Zilwaukee offers quiet living on the Saginaw River
Zilwaukee was founded in 1848 by two brothers looking to build a saw mill in the rich nature of the Saginaw Valley. This tiny Michigan city, which presently is home to just under 1,500 people, sits at the bend of the Saginaw River. “This is a very small community, where most residents built their own houses back in the 1950s. It’s much like a bedroom community,” says Mary Bourbina, the city manager of Zilwaukee. “We’re literally off the highway exit, so in two hours I can be shopping in Detroit, or I can drive up the road to dine in Bay City. I’d say it’s a tranquil place to live that’s close to everything you’d want.”
A mix of architectural styles and renovated properties in Zilwaukee
Much of Zilwaukee is residential, defined by its quiet neighborhood streets, small but neat yards and proximity to the flow of the Saginaw River. Most properties that hit the market are renovated midcentury ranch-style homes, split-levels and small Craftsman properties. However, pops of unique architecture display the community’s lasting roots, with Dutch Colonial and National Folk styles still standing from the early 20th century. Properties needing renovation can sell as low as $50,000 to $75,000, but most of Zilwaukee’s properties sell between $110,000 and $280,000.
An active pickleball community and recreation at the riverside
Zilwaukee is home to three city-maintained green spaces, and in the evenings, the Zilwaukee Memorial Park sees a sudden spike of activity. “One of the smartest things we’ve ever done was signing the grant to put in six pickleball courts over at Zilwaukee Memorial. Basically, during any given night, you’ll see nearly 50 people on those courts,” Bourbina says. “There’s also a nice walking trail by the river, and people head out there to fish at the piers.”
Residents gather for casual events and seasonal celebrations
The city of Zilwaukee makes a concentrated effort to offer community events and gatherings to its residents. “We have the weekly Coffee Klatch, held over in our community hall. Residents come out for coffee, bring snacks and games. It’s just a time to chit-chat,” Bourbina says. “We do a lot of holiday things as well, like trunk-or-treat over at the fire station and Christmas festivities down by the river.”
Local education and school choice in Saginaw County
Zilwaukee is zoned to the Saginaw Public Schools District, and the SPSD offers open enrollment periods during which they take applications for school of choice within the district. The Zilwaukee School teaches kindergarten through fifth grade and gets a C from Niche. It offers the Before the Bell program, where staff care for children who need to be dropped off before the start of the school day. Students can move on to Saginaw Middle School, which opened in 2025 and is currently unrated, before heading to C-minus-rated Saginaw United High School.
Major shopping plazas just 5 miles away
While Zilwaukee has no commercial areas, and therefore no shopping and dining, it sits less than 5 miles away from the extensive shopping plazas that line Route 84. These shopping plazas house the largest number of retailers, big-box stores and chain restaurants in Saginaw County. “Even though we don’t have any restaurants or shops of the sort, it’s not like we go without,” Bourbina says.
Quick access to regional roads and health care
The community is intersected by Interstate 75, which has exchange ramps to Interstate 675 on Zilwaukee’s west side. Both are major roads for getting around Saginaw County and nearby cities, with I-75 running all the way to Lake Superior and the Canadian border. Zilwaukee is 7 miles from MyMichigan Medical Center's Saginaw campus, the county's largest hospital.
