Sturgeon Bay is the county seat of Door County and also the county’s only city, boasting a population of nearly 10,000 people. It was during the decade of the 1850s that the first permanent residents arrived in the area that would eventually become Sturgeon Bay. The place would take the name from the huge sturgeon fish that once populated the waters of the bay. The Sturgeon Bay area boasts the largest canal in the state, connecting the waters of Sturgeon Bay with Lake Michigan. It has both a rich shipbuilding and cherry growing heritage. Tourism has been a part of the city’s economy for many years and has grown significantly in recent years thanks to its beautiful natural harbor, quaint historic downtown and excellent and diverse boating and fishing opportunities. Potawatomi State Park is situated on the shores of Green Bay north of the city.