Situated at the geographic center of Michigan's Lower Peninsula, the City of Saint Louis is in Gratiot County. It is adjacent to Alma, to the southwest.
The Pine River flows through much of the city. US-127 passes through the southwestern corner of St. Louis, while M-46 (Monroe Road, Washington Street) runs east-west through the city center.
Besides Alma, other cities and villages within twenty-five miles of St. Louis include Ithaca, Breckenridge, Shepherd, Merrill, Mt. Pleasant, Perrinton, Ashley, Edmore, and Maple Rapids, while the unincorporated communities of Forest Hill, Beebe, Pleasant Valley, Coe, and Eugene are within ten miles.
The area of Gratiot County was inhabited for thousands of years before the Europeans came. When the French came through the area in the 18th century, the Ojibwe were the dominant people. The French traded for furs with the Ojibwe.
Following the Seven Years War (1756-1763), the French ceded its claims to the New France territory to the English, who continued the fur trade at Sault Ste. Marie. The territory changed hands again after the American Revolution, when it was ceded to the newly created United States government.
However, the area was sparsely settled by European-Americans until the mid-19th century. Lutheran missionaries established Bethany Lutheran Mission in 1848, reaching out to the Ojibwe, who were also known as the Chippewa. Bethany Lutheran Mission still stands near the Main Street Bridge, across from the Pine River.
Joseph W. Clapp came to the region following Native American trails, and he is acknowledged as the founder of Saint Louis. Along with Dr. Abram M. Crawford, Mr. Clapp employed L.D. Preston to plat the village in 1855, naming it Pine River. A post office was established at Pine River on November 16, 1855, with Mr. Clapp as postmaster.
Edward T. Cheesman and Gilbert E. Pratt platted an adjacent plot of land as Saint Louis in 1859, and the two villages were consolidated as Saint Louis in 1865. Saint Louis was incorporated as a village in 1868, and became a city in 1891.
The entire Gratiot County region was slow to develop because much of it was swamp land. Settling in the higher places, the soil was sandy and unproductive. Those who didn't get discouraged and leave eventually drained the wetlands, creating some of the richest agricultural lands in the state. Even today, cash crop farming is a significant business in the county, primarily growing corn, soybeans, dry beans, sugar beets, and wheat, although there are quite a few beef and dairy farms, as well.
During the late 19th century, local mineral springs brought people to the area for the perceived health benefits of the mineral-rich water.
Saint Louis is also the site of the former Michigan Chemical Corporation plant, whose main product was DDT. Following its purchase by Velsicol Chemical Corporation, the plant was responsible for a serious product mixup in the 1970s that results in cattle feed being contaminated with PBB, a flame retardant, which was then distributed throughout Michigan and the Midwest. A long-term dredging project is underway to remove contaminants from the Pine River, which flows alongside the property where the plant was located.
The city reached its peak population of 7,482 after an explosion of growth between 1990 and 2010, largely due to its prison population. The city is home to the St. Louis Correctional Facility, Central Michigan Correctional Facility, and the State of Michigan Pine River Correctional Facility, which are the primary employers in St. Louis, followed by St. Louis Public Schools and Schnepp Health Care Center.
The St. Louis Police Department provides law enforcement and police protection within the city, while the Mid-Michigan Community Fire Department provides fire protection and medical first response services to the city, all of Jasper Township, and parts of Bethany and Pine River Townships.
Parks and recreation areas in St. Louis include Clapp Memorial Park, Penny Park, Lions Park, Lincoln Street Park, Leppien Park, Barnum River Park, Magic Square, W.T. Morris Memorial Swimming Pool, and School Woods Property.
This portion of our guide is focused on the City of Saint Louis, Michigan. Topics related to the municipal or county governments, any other governmental entities located within the city, and local businesses, industries, schools, places of worship, organizations, attractions, events, entertainment venues, and recreational facilities, are appropriate topics for this category.
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Central Michigan Correctional Facility
Housing Level I prisoners, STF was opened in 1990, and has eight housing buildings providing sixteen separate housing units, each with 7-8-bed open bays. Situated in Saint Louis, Michigan, the prison is operated by the Michigan Department of Corrections. Its location, telephone number, and policy information are provided, and the programs offered for inmates are outlined, and information about its security measures are included, and career opportunities are posted.
https://www.michigan.gov/corrections/prisons/central-michigan-correctional-facility
Situated at the geographic center of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, the city identifies itself as the "Middle of the Mitten." The official municipal website posts public notices and news, offers a variety of forms, reports, and other documents, and a calendar of events. City boards, commissions, and authorities are identified, contacts are posted, and a directory of businesses within the city is included. Property taxes and utilities may be paid online.
https://www.stlouismi.com/
Founded as Powell Fabrication & Manufacturing in 1964, the Saint Louis, Michigan company provides custom chemical products and services to chemical processors, distributors, toll blenders, contract packagers, and end-users around the world. Its location, office hours, contacts, and employment opportunities are posted, along with the history of the business, an overview of its products and services, technical documents, maintenance tips, and information about repair services and upgrades.
https://powellsolutions.com/
Open from the beginning of May to the end of October, the campground features a hundred and twenty, or more, camping spaces, all with electricity and water hookups. Campground policies are published on the site, camp meeting newsletters and program books can be downloaded in PDF format, and its children's camps, youth camps, and other programs are featured. Also included are its rates, a photo gallery, address, telephone number, and an online contact form are included.
https://www.stlouiscampground.org/
St. Louis Correctional Facility
Opened in 1999, and operated by the Michigan Department of Corrections, SLF has seven housing units on sixty-seven acres in Saint Louis, Michigan. The facility houses Level IV prisoners. General information about the facility is provided, including an overview of the programs available for inmates, security data, and contact information. Its policies on visitation are stated, along with other policies, and statistics and reports are included on the site.
https://www.michigan.gov/corrections/Prisons/St-Louis-Correctional-Facility
SLPS is a public school system in Saint Louis, Michigan that offers a K-12th-grade curriculum through Carrie Knause Elementary School, Nikkari Elementary School, TSN Middle School, and St. Louis High School, each of which is highlighted here, with school locations, schedules, faculty and staff contacts, registration schedules, and other details. A district calendar is posted, along with annual reports, menus, improvement plans, and an online course catalog.
https://www.stlouisschools.net/
