SAGINAW

city, seat (1835) of Saginaw county, east-central Michigan, U.S. It lies at the head of navigation on the Saginaw River (leading to Saginaw Bay in Lake Huron), 96 miles (154 km) northwest of Detroit. Saginaw, an Ojibwa (Chippewa) Indian word meaning land of the Sauks, developed around a fur-trading post (established in 1816). Called East Saginaw, it consolidated with South Saginaw in 1873 and with Saginaw City in 1889 to form the present city. A former lumbering centre, Saginaw has turned to agriculture and diversified manufacturing (especially auto parts). Major salt, coal, and oil deposits are nearby, and sugar beets and beans are produced in the Saginaw valley. Inc. village, 1855; city, 1857. Pop. (1990) city, 69,512; SaginawBay CityMidland MSA, 399,320; (1994 est.) city, 70,607; (1995 est.) SaginawBay CityMidland MSA, 403,572.