Bay County, Michigan

Founding: 1857
Parent counties: Arenac, Midland, and Saginaw

Namesake: Saginaw Bay
Seat: Bay City (1857–)

Land area: 442 square miles

Population (2020): 103,856

Population (historic): 3,164 (1860); 38,081 (1880); 62,378 (1900); 69,474 (1930)

Periods of population growth: pre-1860–1920; 1930–1980

Subdivisions: Four cities; 14 townships

Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 11,615 (24%)
Pre-1940 housing survival rate: 59.3%

Farm housing in disrepair (1950): 9.9%

Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950): 5.7%
Average farmhouse value (1930): $1,676
Average outbuilding value (1930): $1,421
Average farmhouse size (1940): 6.3 rooms
Number of farms (1920): 3,216
Average farm size (1920): 52.2 acres
Sources of settlement: Canada, New York, Germany, Ireland, Ohio, and Poland
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Bay City

Namesake: Saginaw Bay

Founding: 1837 (platting as Hampton); 1846 (post office); 1865 (incorporation)

Population (2020): 32,661

Population (historic): 1,583 (1860); 20,693 (1880); 27,628 (1900); 47,355 (1930)

Periods of population growth: 1837–1890; 1900–1920; 1930–1960
Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 7,364 (46.4%)
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Outstanding Buildings

1. St. Paul's Lutheran Church (1905). 6100 Westside Saginaw Road. Frankenlust. Gothic Revival.
2. School Number Five (c. 1905). 614 West Center Road. Hampton.
3. Trinity Lutheran Church (1897–1898). 20 East Salzburg Road. Monitor. Gothic Revival.
4. John Schmidt Farm (c. 1900). 392 Hotchkiss Road. Williams. Eastlake.

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