CHIPPEWA COUNTY
County Offices
319 Court Street
Sault Ste. Marie 906-635-6330
www.chippewacountymi.gov
Chamber of Commerce
2581 I-75 Business Spur
Sault Ste. Marie 906-632-3301
www.saultstemarie.org
Scenic Chippewa County is home to the breathtakingly beautiful Sault Ste. Marie waterfront community and other picturesque sites. Tourism, vacation destinations, small-town friendliness, business and industry come together in a lively and attractive blend of environments and lifestyles.
Services
State-of-the-art healthcare services and facilities are available close to home at War Memorial Hospital, where an entire team of professionals is prepared to meet every need, 24 hours per day, seven days a week. The hospital provides a “patient-centered” atmosphere based on the mission of extending compassion and attention to everyone who walks through the door. War Memorial is dedicated to providing the most advanced care possible, most recently evidenced in the $7 million renovation to the radiology department and the addition of state-of-the-art digital technology. Another recent opening is the 30,000-square-foot Rehabilitation Center featuring a hydro-therapy pool that accelerates a patient’s recovery time. Skilled professionals in private practice are available to meet routine and many specialized needs close to home.
Opportunities for a quality education are available to students of all ages, underlined by excellent public and private schools from preschool through 12th grade. Lake Superior State University (LSSU) is a popular choice for higher education, drawing students to a private-college atmosphere in a smaller public university. Lake Superior distinguishes itself among the other public universities in Michigan as being the only one with a primary focus on undergraduate education. Many programs feature “hands on” learning opportunities like internships, co-ops, practica, student and faculty research teams, and senior projects that apply mastery skills. The university’s location is ideal for studying biology, fisheries, chemistry, geology, and recreation management. Small classes and individualized attention drive an intensive learning model on an attractive campus that blends grand historic architecture with modern buildings. Located in Sault Ste. Marie, the college perches on a hill that offers views of the nearby Laurentian Mountains.
Lifestyle
Newcomers to Chippewa County will discover a natural playground for seasonal sports and year-round outdoor enjoyment. Camping, snowmobiling, boating, fishing, golf, and hunting are some of the more popular activities. Those who enjoy nightlife and indoor entertainment venues may want to take in a show at one of two major casinos. The younger set will want to try the world-class tubing runs at Minneapolis Woods or hockey and skating at one of the region’s many ice arenas. Hockey is the name of the game in Sault Ste. Marie, where the community welcomes visitors to a number of exciting tournaments each winter. Cross-country skiing, snow cross racing, and birding are other common pastimes. The spring migration attracts birders from around the world to Whitefish Point, where an observatory marks the passage of thousands of species returning to their summer homes. Undisturbed woods, great fishing waters, and a waterfront that features one of the world’s busiest lock systems, this region is resplendent with visual delight.
Chippewa County bursts into bloom and becomes alive in the summer, when vacationers and visitors pour in to see museums, galleries, and other attractions. Many take advantage of the Soo Locks Boat Tour and take in panoramic vistas of beaches, inland lakes, scenic hiking trails, deep forests and cascading waterfalls. Autumn is an especially spectacular time in Chippewa County, where natural landscapes splash crimson and orange into bright yellows and gold. Just across the river from Sault Ste. Marie is the Ontario city with the same name, offering many amenities associated with a larger metropolitan area. The Canadian sister Sault Ste. Marie draws Chippewa County residents to great jazz clubs, theater, shopping malls, and wonderful restaurants. The sister cities share a rich history growing up along the shorelines of the same river in two different nations, sharing the famous Sault Locks. For an unrivaled quality of life, discover the many charms of Chippewa County.
Sault Ste. Marie
City Offices
906-632-5700
www.saultstemarie.com
Chamber of Commerce
906-632-3301
www.saultstemarie.org
The bustling economic and waterfront center of Sault Ste. Marie was established in 1668, distinguishing the city as the oldest in Michigan and the oldest European settlement in the Midwest. Rich in history and surrounded by rich natural resources, this beautiful region features fresh water, clean air, and four seasons of spectacular scenery. The jewel of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Sault Ste. Marie features the beauty of St. Mary’s River along its northern border, connecting Lake Superior with Lake Huron. Residents and visitors look across the river at the community’s Canadian neighbor, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. One of the world’s most impressive engineering feats is celebrated in this area, the Soo Locks that provide a safe passage for large freighters between Lake Superior and Lake Huron, bridging the 21-foot difference in elevation between the two bodies of water. More than 90 million tons of cargo passes through the locks each year.
DeTour Village
Village Offices
906-297-5471
www.detourvillage.org
Chamber of Commerce
906-632-3301
www.saultstemarie.org
The small but charming village of DeTour offers a picturesque maritime atmosphere that includes a marina and ferry. Many homes offer private lots that are heavily wooded in this panoramic Upper Peninsula area. The village is located northeast of the Mackinac Bridge at the Straits of DeTour Passage where the majestic St. Mary’s River joins Lake Huron. Often called the “Gateway to the North Channel” and a premier vacation destination, DeTour is also a wonderful hometown that offers a quaint and cherished lifestyle. The village experiences tremendous traffic because of its strategic location along the locks and celebrates this constant flow of boats and freighters with the annual Freighter Races DeTour. The fishing industry from the 1800s survives today, and in 1980 DeTour Passage became home to a first-rate marina built and operated by the Department of Natural Resources.
Bruce Township
Town Hall
906-635-3058
www.brucetownship.net
Chamber of Commerce
906-632-3301
www.saultstemarie.org
Beautiful Bruce Township is located southeast of Sault Ste. Marie and features the panoramic St. Mary’s River along its eastern border. The southern border is 18 Mile Road and 6 Mile Road is the northern boundary of the township. The western boundary is just west of state highway M-129. New residents are drawn to Bruce Township for the abundance of land and rural beauty and the mix of picturesque farmland with fine residential properties for a true country lifestyle. The Barbeau area in southern Bruce Township is experiencing resort development along the St. Marys River, while limited light industry is growing along the M-129 corridor. Hay farming and cattle are the principal agricultural activities in this rustic rural area. The ferry connection to Neebish Island is accessed from Scenic Drive just south of 15 Mile Road.
Kinross Township
Town Hall
906-495-5381
www.kinrosstownship-mi.gov
Chamber of Commerce
906-632-3301
www.saultstemarie.org
Kinross Township plays a vital role in Chippewa County activities and spirit. Each year, county residents and regional visitors converge to celebrate the Chippewa County Fair at the Kinross Community Park. The township is also home to two RV parks and other recreational amenities including the Kinross Recreation Center. The township is proud of its Heritage Park and Military Museum across from Kinross Community Park. The historic complex features displays on pioneer farming, logging and household artifacts, a shoe repair shop, a barbershop, a blacksmith, a 1902 one-room schoolhouse, an 1882 furnished log cabin, and a half-mile nature trail. Don’t miss the used book store at the museum. Kinross Township is an ideal place to call home for those who appreciate country charm and rural beauty.
