St. Clair Shores

History

Located along the shores of Lake St. Clair and inhabited by French settlers as early as 1710, during which time the area was referred to as L'anse Creuse, the future St. Clair Shores would remain mainly a rural farming area populated by largely French and German immigrant families into the early 20th century. These local family surnames have survived into the 21st century and can be found in the surnames of current residents and among numerous residential street names. From 1835 until 1843, the area was part of Orange Township, among the first townships platted in Michigan and part of Macomb County. In 1843, Orange Township was renamed Erin Township, in homage to the numerous Irish immigrants who had moved into the area and had begun to exert their political influence. St. Clair Shores' lakefront location and proximity to Canada coupled with a receptive and often participative community made it an advantageous haven for rum runners, and the area was actively involved in the rum-running era of Prohibition. Local residents, politicians, and law enforcement of the era were known to sometimes conflict with both state and federal officials over their attempts to regulate these illegal, but economically vital, activities within the community. The Eagle Pointe subdivision, one of many platted within the village of St. Clair Shores during the early 20th century, was platted along a part of the lake shore in 1916. From 1927 until 1959, the community was the location of the Jefferson Beach Amusement Park, a major lakefront attraction for the Detroit area and beyond. Opened in 1927, it boasted the longest roller coaster in the United States and numerous other midway attractions, a large, ornate lakefront dance pavilion, and a large, sandy beach popular with swimmers and sun…

Geography

St. Clair Shores is in southern Macomb County, on the western side of Lake St. Clair. It is bordered to the west by the cities of Roseville and Eastpointe and to the south, in Wayne County, by Harper Woods, Grosse Pointe Woods, and Grosse Pointe Shores. Interstate 94 runs along the western edge of the city, with access from Exits 224 through 230. I-94 leads southwest to midtown Detroit and northeast to Port Huron. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, St. Clair Shores has a total area of , of which , or 18.9%, are covered by water. The city has of canals. Most of these canals are found in the Nautical Mile, which is along Jefferson between 9 Mile and 10 Mile Roads. St Clair shores is connected to the communities nearby using the SMART bus services, connecting St Clair shores to the nearby communities like Warren or downtown Detroit by using the SMART bus services which also work with the Detroit Department of transportation (DDOT) bus services in the city of Detroit and Highland Park St Clair shores is connected to nearby communities by two freeways, interstate i-696 connects St Clair shores to the rest of Macomb county's Southern half and the western suburbs of Oakland County, St Clair shores also connects with I-94 bringing you to downtown Detroit or the Detroit metropolitan airport or take the freeway North to Port Huron or Canada.

Race & ethnicity

Largest nearby schools

• Chippewa Valley High School
  High · CLINTON TWP · 2,221 students · 21.6:1 ratio
• Adlai Stevenson High School
  High · STERLING HEIGHTS · 1,977 students · 18.7:1 ratio
• Henry Ford II High School
  High · STERLING HEIGHTS · 1,717 students · 20:1 ratio
• Fraser High School
  High · FRASER · 1,524 students · 16.7:1 ratio
• Lakeview High School
  High · SAINT CLAIR SHORES · 1,465 students · 24.8:1 ratio
• Sterling Heights Senior HS
  High · STERLING HEIGHTS · 1,389 students · 21:1 ratio
• Warren Mott High School
  High · WARREN · 1,385 students · 23.9:1 ratio
• Cousino Senior High School
  High · WARREN · 1,279 students · 23.7:1 ratio