From Simon and Garfunkel’s “America,” in which “It took me four days to hitchhike from Saginaw,” to “Saginaw, Michigan,” a song covered by dozens of artists, including Johnny Cash, Saginaw has a rich history tied to pursuit of the American Dream. Like many Michigan Cities of Promise, Saginaw’s 200-year history reflects a roller coaster of wealth and decline. From a swampy marshland to a bustling industrial center, the city and its residents have seen both the best and worst of times.

Saginaw’s first residents were Native Americans of the Sauk tribe, which was driven from the area by the Ojibwa that entered the area to escape the expanding influence of the Huron and Iroquois. The name “Saginaw” is believed to mean “where the Sauk were” in Ojibwa. In 1815, a fur-trading post was set up by Louis Campau on the Saginaw River’s west bank. Shortly afterward, Fort Saginaw was built.

In 1836, families began to settle in what was founded as Saginaw City. From 1850 to 1884, the population of Saginaw County grew from 2,609 to 75,813 thanks in part to the 23 sawmills that operated at the time. The virgin white-pine forests of Saginaw and the proximity of the Saginaw River fit the needs of the lumber industry, which was the primary employer during the late 1800s. In 1882, the peak lumber year, one million board feet of timber was cut by the sawmills along the Saginaw River. During the same period, salt production became a growing industry.

All too soon, thanks to increased production capacity and new methods, the forests became part of history and the lumber era declined, making way for sugar beet processors, coal mining, and most important, the auto industry. The first automobile was produced in Saginaw in 1905. Soon Saginaw’s main industry evolved around producing parts for engine blocks, transmissions, and chassis systems. The city’s fiery and glowing foundries were a symbol of industrial might. When the United States entered World War II, Saginaw’s factories turned to producing parts for military vehicles. After the war, that immense capacity enticed General Motors to expand its factories in Saginaw. People began to migrate to Saginaw from all over the country, and the population grew to over 100,000 in the 1960s, bolstering the city’s economy.

But it was a vulnerable economy. This was first revealed during the energy crisis of the 1970s and continued with mass layoffs in the automotive industry during the 1980s and into the 1990s. Saginaw employment has been cut in half over the past forty years, and resident factory workers have been replaced by improved technology and cheaper labor abroad. With increased unemployment came increased poverty, followed closely by increased crime and sharp decreases in property values. The falling tax base forced city government to diminish the size of the police force. This perfect storm of factors has led to a decrease in Saginaw’s population by as much as 30 percent. The poverty level has reached just over 17 percent. In recent years, community leaders have pushed for an economic transition. Since the manufacturing jobs that were so abundant in the 1960s are no longer available, a shift to a more service-based economy is currently under way.

This new emphasis is supported by a higher education system focused on technological education, such as Delta College and Saginaw Valley State University. The area is also served by a campus of Davenport University and an off-campus center of Central Michigan University. Saginaw is also included in a Michigan corridor targeted by a WIRED grant from the federal government focused on developing high-tech education and industry.

Saginaw also has much to offer in culture, history, education, and entertainment. The city boasts a symphonic orchestra and the Japanese Cultural Center, as well as an Ontario Hockey League team. In January of 2007, the Alliance for Youth crowned Saginaw one of the 100 Best Communities for Young People. With a new economic focus and a community commitment to youth and technology, the future promise of Saginaw is bright.