St. Clair Shores is a city in Macomb County, Michigan. It is a suburb near Detroit, located about 14 miles (22.5 km) northeast of downtown Detroit. According to the 2020 census, the city had a population of 58,874.

History

Located along the shores of Lake St. Clair, the area was first settled by French people as early as 1710. At that time, the region was called L'anse Creuse. Over time, the area remained mostly rural and was mainly farmed by French and German families until the early 1900s. Many of these families' last names are still used today by current residents and can be found in the names of local streets.

From 1835 to 1843, the area was part of Orange Township, one of the first townships in Michigan and part of Macomb County. In 1843, Orange Township was renamed Erin Township to honor the many Irish people who had moved there and were becoming more involved in local government. From 1843 until 1911, the area that is now St. Clair Shores was part of Erin Township, which later became parts of Eastpointe, Roseville, and St. Clair Shores.

In 1911, the eastern part of Erin Township was split off to form Lake Township. St. Clair Shores became a village in 1925 and remained part of Lake Township until 1951, when residents voted to become the city of St. Clair Shores. Lake Township remained near the city until 2009, when residents of Grosse Pointe Shores (a part of that city in Macomb County) voted to become a separate city.

Around the time of World War I, St. Clair Shores became a popular place for gamblers, people who smuggled alcohol, and tourists. This trend continued during Prohibition and into World War II. The village had many popular places for entertainment, such as roadhouses, illegal bars, and gambling spots, including the Blossom Heath Inn. Its location near Lake St. Clair and Canada, along with a community that sometimes supported these activities, made it a key place for smuggling alcohol during Prohibition. Local people, leaders, and police sometimes disagreed with state and federal officials about controlling these illegal but important economic activities.

The Eagle Pointe subdivision, one of many planned in St. Clair Shores during the early 1900s, was created along the lakeshore in 1916. Over the next few decades, many other subdivisions were planned on farmland, but most were not built until after World War II. During the 1950s, St. Clair Shores became the fastest-growing suburb of Detroit.

From 1927 to 1959, the community was home to Jefferson Beach Amusement Park, a popular attraction for people in Detroit and nearby areas. The park opened in 1927 and had the longest roller coaster in the United States, a large dance pavilion, and a sandy beach. In 1955, a fire damaged parts of the park, and changing public interests led to its decline. Although the owners considered rebuilding, local officials did not support the park. Instead, the owners expanded a marina on the site. By 1959, the remaining parts of the park were torn down to make space for the larger Jefferson Beach Marina. The only thing left from the park was its large dance hall, which was later used as a storage building for boats and supplies until it was also destroyed by fire.

Geography

St. Clair Shores is located in southern Macomb County, on the western side of Lake St. Clair. To the west of the city are the cities of Roseville and Eastpointe. To the south, in Wayne County, are the cities of Harper Woods, Grosse Pointe Woods, and Grosse Pointe Shores. Interstate 94 runs along the western side of the city, with exits numbered 224 through 230. I-94 connects to midtown Detroit, 13 miles (21 kilometers) southwest, and to Port Huron, 40 miles (64 kilometers) northeast.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, St. Clair Shores has a total area of 14.40 square miles (37.30 square kilometers). Of this area, 2.72 square miles (7.04 square kilometers), or 18.9%, is covered by water. The city has 14 miles (23 kilometers) of canals. Most of these canals are located in the Nautical Mile, which is along Jefferson Road between 9 Mile and 10 Mile Roads.

Attractions

The Nautical Mile is a one-mile section of Jefferson Avenue along the lake, located between 9 Mile Road and 10 Mile Road. This area includes a streetscape with a nautical theme, stores, restaurants, places where boats are sold, and both private and public marinas. The tallest building in St. Clair Shores, the 28-story Shore Club Sky Tower, also known as "9 Mile Tower," is located at the foot of Nine Mile Road and Jefferson Avenue on the lakefront. This residential tower is a well-known nautical landmark, and its light on the rooftop can be seen from far away.

St. Clair Shores is home to the longest-running preliminary scholarship pageant for the Miss America Organization in Michigan and one of the longest-running in the United States. Since 1953, the Miss St. Clair Shores Scholarship Program has provided scholarships to young women aged 17 to 24 in the community. The pageant is held each July at the South Lake High School Auditorium. Participants in the Miss St. Clair Shores program volunteer and help their city while preparing for the Miss Michigan Pageant.

St. Clair Shores has a long history connected to Detroit’s musical past. It was once a popular lakefront entertainment area. Many past roadhouses in the area hosted famous national performers. Other notable music-related places include the former Car City Records store, where many Detroit musicians worked; the former Crows Nest East, a popular music venue in the late 1960s; and the former Shirley's Swinger Lounge. Many musicians who performed at or visited these places, such as Bob Seger, the MC5, Iggy Pop, and The Frost, later achieved regional and national success.

St. Clair Shores is one of the few communities that once claimed the nickname "Hockeytown USA" before the Detroit Red Wings and the city of Detroit. It is known nationwide and in Canada as a long-time center for youth hockey, largely because of the successful St. Clair Shores Hockey Association. The area once had the United States’ first privately owned indoor ice hockey arena, Gordie Howe Hockeyland. It also has two public indoor ice arenas at its recreation center. Due to the strong youth hockey program, local high school teams often dominated competitions in the 1970s. St. Clair Shores Lakeview High School went undefeated during its 1973 state championship season. Although Gordie Howe Hockeyland has since closed, youth hockey remains popular in St. Clair Shores, and references to "Hockeytown USA" can still be found in the St. Clair Shores Civic Arena.

Although the population of St. Clair Shores has decreased since its peak in the early 1970s due to the end of the baby boomer generation and urban expansion, it remains a popular suburb of Detroit. This is because of its location along the lake, its municipal parks, its recreational sports programs and facilities, and its three public school districts.

Demographics

As of the 2020 census, St. Clair Shores had a population of 58,874. The median age was 44.8 years. Sixteen point seven percent of residents were under the age of 18, and 21.0% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females, there were 93.9 males, and for every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 92.0 males aged 18 and over.

One hundred percent of residents lived in urban areas, and 0.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 27,264 households in St. Clair Shores. Twenty-one point two percent of these households had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 40.0% were married-couple households, 21.5% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 31.1% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 36.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 28,507 housing units, of which 4.4% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.5%, and the rental vacancy rate was 4.8%.

As of the 2010 census, there were 59,715 people, 26,585 households, and 15,932 families living in the city. The population density was 5,139.0 inhabitants per square mile (1,984.2/km²). There were 28,467 housing units at an average density of 2,449.8 per square mile (945.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 92.7% White, 3.9% African American, 0.3% Native American, 1.0% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race were 1.7% of the population.

Of the 26,585 households, 24.6% had children under 18 living with them, 43.6% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 40.1% were not families. About 35.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.5% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.24, and the average family size was 2.90.

The median age in the city was 44.2 years. Nineteen percent of residents were under 18, 7% were between 18 and 24, 24.9% were from 25 to 44, 29.7% were from 45 to 64, and 19.2% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.8% male and 52.2% female.

As of the 2000 census, 63,096 people, 27,434 households, and 17,283 families were living in the city. The population density was 5,472.3 inhabitants per square mile (2,112.9/km²). The 28,208 housing units had an average density of 2,446.5 per square mile (944.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.89% White, 0.69% African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.84% Asian, 0.20% from other races, and 1.10% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race were 1.18% of the population.

Of the 27,434 households, 24.1% had children under 18 living with them, 49.5% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.0% were not families. About 32.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28, and the average family size was 2.92.

In the city, the age distribution was 20.2% under 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 28.8% from 25 to 44, 23.1% from 45 to 64, and 21.8% who were 65 or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.9 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 86.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $49,047, and for a family was $59,245. Males had a median income of $46,614 versus $31,192 for females. The per capita income for the city was $25,009. About 2.6% of families and 3.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.4% of those under 18 and 4.9% of those 65 or over.

Education

St. Clair Shores has three school districts: South Lake Schools, which covers the southern part of the city; Lakeview Public Schools, which covers the central part of the city; and Lake Shore Public Schools, which covers the northern part of the city. Each district has one high school located within the city. Private and parochial schools in the area include St. Germaine (closed permanently in 2024), St. Isaac Jogues, and St. Joan of Arc.

Notable people

• George Allen – football coach in the National Football League and United States Football League; inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
• Hunter Brown – Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher for the Houston Astros (2022–present)
• Dave Coulier – actor and comedian
• David Coulter – politician; served as Oakland County executive
• David Debol – played for the National Hockey League (NHL) Hartford Whalers from 1979 to 1981
• Anne Fletcher – dancer, choreographer, and film director
• Faye Grant – actress
• Donald Patrick Harvey – actor who appeared in movies like Die Hard 2 and the TV show Walker, Texas Ranger
• Alto Reed – musician, saxophonist, and backing vocalist, known for his work with The Silver Bullet Band
• Fred "Sonic" Smith – guitarist who played for the bands MC5 and Sonic's Rendezvous Band
• Werner Spitz – forensic pathologist
• Mark Wells – member of the 1980 United States Olympic ice hockey team, known as the "Miracle on Ice"
• Rachelle Consiglio-Wilkos – television producer and wife of television personality Steve Wilkos
• Thomas J. Wilson – chairman and CEO of Allstate
• John Ziegler Jr. (1952) – served as president of the NHL from 1977 to 1992 and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1987