[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 74 (Wednesday, May 4, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S2329]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              200TH ANNIVERSARY OF CLAY TOWNSHIP, MICHIGAN

 Mr. PETERS. Madam President, I rise today to recognize the 
200th Anniversary of Clay Township, MI. Forming the southernmost 
portion of St. Clair County, Clay Township is endowed with natural 
beauty, fertile farmland, and a rich tradition of entrepreneurship 
dating back to the fur trade between French explorers and the 
indigenous people, also known as the Anishinaabe.
  Long before Michigan was incorporated as a U.S. Territory and western 
expansion encouraged migration to the area we know now as St. Clair 
County, the region was home to the Anishinaabe peoples. Members of the 
Odawa, Pattawami, and Ojibwe Tribes and more made their homes alongside 
the Otisi-Keta, and Otisi-Keta-Sippi waters, now known respectively as 
Lake St. Clair, and the St. Clair River. The nutrient-dense farmland, 
abundant natural resources, and easy access to trade routes provided by 
the many waterways endowed the Anishinaabe with a rich culture and 
community that would eventually attract the notice of French explorers 
arriving in the area. In fact, it was these early French explorers who 
would christen the Otisi-Keta as ``Lac-Sainte-Claire'' after 
discovering the crystal-clear waters on the day of the Festival of 
Sainte Claire. In time, the lake, tributary, and surrounding land 
became known as St. Clair, the modern appellation we see today. 
Although French explorers began to depart from the territory following 
the Seven Years War, the legacy of trade and industry established with 
the Anishinaabe laid the foundation for the development of Clay 
Township as a hub of local commerce.
  Among the first settlers of Clay Township were Angus MacDonald and 
John Martin, who founded the city of Pointe du Chene--now known as 
Algonac--in 1805. MacDonald and Martin chose to settle the city at the 
head of the St. Clair flats, which had been the previous site of trade 
between the Anishinaabe and the French. Algonac quickly developed into 
the principal settlement in the area and is now recognized as one of 
the oldest cities in Michigan. Clay Township would be officially 
organized 17 years later in 1822. With this recognition, Clay Township 
became one of the four original townships that comprised the entirety 
of St. Clair County.
  Today, Clay Township is comprised of 82.3 square miles of land and 
water. Bounded on three sides by water and divided into several islands 
by branches of the St. Clair River, it is known as a center for local 
water recreation and is home to over 9,000 residents. The freshwater 
delta formed by the St. Clair River and waters of Harsens Island is the 
only major river delta in the Great Lakes Basin and the largest 
freshwater delta in North America. Michigan's Department of Natural 
Resources manages two sites on Harsens Island, supporting pedestrians, 
cyclists, and other outdoor enthusiasts wanting to admire the wildlife 
and waters of the region. The Algonac State Park is comprised of 1,550 
acres and provides sanctuary to rare habitats and 22 threatened, 
endangered, or special-concern species of plants, birds, and 
butterflies. With its rich history and lush natural resources, Clay 
Township is recognized as one of the best places to live in the State 
of Michigan.
  Clay Township has been an integral part of the State of Michigan and 
our great Nation for over 200 years. As a Michigander and passionate 
advocate for all of Michigan's waters, I am honored to ask my 
colleagues to join me in celebrating this significant milestone for the 
township, as well as its residents, elected officials, and businesses. 
I wish Clay Township continued growth and prosperity in the years 
ahead.

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