The Thumb
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2008-07-15T21:01:16Z
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[[Image:Lower Peninsula of Michigan map.png|thumb|320px|Map of [[Lower Peninsula of Michigan|Lower Peninsula]]; "The Thumb" is within the region labeled "Flint / Tri Cities".]]
'''The Thumb''' is a region and a peninsula of [[Michigan]], so named because the [[Lower Peninsula of Michigan|Lower Peninsula]] is shaped like a [[mitten]]; thus The Thumb is the area that looks like the [[thumb]] of the mitten. The thumb is a subregion of the '''[[Flint/Tri-Cities]]''' region, and the '''Blue Water Area''' is a subregion of the thumb.
The counties which constitute The Thumb are those forming the extended peninsula that stretches northward into [[Lake Huron]] and [[Saginaw Bay]]. There is no formal declaration for which of these counties are part of The Thumb. However, virtually all common definitions include [[Huron County, Michigan|Huron]], [[Tuscola County, Michigan|Tuscola]], and [[Sanilac County, Michigan|Sanilac]] counties. This definition is sometimes extended to include [[Lapeer County, Michigan|Lapeer]] and [[St. Clair County, Michigan|St. Clair]] counties as well. The fact that [[Lapeer County, Michigan|Lapeer]] and [[St. Clair County, Michigan|St. Clair]] counties are included in the [[Metro Detroit|Detroit Metropolitan Area]] also brings many people to exclude them from The Thumb region.
==Economy==
The Thumb region is very flat with fertile [[soil]], and this is the reason for its historical role as a largely agricultural area. Major agricultural products are [[sugar beets]], [[navy beans]], [[corn]], fruits, and fish from the [[Saginaw Bay]] and [[Lake Huron]]. Manufacturing is dominant in [[St. Clair County, Michigan|St. Clair County]] and [[Lapeer County, Michigan|Lapeer County]]. Many of the residents commute to [[Metropolitan Detroit]] or [[Flint, Michigan|Flint]]. Large cities in The Thumb area are [[Port Huron, Michigan|Port Huron]], [[Lapeer, Michigan|Lapeer]], [[Marysville, Michigan|Marysville]], [[St. Clair, Michigan|St. Clair]],[[Sandusky, Michigan|Sandusky]], [[Bad Axe, Michigan|Bad Axe]], and [[Caro, Michigan|Caro]]. The majority of these cities are in the southern portion of the thumb.
===Business===
''See also:'' [[List of companies based in Michigan]]
The Thumb has many notable businesses, many linked to agriculture.
*[[American Tape]] has its main factory in [[Marysville, Michigan|Marysville]].
*[[Cargill]] Salt operates a large salt mine and factory in [[St. Clair, Michigan|St. Clair]]. This is the only plant in the U.S.A. that produces [[Alberger process|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<ref>[http://www.coopelev.com/index.cfm?show=10&mid=72 Co-Op Elevator Co.]</ref>. Its headquarters are in [[Pigeon, Michigan|Pigeon]], and it has branch elevators in [[Deckerville, Michigan|Deckerville]], [[Akron, Michigan|Akron]], [[Gagetown, Michigan|Gagetown]], [[Sebewaing, Michigan|Sebewaing]], [[Elkton, Michigan|Elkton]], and [[Bad Axe, Michigan|Bad Axe]].
*[[Detroit Edison]] is the operator of five power plants in the thumb area, [[St. Clair & Belle River Power Plant]] in [[East China Township, Michigan|East China Township]], Marysville Powerplant (Decomissioned), [[Harbor Beach, Michigan|Harbor Beach]] Powerplant, and Greenwood Powerplant in [[Greenwood Township, Michigan|Greenwood Township]].
*[[Dow AgroSciences]] [[Harbor Beach, Michigan|Harbor Beach]] manufactures agricultural chemicals: weed killer, fungicides, fertilizers and plant nutrients and herbicides.<ref> [http://www.macraesbluebook.com/search/company.cfm?company=466118 Macraes Blue Book]</ref>
*[[Grand Trunk Western Railway]] has a major rail yard in [[Port Huron Township, Michigan|Port Huron Township]].
*Marysville Hydrocarbons is an [[ethanol]] plant in [[Marysville, Michigan|Marysville]].
*Michigan Ethanol, a partner of Broin Companies, operates a corn [[ethanol]] production facility in southwest [[Caro, Michigan|Caro]].
*[[Michigan Sugar Company]], a cooperative 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. The headquarters are in [[Bay City, Michigan]].<ref>[http://www.michigansugar.com/ Michigan Sugar Company]</ref>
*[[Sensient Technologies Corporation]], [[Harbor Beach, Michigan|Harbor Beach]], makes food flavors and colors, yeast dehydrated products and vegetable protein extract<ref>[http://www.manta.com/coms2/dnbcompany_01ym1z Manta]</ref>.
*[[Star of the West Milling]] Co.<ref>[http://www.starofthewest.com/index.cfm?show=10&mid=5 Star of the West Milling Co.]</ref> which has grain elevators in [[Vassar, Michigan|Vassar]] and [[Cass City, Michigan|Cass City]], joined with Eastern Michigan Grain in [[Emmett, Michigan|Emmett]].<ref>[http://www.emggrain.com/ Eastern Michigan Grain] </ref>
==Tourism==
[[Image:Pointe aux Barques Lighthouse - Michigan.jpg|thumb|The Pointe aux Barques Light, near the tip of the Thumb.]]
Some towns, such as [[Bay Port, Michigan|Bay Port]], [[Caseville, Michigan|Caseville]], [[Harbor Beach, Michigan|Harbor Beach]], [[Lexington, Michigan|Lexington]], [[Port Austin, Michigan|Port Austin]], [[Port Hope, Michigan|Port Hope]], [[Port Huron, Michigan|Port Huron]], [[Port Sanilac, Michigan|Port Sanilac]], [[Sebewaing, Michigan|Sebewaing]], and [[St. Clair, Michigan|St. Clair]] enjoy seasonal tourism, due to their locations on [[Lake Huron]], [[Saginaw Bay]], or [[St. Clair River]]. The thumb lies within the east-central tourism region of the state <ref>[http://www.michigan.org/Places-to-Go/Locations/East-Central/Default.aspx Michigan.org East-Central tourism]</ref>
The [[Tip of The Thumb Heritage Water Trail]] 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. <ref>[[Tip of The Thumb Heritage Water Trail]] </ref><br />
===Unique to the Thumb===
Unique features in the area include the following:
*[[Algonac, Michigan]], known as the Venice of Michigan because of its many canals, is a part of the largest freshwater delta in the world, that of the [[St. Clair River]] into [[Lake St. Clair]].
*[[Bad Axe, Michigan|Bad Axe]], according to historical maps and documents, is a city named after a broken axe found lodged in the knot of a tree at the clearing of the settlement's chief crossroads.<ref>[http://www.thehchs.org/badaxe/ba_history.htm Bad Axe Historical Society, origin of Bad Axe's name.]</ref>
*[[Bay Port, Michigan|Bay Port]], the world's largest freshwater fishing port.
*[[Harbor Beach, Michigan|Harbor Beach]] is the home of the largest man-made harbor and the [[Harbor Beach Light]].
*[http://greatlakeswiki.org/index.php/Harvest_Wind_Farm_in_Huron_County%2C_Michigan Harvest Wind Farm] A project of John Deere Wind Energy and Wolverine Power Supply Cooperative.
* [[Huron County Nature Center]] includes a {{convert|120|acre|km2|sing=on}} wilderness arboretum that has been under the care of the Huron County Women's Clubs for more than 50 years.<ref>http://www.huronnaturecenter.org/ | Huron Nature Center</ref>
*Kernan Memorial Nature Sanctuary is a 45-acre refuge with {{convert|4000|ft|m}} of shoreline acquired October 30, 1989 on [[Lake Huron]], in [[Huron County, Michigan| Huron County]]. On the western coast of Whiskey Harbor, this area is a great place to see migratory birds in early March and November. <ref>[http://www.michigannature.org/Sanctuaries/114.shtml | Kernan Memorial Nature Sanctuary ]</ref>
*[[Kinde, Michigan|Kinde]] was once the bean capital of the world.
*[[Pigeon, Michigan|Pigeon]] is the home of the Cooperative Elevator Company, one of the largest grain elevators in the state.
*[[Port Huron, Michigan|Port Huron]] - the maritime capital of the [[Great Lakes]] - where [[Lake Huron]] flows into the [[St. Clair River]]. This is the largest city in the Thumb area, and is [[Thomas Edison]]'s boyhood home.
*The [[Sanilac Petroglyphs Historic State Park| Sanilac Petroglyphs]] were discovered after massive [[Thumb Fire|fires]] swept the Lower Peninsula in 1881. [[Native Americans in the United States|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 once occupied Michigan's Thumb area.
*[[Sebewaing, Michigan|Sebewaing]], is the [[sugar beet]] capital of the world, and home to one of the four Michigan Sugar Company factories in the thumb region. The sugar companies were organized, at least in part, with money from lumbermen such as [[Rasmus Hanson]].<ref>[http://www.graylingfishhatchery.com/hanson.htm Rasmus Hanson biography]</ref>.
*[[St. Clair, Michigan|St. Clair]] boasts the world's largest freshwater boardwalk along the [[St. Clair River]].
*[[Michigan Underwater Preserves]] are protected areas of the [[Great Lakes]] on [[Michigan]]'s coast. There are nineteen major shipwrecks in the {{convert|276|sqmi|km2}} of the [[Thumb Area Bottomland Preserve]]. [[Sanilac Shores Underwater Preserve]] expands a total of {{convert|163|sqmi|km2}} of [[Lake Huron]].
===Travelling around the Thumb===
A favorite of tourists that visit this area is travelling the [[Lake Huron]] and [[Saginaw Bay]] shoreline, by driving [[M-25 (Michigan highway)|M-25]] (formerly [[US 25]] until 1973). M-25 starts at the end of [[Interstate 69|I-69]]/[[Interstate 94|I-94]] in [[Port Huron, Michigan|Port Huron]] at the foot of the [[Blue Water Bridge]] and ends in [[Bay City, Michigan|Bay City]]. The whole route is about {{convert|160|mi|km}}, and passes through quaint cities and villages. Along M-25 you can see five lighthouses: [[Fort Gratiot Lighthouse]], [[Port Sanilac lighthouse]], [[Pointe aux Barques Lighthouse]], [[Harbor Beach Light]], and the [[Port Austin Lighthouse]]. The Great Lakes Circle Tour is a designated, scenic road system connecting all of the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River. Port Huron in eastern Michigan is a good starting point for the circle tour of Lake Huron. M-25 winds around the Thumb and along the Saginaw Bay to Saginaw and Bay City. Don't forget to go to the beach and walk the boardwalks in [[Lexington, Michigan|Lexington]] and [[Port Austin, Michigan|Port Austin]].
===Lighthouse Tour===
*[[Huron Lightship]] -- [[Lake Huron]] / [[St. Clair River]] -- [[Port Huron, Michigan]]
*[[Fort Gratiot Light]] -- [[Lake Huron]] / [[St. Clair River]] -- [[Port Huron, Michigan]]
*[[Port Sanilac lighthouse| Port Sanilac Light]] -- [[Lake Huron]]-- [[Port Sanilac, Michigan]] -- Private
*[http://lighthouse.boatnerd.com/gallery/Faux%20Lights/WhiteRock.htm White Rock Memorial Light] -- [[Lake Huron]] -- [[White Rock, Michigan]] -- Private
*[[Harbor Beach Light]] -- [[Lake Huron]] -- [[Harbor Beach, Michigan]]
*[[Pointe aux Barques Light]] -- [[Lake Huron]] -- near [[Port Hope, Michigan]]
*[[Port Austin Light]] -- [[Lake Huron]] -- [[Port Austin, Michigan]]
*[[Charity Island Light]] -- [[Saginaw Bay]] [[Lake Huron]]
*[[Saginaw River Light]] -- [[Saginaw River]]
===Area festivals & events===
*''"The Original" Country Christmas Lighted Farm Implement Parade'' ([[Sandusky, Michigan]])
*''Antique and Yard Sale Trail'' ([[Algonac, Michigan]] to [[Sebewaing, Michigan]])
*''Bay Port Fish Sandwich Festival'' ([[Bay Port, Michigan]])
*''Blue Water Ramble'' ([[St. Clair, Michigan]]) Annual International Bicycling Event, first weekend in October.<ref>[http://www.lmb.org/crr/ Blue Water Ramble/Clinton River Riders]</ref>
*''Boat Night & Port Huron to [[Mackinac|Mackinac Island, MI]] Yacht Race'' ([[Port Huron, Michigan]])
*''Cheeseburger in Caseville Festival'' ([[Caseville, Michigan]])
*''Croswell Swinging Bridge Festival'' ([[Croswell, Michigan]])
*''Feast of the Sainte Claire'' ([[Port Huron, Michigan]])
*''Harbor Beach Maritime Festival'' ([[Harbor Beach, Michigan]])
*''Huron County Fair'' ([[Bad Axe, Michigan]])
*''Michigan Farmer's Festival'' ([[Pigeon, Michigan]])
*''Michigan Sugar Festival'' ([[Sebewaing, Michigan]])
*''Tuscola County Pumpkin Festival'' ([[Caro, Michigan]])
*''Sanilac County 4-H Fair'' ([[Sandusky, Michigan]])
*''St. Clair County 4-H Fair'' ([[Goodells County Park]])
*''Thumbfest'' ([[Lexington, Michigan]])
*''Yale Bologna Festival'' ([[Yale, Michigan]])
==Thumb Counties==
[[Image:Thumb Counties.png|thumb|right| Dark red counties (Huron, Sanilac & Tuscola) are always included. Red counties (Lapeer & St Clair) are mostly included. Grey areas are rarely included as the thumb.]]
===Huron===
[[Huron County, Michigan|Huron County]] is located at the tip of the thumb. The county is surrounded on three sides by water – [[Saginaw Bay]] and [[Lake Huron]], and has over {{convert|90|mi|km}} of shoreline, from [[White Rock, Michigan|White Rock]] on [[Lake Huron]] to [[Sebewaing, Michigan|Sebewaing]] on [[Saginaw Bay]], and more shoreline parks than any other county in the state. <br />
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, Michigan|Sebewaing]], [[Caseville, Michigan|Caseville]], [[Port Austin, Michigan|Port Austin]], [[Port Hope, Michigan|Port Hope]], and [[Harbor Beach, Michigan|Harbor Beach]], attracting tourists from all over. Huron County borders the [[Saginaw Bay]] and [[Lake Huron]]. There are two state parks – [[Sleeper State Park]] and [[Port Crescent State Park]]. Two 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.<br />
The county seat is [[Bad Axe, Michigan|Bad Axe]], located in the center of the county.
===Tuscola===
Like Huron County, [[Tuscola County, Michigan|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, Michigan|Caro]], one of the largest cities in The Thumb (the largest if you exclude St. Clair and Lapeer Counties), is named after [[Cairo, Egypt]] and is the county seat. Tuscola County only has {{convert|18|mi|km}} of shoreline along [[Saginaw Bay]], 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, Michigan|Saginaw]], [[Bay City, Michigan|Bay City]], and [[Flint, Michigan|Flint]] areas.
===Lapeer===
[[Lapeer County, Michigan|Lapeer County]] is economically attached to [[Flint, Michigan|Flint]] and [[Detroit, Michigan|Detroit]]. Lapeer derives from the French word for Flint, la pierre. Lapeer's economy depends on manufacturing more than agriculture. Although it is landlocked, Lapeer County has many inland bodies of water such as Lake Pleasant, Lake Metamora, Nepessing Lake, Bronson Lake and Bames Lake. These lakes bring in many campers and tourists. Lapeer County's geography is very different than any other county in The Thumb. Lapeer County is considered part of the [[Metro Detroit|Detroit Metropolitan Area]], which leads many people to exclude Lapeer County from The Thumb region.
===Sanilac===
The [[Sanilac County, Michigan|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 [[Forestville, Michigan|Forestville]], [[Port Sanilac, Michigan|Port Sanilac]] and [[Lexington, Michigan|Lexington]] bring in many tourists from the [[Metro Detroit|Detroit Area]]. Southern Sanilac County is very economically attached to St. Clair County. [[Sandusky, Michigan|Sandusky]] is the county seat and largest city.
===St. Clair===
[[St. Clair County, Michigan|St. Clair County]] has the largest population in The Thumb. St. Clair County is considered to be a part of [[Southeast Michigan]] and the [[Metro Detroit|Detroit Metropolitan Area]], which leads many people to exclude St. Clair County from The Thumb. Many residents farther north in The Thumb, especially [[Sanilac County, Michigan|Sanilac County]], travel to [[Port Huron, Michigan|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 and agricultural, with a landscape similar to that of other Thumb counties, but manufacturing has taken over many of the jobs in the county, especially in and around [[Port Huron, Michigan|Port Huron]].
==Disputed Regions==
[[Image:Michigan Regions.svg|thumb|right|The Thumb region in this map is not widely adopted by the public.]]
Some areas of the thumb are debatable, but most all definitions will include Huron, Sanilac, and Tuscola Counties, known as the tri-county region. Disputed areas include:
*[[St. Clair County, Michigan|St. Clair County]], expecially the southern portion.
*[[Lapeer County, Michigan]]
*[[Richmond, Michigan]] and Northern [[Macomb County, Michigan|Macomb County]].
*[[Genesee County, Michigan|Genesee County]], although it has a more urban setting, may be seen as part of the thumb peninsula.
==The Blue Water Area==
The '''Blue Water Area''' is a subregion of the thumb, describing [[St. Clair County, Michigan]], parts of [[Sanilac County, Michigan|Sanilac County]], Northern [[Macomb County, Michigan|Macomb County]], and Eastern [[Lapeer County, Michigan|Lapeer]]. It is so named because of the [[Blue Water Bridge]] and the area's many bodies of water. Sometimes the definition is extended to include all of the Thumb and even Eastern Michigan. A simple definition of the Blue Water Area is the area surrounding Port Huron where residents regularly travel to Port Huron for shopping and work.
==Geographic Features==
''See also'' [[Protected areas of Michigan|List of Michigan state parks]] and geography of [[Michigan]].
*The Thumb's landscape is mostly flat, with a few rolling hills and a small ridge in the western portion of the peninsula.
*All counties except for [[Lapeer County, Michigan|Lapeer]] border the [[Saginaw Bay]] or [[Lake Huron]].
*The places with the highest elevation are near [[Lapeer, Michigan|Lapeer]] and [[Mayville, Michigan|Mayville]], reaching up to {{convert|1050|ft|m}} above sea level.
*The lowest place in the Thumb region is in the Saginaw Valley, the far western part of the thumb, at a low {{convert|585|ft|m}} above sea level.
*[[Huron County, Michigan|Huron County]] is very flat and is home to wind generators and large fields.
*The "tip of the Thumb" is [[Pointe Aux Barques]], between [[Port Austin, Michigan|Port Austin]] and [[Grindstone City, Michigan|Grindstone City]].
*[[Marlette, Michigan|Marlette]] is also 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 {{coor dms|43|22|42|N|83|59|04|W|}} less than a mile from where the Shiawassee merges with the [[Tittabawassee River]] to form the [[Saginaw River]]
*The [[Pinnebog River| Pinnebog]], [[Shebahyonk River| Shebahyonk]], and [[Pigeon River]]s all head toward the center of [[Huron County]] and empty into the [[Saginaw Bay]].
*[[St. Clair River]], connects [[Lake Huron]] to [[Lake St. Clair]], and is the farthest east border in Michigan. It forms a low impression in eastern [[St. Clair County, Michigan]], and has a [[delta]] at its mouth (North America's largest delta), which includes [[Harsens Island, Michigan]] and [[Walpole Island, Ontario]]. Ferries cross the river at [[Algonac, Michigan|Algonac]] and [[Marine City, Michigan|Marine City]], these being international border crossings.
*[[Black River]], It starts in [[Port Huron, Michigan|Port Huron]] and ends near [[Minden City, Michigan|Minden City]]. The Black River forms a basin in [[Sanilac County, Michigan|Sanilac County]], and northern [[St. Clair County, Michigan|St. Clair County]].
*The north branch of the [[Flint River]] lies in northern [[Lapeer County, Michigan|Lapeer County]]. It breaks off the Flint River just north of the Holloway Reservoir, and ends near [[North Branch, Michigan|North Branch]]
*The southern branch of the [[Flint River]] flows through the central and southern portion of [[Lapeer County, Michigan|Lapeer County]]. It breaks off the Flint River just north of the Holloway Reservoir, runs through [[Lapeer, Michigan|Lapeer]] and ends near the southern county line.
== History and Local Culture ==
''See also:'' [[Timeline of Michigan history]] and history of [[Michigan]]
===Naming and Founding of the Thumb===
The earliest name for the Thumb of Michigan was Skenchioe, which we see on maps from the late 1600s and seems to have been an Iroquois name. Skenchioe was the early home of the Native People called the Fox. There is no documentation on the meaning of the name Schenchioe although red earth and red fox are often implied. The Iroquois, or Onondaga, word, "ganhuntowano" means flat country. Their word for plain is "uchwuntschios" while "sgechnaxen" means red fox. From these words, it appears that Schenchioe meant plain, flatland, or shingle like land. The Latin word "scandula" means to split wood or make shingle. In maps from the early 1700s, the Thumb of Michigan was called Les Pays Plat, which is French for The Flat Country, and the English kept this in their late-1700s maps as Flat Country. The Thumb of Michigan also seems to have been called on at least one early map Pays Pele, which is also French and means Barren Country, the Barrens, or the Plains. It may have meant the pine barrens, which is partly cultivated. The name Tuscola, broken into Tus-cola, is probably both Chippewa/Ottawa and Latin and likely means the flat country with the cultivated fields or the hill. Perhaps, the Thumb of Michigan was called by the Chippewa and Ottawa "tessi aki", which in their language would mean plateau or flat country.
===Culture===
Persons of [[European ethnic groups|European]] ancestry form the overwhelming majority of the population. The land was settled mostly by [[Irish people|Irish]] and [[English people|English]] immigrants who arrived mainly from [[Canada]], as well as by [[Poles|Polish]] and [[Germans|German]] immigrants who migrated from Europe through the [[Detroit]] area. Many of the customs, and much of the regional lifestyle, strongly reflect this. Examples of such are the polka show on [[WMIC]] and Polish gatherings at small town halls throughout the thumb.
===Historical Events===
*The great [[Thumb Fire]] took place on [[September 5]], [[1881]] in the Thumb area of [[Michigan]]. The [[fire]], which burned over a million [[acre]]s (4,000 km²) in less than a day, was the consequence of [[drought]], [[hurricane]]-force [[wind]]s, [[heat]], the after-effects of the [[Port Huron Fire of 1871]] and the ecological damage wrought by the era's [[logging]] techniques.
*The [[Great Lakes Storm of 1913]] was a [[blizzard]] with [[hurricane]]-force winds that in November of that year devastated the [[Great Lakes Basin]] in the United States [[Midwest]] and the Canadian province of [[Ontario]]. The storm battered and overturned ships on four of the five Great Lakes, particularly [[Lake Huron]].
*The [[Port Huron, Michigan|Port Huron]] area is one of oldest settlements in the state of [[Michigan]].
*Colonial Forts such as [[Fort Gratiot]] (north of [[Port Huron, Michigan|Port Huron]]) and [[Fort Sinclair]] (near present day [[St. Clair, Michigan|St. Clair]]) were built along the St. Clair River.
*[[Bad Axe, Michigan|Bad Axe]] was named so because of an old axe found by Captain Rudolph Papst, in 1861, when he was clearing land for the present-day [[Huron County, Michigan|Huron County]] seat.
==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.
===Cass City===
* [[Brewster H. Shaw]] - retired [[United States Air Force]] colonel and former [[NASA]] astronaut.
===Harbor Beach===
* [[Frank Murphy]] - Detroit mayor, Michigan governor, U.S. Attorney General and Justice of the [[United States Supreme Court].]
===Lapeer===
* [[Danelle Gay]], [[Miss Michigan USA]] 2006
* [[Marguerite de Angeli]], [[Newbery Award]] winner
* [[Jim Slater (hockey player)|Jim Slater]], hockey player [[Atlanta Thrashers]]
* [[Kirk Gibson]], retired baseball player, [[Detroit Tigers]] and [[Los Angeles Dodgers]]
* [[Terry Knight]], singer, DJ, manager, [[Terry Knight and the Pack]], [[Grand Funk Railroad]]
* [[Jake Long]], offensive lineman, [[Miami Dolphins]]
===Port Huron===
* [[Thomas Edison]] - Inventor and entrepreneur settled in Port Huron from 1854 to 1863.
* [[Obadiah Gardner]] - US Senator for Maine
* [[Terry McMillan]] - Award-winning author of ''[[Waiting to Exhale]]'', and ''[[How Stella Got Her Groove Back]]''
==Colleges and universities==
[[St. Clair County Community College]], with main campus in Port Huron, and learning centers in Huron, Sanilac, and Lapeer Counties.
[[University of Michigan Flint]] and [[Saginaw Valley State University]], while not in the Thumb, are universities that draw many Thumb residents.
==Museums==
''See also:'' [[List of museums in Michigan]]
====Harbor Beach====
* [[Frank Murphy]] Memorial Museum and home.<ref>[http://harborbeachchamber.com/attraction.html Harbor Beach attractions]</ref>
* [[Grice House Museum]] - [[Harbor Beach, Michigan|Harbor Beach]]<ref>Harbor Beach, Yesterday and Today, Compiled by the Harbor Beach Woman’s Club. First Printing 1976, Revised Edition 1996.</ref>
====Marysville====
* Marysville Historical Museum - [[Marysville, Michigan|Marysville]]
* Wills Ste. Claire Auto Museum - [[Marysville, Michigan|Marysville]]
====Port Huron====
* [[Port Huron Museum]] - a series of five museums - [[Port Huron, Michigan|Port Huron]]<ref>[http://www.phmuseum.org/ Port Huron Museum]</ref>
* [[Carnegie Center]] - [[Port Huron, Michigan|Port Huron]]
* [[Huron Lightship]] - [[Port Huron, Michigan|Port Huron]]
* [[Thomas Edison Depot Museum]] - [[Port Huron, Michigan|Port Huron]]
* [[USCGC Bramble (WLB-392)]] - [[Port Huron, Michigan|Port Huron]]
* [[Fort Gratiot Lighthouse]] - [[Port Huron, Michigan|Port Huron]]
====Elsewhere in the Thumb====
* [[Bad Axe Historical Society Museum]] - [[Bad Axe, Michigan|Bad Axe]]
* [[Capac Historical Museum]] - [[Capac, Michigan|Capac]]
* [[Pointe aux Barques Lighthouse]] near [[Port Hope, Michigan|Port Hope]]
* St. Clair County Farm Museum - [[Goodells, Michigan]]
==Media==
In terms of news media, the thumb is divided in half. The northern portion is more attached to the [[Flint/Tri-Cities]] and the southern portion is more attached to [[Southeast Michigan]]. Major centers for the media are [[Port Huron, MI|Port Huron]], [[Sandusky, MI|Sandusky]], and [[Bad Axe, MI|Bad Axe]].
===Radio===
The [[Template:Thumb Radio|Thumb Area Radio Market]] lies between the [[Template:Detroit Radio|Detroit Radio Market]], the [[Template:Saginaw-Bay City-Midland Radio|Tri-Cities Radio Market]] and the [[Template:Flint Radio|Flint Market]]. Radio Stations heard thought a large majority of the thumb are [[WTGV]]-FM, [[WMIC]]-AM, and [[WPHM]]-AM.
{{Thumb Radio}}
===Newspaper===
* Daily editions of the ''[[Detroit Free Press]]'' and ''[[The Detroit News]]'' are also available throughout the area.
* Daily editions of the ''[[Bay City Times]]''<ref>[http://www.mlive.com/bctimes/ ''Bay City Times'']</ref> and ''[[Saginaw News]]''<ref>[http://www.mlive.com/saginawnews/ Saginaw News]</ref> are available in western portions of the area.
{{multicol}}
'''Huron County Newspapers'''
*Harbor Beach Times
*Huron County Press
*Huron Daily Tribune [http://www.michigansthumb.com]
*News Weekly, The
*The Lakeshore Guardian
*Thumb Blanket
{{multicol-break}}
'''Lapeer County Newspapers'''
*Buyer's Guide
*County Press, The [http://www.countypress.com]
*LA View
*Webco Press
{{multicol-break}}
'''Sanilac County Newspapers'''
*Brown City Banner
*Buyers Guide
*Camden Publications
*Deckerville Recorder
*Marlette Leader
*Sandusky Tribune
*Sanilac County News [http://www.sanilaccountynews.com]
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'''St. Clair County Newspapers'''
*Blue Water Shopper
*Port Huron Times Herald-USA Today [http://www.thetimesherald.com]
*Voice, The
*Yale Expositor, The
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'''Tuscola County Newspapers'''
*Advertiser Tuscola County [http://www.tuscolatoday.com]
*Cass City Chronicle
*Cass River Trader
*Vassar Pioneer Times
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===Broadcast Television===
Television coverage in the Thumb is also in two parts. The [[Lapeer County, Michigan|Lapeer County]], [[St. Clair County, Michigan|St. Clair County]] and [[Sanilac County, Michigan|Sanilac County]] area lies in the [[Template:Detroit TV|Detorit Television Market]]. The far northern and western areas lie inside the [[Template:Flint-Saginaw-Bay City TV|Flint/Tri-Cities Television Market]]. TV stations watched through all of the Thumb are bold faced. The only broadcast TV station licensed to the Thumb region is [[WDCQ]], the [[PBS]] station serving the Tri-Cities and Thumb area which is licensed to [[Bad Axe]].
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'''Flint/Tri-Cities'''
*[[WSMH]], Fox 66
*[[WEYI]], NBC 25
*[[WJRT]], ABC 12
*'''[[WNEM]]''', CBS 5
*'''[[WDCQ]]''', PBS 35
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'''Detroit Area'''
*[[WJBK]], Fox 2
*'''[[WDIV]]''', NBC 4
*[[WXYZ]], ABC 7
*[[WWJ]], CBS 62
*[[WTVS]], PBS 56
*'''[[WKBD]]''', UPN 50
*[[WMYD]], My Network TV 20
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'''Alpena area'''
*[[WBKB]], CBS 11
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==Transportation==
[[Image:Blue Water Bridge.jpg|thumb|left|Port Huron's two Blue Water Bridges]]
===Borders===
The border between [[Port Huron, Michigan]] and [[Sarnia, Ontario]] is one of the busiest connections between Canada and the US. Crossings include the two [[Blue Water Bridge]]s and the two St. Clair River Railway Tunnels. Ferries also cross at [[Marine City, Michigan]] and [[Algonac, Michigan]]. Shown here is a view of the two bridges taken during the Port Huron to Mackinac Yacht Race.
===Major Highways===
(organized by numbers)
====Interstates====
*[[Image:I-69.svg|21px]] [[Interstate 69|I-69]] begins at the [[Blue Water Bridge]], proceeds west through [[Flint, Michigan|Flint]], then [[Lansing, Michigan|Lansing]], and then turns south to [[Angola, Indiana]]/
*[[Image:I-94.svg|21px]] [[Interstate 94|I-94]] is the only precisely east-west U.S. interstate that has a terminus in a foreign country.<ref>[http://www.state-ends.com/michigan/i94/ Michigan highway ends, photos and text]</ref> It has its eastern terminus at the U.S. side of the [[Blue Water Bridge]] in [[Port Huron, Michigan]], at the [[Sarnia, Ontario]], Canada border, where together with [[I-69]] it meets
*[[Image:Ontario 402.png|20px]] [[Highway 402 (Ontario)]].
*[[Image:Business Loop 94.svg|20px]] [[Interstate 94 Business (Port Huron, Michigan)|I-94 Business Loop]] (Port Huron).
====Michigan Highways====
*[[Image:M-15.svg|20px]][[M-15 (Michigan highway)|M-15]]
*[[Image:M-19.svg|20px]][[M-19 (Michigan highway)|M-19]]
*old [[Image:M-21.svg|20px]][[M-21 (Michigan highway)|M-21]]
*[[Image:M-24.svg|20px]][[M-24 (Michigan highway)|M-24]]
*[[Image:M-25.svg|20px]][[M-25 (Michigan highway)|M-25]] 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, Michigan (junction [[Interstate 94|I-94]], [[Interstate 69|US I-69]], and [[Image:Business Loop 94.svg|20px]] [[Interstate 94 Business (Port Huron, Michigan)|I-94 Business Loop]] and Bay City, Michigan (junction [[Interstate 75|US I-75]], [[U.S. Route 23|US-23]], and [[U.S. Route 10|US-10]].<ref>[http://www.state-ends.com/michigan/m25/ M-25 end point photos.]</ref> It is generally a scenic drive.
*[[Image:M-29.svg|20px]][[M-29 (Michigan highway)|M-29]]
*[[Image:M-46.svg|20px]][[M-46 (Michigan highway)|M-46]] is a cross peninsular road, running across the mitten and the thumb -- from [[Port Sanilac, Michigan|Port Sanilac]] on the [[Lake Huron]] shore; through [[Saginaw, Michigan|Saginaw]] near [[Saginaw Bay]]; and then on to [[Muskegon, Michigan|Muskegon]] on the [[Lake Michigan]] shore.<ref>[http://www.state-ends.com/michigan/m46/ M-46 Endpoint Photos.]</ref> This east-west surface route nearly bisects the Lower Peninsula of Michigan latitudinally.
*[[Image:M-53.svg|20px]][[M-53 (Michigan highway)|M-53]] (Van Dyke Road) 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.
*[[Image:M-81.svg|20px]][[M-81 (Michigan highway)|M-81]]
*[[Image:M-90.svg|20px]][[M-90 (Michigan highway)|M-90]]
*[[Image:M-136.svg|20px]][[M-136 (Michigan highway)|M-136]]
*[[Image:M-138.svg|20px]][[M-138 (Michigan highway)|M-138]]
*[[Image:M-142.svg|20px]][[M-142 (Michigan highway)|M-142]]
===Rail===
*Main article: [[Michigan Services]]
Area [[Amtrak]] stations are in Lapeer, Port Huron, and Flint. Local railroads are the [[GTW|Grand Trunk Western Railroad]], [[CSXT|CSX Transport]], [[CN|Canadian National]] Rail , [[Pere Marquette Railway]], and the Huron & Eastern Saginaw Valley Railroad. Major railroad centers are [[Vassar, Michigan|Vassar]], [[Bad Axe, Michigan|Bad Axe]] and [[Port Huron, Michigan|Port Huron]]
===Airports===
The only international airport in the Thumb is [[St. Clair County International Airport]] about {{convert|6|mi|km}} 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]]<ref>[http://www.mbsairport.org/ MBS International Airport]</ref> near [[Midland, Michigan]] and Flint [[Bishop International Airport]].<ref>[http://www.bishopairport.org/ Flint Bishop International Airport]</ref> While neither of these airports is in the Thumb, both are relatively close by.
==Area Codes==
[[Area code 989]] 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]], as is a small part of south-western Saint Clair County.
==See also==
===State===
* [[Michigan]]
===Regional===
*[[Flint/Tri-Cities]] and [[Tri-Cities]]
*[[Lake Huron]]
*[[Metro Detroit]]
===Local Towns of Interest===
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*[[Almont, Michigan]]
*[[Bad Axe, Michigan]]
*[[Caro, Michigan]]
*[[Caseville, Michigan]]
*[[Cass City, Michigan]]
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*[[Croswell, Michigan]]
*[[Harbor Beach, Michigan]]
*[[Imlay City, Michigan]]
*[[Lapeer, Michigan]]
*[[Lexington, Michigan]]
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*[[Marine City, Michigan]]
*[[Marlette, Michigan]]
*[[Millington, Michigan]]
*[[North Branch, Michigan]]
*[[Pigeon, Michigan]]
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*[[Port Austin, Michigan]]
*[[Port Huron, Michigan]]
*[[Port Sanilac, Michigan]]
*[[Richmond, Michigan]]
*[[Sandusky, Michigan]]
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*[[Sebewaing, Michigan]]
*[[St. Clair, Michigan]]
*[[Unionville, Michigan]]
*[[Vassar, Michigan]]
*[[Yale, Michigan]]
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===Subjects===
*[[List of Michigan county name etymologies]]
==Notes==
{{reflist|2}}
==Bibliography and 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, Mich.] : Cranbrook Institute of Science, [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 ==
* [http://clarke.cmich.edu/ Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University, Bibliography on Michigan (arranged by counties and regions).]
* [http://www.bluewater.org/ Blue Water Convention and Visitors Bureau.]
* [http://www.coastwatch.msu.edu/ Great Lakes Coast Watch]
* [http://www.huroncounty.com/? Huron County economic development corporation/Community calendars, webcams and more.]
* [http://clarke.cmich.edu/oilandgas/geology.htm Michigan Geology -- Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University.]
* [http://www.michigan.org/travel/attractions/?city=G2760&m=2;9 List of Museums, other attractions compiled by state government.]
* [http://www.michmarkers.com/default.asp Michigan Historical Markers]
* [http://www.searchthethumb.com Search The Thumb.]
* [http://www.michigan.gov/dnr Michigan Department of Natural Resources website, harbors, hunting, resources and more.]
* [http://www.michigan.org Michigan's Official Economic Development and Travel Site, including interactive map, information on attractions, museums, etc.]
* [http://www.lighthousesrus.org/Maps/GL/HuronW.htm Interactive map of lighthouses in area.]
* [http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-cp/history/WEBLIGHTHOUSES/LHMI.html USCG's complete list of Michigan lighthouses.]
* [http://www.michigan.gov/documents/hal_mhc_shpo_lightmap_50933_7.pdf Map of Michigan Lighthouse] in PDF Format.
* [http://www.terrypepper.com/Lights/index.htm Seeing the Light: Terry Pepper on lighthouses of the Western Great Lakes.]
* [http://www.infomi.com/city/ Info Michigan]
{{Michigan}}
[[Category:Regions of Michigan]]
[[Category:Peninsulas of Michigan]]
[[fr:Pouce (région)]]