St. Joseph Island is a Canadian island in Lake Huron, near the mouth of the St. Mary's River which connects Lake Huron with Lake Superior. Its location at this vital gateway to Lake Superior made it important for trade with Native Americans and for defense. After Mackinac Island was handed over to the United States, the British chose to fortify equally strategic St. Joseph island in 1796. The British troops based at Fort St. Joseph captured the American Fort Mackinac during the War of 1812. After the war ended the fort was abandoned, but the site and remaining structures are now the Fort St. Joseph National Historic Site , managed by Parks Canada.
St. Joseph Island has a year-round population of around 2000, and is connected to the mainland by the Highway 548 bridge. There is another segment of Highway 548 that circles the island. The largest towns on the island are Hilton Beach and Richards Landing. Tourism is the primary source of income, while logging, maple syrup, and agriculture are of lesser importance.
Townships on St. Joseph Island
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