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Rich in history and surrounded by beautiful natural assets, Sault Ste. Marie is the largest city in Chippewa County. Established 1668 by Father Jacques Marquette, Sault Ste. Marie is the oldest city in Michigan and the oldest European settlement in the Midwest. Native Americans have lived in this area for more than 2,000 years, relying on the rapids of the St. Mary's River for an abundance of whitefish. As of the 2000 Census, Sault Ste. Marie had a population of 14,400. Chippewa County's population was registered at 38,543. This was up 11% over the previous U.S. Census.
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 Sault Ste. Marie is located in the northeast section of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The city has an average elevation of 650 feet above sea level. The St. Mary's River lies on the northern border of the community, connecting Lake Superior with Lake Huron. Residents and visitors look across the river at the community's Canadian neighbor, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.
Perhaps most impressive is the engineering wonder located within the city limits. The Soo Locks provide safe passage between Lake Superior and Lake Huron, which have a 21-foot difference in elevation. The first U.S. lock was built in 1850 by the State of Michigan. Over the years, various Locks have been constructed and replaced, all in the interest of maintaining this vital and busy point of passage for lake freighters and private vessels. Operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, more than 11,000 vessels carrying up to 90 million tons of cargo pass through these locks every year. |
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