Michigan

Sanilac

40,611
2020 population
1850
first census record
18
census records

About Sanilac

Sanilac, Michigan, first appears in the United States federal census in 1850, when it recorded a population of 2,112. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 40,611.

Its recorded population peaked at 44,547 in 2000, and has since declined by roughly 9 percent.

On the ground today, 12 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202040,611
201043,114
200044,547
199039,928
198040,789
197034,889
196032,314
195030,837
194030,114
193027,751
192031,237
191033,930
190035,055
189032,589
188026,341
187014,562
18607,599
18502,112
Source

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

Historic places in Sanilac

National Register of Historic Places listings in Sanilac, Michigan.

Fead, John L., House
Lexington
Cadillac House
Lexington
Sanilac Petroglyphs
Minden City
Moore, Charles H./Sleeper, Albert E., House
Lexington
Nims, William Reuben, House
Lexington
Roach, W.R., Cannery Warehouse and Office Building
Croswell
Port Sanilac Light Station
Port Sanilac
SPORT (tug) Shipwreck Site
Lexington
Matthews, Thomas and Margaret Spencer, Farm
Amador
Port Sanilac Masonic and Town Hall
Port Sanilac
Divine, John, Law Office/Moore Public Library
Lexington
Loop, Joseph M., House
Port Sanilac

Other counties in Michigan

Explore census history and historic records for more Michigan counties.

ClareClintonCrawfordDeltaDickinsonEatonEmmetGeneseeGladwinGogebicGrand TraverseGratiotHillsdaleHoughtonHuronInghamIoniaIoscoIronIsabella
Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Sanilac County, Michigan

This page charts the census history of Sanilac 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.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Sanilac County, Michigan report
Or see a real report first

Explore Michigan records

Michiganhistory ›NRHP historic sites ›Notable people from Michigan›

Frequently asked about Sanilac

When does Sanilac first appear in the US census?
Sanilac, Michigan first appears in the federal census in 1850, with a recorded population of 2,112.
What is the population of Sanilac?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Sanilac had a recorded population of 40,611.
When did Sanilac's population peak?
Sanilac's recorded population peaked at 44,547 in 2000.
How many historic places are in Sanilac?
12 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Sanilac, Michigan.
Aubrey Research

Research the history of any US location

Aubrey searches federal archives, archaeological records, historic registers, and primary sources to build a full historical report for any address or place in the United States.

Research your locationView a free sample report