Michigan

Clare

30,856
2020 population
1870
first census record
16
census records

About Clare

Clare, Michigan, first appears in the United States federal census in 1870, when it recorded a population of 366. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 30,856.

Its recorded population peaked at 31,252 in 2000, and has since declined by roughly 1 percent.

On the ground today, 3 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202030,856
201030,926
200031,252
199024,952
198023,822
197016,695
196011,647
195010,253
19409,163
19307,032
19208,250
19109,240
19008,360
18907,558
18804,187
1870366
Source

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

Historic places in Clare

National Register of Historic Places listings in Clare, Michigan.

Clare Congregational Church
Clare
Clare Downtown Historic District
Clare
Hitchcock, George and Martha, House
Farwell

Other counties in Michigan

Explore census history and historic records for more Michigan counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Clare County, Michigan

This page charts the census history of Clare 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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Michiganhistory ›NRHP historic sites ›Notable people from Michigan›

Frequently asked about Clare

When does Clare first appear in the US census?
Clare, Michigan first appears in the federal census in 1870, with a recorded population of 366.
What is the population of Clare?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Clare had a recorded population of 30,856.
When did Clare's population peak?
Clare's recorded population peaked at 31,252 in 2000.
How many historic places are in Clare?
3 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Clare, Michigan.
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