Algonac ( / ˈ ɔː l ɡ ə ˌ n æ k / AWL -gə-nack ) is a city in St. Clair County, Michigan. According to the 2020 census, the population was 4,196.

The city was officially formed as a village in 1867 and became a city in 1967. It is located at the southern end of the St. Clair River and has a long boardwalk and a riverfront park. Algonac State Park is located just north of the city. The city is also known for being the founding place and headquarters of the now-defunct Chris-Craft Boats company.

History

Algonac was first lived in by Native American tribes. In 1805, European American John Martin settled there in the newly formed Michigan Territory. Earlier, French colonists, the first Europeans to settle the area, called it Pointe Du Chêne, which means "oak point" because of the trees nearby. Later, British colonists named it Manchester. In 1836, it became the fourth village planned by Americans along the St. Clair River. Its current name, Algonac, was created by Henry Schoolcraft and used in 1843.

Most people moved there in the mid-1800s and later. By 1863, the small community had a church, two or three sawmills, a gristmill, a woolen factory, and about 700 people. It was the center of a farming area. The economy also relied on logging, shipping, and work connected to boats on the Great Lakes.

The village of Algonac was part of Clay Township. However, since Algonac became a city in 1967, the two areas are managed separately.

Algonac is where Emily Helen Butterfield was born. She was an artist and the first woman in Michigan to be licensed as an architect. She was known for creative designs in church buildings. The city was also home to Chris-Craft, the company that made the first mass-produced speedboats. It was also where Gar Wood, a famous speedboat racer, lived.

Algonac has two museums that show its history. The Algonac Clay Community Museum has displays about the city’s past. The Algonac Clay Maritime Museum shows the area’s connection to the sea, including exhibits of Chris-Craft and Gar Wood boats made there. Both museums are open every weekend from May to October. Algonac is known as the birthplace of modern power boating.

The road called Jankow was originally named Rohn. However, the person who built the first house on the road refused to use that name.

Geography

The United States Census Bureau reports that the city covers an area of 1.44 square miles (3.73 km²), with 1.43 square miles (3.70 km²) being land and 0.01 square miles (0.03 km²) being water.

Algonac is located on the largest delta in the Great Lakes, at the mouth of the St. Clair River. Because the city has many canals, it is called "the Venice of Michigan." The city is located in the Blue Water Area, a sub-region of the Thumb.

The Algonac post office uses the ZIP Code 48001, which is the lowest numeric ZIP Code in the state of Michigan.

Demographics

As of the 2010 census, the city had 4,110 people, 1,756 households, and 1,082 families. The population density was 2,874.1 people per square mile (1,109.7 per square kilometer). There were 2,040 housing units, with an average density of 1,426.6 per square mile (550.8 per square kilometer). The racial makeup was 97.1% White, 0.3% African American, 0.7% Native American, 0.1% Asian, 0.1% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people made up 1.3% of the population.

Of the 1,756 households, 28.2% had children under 18 living with them. Forty-four point eight percent were married couples, 11.8% had a female householder without a husband, 5.0% had a male householder without a wife, and 38.4% were non-families. Thirty-one point seven percent of households included only one person, and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.33 people, and the average family size was 2.92 people.

The median age in the city was 42.3 years. Twenty-one point two percent of residents were under 18, 8.6% were between 18 and 24, 24% were aged 25 to 44, 30.8% were aged 45 to 64, and 15.5% were 65 or older. The city had 49.6% males and 50.4% females.

As of the 2000 census, the city had 4,613 people, 1,871 households, and 1,212 families. The population density was 3,291.7 people per square mile (1,270.9 per square kilometer). There were 2,014 housing units, with an average density of 1,437.1 per square mile (554.9 per square kilometer). The racial makeup was 97.36% White, 0.15% African American, 0.95% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.17% from other races, and 1.15% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people made up 1.02% of the population.

Of the 1,871 households, 31.0% had children under 18 living with them. Forty-nine point five percent were married couples, 10.7% had a female householder without a husband, and 35.2% were non-families. Thirty point three percent of households included only one person, and 15.2% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.46 people, and the average family size was 3.05 people.

In 2000, 25.5% of the population was under 18, 7.5% were aged 18 to 24, 30.2% were aged 25 to 44, 23.2% were aged 45 to 64, and 13.5% were 65 or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.3 males. For every 100 females aged 18 or older, there were 91.8 males.

The median household income in the city was $42,133, and the median family income was $55,000. Males earned a median income of $41,644, while females earned $25,000. The per capita income was $22,441. Approximately 8.6% of families and 9.4% of the population lived below the poverty line, including 10.7% of those under 18 and 15.2% of those aged 65 or older.

Transportation

• M-29 travels through the city as Pointe Tremble Road and St. Clair River Drive, running alongside the St. Clair River.
• M-154 is located entirely on Harsens Island, which is just south of the city.

• The Walpole–Algonac Ferry crosses the St. Clair River near the Canada–United States border, linking Algonac to the Walpole Island First Nation in Ontario.
• Close to Algonac’s city center, ferry service is available to Russell Island.
• In Clay Township, just west of the city, ferry service also connects to Harsens Island.

• The Blue Water Area Transportation Commission provides a bus route from Port Huron to Chesterfield Township, operating in the morning and evening on weekdays. The bus travels through Algonac using M-29 and connects to the SMART system in Metro Detroit.

Notable people

• Morgan Beadlescomb, a track and field athlete who attended school in Algonac
• Emily Helen Butterfield, a women's rights supporter born in Algonac
• Jane Cadwell, a swimmer who competed in the Olympics
• Martha Hughes Cannon, a doctor who worked in Algonac for a short time
• Danny DeKeyser, a professional hockey player in the National Hockey League
• Leroy Drumm, a songwriter who wrote music in the bluegrass and country genres
• Judson Gilbert II, a state politician who attended school in Algonac
• John S. Gray, a businessman and banker who also taught in Algonac
• Jeff Gutt, a singer in the band Stone Temple Pilots who attended school in Algonac
• Dan Kloeffler, a television journalist who attended school in Algonac
• Billy Leslie, a former professional racing driver born in Algonac
• Catelynn Lowell, a television personality who appears on reality shows
• Garfield Wood, an inventor, business owner, and winner of motorboat racing competitions

Images

• United States Post Office in Algonac
• Algonac City Offices
• Riverfront boardwalk
• Historic library and museum