Horton Bay is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Charlevoix County in the U.S. state of Michigan.[2] The population of the CDP was 485 at the 2020 census. The community is located within Bay Township on northeastern shores of Lake Charlevoix.

Horton Bay, Michigan
Horton Bay Historical District
Horton Bay Historical District
Location within Charlevoix County
Location within Charlevoix County
Horton Bay is located in Michigan
Horton Bay
Horton Bay
Location within the state of Michigan
Horton Bay is located in the United States
Horton Bay
Horton Bay
Location within the United States
Coordinates: 45°17′04″N 85°04′45″W / 45.28444°N 85.07917°W / 45.28444; -85.07917
CountryUnited States
StateMichigan
CountyCharlevoix
TownshipBay
Settled1876
Area
 • Total6.17 sq mi (15.98 km2)
 • Land4.82 sq mi (12.48 km2)
 • Water1.35 sq mi (3.50 km2)
Elevation673 ft (205 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total485
 • Density100.62/sq mi (38.85/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code(s)
49712 (Boyne City)
49720 (Charlevoix)
Area code231
FIPS code26-39340
GNIS feature ID1618908[2]

History edit

The area was settled as early as 1876 by pioneer settled Samuel Horton in 1876 as a lumbering community.[3] Located along Pine Lake (now known as Lake Charlevoix), the community was originally spelled as Horton's Bay when a post office opened on February 27, 1879 with Alonzo Stroud serving as the first postmaster. The name was shortened to Horton Bay on October 12, 1894. The post office operated until January 15, 1910.[4]

Ernest Hemingway frequently visited Horton Bay to camp and fish, and the area is the setting for several of his famous The Nick Adams Stories. Hemingway was married here in 1921.[3]

Horton Bay was designated as a Michigan State Historic Site on November 12, 1975. The district includes several properties that are also listed on the National Register of Historic Places: Horton Bay General Store, Horton Bay School, and Red Fox Inn (Horton Bay House).

The community of Horton Bay was listed as a newly-organized census-designated place for the 2010 census, meaning it now has officially defined boundaries and population statistics for the first time.[5]

Geography edit

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the Horton Bay CDP has a total area of 6.17 square miles (15.98 km2), of which 4.82 square miles (12.48 km2) is land and 1.35 square miles (3.50 km2) (21.88%) is water.

Horton Bay is located along the northeastern coastline of Lake Charlevoix.

Major highways edit

  •   C-56 (Boyne City–Charlevoix Road) is a county-designated highway that runs through the community near the shores of Lake Charlevoix.
  •   C-71 (Horton Bay Road) is a county-designated highway that runs south into the community and ends at C-56.

Demographics edit

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
2010512
2020485−5.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]

Education edit

Horton Bay is served entirely by Boyne City Public Schools to the southeast in Boyne City.[7]

Images edit

References edit

  1. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Horton Bay, Michigan
  3. ^ a b MichMarkers.com (2022). "Horton Bay: Registered Site S0463". Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  4. ^ Romig, Walter (October 1, 1986) [1973]. Michigan Place Names: The History of the Founding and the Naming of More Than Five Thousand Past and Present Michigan Communities (Paperback). Great Lakes Books Series. Detroit, Michigan: Wayne State University Press. p. 181. ISBN 978-0-8143-1838-6.
  5. ^ "Michigan: 2010 Population and Housing Unit Counts 2010 Census of Population and Housing" (PDF). 2010 United States Census. United States Census Bureau. September 2012. p. III-4. Retrieved February 29, 2020.
  6. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
  7. ^ Michigan Geographic Framework (November 15, 2013). "Charlevoix County School Districts" (PDF). Retrieved August 6, 2022.