St. James, Michigan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
St. James, Michigan
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Location within Charlevoix County
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 St. James, Michigan
Location in Michigan
St. James, Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Michigan |
| County | Charlevoix |
| Township | St. James |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.03 sq mi (2.67 km2) |
| • Land | 1.03 sq mi (2.67 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.01 km2) |
| Elevation | 604 ft (184 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 145 |
| • Density | 140.91/sq mi (54.41/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code(s) |
49782 (Beaver Island)
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| Area code(s) | 231 |
| FIPS code | 26-70900 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0636683 |
St. James is a small community in Michigan, a state in the United States. It is located in Charlevoix County. St. James is known as an unincorporated community and a census-designated place (CDP). This means it's a recognized community that doesn't have its own city government, but its population is counted for official statistics. In 2020, 145 people lived there. St. James is found within St. James Township.
This community sits on the northern coast of Beaver Island, which is the largest island in Lake Michigan. From 1855 to 1895, St. James was the main town, or county seat, of Manitou County.
Contents
History of St. James
Early Settlement and Mormon Colony
St. James was first settled around 1847. This happened when a religious leader named James Jesse Strang brought his Mormon church followers to live on Beaver Island. The area was originally part of Michilimackinac County.
On January 13, 1849, a post office opened here, called Beaver Island. Charles Wright was the first postmaster, which means he was in charge of the post office.
King Strang and the Name Change
Strang decided to name the new community after himself, calling it St. James. The post office name changed to St. James on October 10, 1854. At this time, the area became part of Emmet County.
James Jesse Strang declared himself a king. He is the only person ever crowned king in the United States!
Changes After Strang's Death
In 1856, Strang was killed by some people who used to follow him. After his death, the community started to decline. The post office even closed on March 6, 1868.
However, Charles Wright reopened the post office on December 19, 1868. He named it Beaver Island again and served as postmaster once more. During the 1870s, St. James was also sometimes called Beaver Harbor.
By 1895, the Mormon settlers had left the island. St. James then became part of Charlevoix County. Today, it is a popular place for vacations and tourism.
Official Recognition as a CDP
For the 2010 census, St. James was officially listed as a new census-designated place. This means it now has clear boundaries and its population is counted separately for government records.
Geography of St. James
Location and Area
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the St. James CDP covers about 1.03 square miles (2.67 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
St. James is located in St. James Township. It's at the northern tip of Beaver Island, which is the biggest island in Lake Michigan.
Harbor and Landmarks
The center of St. James faces southeast towards St. James Harbor. This is where the Beaver Island Ferry arrives, bringing people from Charlevoix on the mainland.
The Beaver Island Harbor Light is a lighthouse that marks the northeastern side of the harbor's entrance. The St. James CDP stretches east for about 0.5 miles (1 kilometer) to Lookout Point and Sucker Point. These points are at the very northeastern end of Beaver Island.
Population and Demographics
Demographics refers to the statistics about a population, like how many people live somewhere.
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2010 | 205 | — | |
| 2020 | 145 | −29.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
The population of St. James was 205 people in 2010. By 2020, the population was 145 people.
Education in St. James
All students in St. James attend the Beaver Island Community School. This school is located within St. James itself and serves the entire school district.
The Beaver Island Community School is one of only four "insular" school districts in Michigan. An insular school district means it's on an island and separate from mainland school systems. The other insular districts are:
- Bois Blanc Pines School District
- Grosse Ile Township Schools
- Mackinac Island School District
