Editing St. Helen, Michigan

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
 | official_name            = St. Helen, Michigan
 | settlement_type          = [[Census-designated place]] (CDP) & [[Unincorporated area|unincorporated community]]
 | nickname                 = 
 | motto                    =

<!-- Images -->
 | image_skyline            = StHelen, Michigan (October 2018).jpg
 | imagesize                = 275
 | image_caption            = Looking north along North St. Helen Road
 | image_flag               = 
 | image_seal               =

<!-- Maps -->
 | pushpin_map              = Michigan#USA
 | pushpin_label_position   = right<!-- the position of the pushpin label: left, right, top, bottom, none -->
 | pushpin_label            = St. Helen
 | pushpin_map_caption      = Location within the state of Michigan
 | pushpin_mapsize          = 
 | image_map                = St. Helen (community), MI location.png
 | mapsize                  = 250
 | map_caption              = Location within [[Roscommon County, Michigan|Roscommon County]] 
 | image_map1               = 
 | mapsize1                 = 
 | map_caption1             =

<!-- Location -->
 | subdivision_type         = Country
 | subdivision_name         = United States
 | subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
 | subdivision_name1        = [[Michigan]]
 | subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Michigan|County]]
 | subdivision_name2        = [[Roscommon County, Michigan|Roscommon]]
 | subdivision_type3        = [[Civil township|Township]]
 | subdivision_name3        = [[Richfield Township, Roscommon County, Michigan|Richfield]]

<!-- Government -->
 | government_footnotes     = 
 | government_type          = 
 | leader_title             = 
 | leader_name              = 
 | leader_title1            = 
 | leader_name1             = 
 | established_title        = 
 | established_date         =

<!-- Area -->
 | unit_pref                = Imperial
 | area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_26.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=May 21, 2022}}</ref>
 | area_magnitude           = 
 | area_total_km2           = 17.15
 | area_land_km2            = 14.84
 | area_water_km2           = 2.31
 | area_total_sq_mi         = 6.62
 | area_land_sq_mi          = 5.73
 | area_water_sq_mi         = 0.89

<!-- Population -->
 | population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
 | population_footnotes     = 
 | population_total         = 2735
 | population_density_km2   = 
 | population_density_sq_mi = 477.31

<!-- General information -->
 | timezone                 = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
 | utc_offset               = -5
 | timezone_DST             = EDT
 | utc_offset_DST           = -4
 | elevation_footnotes      = 
 | elevation_m              = 363
 | elevation_ft             = 1191
 | coordinates              = {{coord|44|21|49|N|84|24|37|W|region:US-MI_type:adm2nd_source:GNIS|display=inline,title}}
 | postal_code_type         = [[ZIP Code|ZIP code(s)]]
 | postal_code              = 48656
 | area_code                = [[Area code 989|989]]
 | blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
 | blank_info               = 26-70800<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
 | blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
 | blank1_info              = 0636665<ref>{{gnis|0636665}}</ref>
 | website                  = 
 | footnotes                = 
 | pop_est_as_of            = 
 | pop_est_footnotes        = 
 | population_est           = 
}}
[[File:St. Helen, Michigan post office.jpg|thumb|right|250px|U.S. Post Office in St. Helen]]

'''St. Helen''' is an [[Unincorporated area|unincorporated community]] and [[census-designated place]] (CDP) in [[Roscommon County, Michigan|Roscommon County]] in the U.S. state of [[Michigan]]. The population was 2,735 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]]. St. Helen is located within [[Richfield Township, Roscommon County, Michigan|Richfield Township]].

==History==
In the 1870s, [[lumber baron]] [[Henry Stephens (lumberman)|Henry Stephens]] established a large lumber operation at St. Helen, considered at the time to be among the largest and best equipped in the state. The mills were estimated to have produced more than {{convert|1|e9board feet|m3}} of lumber within a period of fourteen years. Most of the logs were moved by river, but lumber was also moved by rail.

The St. Helen Development Company was organized to sell land and promote development of the area, and over seven years sold {{convert|80,000|acre|km2}} of land and helped to build more than {{convert|30|mi|km}} of roads and over {{convert|80|mi|km}} of fencing.

St. Helen was named after the lake. It is believed that French [[voyageurs]] named it after Saint [[Helena of Constantinople]], mother of [[Emperor Constantine]].

The [[Detroit, Bay City and Alpena Railroad]] (later the [[Michigan Central]], then the [[Detroit and Mackinac Railway]] and presently the [[Lake State Railway Company]]) built a line through the area with a station at St. Helen.  [[M-76 (Michigan highway)|M-76]] passes through St. Helen and portions are still signed as "Old 76".

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]], the CDP has a total area of {{convert|6.62|sqmi|km2|2}}, of which {{convert|5.73|sqmi|km2|2}} is land and {{convert|0.89|sqmi|km2|2}} (13.44%) is water.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020"/>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1990= 2390
|2000= 2993
|2010= 2668
|2020= 2735
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|accessdate=June 4, 2016}}</ref>
}}
As of the [[census]] of 2000, there were 2,993 people, 1,380 households, and 873 families residing in the community. The [[population density]] was 229.3/km{{sup|2}} (593.6/mi{{sup|2}}). There were 2,617 housing units at an average density of 200.5/km{{sup|2}} (519.1/mi{{sup|2}}). The racial makeup of the community was 98.46% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.07% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.63% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.10% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.03% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.07% from other races, and 0.63% from two or more races. 0.77% of the population were [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 1,380 households, out of which 20.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.3% were married couples living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.7% were non-families. 32.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.17 and the average family size was 2.67.

In the community the population was spread out, with 20.3% under the age of 18, 4.3% from 18 to 24, 22.9% from 25 to 44, 27.2% from 45 to 64, and 25.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48 years. For every 100 females there were 94.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.8 males.

The median income for a household in the community was $24,104, and the median income for a family was $30,268. Males had a median income of $30,521 versus $20,461 for females. The per capita income for the community was $17,198. 19.5% of the population and 12.8% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 32.6% were under the age of 18 and 9.1% were 65 or older.

==Notable people==
*[[Charlton Heston]] spent part of his childhood in St. Helen.<ref>{{cite web|last=Bay City, Michigan USA|url=http://www.mybaycity.com/scripts/p3_v2/P3V3-0200.cfm?P3_newspaperID=NewspaperID&P3_ArticleID=1037|title=Charlton Heston Loved Bay City's Wenonah Hotel, Donated to Princess Mosaic|date=5 February 2006|accessdate=January 23, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |publisher = [[Booth Newspapers]] |work = MLive |url = https://www.mlive.com/bctimes/2008/04/charlton_heston_left_heartfelt.html |title = Charlton Heston left heart-felt legacy in St. Helen |date = 4 April 2019 |access-date = January 23, 2021 }}</ref>  The Charlton Heston Academy in St. Helen is named after him.<ref>{{cite web|last=U.S. News & World Report L.P.|url=https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/michigan/districts/charlton-heston-academy/charlton-heston-academy-153436|title=Charlton Heston Academy|date=2021|accessdate=January 23, 2021}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
*Diss, Peggy.'' The Heritage of Richfield Township, St. Helen.'' Roscommon, MI: Graphic Arts Press, 1976.

==External links==
*[http://www.sainthelenchamber.net/ St. Helen Chamber of Commerce]

{{Roscommon County, Michigan}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Saint Helen, Michigan}}
[[Category:Unincorporated communities in Roscommon County, Michigan]]
[[Category:Census-designated places in Michigan]]
[[Category:Unincorporated communities in Michigan]]
[[Category:Census-designated places in Roscommon County, Michigan]]