Grosse Pointe refers to a lakefront community adjacent to Detroit, that comprises five adjacent individual cities. From southwest to northeast, they are:
- Grosse Pointe Park
- Grosse Pointe City
- Grosse Pointe Farms
- Grosse Pointe Shores
- Grosse Pointe Woods
The terms “Grosse Pointe” or “the Pointes” are ordinarily used to refer to the entire area, referencing all five individual communities.
Located on the coast of Lake St. Clair, Grosse Pointe is a suburban area in Metro Detroit, sharing a border with northeast Detroit’s historic neighborhoods. Grosse Pointe has many famous historic estates along with remodeled homes and newer construction. Downtown Grosse Pointe, along Kercheval Avenue from Neff to Cadieux, nicknamed “The Village,” serves as a central business district for all five of the Grosse Pointes, although each of them (except Grosse Pointe Shores) has several blocks of retail. Downtown Detroit is just over seven miles west of this downtown area.
St. Clair Shores is a suburban city bordering Lake St. Clair in Macomb County. It forms a part of the Metro Detroit area, and is located approximately 13 miles northeast of downtown Detroit.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 14.28 square miles of which 11.62 square miles is land and 2.66 square miles is water. A notable feature of St. Clair Shores is its 14 miles of canals. Most of these canals are found in the Nautical Mile, which is along Jefferson between 9 and 10 Mile. The Nautical Mile boasts a wide array of restaurants and bars that are very popular with its residents.