St. Joseph Island

Infobox Islands
name = St. Joseph Island


image caption = Highway 548 and bridge to St Joseph Island (seen in background)
image size = 240px
locator
Superimpose| base = Great Lakes Lake Huron.png base_width = 250px
base_caption = Lake Huron
float = Red pog2.svg
float_width = 10px
float_caption = St. Joseph Island
x = 119
y = 62
map_custom = yes
native name =
native name link =
nickname =
location = Lake Huron
coordinates = coord|46.22|-83.95|type:isle_region:CA-ON|display=inline,title
archipelago =
total islands =
major islands =
area = km2 to mi2|365
length = km to mi|30
width = km to mi|19
highest mount = Carterton
elevation = M to ft|335
country = Canada
country admin divisions title = Province
country admin divisions = Ontario
country admin divisions title 1 = District
country admin divisions 1 = Algoma District
country admin divisions title 2 =
country admin divisions 2 =
country capital city =
country largest city = Hilton Beach
country largest city population =
country leader title =
country leader name =
population = 2000
population as of =
density =
ethnic groups =
additional info =

St. Joseph Island is a Canadian island in Lake Huron, near the mouth of the St. Marys River which connects Lake Huron with Lake Superior.

St. Joseph Island has a year-round population of around 2000, and is connected to the mainland by the Highway 548 bridge spanning the North Channel of Lake Huron. 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. The island has c.10,000 tourists each year.

History

St. Joseph Island's location at this vital gateway to Lake Superior made it important for trade with First Nations peoples and for defence. 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.

Municipalities on St. Joseph Island

*Township of Hilton
*Township of Jocelyn
*Township of St. Joseph
*Village of Hilton Beach

ee also

*Fort St. Joseph (Ontario)
*Islands of the Great Lakes

External links

* [http://www.hiltonbeach.com Village of Hilton Beach]
* [http://www.pc.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/on/stjoseph/index_e.asp Fort St. Joseph National Historic Site] ,