St. Johns

History

St. Johns was conceived as a station for the Detroit and Milwaukee Railway in late 1853. The location lie in a forest in Bingham Township, and the site was cleared and settled by the middle of 1854. The settlement was formally incorporated as a village within the township on October 15, 1857. The village incorporated as a city in 1904.

The settlement was named after Michigan Auditor-General John Swegles, who was part of the party sent to scout a site for the station.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.87 square miles (10.02 km2), all of it land. The city is situated in Bingham Township, but is administratively autonomous.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, St. Johns had a population of 7,698. The median age was 40.3 years. 22.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 20.3% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 91.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 86.8 males age 18 and over.

100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 3,306 households in St. Johns, of which 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 41.0% were married-couple households, 18.0% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 33.2% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 34.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 3,545 housing units, of which 6.7% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.1%.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 7,865 people, 3,147 households, and 2,011 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,032.3 inhabitants per square mile (784.7/km2). There were 3,451 housing units at an average density of 891.7 per square mile (344.3/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 93.9% White, 1.4% African American, 0.6% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.2% from other races, and 2.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.6% of the population.

There were 3,147 households, of which 32.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.2% were married couples living together, 14.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 36.1% were non-families. 30.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.95.

The median age in the city is 37.2. 25.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.5% were from 25 to 44; 24.1% were from 45 to 64; and 15.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.7% male and 52.3% female.

Culture

The Wilson Center Auditorium on Cass Street puts on rock concerts and theatrical productions throughout the year. To date, they have brought in acts such as David Dondero, Hailey Wojcik, and Doug Mains and the City Folk.

Mint production

Near the turn of the century, high demand for mint oil in medicines and candy from companies like Wrigley caused a surge in demand for mint farming. The rich, organic, muck soil of Clinton County makes the area around St. Johns particularly well-suited for mint farming. As a result, many mint farmers cultivated mint. The Crosby Mint Farm, established by J.E. Crosby in 1912, claims to be the oldest continuously family-operated mint farm in the United States.

Today Clinton County ranks first in Michigan in regards to total mint production.

St. Johns is known as the Mint City and has been called "The Mint Capital of the World."

Each year since 1985, St. Johns celebrates its mint farming heritage with the St. Johns Mint Festival. The festival typically takes place on the second weekend in August.

Transportation

Highways

US 127 connects north to Mt. Pleasant, and Grayling. Southward, it passes through Lansing and Jackson en route to Ohio. It provides a direct connection to I-69 and I-96.

Bus. US 127 is a business loop traveling through the city.

M-21 is an east-west highway passing through the city, connecting to Grand Rapids, approximately 66 miles (106 km) to the west, and Flint, about 45 miles (72 km) to the east.

Airports

Scheduled passenger air carrier flights are available from Capital Region International Airport, in south-central Clinton County.

Notable people

Robert Asprin, science fiction and fantasy author

Roy Beechler, football player and coach

Leo Burnett, advertising executive

Myrtelle Canavan, pathologist, discovered Canavan Disease

Voltairine de Cleyre, anarchist writer and feminist

Eric Esch, commonly referred to as Butterbean, former fighter

The Houghton brothers, creators of Big City Greens

Andrew Kehoe, perpetrator of the Bath School Disaster

Philip Orin Parmelee, aviator

Oliver L. Spaulding, Civil War general in the 23rd Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment, politician, and regent of the University of Michigan

Oliver Lyman Spaulding, U.S. Army brigadier general

Lee Upton, poet, fiction writer, and literary critic

Lola Carrier Worrell, composer

Places of interest

Paine-Gillam-Scott Museum – Home of the Clinton County Historical Society. Built in 1858, the house holds the distinction of being the oldest brick residence in the city of St. Johns.

Clinton Northern Railway Museum - Located in the former Grand Trunk Depot, the museum focuses on railroad history and its impact on small-town America. The museum features several restored railway cars.

IQhub at Agroliquid – Center for agricultural history, innovation and exploration. The IQhub is located inside AgroLiquid's world headquarters in St. Johns, Michigan. The 9,500 square foot agriculture education destination is home to exhibits chronicling the advancement of agriculture, from before the Europeans arrived in the Americas through the present day.

Registered Historic Buildings in St. Johns

Sites marked with a dagger (†) have been demolished.

Climate

This climatic region is typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, St. Johns has a humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps.

Crime rate

Crime in St. Johns is significantly lower when compared to the national average, and average-to-high when compared to surrounding cities.

Violent Crime Rate in 2012 (higher number means more dangerous)

U.S. Average: 214

St. Johns: 95.5

Laingsburg: 279.8

Ovid: 58.9

Elsie: 79.6

Dewitt: N/A

Lansing: 422.7

Reported Incidents from 2001–2012 in St. Johns, MI:

Rape: 35

Arson: 9

Motor vehicle theft: 70

Assault: 55

Burglaries : 366