photo by |
Ossineke - Sanborn Township Population: 2000() 1990() Change()
Sanborn Township is located in the southeastern corner of Alpena County along the shores of Lake Huron. Its main community is Ossineke, located along US-23, about a mile inland. This rapidly growing area has seen significant real estate development in the last five years. A shopping plaza along US-23 also continues to be on the grow. This area functions primarily as an adjunct community to Alpena, 10 miles to the north.
Ossineke was first settled in 1844 by Jonathan Burtch and Anson Eldred, the first to purchase land here - at the mouth of the Devil River, (so named because it "kept bad company" flowing between two large swamps.). The name came from the Indian name: Wawsineke, the meaning of which seems to have been obscured over the years. Burtch built a sawmill, and later sold it to a David O. Oliver in 1847. A year later, Oliver sold it to Lee Sanborn, who shortly afterward officially platted and registered the town. Subsequently, the township was named in his honor. In 1867 when the lumber era was beginning, the town received a station on the Detroit & Mackinac Railroad, which helped it to grow and stabilize into a permanent community. |