| Official Name: | Harbor Beach, Michigan |
| Settlement Type: | City |
| Pushpin Map: | Michigan |
| Pushpin Label Position: | left |
| Pushpin Label: | Harbor Beach |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location within the state of Michigan |
| Mapsize: | 250 |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | United States |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Name1: | Michigan |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name2: | Huron |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Leader Name: | Kevin Guitar |
| Established Title: | Settled |
| Established Date: | 1838 |
| Established Title1: | Incorporated |
| Established Date1: | 1910 (city) |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
| Area Footnotes: | [1] |
| Area Total Km2: | 5.33 |
| Area Land Km2: | 4.46 |
| Area Water Km2: | 0.87 |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 2.06 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 1.72 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 0.34 |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Total: | 1604 |
| Population Density Km2: | 359.90 |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | 932.02 |
| Timezone: | Eastern (EST) |
| Utc Offset: | -5 |
| Timezone Dst: | EDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | -4 |
| Elevation M: | 183 |
| Elevation Ft: | 600 |
| Coordinates: | 43.8447°N -82.6514°W |
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP code(s) |
| Postal Code: | 48441 |
| Area Code: | 989 |
| Blank Name: | FIPS code |
| Blank Info: | 26-36460[2] |
| Blank1 Name: | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank1 Info: | 0627752 |
Harbor Beach is a city in Huron County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,604 at the 2020 census.
The earliest settlers to this area arrived in 1837 and established a sawmill for processing lumber. The settlement eventually was named Barnettsville in 1855, as the settlement continued to grow, the town was renamed Sand Beach. In 1899, the village of Sand Beach changed its name to Harbor Beach, because of the impression that the area has nothing but sand. In 1910, it was officially incorporated into a city.
Located on the eastern shore of Lake Huron in the Thumb of Michigan, Harbor Beach is known as having the world's largest man-made fresh water harbor and boasts a fishing pier that is handicap accessible. The municipal marina provides transient services and shuttle services into the downtown area which has retained its old town charm.
The association known as HBRA was founded in 1896 as a summertime vacation spot in Harbor Beach. The resort is located roughly three hours north of Detroit, MI and is currently still operated, and frequented, by the 5th and 6th generation descendants of the original founding families.
Harbor Beach won the 2012 Division 8 State Football Championship.[3]
As of the census[6] of 2010, there were 1,703 people, 774 households, and 454 families residing in the city. The population density was 973.1PD/sqmi. There were 975 housing units at an average density of 557.1/sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 96.4% White, 0.2% African American, 0.4% Native American, 1.1% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 1.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.6% of the population.
There were 774 households, of which 24.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.8% were married couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 41.3% were non-families. 37.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 22.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.14 and the average family size was 2.80.
The median age in the city was 47.7 years. 20.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 19.5% were from 25 to 44; 29.9% were from 45 to 64; and 22.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.5% male and 52.5% female.
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,837 people, 774 households, and 503 families residing in the city. The population density was 1036.3sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 928 housing units at an average density of 523.5sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the city was 96.35% White, 0.11% African American, 0.49% Native American, 1.36% Asian, 0.38% from other races, and 1.31% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.93% of the population.
There were 774 households, out of which 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.4% were married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.9% were non-families. 32.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.5% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 23.8% from 25 to 44, 22.9% from 45 to 64, and 22.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $29,469, and the median income for a family was $35,263. Males had a median income of $29,938 versus $18,864 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,917. About 11.2% of families and 15.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.8% of those under age 18 and 12.2% of those age 65 or over.
The government of Harbor Beach is organized under the City Charter of 1965 and operates under a Mayor/Council form of government. The City Council consists of the Mayor, who is elected every two years, and four Council members, who are elected for four-year terms.
| National Register of Historic Places Places[7] | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Historic Place | Added | Number | Address | Historic Significance | Area of Significance | Period of Significance | Owner: | Historic Function | Historic Sub-function | Current Function | |
| Grice House Museum | 1982 | 82000534 | 865 N. Huron Ave., Harbor Beach | Architecture, Engineering | Politics, Government, Architecture, Industry | 1875–1899 | Local Gov't | Domestic | Single Dwelling | Museum | |
| Harbor Beach Lighthouse | 1983 | 83000850 | Breakwater Entrance, Harbor Beach | Event, Architecture, Engineering | Architecture, Maritime History, Engineering, Transportation | 1875–1899 | Federal | Transportation | Water-Related | Water-Related | |
| Frank Murphy Birthplace | 1971 | 71000394 | 142 S. Huron St., Harbor Beach | Frank Murphy | Social History, Politics, Government | 1875–1899 | Private, Local Government | Commerce, Trade, Domestic | Professional, Single Dwelling | Museum | |
| Navigation Structures at Harbor Beach Harbor | 1997 | 97000972 | N. Lakeshore Dr., Harbor Beach | Architecture, Engineering, Event | Industry, Engineering | 1875–1899, 1900–1924, 1925–1949 | Federal | Transportation | Water-Related | Water-Related |