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The Thumb is a region and a peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan, so named because the Lower Peninsula is shaped like a mitten. 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 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. Hydrology, 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 , Strait ...
and
Saginaw Bay Saginaw Bay is a bay within Lake Huron located on the eastern side of the U.S. state of Michigan. It forms the space between Michigan's Thumb region and the rest of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. Saginaw Bay is in area. It is located in part ...
. There is no formal list of which counties are part of the Thumb, but virtually all definitions include
Huron Huron may refer to: People * Wyandot people (or Wendat), indigenous to North America * Wyandot language, spoken by them * Huron-Wendat Nation, a Huron-Wendat First Nation with a community in Wendake, Quebec * Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi ...
, Tuscola, and Sanilac Counties, and most include Lapeer and St. Clair Counties.


Economy

The Thumb region is very flat with fertile soil, 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 wi ...
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 ...
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. Th ...
, fruits, and fish from the
Saginaw Bay Saginaw Bay is a bay within Lake Huron located on the eastern side of the U.S. state of Michigan. It forms the space between Michigan's Thumb region and the rest of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. Saginaw Bay is in area. It is located in part ...
and
Lake Huron Lake Huron ( ) is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. Hydrology, 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 , Strait ...
. Manufacturing—particularly concerning the automotive industry—is also prevalent in Michigan's Thumb due to the region's proximity to the automotive centers of Detroit and Flint.


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 American global food corporation based in Minnetonka, Minnesota, and incorporated in Wilmington, Delaware. Founded in 1865, it is the largest privately held corporation in the United States in ter ...
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, 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, 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, on the peninsula formed by the St. Clair and Belle rivers. The plant ...
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. *
Grand Trunk Western Railway The Grand Trunk Western Railroad Company is an American subsidiary of the Canadian National Railway operating in Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio. Since a corporate restructuring in 1971, the railroad has been under CN's subsidiary holding ...
has a major rail yard in Port Huron Township. *Marysville Hydrocarbons is an ethanol 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 distillation ...
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. 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. HV ...
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, flavors and fragrances based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Their products are used in many foods and beverages, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, home and personal care products, specia ...
, 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, 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 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. * Thumb Cellular 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 and Ontario, Canada, 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 Sanilac Port Sanilac is a village in Sanilac Township, Sanilac County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 567 at the 2020 census. History This village was originally a lumberjack settlement on the shore of Lake Huron named "Bark Shanty. ...
, 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. Hydrology, 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 , Strait ...
,
Saginaw Bay Saginaw Bay is a bay within Lake Huron located on the eastern side of the U.S. state of Michigan. It forms the space between Michigan's Thumb region and the rest of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. Saginaw Bay is in area. It is located in part ...
, or St. Clair River. Tourism and farming drive the local economy. The
Tip of The Thumb Heritage Water Trail The Tip of The Thumb Heritage Water Trails 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. It is dependent on public support for its exi ...
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, Flint 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, Marysville, Lapeer, St. Clair, Marine City,
Algonac Algonac is a city in St. Clair County of the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 4,110 at the 2010 census. Algonac is located at the southern end of the St. Clair River, just before it splits into a large delta region known as the St. Cl ...
, Caro,
Imlay City Imlay City is a city in Lapeer County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,869 at the 2000 census and 3,585 at the 2020 census. History Imlay City was founded on April 1, 1850 by Charles Palmer, the chief engineer of the Port Hu ...
, 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 Algonac is a city in St. Clair County of the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 4,110 at the 2010 census. Algonac is located at the southern end of the St. Clair River, just before it splits into a large delta region known as the St. Cl ...
, known as the
Venice Venice ( ; it, Venezia ; vec, Venesia or ) is a city in northeastern Italy and the capital of the Veneto Regions of Italy, region. It is built on a group of 118 small islands that are separated by canals and linked by over 400  ...
of Michigan because of its many canals, is a part of the largest freshwater
delta Delta commonly refers to: * Delta (letter) (Δ or δ), a letter of the Greek alphabet * River delta, at a river mouth * D (NATO phonetic alphabet: "Delta") * Delta Air Lines, US * Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 that causes COVID-19 Delta may also re ...
in the world, that of the St. Clair River into
Lake St. Clair Lake St. Clair (french: Lac Sainte-Claire) is a freshwater lake that lies between the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of Michigan. It was named in 1679 by French Catholic explorers after Saint Clare of Assisi, on whose feast day ...
. * 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 The Harbor Beach Lighthouse is a "sparkplug lighthouse" located at the end of the north breakwall entrance to the harbor of refuge on Lake Huron. The breakwall and light were created by the United States Army Corps of Engineers to protect the ha ...
. *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. Hydrology, 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 , Strait ...
, 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 This is a list of notable bean soups, characterized by soups that use beans as a primary ingredient. Bean soups * 15 Bean Soup – a packaged dry bean soup mix produced by the N.K. Hurst Co. in the United States * Amish preaching soup – in A ...
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 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 deposits ...
s in the state. * Port Huron is the maritime capital of the Great Lakes, where
Lake Huron Lake Huron ( ) is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. Hydrology, 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 , Strait ...
flows into the St. Clair River. This is the largest city in the Thumb area. It was the boyhood home of Thomas Edison. *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 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 wi ...
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 on Michigan's coast. There are nineteen major shipwrecks in the of the
Thumb Area Bottomland Preserve The Thumb Area Underwater Preserve is a preservation area in Lake Huron in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is in size and is located off Michigan's Thumb north of Detroit. Description The Thumb Area Underwater Preserve protects bottomlands off ...
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. Hydrology, 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 , Strait ...
. * Caseville is the home of the annual
Cheeseburger in Caseville Cheeseburger in Caseville is a festival that takes place in Caseville, Michigan every mid-August. The festival is a tribute to tropical paradise, cheeseburgers, and Jimmy Buffett. The 10-day-long festival takes place in the August, celebrating th ...
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, Buffet ...
's song "
Cheeseburger in Paradise "Cheeseburger in Paradise" is a song written and performed by American popular music singer Jimmy Buffett. It appeared on his 1978 album ''Son of a Son of a Sailor'' and was released as a single, reaching No. 32 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. " ...
".


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. Hydrology, 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 , Strait ...
and
Saginaw Bay Saginaw Bay is a bay within Lake Huron located on the eastern side of the U.S. state of Michigan. It forms the space between Michigan's Thumb region and the rest of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. Saginaw Bay is in area. It is located in part ...
shoreline via M-25 (formerly US Highway 25 until 1973). M-25 starts at the end of I-69/ I-94 in Port Huron at the foot of the Blue Water Bridge 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. Clai ...
,
Port Sanilac lighthouse 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 shallo ...
,
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 The Harbor Beach Lighthouse is a "sparkplug lighthouse" located at the end of the north breakwall entrance to the harbor of refuge on Lake Huron. The breakwall and light were created by the United States Army Corps of Engineers to protect the ha ...
, 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, Michigan, Port Austin, Huron County, Michigan, Huron County Michigan sitting on a rocky reef (shoal), which is just north ...
. 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 Grea ...
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. Hydrology, 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 , Strait ...
/ St. Clair RiverPort Huron *
Fort Gratiot Light 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 ...
—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 Port Sanilac is a village in Sanilac Township, Sanilac County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 567 at the 2020 census. History This village was originally a lumberjack settlement on the shore of Lake Huron named "Bark Shanty. ...
—Private
White Rock Memorial Light
Lake Huron — White Rock—Private *
Harbor Beach Light The Harbor Beach Lighthouse is a "sparkplug lighthouse" located at the end of the north breakwall entrance to the harbor of refuge on Lake Huron. The breakwall and light were created by the United States Army Corps of Engineers to protect the ha ...
—Lake Huron — Harbor Beach * Pointe aux Barques Light—Lake Huron—near Port Hope *
Port Austin Light 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 to ...
—Lake Huron — Port Austin *
Charity Island Light Charity Island Light is a lighthouse on Big Charity Island in Lake Huron just off the coast of Au Gres, Northern Michigan. History In 1838, the region was the source of lumber being removed from Lower Michigan via the rivers that enter the low ...
Saginaw Bay Saginaw Bay is a bay within Lake Huron located on the eastern side of the U.S. state of Michigan. It forms the space between Michigan's Thumb region and the rest of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. Saginaw Bay is in area. It is located in part ...
*
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 Algonac is a city in St. Clair County of the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 4,110 at the 2010 census. Algonac is located at the southern end of the St. Clair River, just before it splits into a large delta region known as the St. Cl ...
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, involving two ferry boat crossings, first weekend in October. *''Boat Night & Port Huron to Mackinac Boat Race'' ( Port Huron to
Mackinac Island Mackinac Island ( ; french: Île Mackinac; oj, Mishimikinaak ᒥᔑᒥᑭᓈᒃ; otw, Michilimackinac) is an island and resort area, covering in land area, in the U.S. state of Michigan. The name of the island in Odawa is Michilimackinac an ...
)
''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).
''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 St ...
weekend ( Fairgrove) * Farmer's Festival ( Pigeon) *
Michigan Sugar Festival The Michigan Sugar Festival is an event that occurs one weekend in the middle of June each year. It is held in the village of Sebewaing, Michigan. Purpose The purpose of the festival is "To show the area's appreciation to the sugar industry which ...
( Sebewaing)
"Port Huron Float Down"
Third Sunday in August ( Port Huron)
''"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)


Thumb counties


Huron

Huron County is located at the tip of the thumb. The county is surrounded on three sides by water –
Saginaw Bay Saginaw Bay is a bay within Lake Huron located on the eastern side of the U.S. state of Michigan. It forms the space between Michigan's Thumb region and the rest of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. Saginaw Bay is in area. It is located in part ...
and
Lake Huron Lake Huron ( ) is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. Hydrology, 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 , Strait ...
, and has over of shoreline, from White Rock on
Lake Huron Lake Huron ( ) is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. Hydrology, 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 , Strait ...
to Sebewaing on
Saginaw Bay Saginaw Bay is a bay within Lake Huron located on the eastern side of the U.S. state of Michigan. It forms the space between Michigan's Thumb region and the rest of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. Saginaw Bay is in area. It is located in part ...
, 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 Saginaw Bay is a bay within Lake Huron located on the eastern side of the U.S. state of Michigan. It forms the space between Michigan's Thumb region and the rest of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. Saginaw Bay is in area. It is located in part ...
and
Lake Huron Lake Huron ( ) is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. Hydrology, 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 , Strait ...
. There are two state parks – Sleeper State Park and
Port Crescent State Park Port Crescent State Park is a public recreation area on Lake Huron southwest of Port Austin in Huron County at the tip of The Thumb of Michigan. The state park covers along state route M-25 in Hume Township. The park occupies the site of Po ...
. 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 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 and Detroit, 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. Hydrology, 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 , Strait ...
or
Lake St. Clair Lake St. Clair (french: Lac Sainte-Claire) is a freshwater lake that lies between the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of Michigan. It was named in 1679 by French Catholic explorers after Saint Clare of Assisi, on whose feast day ...
, 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 Brandon Township, Oakland County, Michigan, Oakland County and Hadley Township, Lapeer County, Michigan, Lapeer County, Michigan. Facilities * Beach House * Boat Launch * Campgroun ...
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 Port Sanilac is a village in Sanilac Township, Sanilac County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 567 at the 2020 census. History This village was originally a lumberjack settlement on the shore of Lake Huron named "Bark Shanty. ...
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 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 from Ontario. 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 wi ...
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.


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 Cairo ( ; ar, القاهرة, al-Qāhirah, ) is the capital of Egypt and its largest city, home to 10 million people. It is also part of the largest urban agglomeration in Africa, the Arab world and the Middle East: The Greater Cairo metro ...
and is the county seat. Tuscola County only has of shoreline along
Saginaw Bay Saginaw Bay is a bay within Lake Huron located on the eastern side of the U.S. state of Michigan. It forms the space between Michigan's Thumb region and the rest of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. Saginaw Bay is in area. It is located in part ...
, 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 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 Richmond most often refers to: * Richmond, Virginia, the capital of Virginia, United States * Richmond, London, a part of London * Richmond, North Yorkshire, a town in England * Richmond, British Columbia, a city in Canada * Richmond, California, ...
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. Hydrology, 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 , Strait ...
to the north to
Lake St. Clair Lake St. Clair (french: Lac Sainte-Claire) is a freshwater lake that lies between the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of Michigan. It was named in 1679 by French Catholic explorers after Saint Clare of Assisi, on whose feast day ...
. Below that is the Detroit River. The namesake Blue Water Bridge spans the St. Clair river, connecting Port Huron to
Sarnia, Ontario 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 flo ...
. 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 This is a list of Michigan state parks and related protected areas under the jurisdiction or owned by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Parks and Recreation Division. A total of 106 state parks, state recreation areas and trai ...
and geography of Michigan. *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 shee ...
, 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 Saginaw Bay is a bay within Lake Huron located on the eastern side of the U.S. state of Michigan. It forms the space between Michigan's Thumb region and the rest of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. Saginaw Bay is in area. It is located in part ...
or
Lake Huron Lake Huron ( ) is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. Hydrology, 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 , Strait ...
. *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 turbines 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 rivers all rise in the center of Huron County and empty into the
Saginaw Bay Saginaw Bay is a bay within Lake Huron located on the eastern side of the U.S. state of Michigan. It forms the space between Michigan's Thumb region and the rest of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. Saginaw Bay is in area. It is located in part ...
. * St. Clair River, connects
Lake Huron Lake Huron ( ) is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. Hydrology, 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 , Strait ...
to
Lake St. Clair Lake St. Clair (french: Lac Sainte-Claire) is a freshwater lake that lies between the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of Michigan. It was named in 1679 by French Catholic explorers after Saint Clare of Assisi, on whose feast day ...
, and is the farthest east border in Michigan. It forms a low impression in eastern St. Clair County, and has a
delta Delta commonly refers to: * Delta (letter) (Δ or δ), a letter of the Greek alphabet * River delta, at a river mouth * D (NATO phonetic alphabet: "Delta") * Delta Air Lines, US * Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 that causes COVID-19 Delta may also re ...
at its mouth (North America's largest freshwater delta), which includes Harsens Island and
Walpole Island Walpole Island is an island and First Nation reserve in southwestern Ontario, Canada, on the border between Ontario and Michigan in the United States. It is located in the mouth of the St. Clair River on Lake St. Clair, about by road from Winds ...
, Ontario. Ferries cross the river at
Algonac Algonac is a city in St. Clair County of the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 4,110 at the 2010 census. Algonac is located at the southern end of the St. Clair River, just before it splits into a large delta region known as the St. Cl ...
and Marine City, these being international border crossings. * Black River rises near Minden City and flows into the St. Clair River at Port Huron. 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 The Flint River is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map, accessed April 15, 2011 river in the U.S. state of Georgia. The river drains of western Georgia, flowing south from the u ...
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 European, or Europeans, or Europeneans, may refer to: In general * ''European'', an adjective referring to something of, from, or related to Europe ** Ethnic groups in Europe ** Demographics of Europe ** European cuisine, the cuisines of Europe ...
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. 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, 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 Polish may refer to: * Anything from or related to Poland, a country in Europe * Polish language * Poles, people from Poland or of Polish descent * Polish chicken *Polish brothers (Mark Polish and Michael Polish, born 1970), American twin screenwr ...
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 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''). Twelve sp ...
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, 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. T ...
, a large language family. Other tribes who migrated later into the area included the Wyandot (
Huron Huron may refer to: People * Wyandot people (or Wendat), indigenous to North America * Wyandot language, spoken by them * Huron-Wendat Nation, a Huron-Wendat First Nation with a community in Wendake, Quebec * Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi ...
), 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 area is one of oldest European settlements in the state of Michigan, first settled by French colonists. *Colonial-era forts such as
Fort Gratiot Fort Gratiot was an American stockade fort in Fort Gratiot, Michigan, in Saint Clair County, Michigan. The former location of the fort was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. History The Army constructed Fort Gratiot in ...
(north of Port Huron) 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 af ...
took place on September 5, 1881, in the Thumb area of Michigan. The fire, which burned over a million
acre The acre is a unit of land area used in the imperial Imperial is that which relates to an empire, emperor, or imperialism. Imperial or The Imperial may also refer to: Places United States * Imperial, California * Imperial, Missouri * Imp ...
s (4,000 km2) in less than a day, was the consequence of drought, hurricane-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 Logging is the process of cutting, processing, and moving trees to a location for transport. It may include skidding, on-site processing, and loading of trees or logs onto trucks or skeleton cars. Logging is the beginning of a supply chain ...
techniques of clear cutting forests. *The Great Lakes Storm of 1913 was a November blizzard 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 Bureau Region, census regions of the United States Census Bureau (also known as "Region 2"). It occupies the northern central part of ...
and the Canadian province of Ontario. 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. Hydrology, 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 , Strait ...
.


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 Robert Teet (born March 27, 1979) is an American professional wrestler, amateur wrestler, and author. He currently competes on the independent wrestling circuit in the Great Lakes region as Rob Clooney. Teet is best known for his accomplishments ...
– Wrestler, author


Cass City

*
Brewster H. Shaw Brewster Hopkinson Shaw Jr. (born May 16, 1945) is a retired NASA astronaut, U.S. Air Force colonel, and former executive at Boeing. Shaw was inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame on May 6, 2006. Shaw is a veteran of three Space Shuttle ...
– retired United States Air Force colonel and former NASA 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.


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 Terry Knight (born Richard Terrance Knapp; April 9, 1943 – November 1, 2004) was an American rock and roll music producer, promoter, singer, songwriter and radio personality, who enjoyed some success in radio, modest success as a singer, but ...
, singer, DJ, manager,
Terry Knight and the Pack Terry Knight and the Pack (also known as The Pack and The Fabulous Pack) was an American garage rock band formed in Flint, Michigan in 1965. The band was signed to the Lucky Eleven label through most of its brief recording career. They produced ...
, 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 * Terry Nichols, accomplice in the Oklahoma City bombing * 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 – 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 Daniel Timothy Kildee (; born August 11, 1958) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for Michigan's 5th congressional district since 2013. He is a member of the Democratic Party. From 1977 to 2009, Kildee was a municipal e ...
,
Democrat Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (United States) (D) **Democratic ...


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 St. Clair County Community College (SC4) is a public community college in Port Huron, Michigan. It serves as the primary center of higher education for the Blue Water Area. SC4 offers Associate degree and certificate programs. It also offers o ...
, with the main campus in Port Huron, and learning centers in Huron, Sanilac, and Lapeer Counties. *
Baker College Baker College is a private college with its main campus in Owosso, Michigan. It was founded in 1911 and has additional campuses throughout the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. The college has been accused of predatory practices. In 2022, a ProP ...
, 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 186 ...
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 *
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 * Huron LightshipPort Huron *
Thomas Edison Depot Museum The Thomas Edison Depot Museum (previously the Grand Trunk Western Railroad Depot) is a former railway depot located at 520 State Street in Port Huron, Michigan. It has been converted into a museum. The building was listed on the National Register ...
Port Huron *
USCGC Bramble (WLB-392) USCGC ''Bramble'' (WLB-392) is one of the 39 original seagoing buoy tenders built between 1942 and 1944 for the United States Coast Guard. In commission from 1944 until 2003 she saw service in Pacific, Caribbean and Atlantic waters as well as the ...
Port Huron *
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. Clai ...
Port Huron


Elsewhere in the Thumb

* Sanilac County Historical Museum –
Port Sanilac Port Sanilac is a village in Sanilac Township, Sanilac County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 567 at the 2020 census. History This village was originally a lumberjack settlement on the shore of Lake Huron named "Bark Shanty. ...
* 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 and Sarnia, Ontario also serving the region. ; Local Radio Stations in the Thumb Area


Newspapers

* The ''
Huron Daily Tribune The ''Huron Daily Tribune'' is a daily newspaper in Bad Axe, Michigan. The newspaper serves Huron County, in the upper part of "The Thumb". Its parent company, Huron Publishing Company, is owned by Hearst Corporation Hearst Communications, Inc ...
'' 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'' and '' The Detroit News'' are available throughout the area. * The ''
Bay City Times ''The Bay City Times'' is a newspaper published in Bay City, Michigan, United States, published Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays, with a Tuesday edition jointly published with ''The Saginaw News''. The paper is published by Booth Newspapers, owned ...
'' and ''
Saginaw News ''The Saginaw News'' is a newspaper publication based in Saginaw, Michigan, owned by Booth Newspapers, a division of Advance Publications. Published on Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays (along with a joint Tuesday edition with ''The Bay City Times ...
'' are available in northern and western portions of the area, while the ''
Flint Journal ''The Flint Journal'' is a quad-weekly newspaper based in Flint, Michigan, owned by Booth Newspapers, a subsidiary of Advance Publications. Published Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays, it serves Genesee, Lapeer and Shiawassee Counties. ...
'' 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, Global 22/29 * CICO-DT, TVO 32/59 * CKCO-TV, CTV 42 ; Detroit area * WJBK, Fox 2 * WDIV-TV, 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 addit ...
, PBS 56 *
WKBD WKBD-TV (channel 50) is a television station in Detroit, Michigan, United States, affiliated with The CW. It is owned by the CBS News and Stations group alongside CBS owned-and-operated station WWJ-TV (channel 62). Both stations share studios on ...
, 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, Ontario is one of the busiest connections between Canada and the US. Crossings include the two Blue Water Bridges and the two St. Clair River Railway Tunnels. Ferries also connect to Canada at Marine City and
Algonac Algonac is a city in St. Clair County of the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 4,110 at the 2010 census. Algonac is located at the southern end of the St. Clair River, just before it splits into a large delta region known as the St. Cl ...
.


Major highways

(organized by numbers) * begins at the Blue Water Bridge, proceeds west through Flint, then Lansing, and then turns south to Angola, Indiana. * has its eastern terminus at the U.S. side of the Blue Water Bridge 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, Ontario, Canada border, where together with I-69 it meets Ontario Highway 402. * * * * 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 Port Sanilac is a village in Sanilac Township, Sanilac County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 567 at the 2020 census. History This village was originally a lumberjack settlement on the shore of Lake Huron named "Bark Shanty. ...
on the
Lake Huron Lake Huron ( ) is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. Hydrology, 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 , Strait ...
shore; through Saginaw near
Saginaw Bay Saginaw Bay is a bay within Lake Huron located on the eastern side of the U.S. state of Michigan. It forms the space between Michigan's Thumb region and the rest of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. Saginaw Bay is in area. It is located in part ...
; 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 o ...
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 to the M-53 expressway. It is an important route for agricultural and manufactured goods. * * * * *


Rail

Area Amtrak 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 freight railway headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, which serves Canada and the Midwestern and Southern United States. CN i ...
, and the Huron and Eastern Railway. Pere Marquette Railway 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.


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 and Flint Bishop International Airport. While neither of these airports is in the Thumb, both are relatively close by.


Area codes

Area code 989 989 is the area code for Central Michigan, the northeastern Lower Peninsula, and portions of the Thumb. It is the highest-numbered area code in use in the North American Numbering Plan (NANP), as well as the highest possible under the current sys ...
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 Area code 586 is the telephone area code serving much of Macomb County, Michigan, introduced in 2001 as a split from area code 810. Its territory was originally part of area code 313. History Macomb County was originally served by Detroit's ...
, as is a small part of south-western Saint Clair County.


See also


State

* Michigan


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. Hydrology, 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 , Strait ...
* Metro Detroit


Counties

*
List of counties in Michigan There are 83 counties in the U.S. state of Michigan. The boundaries of these counties have not changed substantially since 1897. However, throughout the 19th century, the state legislature frequently adjusted county boundaries. County creation wa ...


Cities and villages

* Akron (Tuscola) *
Algonac Algonac is a city in St. Clair County of the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 4,110 at the 2010 census. Algonac is located at the southern end of the St. Clair River, just before it splits into a large delta region known as the St. Cl ...
(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 (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 Imlay City is a city in Lapeer County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,869 at the 2000 census and 3,585 at the 2020 census. History Imlay City was founded on April 1, 1850 by Charles Palmer, the chief engineer of the Port Hu ...
(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 (Huron) * Port Austin (Huron) * Port Hope (Huron) * Port Huron (St. Clair) *
Port Sanilac Port Sanilac is a village in Sanilac Township, Sanilac County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 567 at the 2020 census. History This village was originally a lumberjack settlement on the shore of Lake Huron named "Bark Shanty. ...
(Sanilac) * Reese (Tuscola/Saginaw) *
Richmond Richmond most often refers to: * Richmond, Virginia, the capital of Virginia, United States * Richmond, London, a part of London * Richmond, North Yorkshire, a town in England * Richmond, British Columbia, a city in Canada * Richmond, California, ...
(Macomb/St. Clair) * Romeo (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 (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. It consists of Cr ...
, 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