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The original inhabitants were the Sauk Indians and the name was derived from
the world O-Sag-A-Nong, meaning "land of the Sauks". They left this
area to escape the Iroquois. Later the land was occupied by the Chippewa. In
1819 The Treaty of Saginaw was signed which gave most of the eastern half of
the lower peninsula to the United States Government. The Chippewa's refused to
allow surveyors west of the Saginaw River, so a fort was put up on what today is
the corner of Court and Hamilton streets in the city of Saginaw. The person
credited with promoting and building the city of Saginaw was Norman Little.
The Saginaw River Valley became the first large center for lumbering in
Michigan. Salt was also being manufactured. Lumbering reached its peak by the
1880's and was replaced by a variety of industries. Today this county is one
of Michigan's important manufacturing areas. The city of Saginaw has General
Motors and Saginaw Steering Plants. Saginaw County is also produces sugar beets,
soybeans, navy beans, and winter wheat. For recreation there is boating and
fishing on the 600 miles of streams and rivers. The city of Chesaning holds
an annual showboat attraction, and Frankenmuth (the Bavarian City) attracts
millions of visitors annually.
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