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Algonac is in Blue Water Area, a subregion the Thumb, in Michigan's Lower Peninsula. The St. Clair County city is situated at the southern end of the St. Clair River, where it splits into North and South channels, forming a large delta region known as the St. Clair Flats.

Across the North Channel from Algonac to the south, is Harsens Island, while Russell island is across the same channel to the south and southeast. To the east, across the St. Clair River, is the Walpole Island Indian Reserve in Ontario, Canada.

The Marine City Drain, which flows from an area just west of Marine City, to the north, empties into the river in the northern part of Algonac. The Marine City Drain is the result of a project by Great Lakes Restoration, the US Environmental Protection Agency, and several Michigan state agencies, to restore habitat that had been taken over by phragmites, an invasive species of perennial grass, found in wetlands, that forms dense thickets of vegetation that forms an unsuitable habitat for native fauna.

Michigan Highway 29 (M-29) is the main route through Algonac, following the eastern border of the state, along the northwest shore of Lake St. Claire and the western bank of the St. Clair River, connecting the city with Algonac State Park, to the north, as well as Roberts Landing, Broadbridge Station, and on to its northern terminus in Marysville, as well as with Lake St. Claire to the northwest. M-29 is identified as St. Clair River Drive in Algonac, and in the Pointe aux Chenes neighborhood of the city, to the south, it is known as Pointe Tremble Road.

Algonac City Park, along the banks of the river, near the center of the city, features a half-mile boardwalk. A block away, to the northwest, is Smith Recreation Park, which includes a skate park, and Algonac State Park is a 1,450-acre public recreation area a couple of miles north of Algonac. Algonac has two museums dedicated to its history, the Algonac Clay Community Museum and the Algonac Clay Maritime Museum, the latter of which includes several displays of Chris-Craft boats and Gar Wood boats, which were built in Algonac. The Chris-Craft Boat Company manufactured the first mass-produced speed boats in the country, while Garfield Wood was the first great speed boat racer.

The area that became Algonac was inhabited by Native Americans for centuries before it was first settled by European-Americans in 1805, John Martin being the first permanent settler. Early French-Canadian colonists referred to the area as Pointe Du Chene, while British colonists knew it as Manchester.

John K. Smith, who came to the area in 1816, became the town's first postmaster when a post office was established there on April 5, 1826, at which time it was named Plainfield, after Smith's hometown in Vermont. Two years later, while Smith still served as postmaster, the post office and township were renamed Clay for Henry Clay.

In 1836, the settlement was the fourth village laid out by Americans along the St. Clair River, although the village was still very small. On August 17, 1843, the post office was renamed Algonac.

In 1863, Algonac was reported to have a church, two or three sawmills, a gristmill, a woolen factory, and about seven hundred residents. The economy was based on agriculture, lumbering, and maritime trades. In 1867, Algonac was incorporated as a village, and as a city in 1967.

The focus of this category is on the city of Algonac, Michigan. Appropriate topics include the city itself, of course, but websites representing local businesses, organizations, places of worship, schools, and individuals may also be listed here.

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