1819History
While Saginaw had the first non-native settlement in this area in 1819, larger ships had difficulty navigating the shallower water near the Saginaw settlement.
1831Architecture
In 1831, he built a log cabin on the east bank of the Saginaw river.
1837Government
Bay City was first established in 1837 and was incorporated as a city in 1865.
1846Architecture
On June 4, 1846, the Hapton, or Hampton, Post Office opened to service Lower Saginaw.
1857History
The community was placed in Bay County, when the county was organized in 1857.
1858Civil Rights
The Post Office changed its name to Bay City on March 22, 1858.
1860Economy
By 1860, Lower Saginaw had become a bustling community of about 2,000 people with several mills and many small businesses in operation.
1865Government
In 1865, the village of Bay City was incorporated as a city.
1891History
In 1891, the Fitzhughs sold the land to the City of Bay City for $8,500 "to be used for the erection of a City Hall and offices and for no other purposes whatever."
Until 1905, ...
1906History
=== Notable events ===
On December 23, 1906, Bay City's premier hotel, the Fraser House, burned to the ground.
1907Disaster
Built in 1907, the four-storey Wenonah Hotel had been converted into apartments at the time of the fire.
1919Sports
The Wolves played as members of the Class B level Michigan-Ontario League from 1919 to 1926, winning league consecutive championships in 1923 and 1924.
1926Culture
In 1926, the Wolves played a partial season in the Class B level Michigan State League, which was formed through a merger of the Central League and Michigan-Ontario League durin...
1938Architecture
Lafayette Avenue Bridge, opened in 1938, carries M-13 and M-84 over the river.
1957Architecture
The Veterans Memorial Bridge, opened in 1957, carries M-25 over the river.
1975Architecture
The Defoe Shipbuilding Company, which ceased operations December 31, 1975, built destroyer escorts, guided missile destroyers, and patrol craft for the United States Navy and th...
1976Architecture
Bay City's unusual Third Street Bridge was damaged by a freighter on June 17, 1976.
1977Disaster
On December 10, 1977, a deadly fire claimed the lives of 10 at the Wenonah Hotel (Wenonah Park Apartments) in downtown Bay City.
1979Disaster
On Christmas Eve, 1979, a large Bay City department store of long standing, Oppenheim's, was destroyed by fire.
1990History
In September 1990, the tankship MV Jupiter was unloading gasoline at the Total Petroleum Terminal.
2000History
=== 2000 census ===
As of the census of 2000, there were 36,817 people, 15,208 households, and 9,322 families residing in the city.
2009Government
Formerly held in off-years (2009, 2013, 2017, etc.) the elections for odd-numbered commission seats are now held during mid-term/Gubernatorial election years, this began in 2022.
2010Disaster
On October 12, 2010, the historic 113-year-old City Hall sustained significant damage as the result of an attic fire which caused the sprinkler system to run for nearly two hours.
2011Government
Mayoral elections and elections for even-numbered commission seats are now held during Presidential election years, formerly being held in off-years (2011, 2015, 2017), this beg...
2012History
It was finally delivered to its temporary home in Essexville, Michigan, on August 7, 2012.
2016History
The story of Bay City's refusal to have a commemoration sign about the singer was described in a book Madonnaland (2016) by Alina Simone.
2017History
Dana Muscott has been the City Manager for Bay City since 2017.
2020History
== Demographics ==
=== 2020 census ===
As of the census of 2020, there were 32,661 people, and 14,417 households.
2021Architecture
However, in April 2021 the City and Bay City Bridge Partners agreed to a lease based model instead of an outright sale.
2022Infrastructure
== Economy ==
=== Top employers ===
According to Bay City's 2022 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top ten employers in the city are:
Michigan Sugar is also based in...
2023Architecture
Tolling started on June 16, 2023, for Liberty Bridge.
2028Government
The Mayor of Bay City is Christopher Girard, whose term extends until December 2028.