The larger and more well known Tri-Cities is the region surrounding
Saginaw,
Bay City, and
Midland, three cities of roughly equal medium size. This region, which is part of
Central Michigan, includes much of
Bay County,
Saginaw County, and
Midland County. These three counties make up the
Greater Tri-Cities, a common term describing this region of Michigan. The region also goes by the name of the
Great Lakes Bay Region. Statistically, the region is known as the
Saginaw, Midland, and Bay City Metropolitan Area, a combined statistical area composed of these three counties. Their combined population was 377,474 as of the
2020 census. With the future addition of
Hemlock upon its steady growth and development, the Tri-Cities would be called the "Quad Cities". ==The Great Lakes Bay Region==