Sault Ste. Marie is in Chippewa County, and in the Northern Region. This city is found north of St.Ignace along Interstate 75, on the banks of the St. Marys River. It lies near the Michigan/Ontario border and Lake Superior.

Sault Ste. Marie was permanently settled in 1668. It is Michigan's oldest city and the third oldest city in the country. Over its maritime history, several nations have claimed the area.

The city's famous Soo Locks, which allow passage of large ships around the river rapids, are an engineering feat begun in the late 1770s. In 1855, the present-day lock system began to be developed, was turned over to the state and designated the State Lock.

With 14,689 residents, this city is Michigan's largest city in the Eastern Upper Peninsula and the peninsula's sole gateway to Canada. Many families are descended from Chippewa as well as French, English, and Irish stock; French-Canadian roots are common. Sault Ste. Marie offers several outdoor activities, from fishing to snowmobiling.