Revolution and by the Treaty of Paris. The British were a dominant influence until after the War of 1812, when the northern border was firmly defined and this area came under US control. The US organized the Northwest Territory, and American settlement of Michigan and The Thumb was well underway by the mid-19th century. Construction of the Erie Canal through Central New York created stronger connections with the port of New York and eastern markets. Settlers migrated west from New York and New England into Ohio and Michigan, seeking new territory. As a result of this history, the land was settled primarily by people of ethnic English and Scots-Irish descent; many arrived from
Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tota ...
. Other settlers of the same ancestry migrated from eastern states such as
New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...
, and
Pennsylvania Pennsylvania (; (Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, Ma ...
, as well as from New England. Immigration from the British Isles took place through the century, and later 19th and 20th century residents included Polish and
German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...
immigrants who migrated from Europe through the
Detroit Detroit ( , ; , ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is also the largest U.S. city on the United States–Canada border, and the seat of government of Wayne County. The City of Detroit had a population of 639,111 at ...
area. Many of the customs, much of the regional lifestyle, and even the local accent, strongly reflect these origins. Some local radio stations have featured polka shows, and various ethnic festivals, such as the Polkafest, in Kinde, are representative of Eastern European cultures. In the early years, Europeans encountered and traded with people of the
Fox Foxes are small to medium-sized, omnivorous mammals belonging to several genera of the family Canidae. They have a flattened skull, upright, triangular ears, a pointed, slightly upturned snout, and a long bushy tail (or ''brush''). Twelv ...
and Sauk tribes, already living in the area for centuries. There may have also been other tribes in the area such as the
Potawatomi The Potawatomi , also spelled Pottawatomi and Pottawatomie (among many variations), are a Native American people of the western Great Lakes region, upper Mississippi River and Great Plains. They traditionally speak the Potawatomi language, a m ...
,
Ojibwe The Ojibwe, Ojibwa, Chippewa, or Saulteaux are an Anishinaabe people in what is currently southern Canada, the northern Midwestern United States, and Northern Plains. According to the U.S. census, in the United States Ojibwe people are one of ...
, and
Kickapoo Kickapoo may refer to: People * Kickapoo people, a Native American nation ** Kickapoo language, spoken by that people ** Kickapoo Tribe of Kansas, a federally recognized tribe of Kickapoo people ** Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma, a federally recog ...
, but they would have been transient tribes, or found in very small numbers. All native Thumb area tribes are members of the
Algonquian peoples The Algonquian are one of the most populous and widespread North American native language groups. Historically, the peoples were prominent along the Atlantic Coast and into the interior along the Saint Lawrence River and around the Great Lakes ...
, a large language family. Other tribes who migrated later into the area included the Wyandot ( Huron), an Iroquoian language-speaking people; and the
Ottawa Ottawa (, ; Canadian French: ) is the capital city of Canada. It is located at the confluence of the Ottawa River and the Rideau River in the southern portion of the province of Ontario. Ottawa borders Gatineau, Quebec, and forms the core ...
. The displacement of native peoples took place in many areas during the settling of North America.


Historical events

*The
Port Huron 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 administered separately. Located along the St. Clair ...
area is one of oldest European settlements in the state of Michigan, first settled by French colonists. *Colonial-era forts such as Fort Gratiot (north of
Port Huron 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 administered separately. Located along the St. Clair ...
) and Fort Sinclair (near present-day St. Clair) were built along the St. Clair River. * Bad Axe was named so because Captain Rudolph Papst found an old axe in 1861, when he was clearing land for the present-day Huron County seat. *The great
Thumb Fire The Thumb Fire took place on September 5, 1881, in the Thumb area of Michigan in the United States. The fire, which burned over a million acres (4,000 km²) in less than a day, was the consequence of drought, hurricane-force winds, heat, the ...
took place on September 5, 1881, in the Thumb area 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 fire, which burned over a million
acre The acre is a unit of land area used in the imperial and US customary systems. It is traditionally defined as the area of one chain by one furlong (66 by 660 feet), which is exactly equal to 10 square chains, of a square mile, 4,840 square ...
s (4,000 km2) in less than a day, was the consequence of
drought A drought is defined as drier than normal conditions.Douville, H., K. Raghavan, J. Renwick, R.P. Allan, P.A. Arias, M. Barlow, R. Cerezo-Mota, A. Cherchi, T.Y. Gan, J. Gergis, D.  Jiang, A.  Khan, W.  Pokam Mba, D.  Rosenfeld, J. Tierney, an ...
,
hurricane A tropical cyclone is a rapidly rotating storm system characterized by a low-pressure center, a closed low-level atmospheric circulation, strong winds, and a spiral arrangement of thunderstorms that produce heavy rain and squalls. Depe ...
-force winds, heat, the after-effects of the
Port Huron Fire of 1871 The Port Huron Fire of October 8, 1871 (one of a series of fires known collectively as the Great Fire of 1871 or the Great Michigan Fire) burned a number of cities including White Rock and Port Huron, and much of the countryside in the " Thumb" ...
, and the ecological damage wrought by the era's logging techniques of clear cutting forests. *The Great Lakes Storm of 1913 was a November
blizzard A blizzard is a severe snowstorm characterized by strong sustained winds and low visibility, lasting for a prolonged period of time—typically at least three or four hours. A ground blizzard is a weather condition where snow is not falling ...
with hurricane-force winds; it devastated the Great Lakes Basin in the United States
Midwest The Midwestern United States, also referred to as the Midwest or the American Midwest, is one of four census regions of the United States Census Bureau (also known as "Region 2"). It occupies the northern central part of the United States. ...
and the Canadian province of
Ontario Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central C ...
. The storm also battered and overturned large ships on four of the five Great Lakes, particularly
Lake Huron Lake Huron ( ) is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. Hydrologically, it comprises the easterly portion of Lake Michigan–Huron, having the same surface elevation as Lake Michigan, to which it is connected by the , Straits of Ma ...
.


Notable people (by town)

More comprehensive lists are available at individual cities, villages, etc. See local towns of interest at the bottom of the page for links.


Brown City

* Robert Teet – Wrestler, author


Cass City

* Brewster H. Shaw – retired
United States Air Force The United States Air Force (USAF) is the air service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part of the United States Army S ...
colonel and former
NASA The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA ) is an independent agency of the US federal government responsible for the civil space program, aeronautics research, and space research. NASA was established in 1958, succeedi ...
astronaut.


Deckerville

*Gabriel Rheaume – Writer – ''The Shores We Walk''


Harbor Beach

* Frank Murphy – Detroit mayor, Michigan governor, U.S. Attorney General and Justice of the
United States Supreme Court The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) is the highest court in the federal judiciary of the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all U.S. federal court cases, and over state court cases that involve a point ...
.


Lapeer

* Marguerite de Angeli, children's book author, Newbery Award winner * Danelle Gay,
Miss Michigan USA The Miss Michigan USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Michigan in the Miss USA pageant. It is currently directed by Proctor Productions. Their first Miss USA victory was in 1990, and notable because ...
2006 * Terry Knight, singer, DJ, manager, Terry Knight and the Pack, Grand Funk Railroad *
Jake Long Jake Edward Long (born May 9, 1985) is a former American football offensive tackle. He played college football at Michigan, where he was a two-time consensus All-American, and was drafted by the Miami Dolphins first overall in the 2008 NFL Dr ...
, offensive lineman,
Miami Dolphins The Miami Dolphins are a professional American football team based in the Miami metropolitan area. They compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member team of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) East division. The team pl ...
* Terry Nichols, accomplice in the
Oklahoma City bombing The Oklahoma City bombing was a domestic terrorist truck bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States, on April 19, 1995. Perpetrated by two anti-government extremists, Timothy McVeigh and Ter ...
* Jim Slater, hockey player
Atlanta Thrashers The Atlanta Thrashers were a professional ice hockey team based in Atlanta. Atlanta was granted a franchise in the National Hockey League (NHL) on June 25, 1997, and became the League's 28th franchise when it began play in the 1999–2000 seaso ...


Port Huron

*
Thomas Edison Thomas Alva Edison (February 11, 1847October 18, 1931) was an American inventor and businessman. He developed many devices in fields such as electric power generation, mass communication, sound recording, and motion pictures. These invent ...
– Inventor and entrepreneur settled in Port Huron from 1854 to 1863. * Obadiah Gardner – born in Port Huron, he moved to Maine as a child, where he lived and worked for the rest of his life, being elected as US Senator from Maine * Terry McMillan – Award-winning author of novels '' Waiting to Exhale'', and '' How Stella Got Her Groove Back''


Local elected officials

Local politicians in Washington and Lansing are listed below.


United States Congress

District 10 – Northern Macomb, Western Tuscola, and all of St Clair, Lapeer, Sanilac, and Huron Counties. *
Lisa McClain Lisa Carmella McClain ( Iovannisci; born April 7, 1966) is an American politician who serves as the U.S. representative for since 2021. A member of the Republican Party, she won election to the state's redrawn 9th district in the 2022 electio ...
, Republican District 5 – Saginaw/Bay City Area, Eastern Tuscola, and all of Genesee Counties. * Dan Kildee, Democrat


Michigan House

32nd District – Northern Macomb and six townships in St Clair County. *Pamela Hornberger, Republican 81st District – Most of St Clair County, except Port Huron. *Gary Eisen, Republican 82nd District – All of Lapeer County. *Gary Howell, Republican 83rd District – City of Port Huron, the Townships of Fort Gratiot and Burtchville, and all of Sanilac County. *Andrew Beeler, Republican 84th District – All of Huron and Tuscola Counties. *Phil Green, Republican


Michigan Senate

25th District – All of Huron, St Clair and Sanilac Counties, and the Cities of Memphis, New Baltimore, and Richmond and the Townships of Armada and Richmond in Macomb County. *Dan Lauwers, Republican 31st District – All of Bay, Lapeer and Tuscola Counties. *Kevin Daley, Republican


Colleges and universities

* St. Clair County Community College, with the main campus in Port Huron, and learning centers in Huron, Sanilac, and Lapeer Counties. * Baker College, with a campus in Cass City, Sandusky, and Port Huron. * University of Michigan–Flint, Saginaw Valley State University, and Delta College, while not in the Thumb, are universities and colleges that attract many residents from the Thumb.


Museums


Harbor Beach

* Frank Murphy Memorial Museum and home. *
Grice House Museum The Grice House is located at 865 North Huron Avenue in Harbor Beach, Michigan. It is a museum showing life in years gone by. History The Grice House was built by James G. Grice, who immigrated to the United States from England in the early 1 ...
– Harbor Beach


Marysville

* Marysville Historical Museum – Marysville * Wills Ste. Claire Auto Museum – Marysville


Port Huron

*
Port Huron Museum The Port Huron Museum is a series of four museums located in Port Huron, Michigan, United States. It includes the Carnegie Center -- Port Huron Museum, Huron Lightship, Thomas Edison Depot Museum, and Fort Gratiot Lighthouse. The museum was fou ...
– a series of five museums –
Port Huron 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 administered separately. Located along the St. Clair ...
*
Carnegie Center The Carnegie Center for Art & History, within the Downtown Historic District of New Albany, Indiana, is a contemporary art gallery and local history museum. The building was initially built as a Carnegie Library, first opened on March 2, 1904, ...
–
Port Huron 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 administered separately. Located along the St. Clair ...
* Huron Lightship –
Port Huron 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 administered separately. Located along the St. Clair ...
* Thomas Edison Depot Museum –
Port Huron 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 administered separately. Located along the St. Clair ...
* USCGC Bramble (WLB-392) –
Port Huron 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 administered separately. Located along the St. Clair ...
*
Fort Gratiot Lighthouse Fort Gratiot Light , the first lighthouse in the state of Michigan, was constructed north of Fort Gratiot in 1829 by Lucius Lyon, who later became one of Michigan's first U.S. Senators. The Fort Gratiot Light marks the entrance to the St. Clair ...
–
Port Huron 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 administered separately. Located along the St. Clair ...


Elsewhere in the Thumb

* Sanilac County Historical Museum – Port Sanilac * Bad Axe Historical Society Museum – Bad Axe * Capac Historical Museum – Capac *
Pointe aux Barques Lighthouse Pointe aux Barques Lighthouse ( ) is an active lighthouse located in Huron County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located along the shores of Lake Huron on the northeastern tip of the Thumb. Originally constructed in 1848, it is one of th ...
near Port Hope * St. Clair County Farm Museum – Goodells * Port Austin History Center - Port Austin


Media


Radio

The Thumb Area Radio Region is an unranked market that is influenced by Detroit Radio Market, the Tri-Cities Radio Market and the Flint Market, with stations in
Port Huron 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 administered separately. Located along the St. Clair ...
and
Sarnia Sarnia is a city in Lambton County, Ontario, Canada. It had a 2021 population of 72,047, and is the largest city on Lake Huron. Sarnia is located on the eastern bank of the junction between the Upper and Lower Great Lakes where Lake Huron ...
,
Ontario Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central C ...
also serving the region. ; Local Radio Stations in the Thumb Area


Newspapers

* The '' Huron Daily Tribune'' is a daily newspaper serving the "Upper Thumb Area of Michigan", which includes all of Huron and portions of Tuscola counties. * '' The Times Herald'' is a daily newspaper headquartered in Port Huron and distributed in St. Clair and Sanilac counties. It is owned by the
Gannett Company Gannett Co., Inc. () is an American mass media holding company headquartered in McLean, Virginia, in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area.Detroit Free Press The ''Detroit Free Press'' is the largest daily newspaper in Detroit, Michigan, US. The Sunday edition is titled the ''Sunday Free Press''. It is sometimes referred to as the Freep (reflected in the paper's web address, www.freep.com). It primari ...
'' and ''
The Detroit News ''The Detroit News'' is one of the two major newspapers in the U.S. city of Detroit, Michigan. The paper began in 1873, when it rented space in the rival '' Detroit Free Press'' building. ''The News'' absorbed the '' Detroit Tribune'' on Febru ...
'' are available throughout the area. * The '' Bay City Times'' and ''
Saginaw News ''The Saginaw News'' is a newspaper publication based in Saginaw, Michigan, owned by Booth Newspapers, a division of Advance Publications Advance Publications, Inc., doing business as Advance, is an American media company owned by the desc ...
'' are available in northern and western portions of the area, while the '' Flint Journal'' is available in Lapeer County. ; Huron County newspapers *Harbor Beach Times *Huron County Press *Huron Daily Tribune *The News Weekly *The Lakeshore Guardian *Thumb Blanket ; Lapeer County newspapers *Buyer's Guide *The County Press *LA View *Webco Press ; Sanilac County newspapers *Brown City Banner *Buyers Guide *Camden Publications *Deckerville Recorder *Marlette Leader *Sandusky Tribune *Sanilac County News ; St. Clair County newspapers *Blue Water Shopper *Port Huron Times Herald *The Thumb Print News *The Voice *The Yale Expositor ; Tuscola County Newspapers *Tuscola County Advertiser *Cass City Chronicle *Cass River Trader *Reese Reporter *Vassar Pioneer Times *Mayville Monitor


Broadcast television

The
Lapeer County Lapeer County is a county located in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 88,619. The county seat is Lapeer. The county was created on September 18, 1822, and was fully organized on February 2, 1835. The ...
, St. Clair County and
Sanilac County Sanilac County ( ) is a county located in the Thumb region of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 40,611. The county seat is Sandusky. The county was created on September 10, 1822, and was fully organized on ...
area lies in the Detroit Television Market. The far northern and western areas lie inside the Flint/Tri-Cities Television Market. The only broadcast TV station licensed to the Thumb region is WDCQ-TV, the PBS station licensed to Bad Axe. ; Flint/Tri-Cities * WSMH, Fox 66 * WEYI-TV, NBC / CW 25 * WJRT-TV, ABC 12 * WNEM-TV, CBS / MyTV 5 * WDCQ-TV, PBS 19 ; Sarnia/Windsor Ontario * CBET-DT, CBC 9 *
CIII-DT CIII-DT (channel 41) is a television station in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, serving as the flagship station of the Global Television Network. Owned and operated by network parent Corus Entertainment, CIII-DT maintains studios at 81 Barber Gr ...
, Global 22/29 *
CICO-DT TVO (stylized as tvo), formerly known as TVOntario, is a publicly funded English-language educational television network and media organization serving the Canadian province of Ontario. It operates flagship station CICA-DT (channel 19) in Tor ...
, TVO 32/59 * CKCO-TV, CTV 42 ; Detroit area * WJBK, Fox 2 *
WDIV-TV WDIV-TV (channel 4) is a television station in Detroit, Detroit, Michigan, United States, affiliated with NBC. It serves as the Flagship (broadcasting), flagship broadcast property of the Graham Media Group subsidiary of Graham Holdings, Graham ...
, NBC 4 * WXYZ-TV, ABC 7 * WWJ-TV, CBS 62 *
WTVS WTVS (channel 56) is a PBS member television station in Detroit, Michigan, United States, owned by the Detroit Educational Television Foundation. Its main studios are located at the Riley Broadcast Center and HD Studios in Wixom, with an ad ...
, PBS 56 * WKBD, CW50 * WMYD, MyTV 20 * WADL, independent 38 ; Alpena area * WBKB-TV, CBS / ABC / Fox / MyTV 11


Transportation


Borders

The border between
Port Huron, Michigan 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 administered separately. Located along the St. Clair ...
and
Sarnia Sarnia is a city in Lambton County, Ontario, Canada. It had a 2021 population of 72,047, and is the largest city on Lake Huron. Sarnia is located on the eastern bank of the junction between the Upper and Lower Great Lakes where Lake Huron ...
,
Ontario Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central C ...
is one of the busiest connections between Canada and the US. Crossings include the two
Blue Water Bridge The Blue Water Bridge is a twin-span international bridge across the St. Clair River that links Port Huron, Michigan, United States, and Sarnia, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Water Bridge connects Highway 402 in Ontario with both Interstate 6 ...
s and the two St. Clair River Railway Tunnels. Ferries also connect to Canada at Marine City and Algonac.


Major highways

(organized by numbers) * begins at the
Blue Water Bridge The Blue Water Bridge is a twin-span international bridge across the St. Clair River that links Port Huron, Michigan, United States, and Sarnia, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Water Bridge connects Highway 402 in Ontario with both Interstate 6 ...
, proceeds west through
Flint Flint, occasionally flintstone, is a sedimentary cryptocrystalline form of the mineral quartz, categorized as the variety of chert that occurs in chalk or marly limestone. Flint was widely used historically to make stone tools and sta ...
, then
Lansing Lansing () is the capital of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is mostly in Ingham County, although portions of the city extend west into Eaton County and north into Clinton County. The 2020 census placed the city's population at 112,644, making ...
, and then turns south to Angola, Indiana. * has its eastern terminus at the U.S. side of the
Blue Water Bridge The Blue Water Bridge is a twin-span international bridge across the St. Clair River that links Port Huron, Michigan, United States, and Sarnia, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Water Bridge connects Highway 402 in Ontario with both Interstate 6 ...
in
Port Huron, Michigan 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 administered separately. Located along the St. Clair ...
, at the
Sarnia Sarnia is a city in Lambton County, Ontario, Canada. It had a 2021 population of 72,047, and is the largest city on Lake Huron. Sarnia is located on the eastern bank of the junction between the Upper and Lower Great Lakes where Lake Huron ...
,
Ontario Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central C ...
, Canada border, where together with I-69 it meets
Ontario Highway 402 King's Highway 402, commonly referred to as Highway 402 and historically as the Blue Water Bridge Approach, is a 400-series highway in the Canadian province of Ontario that connects the Blue Water Bridge international crossing near Sarnia to ...
. * * * * is a highway of an arc-like shape closely following the outline of the Thumb along the Lake Huron/Saginaw Bay shoreline between Port Huron and Bay City. It is generally a scenic drive. * * is a cross peninsular road, running across the mitten and the Thumb—from Port Sanilac on the
Lake Huron Lake Huron ( ) is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. Hydrologically, it comprises the easterly portion of Lake Michigan–Huron, having the same surface elevation as Lake Michigan, to which it is connected by the , Straits of Ma ...
shore; through Saginaw near Saginaw Bay; and then on to Muskegon on the
Lake Michigan Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is the second-largest of the Great Lakes by volume () and the third-largest by surface area (), after Lake Superior and Lake Huron. To the east, its basin is conjoined with that ...
shore. This east-west surface route nearly bisects the Lower Peninsula of Michigan latitudinally. * is a gateway route to The Thumb of Michigan, carrying vacationers to the resorts and cottages on Saginaw Bay and Lake Huron in the vicinity of Caseville and Port Austin. It goes up the middle of the Thumb, and directly connects in
Macomb County, Michigan Macomb County ( ) is a county located in the eastern portion of the U.S. state of Michigan, bordering Lake St. Clair, and is part of northern Metro Detroit. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 881,217, making it the third-most populous c ...
to the M-53 expressway. It is an important route for agricultural and manufactured goods. * * * * *


Rail

Area
Amtrak The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak () , is the national passenger railroad company of the United States. It operates inter-city rail service in 46 of the 48 contiguous U.S. States and nine cities in Canada ...
stations are in Lapeer, Port Huron, and Flint. Local railroads are the Grand Trunk Western Railroad,
CSX Transportation CSX Transportation , known colloquially as simply CSX, is a Class I freight railroad operating in the Eastern United States and the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec. The railroad operates approximately 21,000 route miles () of track. ...
,
Canadian National Railway The Canadian National Railway Company (french: Compagnie des chemins de fer nationaux du Canada) is a Canadian Class I railroad, Class I freight railway headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, which serves Canada and the Midwestern United States, M ...
, and the Huron and Eastern Railway.
Pere Marquette Railway The Pere Marquette Railway operated in the Great Lakes region of the United States and southern parts of Ontario in Canada. It had trackage in the states of Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and the Canadian province of Ontario. Its primary connections in ...
was a railroad that had lines throughout the Thumb; its lines are now either abandoned or in use by CSX, or Huron and Eastern. Major railroad centers are Vassar, Bad Axe and
Port Huron 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 administered separately. Located along the St. Clair ...
.


Airports

The only international airport in the Thumb is
St. Clair County International Airport St. Clair County International Airport is a public airport owned by the government of St. Clair County, Michigan, United States. It is located in Kimball Township, five miles (8 km) southwest of the central business district (CBD) of Po ...
about outside Port Huron. City airports include: Caro Municipal, Dupont-Lapeer Airport, Huron County Memorial Airport, Marine City Airport, Marlette Municipal, Sandusky City, and Yale Airport. Scheduled airline service is available from MBS International Airport in
Freeland, Michigan Freeland is a census-designated place in Tittabawassee Township, Saginaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is part of the Saginaw-Midland-Bay Metropolitan Area. As of the 2000 census, the CDP population was 5,147. The CDP covers an area ...
and Flint Bishop International Airport. While neither of these airports is in the Thumb, both are relatively close by.


Area codes

Area code 989 covers about half of the Thumb: Huron, Tuscola, and far northern Sanilac County (and the Marlette, Michigan area). The Thumb's other half is covered by area code 810, which takes in most of Sanilac, Lapeer, Genesee and Saint Clair Counties. All of Macomb County is served by area code 586, as is a small part of south-western Saint Clair County.


See also


State

*
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 ...


Regional

* Flint/Tri-Cities and
Tri-Cities Tri-Cities most often refers to: *Tri-Cities, Tennessee, United States *Tri-Cities, Washington, United States Tri-City, Tricity or Tri-Cities may also refer to: Populated places Americas Canada *Tri-Cities (British Columbia), consisting of Co ...
*
Lake Huron Lake Huron ( ) is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. Hydrologically, it comprises the easterly portion of Lake Michigan–Huron, having the same surface elevation as Lake Michigan, to which it is connected by the , Straits of Ma ...
*
Metro Detroit The Detroit metropolitan area, often referred to as Metro Detroit, is a major metropolitan area in the U.S. State of Michigan, consisting of the city of Detroit and its surrounding area. There are varied definitions of the area, including the ...


Counties

* List of counties in Michigan


Cities and villages

* Akron (Tuscola) * Algonac (St. Clair) *
Applegate Applegate may refer to: Places * Applegate, California, United States * Applegate, Michigan, United States * Applegate, Oregon, United States * Applegate Peak in Oregon * The Applegate River in Oregon ** Applegate Lake, on the Applegate River * ...
(Sanilac) * Almont (Lapeer) *
Armada Armada is the Spanish and Portuguese word for naval fleet, which also adopted into English, Malay and Indonesian for the same meaning, or an adjective meaning 'armed'; Armáda () is the Czech and Slovak word for armed forces. Armada may also refe ...
(Macomb) * Bad Axe (Huron) * Brown City (Sanilac/Lapeer) * Capac (St. Clair) * Caro (Tuscola) * Carsonville (Sanilac) * Caseville (Huron) *
Cass City Cass City is a village in Elkland Township, Tuscola County in the Flint/Tri-Cities area of the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,428 at the 2010 U.S. Census and 2,643 at the 2000 U.S. Census (a decrease of about 8%). It is located al ...
(Tuscola) *
Clifford Clifford may refer to: People *Clifford (name), an English given name and surname, includes a list of people with that name *William Kingdon Clifford *Baron Clifford *Baron Clifford of Chudleigh *Baron de Clifford *Clifford baronets *Clifford fami ...
(Lapeer) * Columbiaville (Lapeer) * Croswell (Sanilac) * Deckerville (Sanilac) * Dryden (Lapeer) * Elkton (Huron) *
Emmett Emmett may refer to: Places ;In the United States * Emmett, Idaho * Emmett, Kansas * Emmett, Michigan, a village in St. Clair County * Emmett Charter Township, Michigan in Calhoun County * Emmett Township, St. Clair County, Michigan * Emmett, Misso ...
(St. Clair) * Fairgrove (Tuscola) * Forestville (Sanilac) * Gagetown (Tuscola) * Harbor Beach (Huron) * Imlay City (Lapeer) * Kinde (Huron) *
Kingston Kingston may refer to: Places * List of places called Kingston, including the five most populated: ** Kingston, Jamaica ** Kingston upon Hull, England ** City of Kingston, Victoria, Australia ** Kingston, Ontario, Canada ** Kingston upon Thames, ...
(Tuscola) * Lapeer (Lapeer) * Lexington (Sanilac) * Marine City (St. Clair) * Marlette (Sanilac) * Marysville (St. Clair) * Mayville (Tuscola) * Melvin (Sanilac) * Memphis (St. Clair/Macomb) * Metamora (Lapeer) * Millington (Tuscola) * Minden City (Sanilac) * North Branch (Lapeer) * Otter Lake (Lapeer/Genesee) * Owendale (Huron) * Peck (Sanilac) *
Pigeon Columbidae () is a bird family consisting of doves and pigeons. It is the only family in the order Columbiformes. These are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills that in some species feature fleshy ceres. They primarily ...
(Huron) * Port Austin (Huron) * Port Hope (Huron) *
Port Huron 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 administered separately. Located along the St. Clair ...
(St. Clair) * Port Sanilac (Sanilac) * Reese (Tuscola/Saginaw) * Richmond (Macomb/St. Clair) *
Romeo Romeo Montague () is the male protagonist of William Shakespeare's tragedy ''Romeo and Juliet''. The son of Lord Montague and his wife, Lady Montague, he secretly loves and marries Juliet, a member of the rival House of Capulet, through a pries ...
(Macomb) * Sandusky (Sanilac) * Sebewaing (Huron) * St. Clair (St. Clair) *
Ubly Ubly is a village in Huron County, Michigan, Huron County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 858 at the 2010 United States Census, 2010 census. The village is within Bingham Township, Huron County, Michigan, Bingham Township. On Fe ...
(Huron) * Unionville (Tuscola) * Vassar (Tuscola) *
Yale Yale University is a private research university in New Haven, Connecticut. Established in 1701 as the Collegiate School, it is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and among the most prestigious in the wo ...
(St. Clair)


Notes


Further reading

*Ackerman, Emma J. ''Thumb Fires of 1871 and 1881''. CMU Term Paper, 1968. *DuMond, Neva. ''Thumb diggings; adventures into Michigan's Thumb area.'' Lexington, Mich, 1962. *''The Great Fire of 1881: A Collection of Stories.'' Caro, MI: Tuscola County Advertiser, 1981. *Hatt, R. T. — ''The petroglyphs'', by D. J. Richards. — An archeological survey of the petroglyph site, by M. Papworth (republished from the Michigan archeologist, Dec. 1957) The Sanilac petroglyphs. Bloomfield Hills, Michigan:
Cranbrook Institute of Science The Cranbrook Educational Community is an education, research, and public museum complex in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. This National Historic Landmark was founded in the early 20th century by newspaper mogul George Gough Booth George Gough Bo ...
, 1958 *''House Party: Reminiscences by Traditional Musicians and Square Dance Callers in Michigan's Thumb Area.'' Port Huron, MI: Museum of Arts and History, 1982. *Schultz, Gerard. ''A History of Michigan's Thumb''. *Smith, Dee. ''Treks into the Past: Historical Sketches of Michigan's Thumb''. Decatur, MI: Heritage Valley Publishing, 1989. *Southgate, Jerry D. Thumb's Forest Fire of 1881. Central Michigan University Term Paper, 1967.


External links


Great Lakes Coast Watch


{{DEFAULTSORT:The Thumb Peninsulas of Michigan Central Michigan Lake Huron Regions of Michigan Huron County, Michigan Lapeer County, Michigan Port Huron, Michigan Sanilac County, Michigan St. Clair County, Michigan Tuscola County, Michigan