The City of Marysville, Michigan is on the western shore of the St. Clair River, in eastern St. Clair County. Straddling Port Huron Township and St. Clair Township, it is across the river from Corunna, Ontario, Canada.
The City of Port Huron bounds Marysville to the northeast, and it is abutted by Port Huron Township to the north, Kimball Township to the northwest, and St. Clair Township to the south and southwest. Marysville is considered part of the Blue Water Area, as well as the Thumb Region of Michigan's Lower Peninsula.
The chief route to and from the city is I-94, just west of the city limits, while the main routes through the city are River Road, Business Loop 94, Busha Highway, and Huron Boulevard.
Besides Port Huron, cities and villages within twenty miles of Marysville include St. Clair, Marine City, Richmond, and Memphis, while the unincorporated communities of South Park, Tappan, Sparlingville, Kimball, West Tappan, Smiths Creek, Rattle Run, and Wadhams are within ten miles of the city.
Like other Michigan communities, the lumber industry played a significant part in the founding of Marysville and, like other coastal communities, shipbuilding also had a role in its early economy.
In 1817, Zephaniah W. Bunce sailed up the St. Clair River and settled at the mouth of what was then known as Baby's Creek, but is now known as Bunce Creek, which flows through the northeastern portion of the city. Over the next sixty-five years, Bunce served as a local merchant, lumberman, postmaster, judge, and legislator.
At the time that he built his home, there were no habitations nearer than Fort Gratiot to the north and St. Clair to the south. The land between the Pine River to the Strait of Mackinac was a pine forest.
Eventually, sawmills were built along the shores of Carleton Creek, Bunce Creek, and Mud Creek, in Marysville. Two men named Meldrum and Park built a sawmill at Carleton Creek in 1792, which was later owned by Colonel Andrew Mack. Another mill along Bunce Creek was owned by Judge Bunce and his sons, Mumford and Lefferts, replacing an earlier mill built by Antoin Morass in 1786. The area around this mill was known as Bunceville, which also served as a port of call for passenger steamers running between Detroit and Chicago, as well as a trading post with local Indian tribes.
In 1843, Edward P. Vickery bought land from Cummings Sanborn, and built a sawmill at the mouth of Mud Creek and the St. Clair River. The community that arose around his operations was known as Vickery's Landing, and later Vicksburg. In 1859, the name was changed to Marysville, for Nelson Mill's wife, Mary. Vickery later sold his operations to Horace E. Bunce and Lewis Brockway, who in turn sold it to Nathan Reeves, Myron Williams, and Nelson Mills, and Mills became the sole owner in 1862. He also operated three mills near the mouth of Mud Creek on the St. Clair River, which operated until around 1900.
Another community that was later absorbed by Marysville was Hubbard's Corners, which grew up around a tavern, blacksmith shop, and store operated by Isaac Hubbard, who later married Edward Vickery's daughter, Mary.
From the 1850s to the 1880s, shipbuilding was also a significant driver of the community's economy. Myron Williams built three schooners to transport lumber to ports in Detroit and other ports along Lake Erie. He also built some tugs, scows, and steamboats.
Following the decline of the timber and shipbuilding industries, Marysville became a much quieter residential community. For a time, there were no significant industries, although there was a rapid transit system that extended from Detroit to Port Huron, operated by the Detroit Urban Railway.
In 1919, a motor car engineer from Detroit, C. Harold Mills, opened a factory in Marysville that manufactured the Wills Sainte Clair automobile from 1921 to 1926. Due in large part to the high cost of production and an economic depression, the company failed. The building was acquired by the Chrysler Corporation, which currently operates its Mopar parts, service, and customer care division from that location.
While Mills' Sainte Clair Automotive company was still in operation, Wills laid out new streets and built new homes in Marysville, in pursuit of what he referred to as a Dream City, which the city uses as a nickname today.
Marysville was incorporated as a village in 1919, and became a city in 1924. Since Marysville first appeared on a census roll in 1920, it has not declined in population, although it is estimated that it may decline by less than three percent when the 2020 census numbers are released. Its current population is under ten thousand.
The focus of this portion of our guide is on the city of Marysville. Online resources for the city and any businesses, industries, schools, churches, organizations, attractions, or events, are appropriate for this category.
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Located in southeastern Michigan, within the Thumb Region of the state, the city was settled in the late 18th century, and became a charter city in 1965. The official municipal website features a profile and history of the city, demographics, and a guide to churches, schools, medical facilities, service organizations, guest accommodations, and attractions within the city. Council agendas, meeting minutes, and meeting videos are available, along with economic development data.
http://www.cityofmarysvillemi.com/
Originally established as Club Seaway in 1937, the Marysville, Michigan restaurant is situated along the shipping channel that hosts freighters traveling the St. Clair River. Its location, contacts, dining room and bar hours, and employment opportunities are noted on its site, which includes its menu, and an overview of its E-Club newsletter, which offers news and special offers, along with a sign-up form. Customers are encouraged to rate the restaurant on several variables.
https://junctionbuoy.com/
Situated along River Road in lower Marysville, Michigan, the eighteen-hole golf course is operated by the City of Marysville. Season passes can be purchased at the city hall. Day rates are based on nine or eighteen holes, and senior discounts are available on weekdays before 3:00 p.m. Weekend and couples specials may also be available. A photographic flyover of the course is available, tee times are posted, along with contacts and directions, and the menu for its Crossfire Grill is provided.
https://www.marysvillegolf.com/
Based in Marysville, Michigan, the public school district provides a PK-12th-grade curriculum through its Begindergarten program, Great Start Readiness program, Morton Elementary School, Washington Elementary School, Gardens Elementary School, Marysville Middle School, and Marysville High School, each of which is featured here, with school calendars, parent-student information and forms, enrollment data, and an overview of its sports and fine arts programs.
https://www.marysville.k12.mi.us/
Wills Sainte Claire Auto Museum of Classic Autos
Highlighting the Sainte Claire automobile, manufactured in Marysville, Michigan by C.H. Wills and Company from 1921 to 1926, the museum features the largest collection of Wills autos in the world, including a 1922 Coupe, a 1926 7-Passenger Sedan, and eight others, as well as photographs of the factory and the Marysville community, original ads, literature, manuals, and other memorabilia, housed in the former Dow Chemical munitions factory. Information, hours, and an events calendar are included.
https://willsautomuseum.org/