Sturgis, Michigan Facts for Kids

The city is found at the northeast corner of Sturgis Township. It sits where two main roads, US 12 and M-66, cross. Sturgis is also very close to the border between Michigan and Indiana. The I-80/90 Indiana Toll Road is just south of the city. Sturgis has its own ZIP code, which is 49091.

City Location and Size
Getting Around Sturgis
Sturgis's Past: Key Moments
Sturgis Population Over Time
Famous People from Sturgis
See also

City Location and Size

Sturgis is located at 41°47′57″N 85°25′09″W / 41.79917°N 85.41917°W / 41.79917; -85.41917. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city covers a total area of about 17.57 square kilometers (6.78 square miles). All of this area is land.

Getting Around Sturgis

This section tells you about the different ways people and goods travel in and out of Sturgis.

Main Roads for Travel

US 12 is a major highway that goes east and west through Sturgis.
M-66 is another important highway that runs north and south through the city.
The I-80/90 Toll Road in Indiana has an exit only three miles from Sturgis. This makes it easy to reach other states.

Sturgis's Airport

The city of Sturgis owns and runs the Kirsch Municipal Airport (KIRS). This airport is in the northwest part of the city. It's a general aviation airport, meaning it's mostly for private planes and smaller aircraft. It has two runways. The main runway is 5,200 feet long, and a second runway, used for crosswinds, is 3,457 feet long.

Railroad Services

Sturgis has commercial rail service provided by the Michigan Southern Railroad Company. This helps businesses move goods by train.

The old Sturgis Train Depot was built in 1895. It is one of the oldest train stations in West Michigan. In 2014, this historic building was moved to a new spot. It is now being fixed up to become the home of the Sturgis Historical Museum.

Sturgis's Past: Key Moments

Learn about how Sturgis began and some interesting facts from its history.

How Sturgis Was Founded

The Carnegie Library in Sturgis was built starting in 1908.

In 1827, a man named Judge John Sturgis came to the St. Joseph Valley area. He settled in what is now the city of Sturgis. You can still see the original spot of his home at Pioneer Park today.

There's a story about how the town got its name. Mrs. John Sturgis supposedly baked biscuits and sent them to a group of surveyors. Lewis Cass, who later became governor, was part of this group. When it was time to name the town, Governor Cass remembered the tasty biscuits. He insisted the town be named Sturgis. In 1896, Sturgis officially became a city.

Sturgis: The "Electric City"

The Sturgis Memorial Hospital was built in 1925.

Sturgis is known as the "Electric City." This is because it has its own city-owned electric company and a hydroelectric dam. These have been around since the city started in 1896.

In 1909, the city decided to build a hydroelectric dam. This dam was built on the St. Joseph River near Centreville, Michigan. The dam started working on September 3, 1911. It still provides power to the community today. In 2011, the city celebrated the dam's 100th birthday with an event called "Sturgis Dam Days."

Sister City Partnership

Sturgis has a special connection with Wiesloch, a city in Germany. They are "Sister Cities." This partnership started in 1966. It grew from President Eisenhower's People-to-People program. This program helps different cultures learn about each other and build friendships.

In 1967, Wiesloch sent a community choir to Sturgis to start the cultural exchange.
In 1969, Sturgis sent its own choir to Wiesloch.
In 1977, the program grew to include students. Each year, students from both cities spend three weeks living in their partner's home.
Teachers also exchange places. In 1989, a Sturgis teacher worked in Wiesloch. This teacher exchange still happens sometimes.

In 2016, Sturgis and Wiesloch celebrated 50 years of their Sister City partnership.

City Celebrations and Events

For many years, Sturgis was the starting city for Michigan Week. This was a statewide celebration held in May. Many important political figures, like state senators and the governor, would join the parade.

However, Michigan Week became less popular. In 2010, Sturgis stopped hosting the kickoff event. Instead, they started celebrating Sturgis Dam Days in June. This event honored the hydroelectric dam. The 100-year anniversary of the Sturgis Dam was celebrated during Sturgis Dam Days in 2011. Since 2012, the community has celebrated Sturgis Fest in the last week of June.

The Historic Sturgis Rail Depot Move

The Sturgis Railroad Depot in 2019, after it was moved and restored.

On June 23–24, 2014, the old Sturgis Rail Depot was moved. It went from its spot on West Main & N. Clay Streets to a more central location on W. Chicago Road. This building was 120 years old. Its walls were up to 2 feet thick, and it weighed 304 tons! Special movers used a jacking system and dollies to move it a quarter of a mile across town.

The Depot was then renovated. It is now used as a museum by the Sturgis Historical Society.

Abbott Plant and Infant Formula

Abbott Laboratories has a factory in Sturgis that makes infant formula. In February 2022, the factory had to stop production. This was because some of the infant formula made there had bacteria. This led to a shortage of infant formula across the country. The factory started making formula again in June 2022. They first made special formula for babies with specific dietary needs.

Sturgis Population Over Time

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1860	1,020	—
1870	1,768	73.3%
1880	2,060	16.5%
1890	2,489	20.8%
1900	2,465	−1.0%
1910	3,635	47.5%
1920	5,995	64.9%
1930	6,950	15.9%
1940	7,214	3.8%
1950	7,786	7.9%
1960	8,915	14.5%
1970	9,295	4.3%
1980	9,468	1.9%
1990	10,130	7.0%
2000	11,285	11.4%
2010	10,994	−2.6%
2020	11,082	0.8%
U.S. Decennial Census

The population of Sturgis has changed over the years. In 2010, there were 10,994 people living in the city. By 2020, the population had grown slightly to 11,082 people.

Famous People from Sturgis

Many notable people have connections to Sturgis:

Tom Bodett: An author, voice actor, and radio host, known for Motel 6 ads. He grew up in Sturgis.
Cameron S. Brown: A former state senator for Michigan. He is from Sturgis.
Mattie A. Freeman: A writer and speaker who believed in free thought and ending slavery. She was born in Sturgis.
Walter T. Kelley: He created new ways and tools for Beekeeping.
June MacCloy: An actress who was born in Sturgis.
Perle Mesta: A well-known socialite and Ambassador to Luxembourg. She was born in Sturgis.
Frank W. Parker: A justice on the New Mexico Supreme Court. He was born in Sturgis.
William Balser Skirvin: A business executive and oilman. He was born in Sturgis.
Marlin Stutzman: A former congressman from Indiana. He was born in Sturgis.
Verne Troyer: An actor, famous for playing Mini-Me in the Austin Powers movies. He was born in Sturgis but grew up nearby.
Paul Weatherwax: A film editor who won two Academy Awards. He was born in Sturgis.

Sturgis, Michigan facts for kids

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