Michigan

Bay

103,856
2020 population
1860
first census record
17
census records

About Bay

Bay, Michigan, first appears in the United States federal census in 1860, when it recorded a population of 3,164. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 103,856.

Its recorded population peaked at 119,881 in 1980, and has since declined by roughly 13 percent.

On the ground today, 16 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020103,856
2010107,771
2000110,157
1990111,723
1980119,881
1970117,339
1960107,042
195088,461
194074,981
193069,474
192069,548
191068,238
190062,378
189056,412
188038,081
187015,900
18603,164
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Historic places in Bay

National Register of Historic Places listings in Bay, Michigan.

Mercy Hospital and Elizabeth McDowell Bialy Memorial House
Bay City
Bay City Masonic Temple
Bay City
Midland Street Commercial District
Bay City
Sage Library
Bay City
Odd Fellows Valley Lodge No. 189 Building
Bay City
Center Avenue Neighborhood Residential District
Bay City
Bay City Downtown Historic District
Bay City
Elm Lawn Cemetery
Bay City
Tromble House
Bay City
Clements, James, Airport Administration Building
Bay City
Saginaw River Light Station
Bay City
Fletcher Site
Bay City
City Hall
Bay City
Bay County Building
Bay City
Pere Marquette Railroad Depot, Bay City Station
Bay City
Browse all Michiganhistoric sites ›

Other counties in Michigan

Explore census history and historic records for more Michigan counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Bay County, Michigan

This page charts the census history of Bay County, Michigan. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Bay

When does Bay first appear in the US census?
Bay, Michigan first appears in the federal census in 1860, with a recorded population of 3,164.
What is the population of Bay?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Bay had a recorded population of 103,856.
When did Bay's population peak?
Bay's recorded population peaked at 119,881 in 1980.
How many historic places are in Bay?
16 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Bay, Michigan.
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