The City of Sault Ste. Marie is a small community located on the northeastern end of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, on the Canadian border, separated from its twin City of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario by the St. Marys River. The community is located at the beginning of Interstate 75. The population is over 14,000 based on the 2010 census, making it the second most populous City in the Upper Peninsula.
The St. Marys River is the only water connection between Lake Superior and the other Great Lakes. There is a section of the river known as the St. Marys Rapids where the water falls about 21 feet from the level of Lake Superior to the level of the lower lakes. This natural barrier through navigation made necessary the construction of the locks project known as the St. Marys Falls Canal. The world-famous Soo Locks form a passage for deep-draft ships around the rapids in the St. Marys River and serve as a passage for over $5.4 Billion in iron ore that is mined throughout Michigan and Minnesota.
City of Sault Ste. Marie residents enjoy hundreds of cultural, recreational, and nature programs for all ages, over 30 public parks, and superb facilities including ice arenas, winter recreational areas, marinas, skateboard/bike parks, ballparks, beaches, campgrounds, and community gardens. The City also enjoys the Historic Locks Park Walkway, which is an ongoing community effort, started in 1982, to link the numerous historic features of the Sault Ste. Marie waterfront. The reconstruction and interpretation underway at various points along the Walkway help tell the story behind the over 350 years of the Sault’s heritage.
As well, historic downtown Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan covers over one million square feet and extends over 100 acres of land along the St. Marys River. The center is bounded by the Soo Locks on the north, a warehousing district on the west, turn-of-the century housing on the east, and a long commercial strip along Ashmun Street to the south. The downtown district serves as the principal shopping district for a three-county trade area that encompasses more than 55,000 people. Sault Ste. Marie’s sister city by the same name, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, lies directly across the St. Marys River, and boasts a population of over 80,000 people. The City of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan benefits greatly from regular Canadian shoppers and visitors and the twin Saults have entered into various collaborative economic development agreements that foster continued international relations.
The City of Sault Ste. Marie is also home to Lake Superior State University. Lake Superior State University is more than just an institution; it is home to a community of approximately 2,300 students, faculty, and staff. Lake Superior State University has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report as the #5 Best College in the Midwest amongst regional public colleges and was ranked fourth among higher education institutions in Michigan. The rankings were based on the overall value and cost of individual online courses and programs.
The City of Sault Ste. Marie, Lake Superior State University (LSSU), the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), and the Michigan Small Business and Technology Development Centers (MI-SBTDC) also participate in a collaborative partnership that created a SmartZone. The mission of the Sault Ste. Marie SmartZone (SSMart) is to provide high-quality and economical new product development services for entrepreneurs and businesses throughout the region by providing access to current manufacturing facilities; skilled engineering, business, and science personnel; and business training programs.
In additional support of community partnerships, the City of Sault Ste. Marie, Lake Superior State University, Sault Area Public Schools, War Memorial Hospital and the Eastern Upper Peninsula Intermediate School District signed a cooperative agreement forming Sault United. The idea behind the formation of Sault United is simple: to help promote Sault Ste. Marie as more of a university town rather than just a town with a university. Sault United looks to develop and improve flow to and from LSSU and downtown, expand recreational and retail activities, and expand and improve the community’s educational opportunities and healthcare offerings. It also seeks to expand awareness among college students as to what the community has to offer, and improve economic opportunities and job growth.
Based in Sault Ste. Marie on the St. Marys River between Lake Superior and Lake Huron, members of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians are descended from the Anishinaabeg people who have lived in the Great Lakes Basin for millennia and traveled from coast to coast in migrations and trading; the Sault Tribe has been an integral partner in the development and strengthening of the community.
Sault Ste. Marie is also one of the most popular vacation destinations in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula for some very good reasons. Sault Ste. Marie and its surrounding area is a splendidly diverse waterfront community and offers a wealth of things to see and do. With year round recreational activities, historical sites, the world-famous Soo Locks, Tahquamenon Falls, and spectacular lighthouses, forests and waters. Additionally, Sault Ste. Marie offers some of the best fishing on the St. Marys River. There is always something to do in the Soo.
Stay connected through the City of Sault Ste. Marie and the Sault Ste. Marie Convention and Visitors Bureau.