Alpena, Michigan

49707

Alpena, county seat for Alpena County, is located on Thunder Bay on Lake Huron’s northwestern coastline at the mouth of the Thunder Bay River. This scenic coastal town has retained much of its architectural tradition from the turn of the century, with many well-preserved houses and buildings - especially in the "old town" section just north of the Thunder Bay River. It’s downtown area is a great shopping location, situated conveniently next door to the marina, where many summer boaters come in for a visit - including scuba divers checking out the Thunder Bay Underwater Preserve just off the coast. Besides tourism, Alpena’s economy is supported by cement production, paper processing, automotive and machine products manufacturing, just to name a few. The fishing’s great too, even in winter, where ice fishing is done with a passion.

Alpena was platted in 1856 by George N. Fletcher and 3 colleagues from Detroit, naming it Fremont. Because there was already a city in Michigan with that name, however, it was renamed Alpena, (which is Indian for "partridge") at the suggestion of Michigan Statesman Henry R. Schoolcraft, after he observed many of the fowl in the area. It eventually was incorporated as a city in 1871.