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

History

The area was settled as early as 1876 by pioneer settled Samuel Horton in 1876 as a lumbering community. 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.

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.

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.

Geography

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

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

Major highways

• 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

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (August 2022)

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
2010	512		—
2020	485		−5.3%
U.S. Decennial Census

Education

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

Images

• 
  Road signage along Boyne City Road
• 
  Horton Bay General Store
• 
  State historic marker