Living In St. Joseph, Michigan

St. Joseph is carefully nestled on the southern tip of what has been termed "The Riviera of the Midwest." This deepwater port town is a growing resort community - part of a "small town" chain stretching from the state line in a spectacular arc along Lake Michigan. The lakeshore is peppered with remarkable sand dune formations and lined further inland with a lush countryside that produces some of the nation's finest orchards and vineyards. It is the largest non-citrus fruit growing region in the nation.

Located just 90 miles from downtown Chicago, St. Joseph is a quaint community situated within the larger Benton Harbor/St. Joseph MSA. The City of St. Joseph has continually operated at full economic capacity.

St. Joseph is the county seat for Berrien County, a distinction maintained since 1894. St. Joseph has prospered over the years by encouraging a balanced mix of industrial, commercial, and residential development.

St. Joseph has become well known for its beautiful location along Lake Michigan, its quality public school system, its health care system, its beaches, parks, and other natural amenities, and its affluent community. The presence of many large corporations causes the city's population to triple during the average workday. St. Joseph has become the ideal location for many second-home buyers, with a strong attraction from the Chicago area.

Tourists come to St. Joseph every year by the tens of thousands to enjoy the beaches, Lake Michigan, the St. Joseph River, downtown shopping, festivals and more. Silver Beach County Park in downtown St. Joseph attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors annually, and the number of visitors continues to grow. Annual festivals in St. Joseph continue to draw increasing numbers of tourists to the community.

Your tour will start at Lake Bluff Park, near the Whitcomb Hotel. As you scan the area below the bluff you notice the Margaret B. Upton Arboretum with its many sculptures and park benches, the St. Joseph River, the St. Joseph Lighthouse and magnificent Lake Michigan. It is these vital waterways that have helped shape the destiny of the region.

St. Joseph's history began almost 100 years before the American Revolution when the mouth of the St. Joseph River was discovered and documented in 1669. Ten years later, the explorer LaSalle and his 14 men cleared a piece of land and started the construction of Fort Miami on the bluff around the St. Joseph River. LaSalle's stay was not long however, and the area was mostly populated by Native Americans, trappers and soldiers until 1785 when William Burnett established a trading post and became the first permanent settler.

The Carey Mission Treaty of 1828 opened the area to commerce and St. Joseph began to grow. In 1829, the area's first full-time resident, New Yorker Calvin Britain, made the long trek to southwest Michigan. As the port of St. Joseph prospered, it became the principal transportation artery for the entire region. The settlement grew into a village originally called Newberryport in honor of a prominent businessman.

Today, St. Joseph is nestled on the southern tip of what has been termed "The Riviera of the Midwest." This deepwater port town is a growing resort community - part of a "small town" chain stretching from the state line in a spectacular arc along Lake Michigan. Grain, wool, maple sugar, furs, and lumber, tools, hardware and furniture are shipped in and out of the river's mouth. The St. Joseph Lighthouse stands in the midst of activity as boaters, fishermen and water-skiers take advantage of Lake Michigan.

In 1860, wooden sidewalks were built. Since then, downtown St. Joseph, while still maintaining some of its older storefronts, has changed tenfold. Located just 90 miles from downtown Chicago, St. Joseph is a community of 8,800 people situated within the larger Benton Harbor/St. Joseph MSA of 162,000 people. The City of St. Joseph has continually operated at full economic capacity, with citywide unemployment rates typically hovering around 2%.

Throughout the 1800's, people continued to move into the St. Joseph area. The first settlers arrived to the area and built their homes east of the river in 1834. The land they had found soon developed into excellent farmland. In fact, beautiful countryside's still surround St. Joseph. Orchards full of apples, pears, peaches and cherries flow into vineyards of grapes, fields of corn, rows of strawberries and blueberries. It is the largest non-citrus fruit-growing region in the nation. Each spring, since 1906 the Blossomtime Festival celebrates the beginning of the growing season.

Ironically, in 1839 peach trees were introduced to the area and peach production became a major economic activity. It was in 1870 that St. Joseph finally acquired a rail service through the Chicago and Michigan Lakeshore Railway. By 1872 it had developed to the extent that Berrien County could ship 140,000 bushels of peaches each year. You can still take the train from Detroit or Chicago and arrive at the same train station in downtown St. Joseph. (For more information on times and fees, visit the Amtrak web site.)

In 1880, Logan Drake purchased 20-22 acres of sand dunes from the Native Americans. Later he joined up with Louis Wallace and formed the Silver Beach Amusement Company. A slide was built in the water for children; a moving stairway "the people mover" was installed on the bluff costing 1 cent to ride. Roller coasters, a carousel, outdoor roller skating rink and dance pavilion were added. Silver Beach is still a community get-together for guests and residents. Currently a group of citizens are trying to bring back the "magic" of the Silver Beach Amusement Park, by purchasing the original carousel, with the intent of making it a working exhibit in downtown St. Joseph. For more information, visit the Silver Beach Carousel Society's website.)

Many people fondly remember the days of the Shadowland Ballroom that was a part of the Amusement Park. Recently, Berrien County constructed the Shadowland Pavilion to honor the old Shadowland Ballroom and provide a place on the beach for more entertainment and fun. During summer months visitors may hear a variety of concerts here. This past summer the Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra performed during festivals and the 4th of July to sell out crowds. We're confident you'll not only be impressed with the talent, but the unique architecture as well.

Unique architecture is what St. Joseph is all about. From classic Victorian homes to this gazebo, found in Lake Bluff park, the buildings of St. Joe provide the City with a melting pot of styles. The gazebo was designed for tired pedestrians to sit and rest while overlooking the grand view of Lake Michigan. Designed by Allegretti Architects, it is created from bricks that were donated by individual patrons. Each brick is marked with the name of a resident and their family. (For more information on St. Joseph architecture, visit the old fashioned photo gallery.)

While walking down the path that meanders through Lake Bluff park, you will pass a large cannon monument, which was unveiled to St. Joseph in 1897. This eleven-inch Dahlgren gun is a naval cannon cast in 1864. However, this particular specimen did not see service during the Civil War, but was carried on the USS Marion from 1876-9. This cannon is one of only 21 survivors of the 465 of its type manufacturerd, and which armed many famous ships, including the USS Monitor. It weighs nearly eight tons and can fire a 200 lb. shot three miles.

If you keep walking you will see the Maids of the Mist. Located across from the Whitcomb, the fountain runs all summer long. The two female figures are Constance and Hope. Made for the Inter State Industrial Exposition building at the World's Fair in Chicago, the Maids of the Mist found a home in St. Joseph when the owner of the Whitcomb purchased it in 1892.

The Whitcomb Hotel has been present in St. Joseph since 1868. Formally the St. Charles Hotel location, wealthy Chicago visitors vacationed here until 1968 when the hotel closed. Mineral baths were a specialty of the hotel. They were believed to be beneficial for diseases. The Whitcomb was renowned nation wide. Currently the Whitcomb is a retirement home for many residents. Grand parties and entertainment events are still held on the large porch that overlooks the bluff.

At the other end of Lake Bluff Park, walkers can view another historic memorial, the Spirit of the American Doughboy. The Auxiliary Unit 568 of Stevensville "adopted" this work and funded its restoration as a memorial for all those who served in the Great World War. You will find that St. Joseph has a large number of war memorials along the Lake Bluff. They have been visited by many of our country's most honored veterans.

Not far from the Doughboy Memorial is the LaSalle boulder. In 1902, the glacial boulder was extracted from the bed of the St. Joseph River and made into a monument in memory of the French explorer who built Fort Miami.

If you don't feel like walking around the town, hitch a ride. Tourists come to St. Joseph every year by the tens of thousands to enjoy the beaches and Lake Michigan, the St. Joseph River, downtown shopping, festivals and more. Silver Beach, a County Park in downtown St. Joseph attracts over 150,000 annually, and the number of visitors continues to grow. Annual festivals in St. Joseph draw increasing numbers of tourists to the community.

A wonderful resource for current art exhibits is the Krasl Art Museum. Its annual Art Fair draws large crowds of exhibitors and shoppers from throughout the country. Located in the heart of St. Joseph, the Krasl Art Museum is home to numerous exhibitions including collections from the Smithsonian Institute of the Arts. In fact, the Krasl has played an important role in serving St. Joseph's SculpTour. (For more info on the SculpTour call (269) 983-0271.)

Included in the SculpTour is the St. Joseph Salute. Located in the Pleasant Street Plaza, the sculpture was a gift to the city from a group of citywide corporate and private donors. With its cutouts of athletic figures the sculptor is a celebration of St. Joseph and its beaches.

St. Joseph was established as the county seat of Berrien County shortly after the creation of this government unit. But as with most history, the story does not end here. The County seat has traveled extensively; starting in Niles, then to St. Joseph, then to Berrien Springs, and finally back to St. Joseph where it exists today.

This concludes the "virtual tour" of St. Joseph. As you can see, there are many reasons why we are so proud to call St. Joseph our home. To really experience the beauty and the history of our area, it is best to visit in person. There is nothing like a summer sunset shared with family or close friends. To find out more about St. Joseph, Michigan contact the City Manager, or St. Joseph Today. Please visit soon, we look forward to meeting you!

John & Dede Howard Skate Park

Address: Kiwanis Park on Pearl Street Phone: (269) 983-6341

The John and Dede Howard Skate Park is an in-line skating, skateboarding, and BMX biking facility. Complete with ramps, rails and half-pipes. Helmets are recommended.

Skateboard Park is now open. Be safe, follow the rules and enjoy the park.
Hours are currently as follows:

Monday - Saturday, 9am - 8pm
Sunday, noon - 5pm
BMX bikesonly on Mondays from 9am - 3pm & Thursdays from 3pm - 8pm
No Skating during Bike hours
No Bikes during Skating hours

NO SKATING during bike hours and NO BIKES during skating hours. Please read the Skate Center Rules. Check back often these hours are updated throughout the season.

City Parks & Recreation

Looking for something fun to do? St. Joseph has it all with an abundance of parks and recreational facilities that cater to a variety of enthusiasts' tastes. Set out for an afternoon of fishing, laze on one of our many beaches, take a stroll along picturesque trails, or hit the skate park. Whatever you're after, you'll find it here.

Park Passes are available at no charge to City residents. Bring your vehicle registration showing a City address to the City Clerk's Office at City Hall to receive a sticker that exempts you from entrance fees at City Parks. Non-residents may purchase a park pass for $20. (These passes do not include admission to the Howard Ice Arena.)

City Boat Launch is located on Anchor's Court, on Marina Island. $5 per car/trailer. Season passes are available from the City Clerk's Office at City Hall. Season passes are $20.00.

Dickinson Park , at the corner of Lakeview and Wallace Avenues, is jointly owned by the City and by the St. Joseph Public School District. The park contains baseball and softball fields and is the home of the highschool baseball and softball teams. The fields are available for public use when not occupied by school activities.

John and Dede Howard Ice Arena located at 2414 Willa Drive is a refrigerated NHL-sized (200' x 85') outdoor rink. Although open to the weather, the rink does have a roof. There is a warming hut with The Center Ice Snack Bar and restrooms. Click here for more information including the schedule, and admission and rental fees.

John and Dede Howard Family Recreation Trail begins behind the Water Plant, at the south end of Lions Park Drive (just below the pedestrian bridge from Lake Court), and runs north to Park Street; west to Silver Beach (use the sidewalk); north along the park sidewalk to Elm Street; north and then east along the edges of Whirlpool Field; north on the south side of Vine Street; east through the Upton Arboretum along the St. Joseph River, and continues east below the Berrien County Courthouse before ending at the Bicentennial Bridge. This multi-use path allows for beautiful views of Lake Michigan and the St. Joseph River over most of its length.

Kiwanis Park is located on Pearl Street near Langley Avenue and is home to the John and Dede Howard Skate Park, an in-line skating/skateboarding. BMX biking facility. Click here for more information and the current Skateboard Center hours.

You can also find the brand new DOG PARK at this location. For more, please click here.

There is also a picnic shelter available for church, school and children's groups only. Call (269) 983-6325 to make reservations. Other groups may use the shelter on a first come, first-served basis. The park also has a softball field, tennis courts, a basketball court, and playground equipment.

Lake Bluff Park is located along the west side of Lake Boulevard along the top of the bluff, from Park Street north to State Street. The Park provides a scenic overlook of Lake Michigan shore and piers. The Park contains several memorials and monuments, a band shell, and restrooms with a lighted stairway down the bluff leading to lower Broad Street and the Amtrak train depot. Take a historical tour of St. Joseph.

Lions Park Beach located at the south end of Lions Park Drive, has two shelters, public restrooms, grills, picnic tables, and playground equipment. There are no lifeguards, swimming at this beach is discouraged.

Lookout Park located on Lakeshore Drive north of Hawthorne Avenue, has two separate parking areas with picnic facilities allowing a scenic view of Lake Michigan. The southerly parking area includes the Richard Kiesel Memorial Viewing Structure, which allows visitors their closest approach to the edge of the bluff and the best view.

Milton Park is located on the corners of Niles and Winchester Avenues. It is a passive park with a playfield and playground equipment.

Riverview Park located at 2927 Niles Road is a 107 acre park located in a bend of the St. Joseph River. The park has baseball fields, playground equipment, picnic shelters, and nature trails. Several of the shelters are available for rental, call (269) 983-6325 for more information. City residents pay reduced rental rates.

Silver Beach , although located on Lake Street in the City of St. Joseph, this popular bathing beach is operated by Berrien County Parks and Recreation.

Tiny Tot's Park located on the corners of Willa Drive and Botham Avenue, has a playground specifically designed for young children.

Tiscornia Park is a family oriented park located on sixteen acres along the shoreline of Lake Michigan at the northwest corner of the City. Amenities include the North Pier Lighthouse and walkway that is a popular spot for fishing and watching sunsets, restroom facilities, sandy beach and a pavilion that will accommodate about forty for picnics and is available for rental through the City Clerks Office at (269) 983-6325. $3 admission per vehicle is required for Non City Residents and those without Season Passes. Season Passes are available for $20.

Upton Arboretum provides approximately eleven hundred feet of footage on the south side of the St. Joseph River, adjacent to the downtown area. It is heavily used during the Venetian Festival and as a broadside moorage during the Tri-State Regatta. A great place to take the kids and feed the ducks. The Howard Recreation Trail passes through the arboretum.

Whittlesey Park located at 2414 Willa Drive, is home to the John and Dede Howard Ice Arena as well as a playfield.

Summer Recreation Program is available to children 5 years and older at no cost. For more information regarding this program, contact the Parks and Recreation Department at (269) 983-6341.

Welcome to St. Joseph Public Schools - Where we are Ready for your Dream!

Welcome to the St. Joseph Public Schools website. I encourage you to examine and compare what our schools have to offer you and your child. We are what you have been dreaming about in a school system. We are one of only four districts in the state of Michigan, out of more than 500 districts, to receive a letter grade A for every school in the district every year the grade has been given. The St. Joseph Public Schools boast modern, safe, clean schools with the highest academic standards and student achievement. Our highly qualified staff encourages all students to succeed and excel. Maximum opportunities exist at all levels including co- and extra-curricular activities.

Our high school graduates are accepted into the top U.S. colleges and universities across the nation and succeed because of their preparation and exposure to a wide variety of advanced placement college-level courses. Our math department is among the top rated in the state with many middle schoolers completing honors geometry by the end of eighth grade and high schoolers able to complete three college level AP math classes including college statistics and two years of calculus. Our science program features an in-district planetarium visited by all students K-6 several times each year. Writing is also stressed at all grade levels. Our high school annually receives honors for its newspaper and college writing classes. Fine arts opportunities abound with our superior and award-winning orchestras, bands, and choir programs. Visual arts and practical arts opportunities allow students a wide variety of exposure to lifelong learning experiences.

Students in the St. Joseph Public Schools also enjoy the ambiance of a wonderful community located on the shores of beautiful Lake Michigan with friendly and safe neighborhoods and a wide variety of shopping opportunities.

We invite you to join us in our learning mission and let us demonstrate to you that we are Ready for your Dream .

St. Joseph Public Schools - Honors and Awards

News for 2006-2007

Grand Award winner from the Regional MITES Competition went to Drew Machacek for his CAD drawing of a stand-alone fan.

Winners of the 2007 Rotary Essay Contest are Christine Bowman, 1st place; Laurie Lai, 2nd place; and Sydney Hancock, 3rd place. A COMPLETE SWEEP. This is a first for St. Joe.

Two Biology teachers, Paul Hirn and Paul Schillio, have been awarded a National Science Foundation grant to attend Washington University's "Life Sciences for a Global Community" Institute, sponsored by Pfizer, Monsanto, and NSF. They begin their work in July, 2007.

Five GOLD keys and Four SILVER keys were given to the SJHS Art Students at the 2007 Scholastic Regional Art Competition. Nikita Neidlinger, received an award for having the TOP 3 portfolios.

The 2007 MITES (Woodworking) and MITES (Drafting) State winners for St. Joseph

St. Joseph Public School District was awarded a "Straight A" for the THIRD year in a row. We are only ONE of FOUR districts in the State of Michigan to have this accomplishment.

The 2006-2007 State Honors Band and Orchestra instrumentalists who have been selected:

High School Students:
Band	Clarinet	Debbie Larsen
Orchestra	Violin	Brian VanAntwerp, Elizabeth DeVries, Christina Nieh, Sharon Lee, Laurie Lai
	Cello	Taylor Crow, Alaric Lucy
	Viola	Kerim Kaylan

Middle School Students:
Orchestra	Cello	Brian Carrick, Andra Kurtz , Greg Biner, Kevin Shellito, Lindsay Peirce, Kathleen Regovich, Jacob Kirschner
	Violin	Natalie Pacoraro

ST. JOSEPH PUBLIC SCHOOLS

All SJHS schools received "A" on their Yearly Adequate Progress Report Cards for 2003-2004 school year AND 2004-2005. For the school years 2005-2006, Brown, E.P. Clarke, and Lincoln Elementary Schools as well as Upton Middle School have all received "A" on their Report Cards. (The High School score is not in yet.)

The St. Joseph Public Schools district is one of ONLY 4 districts in the State of Michigan where ALL schools within the district received "A's" on their report cards three years in a row.

MEAP SCORES Best In Berrien County
Scores released for Elementary School and Upton Middle School

Recently, the district was honored for achieving over 100 years of Continued North Central Accreditation. St. Joseph is one of 16 school in Michigan to achieve this honor.

St Joseph High School

2521 Stadium Dr Saint Joseph, MI49085-1899

Phone: 269-926-3200

Detailed Results District Start Date 09/04 District End Date 05/29 School Type Regular Student Instruction County Name Berrien Student/Teacher Ratio 17 Educational Climate High Advanced Placement Classes Yes Before/After School Programs No Blue Ribbon School No Coalition of Essential Schools No Charter School No Gifted and Talented Yes International Baccalaureate No Magnet School No Site-Based Yes Special Education Classes Yes Alternative Programs X Percent College Bound Seniors 43 Full-Time Teachers 58 Expense Per Pupil (Instructional) $.01 - 109.99 Expense Per Pupil (Other) $6,300.00 - 6,799.99 Students Per Grade 250.3 Grade Span 9-12 Lowest Grade Level 9th Grade Highest Grade Level 12th Grade Number of Schools in District 5 Vocational/Technical Curriculum Yes Adult Education Classes Yes Year Round Classes No Number of Classrooms 63 Number of Students in School 1001 Technology Measure Low Percentage in Poverty 0 - 5.9 Percent

Public high school in St. Joseph:

• ST. JOSEPH HIGH SCHOOL (Students: 1,030; Location: 2521 STADIUM DRIVE; Grades: 09 - 12)

Public elementary/middle schools in St. Joseph:

• UPTON MIDDLE SCHOOL (Students: 686; Location: 800 MAIDEN LANE; Grades: 06 - 08)
• CLARKE SCHOOL (Students: 336; Location: 515 E. GLENLORD ROAD; Grades: 01 - 05)
• BROWN SCHOOL (Students: 290; Location: 2831 GARDEN LANE; Grades: 01 - 05)
• LINCOLN SCHOOL (Students: 285; Location: 1102 ORCHARD AVENUE; Grades: 01 - 05)
• JEFFERSON SCHOOL (Students: 225; Location: 2214 S. STATE STREET; Grades: PK - KG)
• NORTH LINCOLN SCHOOL (Students: 97; Location: 3275 LINCOLN AVENUE; Grades: UG - UG)

Hospitals/medical centers near St. Joseph:

• LAKELAND HOSPITAL, ST JOSEPH (about 2 miles; SAINT JOSEPH, MI)
• COMMUNITY HOSPITAL (about 17 miles; WATERVLIET, MI)
• BERRIEN GENERAL HOSPITAL (about 19 miles; BERRIEN CENTER, MI)

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to St. Joseph:

• SOUTH BEND REGIONAL (about 30 miles; SOUTH BEND, IN; ID: SBN)
• ELKHART MUNI (about 43 miles; ELKHART, IN; ID: EKM)
• PORTER COUNTY MUNI (about 58 miles; VALPARAISO, IN; ID: VPZ)

Other public-use airports nearest to St. Joseph:

• SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN REGIONAL (about 5 miles; BENTON HARBOR, MI; ID: BEH)
• ANDREWS UNIVERSITY AIRPARK (about 14 miles; BERRIEN SPRINGS, MI; ID: C20)
• WATERVLIET MUNI (about 18 miles; WATERVLIET, MI; ID: 40C)

Amtrak station:
ST. JOSEPH/BENTON HARBOR (410 VINE ST.). Services: enclosed waiting area, public payphones, full-service food facilities, free short-term parking, free long-term parking, call for car rental service, call for taxi service.

Operable nuclear power plants near St. Joseph:

• 12 miles: Donald C. Cook 1 and 2 in Bridgman, MI.

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to St. Joseph:

• ANDREWS UNIVERSITY (about 18 miles; BERRIEN SPRINGS, MI; Full-time enrollment: 2,342)
• UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME (about 37 miles; NOTRE DAME, IN; FT enrollment: 10,633)
• INDIANA UNIVERSITY-SOUTH BEND (about 37 miles; SOUTH BEND, IN; FT enrollment: 4,725)
• PURDUE UNIVERSITY-NORTH CENTRAL CAMPUS (about 48 miles; WESTVILLE, IN; FT enrollment: 2,500)
• HOPE COLLEGE (about 53 miles; HOLLAND, MI; FT enrollment: 2,918)
• KALAMAZOO VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 57 miles; KALAMAZOO, MI; FT enrollment: 5,017)
• VALPARAISO UNIVERSITY (about 60 miles; VALPARAISO, IN; FT enrollment: 3,376)