Vassar, Michigan
Vassar is a city of 2,707 people in Tuscola County, Michigan, founded in 1849.
Why visit Vassar
Townapedia lists 6 museums and landmarks, 10 parks and trails, 10 places to eat, 2 places to stay and 1 attraction in and around town.
Highlights include Vassar Theatre, Hotel Columbia and McKinley School.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 82°F; January lows average 12°F.
Weather in Vassar
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Vassar
Vassar is a city in Tuscola County in the U.S. state of Michigan. Founded March 1, 1849. The population was 2,727 at the 2020 census and 2,697 in 2010 (an increase of about 1.1%). The city is located on the western edge of Vassar Township but is administratively autonomous.
From the Wikipedia article Vassar, Michigan (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do1
Museums and landmarks6
Hotel Columbia
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Historic hotel building in Vassar, Michigan, USA
McKinley School
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Building in Michigan, United States
Smith House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.4 mi
Private house located at 113-115 Prospect Street in Vassar, Michigan
Townsend North House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
House in Vassar, Michigan
Vassar MC Railroad Depot
Monument and historic site
1 South Sherman Street, Vassar
Parks, trails and playgrounds10
Restaurants and cafes10
History
Vassar was founded by four men who were led by James M. Edmunds and Townsend North in search of an area to build a dam and start a city. The city was named after Edmunds' uncle, Matthew Vassar, who later founded Vassar College.
It was the first county seat of Tuscola County. In 1860, the seat was moved to Caro. Vassar's growth for the next thirty years was based mainly on its lumbering and a handful of related industries.
The settlement became a village in 1871. Vassar was the crossing of the Michigan Central's Bay City Branch (from Detroit) and the Port Huron & Northwestern (from 1900 Pere Marquette) line running between Saginaw and Port Huron via Marlette.
The voters of the Village of Vassar elected to become a city on September 28, 1944. On February 19, 1945, the voters approved the charter for the City of Vassar.
From the History section of Vassar, Michigan on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay2
Churches and places of worship5
Greater Ephesian Church of God
Church · Pentecostal · 0.5 mi
890 Norman Street, Vassar
Shopping4
Gas and EV charging3
Schools, colleges and libraries9
Map of Vassar
50 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 30°F | 12°F | 2.0 in |
| Feb | 33°F | 13°F | 1.4 in |
| Mar | 43°F | 21°F | 1.9 in |
| Apr | 57°F | 32°F | 3.3 in |
| May | 69°F | 43°F | 3.5 in |
| Jun | 78°F | 53°F | 3.4 in |
| Jul | 82°F | 57°F | 4.1 in |
| Aug | 80°F | 56°F | 3.7 in |
| Sep | 74°F | 48°F | 3.0 in |
| Oct | 61°F | 38°F | 3.1 in |
| Nov | 47°F | 29°F | 2.7 in |
| Dec | 35°F | 22°F | 2.1 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Vassar (0 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Tuscola County has had 5 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for biologicals.
- 2026-06-30: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Flood)
- 2020-03-27: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2005-09-07: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation (Hurricane)
- 2001-01-10: Snow (Snowstorm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Tuscola Area Airport (TZC) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 9 miles away.
- Millington 7 mi south, about 12 min by car
- Mayville 12 mi east, about 19 min by car
- Birch Run 14 mi southwest, about 22 min by car
- Clio 16 mi southwest, about 25 min by car
- Saginaw 19 mi west, about 31 min by car
- Mount Morris 19 mi south, about 30 min by car
- Essexville 21 mi northwest, about 34 min by car
- Montrose 21 mi southwest, about 33 min by car
- Bay City 22 mi northwest, about 35 min by car
- Flint 25 mi south, about 40 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- McKinley School Vassar, kennethaw88, CC BY 4.0
- Hotel Columbia Vassar, kennethaw88, CC BY 4.0
- Townsend North House Vassar, kennethaw88, CC BY 4.0
- Smith House Vassar, kennethaw88, CC BY 4.0
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.