The City of Saint Johns, Michigan is the county seat of Clinton County, in the central Lower Peninsula.
M-21 (State Street) intersects Bus-127 (Whittemore Street) in downtown St. Johns, east of the center, while US-127 runs north, east of the city limits, briefly turning west at the north city limits, before continuing north.
Cities and villages within twenty miles of St. Johns include Fowler, Ovid, Dewitt, Maple Rapids, Pewamo, Elsie, Westphalia, Ashley, Laingsburg, Perrinton, Muir, and Owosso, while the unincorporated communities of Shepardsville and Eureka are within ten miles of the city.
The city is in north Bingham Township, although it is administered autonomously.
The city and township have two main commercial districts: downtown Saint Johns and the Business 127 Corridor, although they serve different purposes. Downtown St. Johns is characterized by attached, multi-story storefronts with curbside parking, while the Bus-127 Corridor is less densely developed and features large lots with chain stores and restaurants.
Serving the city and township, there are eight main parks. The largest, St. Johns City Park, hosts several events throughout the year, including the St. Johns Mint Festival. The remaining parks are 4-H Fairgrounds Park, Oak Street Park, Water Tower Park, Senior Citizen Park, Jaycees Park, Rotary Park and St. Johns Depot, and Kibbee Street Park.
The Fred Meijer Heartland Trail runs through the city. A 42-mile paved trail, it connects the cities of Alma and Greenville in rural, central Michigan.
Saint Johns first appeared on a census roll in 1880 with a population of 2,370, and has increased each decade, with the exception of 1910, 1990, and 2020, when its population was 7,698.
Like many Michigan communities, Saint Johns was founded as a railroad town. John Swegles, one of four state officials who examined the proposed route of the Detroit & Milwaukee Railroad, acquired land in the area, cleared it, and laid out a village, naming it for himself, with the Rev. C.A. Lamb, a Baptist minister, adding the Saint.
On February 6, 1855, the Bingham Post office was renamed Saint Johns, with George W. Estes as postmaster. When the railroad came through in 1857, Saint Johns was designated the county seat, and the village was incorporated that same year. It became a city in 1904.
Near the turn of the 20th century, the high demand for mint oil in medicines and candy from companies such as Wrigley resulted in a surge in demand for mint farming. As the soil in much of Clinton County was well suited for mint farming, several mint farmers cultivated the soil in the surrounding area. Established by J.E. Crosby in 1912, the Crosby Mint Farm claims to be the oldest continuously operated family farm in the country.
Today, Clinton County produces more mint than any other county in the country, and Saint John has become known as the Mint City or the Mint Capital of the World.
This portion of our guide is dedicated to the City of Saint Johns, Michigan. Online resources for the municipality, county, or any other governmental body located within the city, as well as local businesses, industries, schools, places of worship, organizations, attractions, events, entertainment venues, and recreational opportunities, are appropriate for this category.
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Recommended Resources
Held each August, the Agro Expo features agricultural products and services, as well as a variety of activities that may change from year to year, although it is likely to include tractor driving contests, educational booths, and various agricultural demonstrations, with several manufacturers and products represented, along with the FFA. A complete show guide is featured, along with sponsor and exhibitor information, and a list of confirmed demonstrators, exhibitors, and speakers.
https://www.theagroexpo.com/
Saint Johns, Michigan is the county seat of Clinton County. The official municipal website allows people to pay various bills online and includes a meeting portal, a calendar of events, and access to various documents and reports. Also included is a resident handbook and a guide to local schools, health facilities, arts and culture, and local civic organizations. Contacts for the city mayor, city manager, treasurer, finance director, and other offices, boards, and commissions are included.
https://cityofstjohnsmi.com/
Managed and promoted by the Principal Shopping District and the Downtown Development Authority, the site serves to promote and highlight the benefits of the downtown district of Saint Johns, Michigan. Included is a calendar of downtown events, a business directory, a parking map, and DDA/PSD board information. Available commercial properties are listed on the site, along with a telephone number, online contact form, and small business grant application.
https://www.downtownstjohnsmi.com/
St. Johns Area Chamber of Commerce
Representing Clinton County, the Chamber is a business membership organization based in Saint Johns, Michigan. The benefits of membership are featured, along with its board of directors, a member directory, board meeting schedules, community news, and an overview of Chamber programs and events. Other resources include a calendar of events, and information about its digital Chamber Bucks Card, which can be used for local spending. Sponsorship opportunities are posted.
https://www.stjohnsareachamber.org/
Commemorating the history and status of the mint industry in and around Saint Johns, Michigan, the annual event is featured here, including a schedule and information about its rodeo, 3-on-3 basketball, kickball, cornhole competitions, and garage sales, as well as an introduction to its information booth, parking facilities, festival grounds, and food venues. Volunteer and vendor applications, pageant instructions, and an online shopping area are included.
https://www.mintfest.org/
Headquartered in Saint Johns, Michigan, the public school system offers a PK-12th-grade curriculum through several campuses, including Eureka Elementary School, Gateway North Elementary School, Oakview South Elementary School, Riley Elementary School, St. Johns Middle School, St. Johns High School, and S.T.R.I.V.E. Academy, each of which is featured here, along with directions, maps, curriculum, a district strategic plan, and a staff directory. Its athletics and fine arts programs are featured.
https://www.sjredwings.org/