St. Johns, Michigan

History

St. Johns was conceived as a station for the Detroit and Milwaukee Railway in late 1853. The location lie in a forest in Binghan Township, and the site was cleared and settled by the middle of 1854. The settlement was formally incorporated as a village within the township on October 15, 1857. The village incorporated as a city in 1904.

The settlement was named after Michigan Auditor-General John Swegles, who was part of the party sent to scout a site for the station.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.87 sqmi, all of it land. The city is situated in Bingham Township, but is administratively autonomous.

Demographics

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2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 7,865 people, 3,147 households, and 2,011 families residing in the city. The population density was 2032.3 PD/sqmi. There were 3,451 housing units at an average density of 891.7 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 93.9% White, 1.4% African American, 0.6% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.2% from other races, and 2.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.6% of the population.

There were 3,147 households, of which 32.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.2% were married couples living together, 14.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 36.1% were non-families. 30.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.95.

The median age in the city is 37.2. 25.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.5% were from 25 to 44; 24.1% were from 45 to 64; and 15.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.7% male and 52.3% female.

Culture

The Wilson Center Auditorium on Cass Street puts on rock concerts and theatrical productions throughout the year. To date, they have brought in acts such as David Dondero, Hailey Wojcik, and Doug Mains and the City Folk.

Mint production

Near the turn of the century, high demand for mint oil in medicines and candy from companies like Wrigley caused a surge in demand for mint farming. The rich, organic, muck soil of Clinton County makes the area around St. Johns particularly well-suited for mint farming. As a result, many mint farmers cultivated mint. The Crosby Mint Farm, established by J.E. Crosby in 1912, claims to be the oldest continuously family-operated mint farm in the United States.

Today Clinton County ranks first in Michigan in regards to total mint production. St. Johns is known as the Mint City and has been called "The Mint Capital of the World."

Each year since 1985, St. Johns celebrates its mint farming heritage with the St. Johns Mint Festival. The festival typically takes place on the second weekend in August.

Transportation

Highways

• connects north to Mt. Pleasant, and Grayling. Southward, it passes through Lansing and Jackson en route to Ohio. It provides a direct connection to I-69 and I-96.
• is a business loop traveling through the city.
• is an east-west highway passing through the city, connecting to Grand Rapids, approximately 66 mi to the west, and Flint, about 45 mi to the east.

Airports

• Scheduled passenger air carrier flights are available from Capital Region International Airport, in south-central Clinton County.

Notable people

• Robert Asprin, science fiction and fantasy author
• Roy Beechler, football player and coach
• Leo Burnett, advertising executive
• Myrtelle Canavan, pathologist, discovered Canavan Disease
• Voltairine de Cleyre, anarchist writer and feminist
• Eric Esch, commonly referred to as Butterbean, former fighter
• The Houghton brothers, creators of Big City Greens
• Andrew Kehoe, perpetrator of the Bath School Disaster
• Philip Orin Parmelee, aviator
• Oliver L. Spaulding, Civil War general in the 23rd Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment, politician, and regent of the University of Michigan
• Oliver Lyman Spaulding, U.S. Army brigadier general
• Lee Upton, poet, fiction writer, and literary critic
• Lola Carrier Worrell, composer

Places of interest

• Paine-Gillam-Scott Museum – Home of the Clinton County Historical Society. Built in 1858, the house holds the distinction of being the oldest brick residence in the city of St. Johns.
• Clinton Northern Railway Museum - Located in the former Grand Trunk Depot, the museum focuses on railroad history and its impact on small-town America. The museum features several restored railway cars.
• IQhub at Agroliquid – Center for agricultural history, innovation and exploration. The IQhub is located inside AgroLiquid's world headquarters in St. Johns, Michigan. The 9,500 square foot agriculture education destination is home to exhibits chronicling the advancement of agriculture, from before the Europeans arrived in the Americas through the present day.

Registered Historic Buildings in St. Johns

Sites marked with a dagger (†) have been demolished.

Climate

This climatic region is typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, St. Johns has a humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps.

|Jan record high F = 64 |Feb record high F = 69 |Mar record high F = 86 |Apr record high F = 89 |May record high F = 95 |Jun record high F = 100 |Jul record high F = 102 |Aug record high F = 102 |Sep record high F = 99 |Oct record high F = 89 |Nov record high F = 79 |Dec record high F = 69 |year record high F = 102 |Jan record low F = −25 |Feb record low F = −22 |Mar record low F = −14 |Apr record low F = 5 |May record low F = 15 |Jun record low F = 29 |Jul record low F = 39 |Aug record low F = 38 |Sep record low F = 27 |Oct record low F = 14 |Nov record low F = −5 |Dec record low F = −14 |year record low F = −25 | access-date = September 4, 2021}} | access-date = September 4, 2021}}

Crime rate

Crime in St. Johns is significantly lower when compared to the national average, and average-to-high when compared to surrounding cities.

Violent Crime Rate in 2012 (higher number means more dangerous)

• U.S. Average: 214
• St. Johns: 95.5
• Laingsburg: 279.8
• Ovid: 58.9
• Elsie: 79.6
• Dewitt: N/A
• Lansing: 422.7

Reported Incidents from 2001–2012 in St. Johns, MI:

• Rape: 35
• Arson: 9
• Motor vehicle theft: 70
• Assault: 55
• Burglaries : 366

References

References

1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
2. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
3. {{GNIS. 1627030
4. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
5. Group, Sinclair Broadcast. (2010-06-23). "St. Johns is mint capital of the world".
6. (1880). "History of Shiawasee and Clinton Counties, Michigan". D.W. Ensign & Co..
7. (15 March 1904). "St. Johns Decides to Incorporate as a City". The State Republican.
8. "US Gazetteer files 2010". [[United States Census Bureau]].
9. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
10. "Turn it down".
11. (3 November 2015). "Group raising money to renovate Wilson Center auditorium". Lansing State Journal.
12. "Trio of bands to play at Wilson Center".
13. "Mint in Michigan".
14. [http://peppermintjim.com/about-peppermint-jim-2/history-of-crosby-farm/ History of Crosby Farm]
15. "Clinton County". Clinton county Economic Alliance.
16. (June 23, 2010). "St. Johns is mint capital of the world".
17. "Butterbean on fighting, handmade razors and growing up in St. Johns".
18. Davis, Henry Blaine Jr.. (1998). "Generals in Khaki". Pentland Press.
19. "Asset Detail".
20. (27 February 2015). "The East Ward Story, Teresa Merrill".
21. "Michigan Historical Markers".
22. "Asset Detail".
23. "Friday fire guts Steel Hotel".
24. "Asset Detail".
25. Department of the Interior. National Park Service. (3/2/1934 - ). "Michigan SP Gibbs, Giles J., Building - Sugar Bowl".
26. "St. Johns, Michigan Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)". Weatherbase.
27. "Rates, City-Data St. Johns, MI".
28. "Crime Rates, City-Data St. Johns, MI".