Mount Clemens is a city in Macomb County, Michigan, United States. It serves as the county seat of Macomb County. The city had a population of 15,697 according to the 2020 census. Mount Clemens is located within the Detroit metropolitan area.

History

Mount Clemens was first measured in 1795 after the Revolutionary War by Christian Clemens, who settled there four years later. Clemens was the son of a Mennonite farming family from Pennsylvania. Clemens and his friend Oliver Wiswell bought a distillery built in 1797 by John Brooks. This distillery attracted workers and customers, helping to settle the area. Brooks and Clemens divided the land into plots, and the town was named after Clemens in 1818. It received a post office in 1821, with John Stockton as the first postmaster. Christian Clemens is buried at Clemens Park, located just north of downtown.

Indian mounds were nearby, specifically north of the Clinton River near the present location of Selfridge Air National Guard Base.

The settlement applied for village status in 1837, but the legislature did not act on this until 1851. It was incorporated as a city in 1879. It became the seat of Macomb County on March 11, 1818.

The Mount Clemens Public Library opened in 1865 by Professor Silas Wood, located on the third floor of the Union School (now Alexander Macomb School). The next expansion of library space occurred in 1890 in the basement of the courthouse (now the Macomb County Building). By 1895, the library outgrew its location and was temporarily moved to the Chamber of Commerce Building (now the corner of N. Walnut Street and New Street). Increased use by citizens and visitors seeking mineral baths led to further growth, supported by donations. Andrew Carnegie was asked to fund a new library building at the corner of Southbound Gratiot Avenue and Macomb Place in 1902. From 1904 to 1968, the public library operated from the Carnegie building until it became the Art Center in 1970 (now the Anton Art Center). The Mount Clemens Public Library currently sits opposite Mount Clemens High School on Cass and Mack avenues.

Historically, Mount Clemens' largest industry for more than 100 years, from 1873 to 1974, was tourism related to mineral baths, which came from springs found throughout the city. These baths were popular tourist destinations. At the height of the industry, the city had 11 bathhouses and several hotels connected to this trade. The first bathhouse, built in 1873 and called "The Original," was located on the corner of Jones and Water streets. It burned in 1883 but was rebuilt the next year to accommodate more visitors. Over the years, well-known people such as actors Clark Gable and Mae West, athletes Babe Ruth and Jack Dempsey, news publisher William Randolph Hearst, and the Vanderbilt family visited the city to use the mineral springs.

As of 1998, the only remaining bathhouse from this era is St. Joseph's Sanitarium and Bath House. It was recently renamed Select Specialty Hospital and is owned by Select Medical Corporation. This building is at risk of being demolished, but the Friends of Historic Preservation are working with the city to protect it.

The Olympia Salon & Spa, located in the Martha Washington Sanitarium on Cass Avenue, now offers mineral baths again.

From about 1898 to 1950, the Mount Clemens Sugar Company operated, turning sugar beets into refined sugar.

Throughout the late 20th century, the suburban growth of metropolitan Detroit and its outer areas affected the city of Mount Clemens and its surrounding townships.

Geography

Mount Clemens is located in south-central Macomb County. It is 20 miles (32 km) northeast of downtown Detroit, 37 miles (60 km) southwest of Port Huron, and 3 miles (5 km) west of Lake St. Clair. The Clinton River flows through the city. Most of the city is surrounded by Clinton Township, except for the far east side, which is next to Harrison Township.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Mount Clemens has a total area of 4.21 square miles (10.90 km²). Out of this area, 4.09 square miles (10.59 km²) are land, and 0.11 square miles (0.28 km²), or 2.69%, are water.

Demographics

As of the 2010 census, the city had 16,314 people, 6,714 households, and 3,542 families. The population density was 4,008.4 people per square mile (1,547.7 per square kilometer). There were 7,582 housing units, with an average density of 1,862.9 per square mile (719.3 per square kilometer). The racial makeup was 70.0% White, 24.8% African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.8% from other races, and 3.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race made up 2.9% of the population.

There were 6,714 households. Of these, 25.9% had children under 18 living with them, 30.6% were married couples, 16.4% had a female householder without a husband, 5.7% had a male householder without a wife, and 47.2% were non-families. Thirty-nine point seven percent of households had only one person, and 13% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.19 people, and the average family size was 2.96 people.

The median age in the city was 38.3 years. Twenty point six percent of residents were under 18, 9.7% were between 18 and 24, 28.9% were 25 to 44, 27.8% were 45 to 64, and 13% were 65 or older. The gender distribution was 51.5% male and 48.5% female.

As of the 2000 census, the city had 17,312 people, 7,073 households, and 3,854 families. The population density was 4,107.0 people per square mile (1,585.7 per square kilometer). There were 7,546 housing units, with an average density of 1,790.2 per square mile (691.2 per square kilometer). The racial makeup was 75.79% White, 19.61% African American, 0.73% Native American, 0.49% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.76% from other races, and 2.59% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race made up 2.33% of the population.

There were 7,073 households. Of these, 24.7% had children under 18 living with them, 35.2% were married couples, 14.7% had a female householder without a husband, and 45.5% were non-families. Thirty-nine point two percent of households had only one person, and 13.2% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.21 people, and the average family size was 2.99 people.

In 2000, 21.6% of the population was under 18, 9.0% was between 18 and 24, 34.3% was 25 to 44, 21.7% was 45 to 64, and 13.4% was 65 or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 107.1 males. For every 100 females aged 18 or older, there were 105.8 males.

The median household income in the city was $37,856, and the median family income was $50,518. Males had a median income of $41,005, while females had a median income of $27,896. The average income per person was $21,741. About 10.0% of families and 14.1% of the population lived below the poverty line, including 20.1% of those under 18 and 11.9% of those 65 or older.

Arts and culture

• The Anton Art Center is a community art gallery that was once a Carnegie library.
• The Mock Turtle Press and American Road Magazine are published in Mount Clemens.
• The Emerald Theatre is a concert venue in Mount Clemens.

Government

The city government is made up of a mayor, currently Laura Kropp, and a city council. The city has had money problems for some time. About 42% of properties in the city are tax-exempt, which caused a loss of $1.2 million in revenue. To get more money to fix a $960,000 budget deficit in 2010, former Mayor Barb Dempsey asked tax-exempt organizations, such as churches, schools, and a hospital, to donate to the city's general fund. This money was used to pay for services like fire protection, streetlights, and roads. The city closed its 113-year-old police department in 2005 to save money. Now, the Macomb County Sheriff's Office provides main policing services in Mount Clemens. The budget deficit is expected to reach $1.5 million in 2011.

Education

The Mount Clemens Community School District runs public schools, such as Mount Clemens High School.

Infrastructure

• I-94
• M-3 (Gratiot Avenue)
• M-59 (Hall Road)
• M-97 (Groesbeck Highway)

Bus service is provided by the Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation.

Canadian National provides Class 1 freight service to Mount Clemens. The old Grand Trunk Western rail line from Detroit to Port Huron was previously used for passenger rail services. The Mount Clemens Station, which once provided passenger rail service, now serves as the home of the Michigan Transit Museum. The station was active from 1859 to 1954.