Editing Saginaw, Michigan (section)

====Lumber boom====
[[File:Eddy Lumber Docks 1888.jpg|thumb|Eddy Lumber Docks]]
[[File:Holland Street Lumber Docks 1888.jpg|thumb|Holland Lumber Docks on [[Saginaw River]] 1888]]
[[File:Lumber Docks in Old Saginaw City at Mackinaw Street 1888.jpg|thumb|Lumber Docks in Saginaw City at Mackinaw Street 1888]]
[[File:Lumber Docks A.W. Wright 1888.jpg|thumb|Lumber Docks AW Wright along Saginaw River]]
[[File:Pere Marquette Railroad Station on Potter Street 1888.jpg|thumb|Pere Marquette Railroad Station (Potter Street Station) 1888]]
The main cause for the founding and subsequent development of Saginaw was the large demand for lumber as the [[United States]] expanded westward. A virgin growth forest principally consisting of white pine trees covered most of Michigan. The convenient access to transportation provided by the [[Saginaw River]] and its numerous tributaries fueled a massive expansion in population and economic activity. As the trees were being cut down in the region, logs were floated down the rivers to sawmills located in Saginaw, destined to be loaded onto ships and later railroad cars.

Multiple settlements comprise present-day Saginaw. On the west side of the river the first settlement around what had been Fort Saginaw developed into Saginaw, which was incorporated as a city in 1857, containing the seat of the Saginaw County government. On the east side of the river a parallel settlement, East Saginaw, developed which was incorporated first as a village in 1855, and then as a city in 1859. Also south of East Saginaw, on the east bank of the river, the village of Salina formed. Salina's name relates to the [[brine]] that led to a growing industry of salt production in the area. Both Saginaw and East Saginaw quickly became a hub for railroad transportation in addition to ships on the Saginaw River.
Lumber production peaked by the early 1870s, but had virtually disappeared by the end of the 19th century. In addition to salt production, which experienced an eventual decline as well, growing industries, such as those supporting the area's agriculture and manufacturing, developed.