On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Holly is more historic than 76% of U.S. towns, #156 of 701 in Michigan. Its National Register listings hold the grade up; its age pulls it down.
A−
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Holly’s overall grade.
Few Michigan towns list much on the Register (a typical Michigan town has 0.0 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Holly’s 40.2 sits above most of its state (89% of Michigan towns have fewer) while its 24 historic buildings outnumber those of 80% of U.S. towns.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from B− to A. The pre-1940 share is a Census survey estimate (±6.1 points).
Founding year: the first census (other dates in Quick answers). Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →
What stands out about Holly’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
Fire insurance maps drew every building, what it was made of and what it was used for, so insurers could price the risk of fire. Pick a year, then a sheet.
Sanborn Map Company, via the Library of Congress. Editions published in 1930 or earlier, which are in the public domain.
On the map
Holly on the map, 1920 to 1983
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Holly. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.
1920Holly sheet · 1:62,500
U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Holly.
The story so far
Holly, in brief
Wikipedia doesn’t have a history of Holly yet. The photos, dates and memories neighbors add here are how it gets written.
Holly is a village in north Oakland County, Michigan, United States. The population was 5,997 at the 2020 census. The village is located within Holly Township. It is about 15 miles (24 km) south of Flint and 55 miles (89 km) northwest of Detroit.
Its first post office opened in 1860. Its population held steady between the last two censuses: 6,086 in 2010, 5,997 in 2020.
Intro from Wikipedia. Population: U.S. Census Bureau.
From the old history books
What they wrote about Holly in 1912
Passages that mention Holly, cut from the printed page as they were published.
History of Oakland County, Michigan1912 · page 393Read the page →
Read the text
FofXDixi; (II- Hnt.i.v \'n.r,.\r,i-: The village of Holly owes its existence to tlie Detroit & Milwaukee Railroad, which was completed to that point in October, 1853. A small settlement had already sprung up, Ira C. Alger having built a sawmill and a grist mill at that point more than ten years before.
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
History of Oakland County, Michigan1912 · page 388Read the page →
Read the text
The township of Holly, as we know it today, was created Uy act of the legislature, March 6. 1838. being formed from the west half of Groveland. The original townships of the county were Oakland and Bloomfield, formed in 1820 and, in 1827, divided into five, of which Pontiac included Groveland and Holly townships. As stated, the former was divided in 1838. At that time the first land entry within the present limits of Holly township had been made eight years before, and the first actual settlement, seven.
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
Scans and text from the Internet Archive. Books published in 1930 or earlier, which are in the public domain.
Timeline
Holly, 1912 to 1993
Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.
Nothing in the archives for these yearsWeddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.
The Holly post office opened in 1860, the earliest record of the town by name (U.S. post office records).
How does Holly rank for history?
Holly is more historic than 76% of U.S. towns, #156 of 701 in Michigan. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
How old are the homes in Holly?
23% of Holly’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±6.1 points), against a typical 12% for a Michigan town; the median home was built in 1978.
Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
From Wikimedia Commons (11), Wikidata (1), Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), Sanborn fire insurance maps (Library of Congress) and old county and town histories (Internet Archive). Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.
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