Auburn, Michigan

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Auburn is located in an inland farm belt in western Bay County. The postoffice established in Auburn it was originally known as the Skinner post office being named after the postmaster. A few years later, Ira Swart became postmaster and renamed the community to "Auburn" after Auburn, New York where his wife was from.

Pioneers of the village of Auburn were Henry Auburn, J. Curve, John Kent Sr. and William Spicer. They settled in the four corners of Auburn located in sections 23 and 24 of Williams Township. J. Southerland and Ira Swart owned the first stores in Auburn.

By 1868, Auburn had; two saloons, a blacksmith shop, two stores, three saw mills, a templar Lodge, a Red Ribbon Lodge (also a temperance lodge) and a population of 300 people. A year later, the Auburn Methodist Church was built on property given to them by Henry Balwinski

Today, Auburn remains a major agricultural community and an adjunct community to Bay City for commuters who want to remain is a small-town setting. Auburn is also "Home of the Warriors," where high school sports are taken very seriously!

Photos courtesy of: Ken Huisjen