Sangeorz-Bai is located in the upper basin of Somesul Mare river, where it meets Borcut brook, at the foot of Rodnei Mountains. The village, certified in documents in 1245, was first mentioned in „Carmaen Miserabilae” , a paper written by Rogerius, relating about the tartar invasion from 1241-1242, situated 9 km N-W from its actual position, under the name of Sfantul Gheorghe, the name of the settlement being transformed afterwards into Sangeorzul Romanesc. In 1440, the village appears together with the lands offered to Jors de Kusal feudal, and in 1475 it was under the rule of the magistrate of Bistrita.

A document from 1518 states that Toma voivode was the ruler of Sangeorz. During 1762-1851, the village was militarized in the Second Regiment of Nasaud border. ”Hebe baths”, consisting of a hotel and a few cots, has been shaped as a balneary resort only at the beginning of the 20th century. After studying the qualities of the mineral water, curative and revivaling, the members of ”Aurora” bank sodality named the mineral waters Hebe, after the goddess of eternal youth, daughter of Zeus, cupbearer for the gods of Olympus.

There is also a legend talking about the hospitality of the inhabitants who invited every thirsty pilgrim to „Hai be !” (Come and drink!), and by uniting the two words, they got Hebe. In 1960, this settlement became a city, and in the following years, the resort is enriched with 2 big hotels, „Hebe” and „Somes”, for 900 and 600 guests, „Hebe” having the biggest accomodation capacity in Romania.

The area has offered personalities such as prof. Solomon Halita, when the minister of education was Spiru Haret, and Florian Porcius, one of the founding pioneers of the botanical garden in Cluj-Napoca. Over the years, the resort has been visited by great personalities of the Romanian culture, such as: Nicolae Iorga, Ion Luca Caragiale, Ioan Slavici, Liviu Rebreanu, George Cosbuc and others.