St Charles is located in central Saginaw County, approximately 10 miles southwest of Saginaw. It was first settled by Hiram Davis in 1852. Shortly after that, Charles S. Kimberly built a store there, and became the town’s first postmaster in 1854. Apparently Kimberly was considered to be an honest, forthright gentleman by the local lumberjacks, and they nicknamed him "St. Charles," with the village named for him shortly afterwards. St. Charles was a significant transport point for floating lumber, as the north and south branches of the Bad River, as well as Swan Creek, met at this point.
St. Charles today has retained its small town atmosphere, with several stores and small businesses. It also is known by birdwatchers for its location to the Shiawassee River State Game Area and the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge, just to the northeast. It also has a small aviary in the city park.
Local Links:
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The Tri-Cities Local Area Guide