Sanilac County (pop. 43,114) is south of Huron County, on the Thumb of Michigan along Lake Huron.

The county was apparently named for Huron chief Sanilac; it has no connection to the nonfat powdered milk known as Sanalac.

The first instant dry milk

The county seat of Sanilac County is the city of Sandusky (pop. 2,679).

Just east of Sandusky is the Hi-Way Drive-In, one of approximately 10 remaining drive-in theaters in Michigan.

It opened in 1947.

The village of Port Sanilac (pop. 623) is the home of the Port Sanilac Light, built in 1886.

59 feet tall

In the city of Croswell (pop. 2,447), the 139-foot Croswell Swinging Bridge is Michigan’s only pedestrian suspension bridge. The city has a Swinging Bridge Festival every August.

It was built in 1905.

The city of Marlette (pop. 1,875) calls itself “The Heart of the Thumb.”

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