Clemens and his friend, John Brooks, built a distillery, which attracted workers and customers, helping to settle the area.

[9][10] Indian mounds were in the vicinity, more specifically just north of the Clinton River near the present location of Selfridge Air National Guard Base.

[12] Historically, Mount Clemens' largest industry for more than 100 years, from 1873 to 1974, was tourism related to the mineral baths, drawn from springs that were scattered throughout the city.

The first bathhouse was built in 1873 and was known as "The Original"; it was located on the corner of Jones and Water streets.

The bathhouse burned in 1883, but it was rebuilt even larger the following year to accommodate the crowds of customers.

Over the years, noted visitors such as film actors Clark Gable and Mae West, athletes Babe Ruth and Jack Dempsey, news magnate William Randolph Hearst, and the wealthy Vanderbilt family vacationed in the city to take advantage of the mineral springs baths.

[13] The Olympia Salon & Spa, located in the Martha Washington Sanitarium on Cass Avenue, is again offering mineral baths.

Throughout the late 20th century, the suburban expansion of metropolitan Detroit and its exurbs affected the city of Mt.

Approximately 42% of properties in the city are tax-exempt, resulting in lost revenue of $1.2 million.

[18] In an attempt to raise funds to combat a $960,000 budget deficit for 2010, former Mayor Barb Dempsey solicited donations to the city's general fund from tax-exempt organizations like churches, schools and a hospital, in order to pay for services like fire protection, streetlights and roads.

The Macomb County Sheriff’s Office[20] now provides primary policing services in Mount Clemens.

Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation bus route 560/565 Gratiot.

Canadian National provides Class 1 Freight service to Mount Clemens with the old Grand Trunk Western Detroit to Port Huron line.