Situated just north of the Michigan and Indiana border, Sturgis gained national attention in the early 1900s for its hydroelectric dam. “We were one of the first cities to be electrified through a dam,” explains Michelle Frost, a lifetime resident and local librarian at the Sturgis District Library. Today, the “Electric City” is home to over 11,000 residents, a string of popular lakes and a handful of major industries that keep the community alive. “When I was a kid, we had millionaires in these beautiful older homes because of all the manufacturers,” Frost continues. “Since then, of course, some of the manufacturers have left.” In their stead, the city has evolved into a humble rural hub about halfway between Chicago and Detroit.
Sturgis is known as the Electric City, recently the city received a grant to purchase the purple lights above the buildings on Chicago Rd., to celebrate its heritage.
Sturgis is a city that is surrounded by rural farms and lakes.
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Affordable midcentury homes throughout Sturgis
The median home price in Sturgis is around $190,000 – below the national median and that of nearby Coldwater. The city’s gridded residential streets flank the north and south corridors of Chicago Road. Leafy neighborhoods flaunt homes with traditional architecture, including midcentury ranch-style homes and bungalows. Closer to the historic downtown sector, properties occasionally date back to the early 1900s. Meanwhile, residential developments on the outskirts overlook the region’s sprawling farms and lakes. “People even come up from the Chicago area and buy vacation homes around Klinger and Tamarack Lakes,” Frost says.
A variety of homes are available for purchase in Sturgis, from mid-century ranches to Victorians.
The homes that line Sturgis' older section of town include American Foursquare and Gablefront and Wing homes set along Route 12.
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From fishing on Klinger Lake to golfing at Green Valley
Klinger, Tamarack and Thompson Lakes, located just west of the city, are a go-to for water recreation in the summertime. “We have a famous fisherman, Mark Zona, who actually lives out on Klinger Lake," Frost says, referring to the host of Zona's Awesome Fishing Show on the Outdoor Channel. "Fishing is a big thing here." Sturgis offers an abundance of recreational spaces throughout the city and along its outskirts. Frost notes opportunities for all ages, from a playground and outdoor amphitheater at Oaklawn Terrace Park to indoor facilities and a brand-new splash pad at the Doyle Community Center. “We have a gymnastics center and sports leagues for soccer, baseball and football,” she lists, citing the Klinger Lake Country Club and Green Valley Golf Club as popular spots for local golfers. “Being a rural area, we tend to include some outer-lying golf courses because they’re short drives."
Klinger Lake, one of the larger lakes in Sturgis is lined with new homes and is very active with fishing and boating during the warmer months.
Klinger Lake Country Club includes a restaurant, pro shop, and a par 72, 18 hole golf course, established in 1920.
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Bourbon, bacon and blues on Chicago Road
Though the Sturgis Hydroelectric Dam is 20 miles north of the city on the St. Joseph River, residents gather each June to celebrate its history at Sturgis Fest. “It’s a week full of festivities,” Frost says. “We have a family night, a bike night with motorcycles and an old-fashioned baseball tournament where the players dress in old-fashioned uniforms. And it all ends with an electric parade on Friday night where all the floats are lit up.” She raves about the downtown Bourbon, Bacon and Blues festival, where local distilleries and food vendors pitch tents along Chicago Road. “There are a lot of really good Michigan distilleries that come from all over,” she says. “And, of course, the food always has something to do with bacon.”
Restaurants, such as My Freakin' Pizza line downtown Sturgis on Chicago Rd.
One of downtown Sturgis' favorite downtown restaurants is Wings Etc.
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Downtown Sturgis offers decades-old staples
Downtown Sturgis has various shops and restaurants along its walkable strip of Chicago Road. Residents can easily pop between historic storefronts when the weather is warm, perusing everything from lattes and donuts to flowers, furniture and spices. “We had brand-new apartments constructed above the stores, and they’re putting in a new steakhouse,” Frost says, speaking of recent developments. Meanwhile, staples like the Strand Theatre and Willer’s Shoes have sat on the strip for decades. Over on Route 66, Centerville Road, residents shop at big-name grocers and retailers. Walmart Supercenter, Meijer and Aldi neighbor regional food chains like Culver’s and Five Lakes Coffee.
Lowry's Books is the second largest used book store chain in Michigan, with the Sturgis store being the largest.
The Strand Movie Theatre has been a Sturgis mainstay since 1932 and continues to show first-run movies.
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Located halfway between Chicago and Detroit
Located about halfway between Chicago and Detroit, Sturgis is home to a handful of national industries that drive the rural economy. Abbott Laboratories, the corporation behind popular brands like Ensure and Pedialyte, is headquartered on Centerville Street. Other prominent manufacturers, including ACM and Kadant Inc., are located in nearby Coldwater and Three Rivers, accessible via Chicago Road. Chicago area commuters head 50 miles southwest to South Bend, Indiana, for the Amtrak and South Shore Metra station. Others can head 60 miles south to Fort Wayne to fly commercially from Fort Wayne International Airport.
Chicago Road runs through downtown Sturgis and runs all the way to the windy city.
Headed east towards Detroit, Sturgis is located half way between Chicago and Detroit.
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Sturgis Public Schools
Students citywide attend Sturgis Public Schools, which earns a B-minus on Niche. The district encompasses four elementary schools, one middle and one high school. Nearby private, spiritual options include Trinity Lutheran School and St. John’s Lutheran School, both enrolling kindergarten through eighth-grade students. Frost notes that many graduates attend Glen Oaks Community College, located about 10 miles north in Centreville.
The Sturgis Middlle School is Sturgis' newest public school, it has earned a C rating on Niche.com.
Sturgis's Wall School is an elementary school with an overall B- score on Niche.com.
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Crime statistics in Sturgis
According to FBI crime data and information from the Sturgis Police Department, the city’s property crime rates have steadily decreased since 2019. Though cases of violent crimes rapidly declined after a spike in 2020, rates have continued on a slow, upward trend in recent years.
Written By
Dana Chesser
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Christopher Shires
Video By
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