Welcome to Sturgis, MIJudge John Sturgis was the first settler in 1827 in the area now known as Sturgis, Mich., located in St. Joseph County. His rustic log cabin still remains and can be seen in Pioneer Park. The city was named Sturgis, not because Mr. Sturgis was the first settler, or even because he was a judge. Instead, the city gained its namesake because of this one man’s unforgettable baking skills. Legend states that a group of surveyors passed through the small community and Mr. Sturgis baked them a hearty batch of biscuits. Governor Lewis Cass was a member of this group and, once it was decided to officially name the town, Cass remembered the biscuits and the kind man who made them. So, in 1896, Cass proposed the name Sturgis.
Over the years the city remained neighborly, prosperous and continued to grow. It was nicknamed “The Electric City” for obtaining the use of electricity long before any of the neighboring towns or cities. Finally, in 2000, the population reached 11,285 people overall. Today, its main industries include auto-part and metal manufacturing and hospital dietary products, as well as tourism and fruit farming.
Every year in May Sturgis launches Michigan Week with its Gateway Festival with a grand parade. Michigan Week is a celebration of the Great Lakes States created to encourage a sense of community and pride among its citizens. | More Local Area InformationIn 1840 Three Rivers, Mich., was named for the three rivers—Rocky, Portage and St. Joseph River—that flow together to become one. In 1895, th... Read moreNestled in northeastern Elkhart County, Middlebury covers approximately 100 square miles of scenic, semi-rural landscape. The large Amish an... Read moreElkhart County, Indiana, offers a mix of urban and rural living with a population of nearly 200,000. The large Amish population contributes to th... Read moreCass County, Michigan, was established in 1828 during the presidency of Andrew Jackson and named after Lewis Cass who served as territorial governo... Read moreA small town in Elkhart County, Bristol was founded by European settlers approximately 200 years ago. Today, Bristol looks forward to the future wit... Read moreWith an estimated population of 31,882 in 2006, Goshen, Indiana, is the county seat of Elkhart County. The neighborly, service-oriented environment... Read morePortage offers the comforts of living in a smaller city with the benefits and convenience of a short drive into Kalamazoo’s vibrant downtown... Read moreLocated in the heart of Amish Country, Elkhart, Indiana, is the birth place of Alka Seltzer and claims to have produced more patents than any othe... Read moreThe first settlers of Cassopolis were the Putnams, a small family from Indiana who took up residence in October of 1825. Their humble floorless hom... Read moreOriginally populated by the Potawatami Indians, Van Buren County, Mich., is considered “Michigan’s Fruit Basket.” Sometime in the mid 1800s, settler... Read moreA Cass County village, Edwardsburg, Mich., provides a country setting in a quiet environment. This small community is located just northeast of Sout... Read moreSituated amidst the beautiful hills and wineries of Southwest Michigan, Mattawan provides a rural setting with a growing community. This charmin... Read moreConveniently located within driving distance to Detroit, Chicago and Lake Michigan, Kalamazoo offers diverse community living with rich cultural an... Read moreSaint Joseph County is located on the southernmost bend of the St. Joseph River in northern Indiana. The river dips down into Indiana from Michigan... Read morePrior to 1883, the region now known as Granger, Indiana, served as a depot for Lake Huron and Chicago Railroad. The only structures that existed a... Read moreKnown as the “Cereal City” and home to the global headquarters of the Kellogg Company, Battle Creek is a vibrant city located within driving distanc... Read moreThe “Grand Old City” of southwestern Michigan, Dowagiac, located in Cass County, was named after the Native American word meaning “foraging ground.... Read moreMishawaka, Indiana, established in 1899, is the birthplace of the Hummer (produced by AM General) and home to approximately 49,000 people. The city’... Read moreAt the southernmost tip of Michigan, on the banks of the St. Joseph River, the first settlers set up Fort St. Joseph and a trading post in 1691... Read moreSquire Isaac Thompson built the first homestead in Berrien County in 1823. The county became official in 1831 and received its name from U.S. Senato... Read more |
