Alpena, Michigan

Alpena, Michigan
Alpena is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is the county seat of Alpena County, and is the only city within the county. The population was 10,197 at the 2020 census, making it the third most populated city in the Northern Michigan region, after Traverse City and Cadillac. The city is surrounded by Alpena Township, but the two are administered autonomously. It is the core city of the Alpena micropolitan statistical area, which encompasses all of Alpena County and had a total population of 28,907 at the 2020 census.
Alpena is located at the head of Thunder Bay, a bay of Lake Huron. Offshore of Alpena is the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, which protects an estimated 116 historically significant shipwrecks. Alpena is the third-largest American city on Lake Huron, behind Bay City and Port Huron.
History
The Alpena area is home to the Ojibwe, Ottawa, and Potawatomi people. These people groups inhabit the area surrounding the Great Lakes, including Michigan.
Alpena County was originally set off from Michilimackinac County as Anamickee County founded in 1840, which in 1843 was changed to Alpena, a pseudo-Native American word — a neologism coined by Henry Schoolcraft, meaning something like "a good partridge country." This was part of a much larger effort to rename a great many of the Michigan counties at the time.
The first European settler at modern-day Alpena was W.F. Cullings, a fisherman in 1835. In 1856, George W. Fletcher and three others from Detroit platted a village by the name of Fremont, after John C. Frémont. The community was briefly renamed Thunder Bay in 1857 before being renamed again to Alpena in 1871. The city of Alpena was officially incorporated by Michigan State Legislature on March 29, 1871.
Most of the city was lost in the Great Michigan Fire of 1871. Less than one year later, on July 12, 1872, Alpena was hit by another fire, the largest in its history, which destroyed of homes and businesses for a total amount of 65 buildings. The blaze started in a barn and lasted for two hours, killing at least four people and causing at least in damages. Alpena was again hit by a disastrous fire on July 11, 1888. In the early 1910s a failed attempt was led by the Alpena Motor Car Company to turn the city into "Automobile City" and compete with Detroit.
The city has a number of notable buildings, including the Art deco Alpena County Courthouse, the I.O.O.F. Centennial Building, and Temple Beth El, one of the oldest synagogues in the United States.
Geography and climate
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which, of it is land and (7.48%) is water. The city is on the shore of Lake Huron's Thunder Bay, with Alpena Township surrounding it on land.
Alpena has a humid continental climate (Dfb) with warm summers along with cool nights, moderated by nearby Lake Huron and cold, snowy winters with annual snowfall averaging 84 inches (210 cm).
Transportation
Air
Alpena County Regional Airport (IATA: APN, ICAO: KAPN, FAA LID: APN) is the northeast lower peninsula of Michigan's main commercial airport and handles daily Delta Connection flights to Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul via Detroit, and to Pellston operated by SkyWest Airlines. It is a public-use airport located in Wilson Township, Michigan six miles (10 km) west of the central business district of Alpena. The Michigan Air National Guard's Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center co-utilizes the airfield.
Rail
Alpena is situated along the Lake State Railway, formerly the Detroit and Mackinac Railway (D&M). Earlier railroads that served Alpena were built and owned by the Alger Smith and Co. logging company: (1) the Detroit, Bay City and Alpena Railroad, which entered Alpena from the south around 1886, and (2) the Alpena and Northern Railroad.
Bus
Indian Trails provides daily intercity bus service between St. Ignace and Bay City, Michigan. This route is the Amtrak Thruway Motorcoach service for Alpena.
Major highways
serves Alpena on its way along the Lake Huron shoreline. It has been designated the "Sunrise Side Coastal Highway", and runs along (or parallels) the Lake Huron shore. To the north, it passes Grand Lake and Long Lake, then to Rogers City, through Cheboygan, and on to Mackinaw City, where it ends at I-75 and the Mackinac Bridge. On US 23 as it crosses Birdsong Bay just south of Alpena exists a sign which notes that it rests on the 45th parallel, indicating travelers are halfway between the equator and the North Pole. This is one of 29 places (six are in Michigan) in the U.S. where such signs are known to exist. US 23 continues south to Ossineke then further south to Oscoda and Tawas City. US 23 south joins Interstate 75 near Standish where it continues south downstate.
ends its easterly route from Lake Michigan to Lake Huron traversing the northern Lower Peninsula within downtown Alpena at an intersection with US 23.
Trails
Alpena to Hillman Trail from Alpena to Hillman in Montmorency County.
North Eastern State Trail from Alpena to Cheboygan in Cheboygan County
Demographics
2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 10,483 people, 4,734 households, and 2,565 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 5,278 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 96.8% White, 0.5% African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.1% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.0% of the population.
There were 4,734 households, of which 24.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.3% were married couples living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 45.8% were non-families. 39.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.13 and the average family size was 2.84.
The median age in the city was 42.5 years. 20.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.7% were from 25 to 44; 27.9% were from 45 to 64; and 19.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.7% male and 52.3% female.
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 11,304 people, 4,874 households, and 2,865 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 5,200 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 97.66% White, 0.42% African American, 0.43% Native American, 0.48% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.09% from other races, and 0.91% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.59% of the population.
There were 4,874 households, out of which 26.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.1% were married couples living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.2% were non-families. 35.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 23.0% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 19.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $30,353, and the median income for a family was $40,056. Males had a median income of $34,534 versus $21,951 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,476. About 10.4% of families and 13.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.5% of those under age 18 and 6.6% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Alpena, along with the rest of Alpena County and portions of Presque Isle County, is served by Alpena Public Schools. Alpena Public Schools was established as the first county-wide school district in the state of Michigan in 1963. The district has one high school, a junior high, an alternative/adult high school, and six elementary schools. The elementary schools are Besser, Ella White, Hinks, Lincoln, Sanborn, and Wilson Elementary Schools. Geographically, it is the largest school district in the Lower Peninsula, encompassing more than .
There are two private schools in Alpena. All Saints Catholic School is affiliated with the four Roman Catholic parishes in the city (St. Anne's, St. Bernard's, St. John the Baptist and St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception) and provides preschool to 8th grade education. Immanuel Lutheran School is supported by the Immanuel Lutheran Church and has preschool to 8th grade classes.
Alpena is also home to Alpena Community College. ACC is a two-year associates program that has partnerships with Spring Arbor University and several other Michigan institutions. Within Alpena Community College is the World Center for Concrete Technology (WCCT). The WCCT draws a worldwide enrollment of students for classes in Concrete Technology, including a Master Blockmakers Degree for 5-class-accomplished students.
Competitions
Alpena High School has hosted several FIRST Robotics Competition events.
Alpena High School has hosted several All-Star Band events.
Alpena High School has hosted several Solo & Ensemble events
Economy
While tourism is an important component of the area's economy, both Alpena and Rogers City have an industrial base. In particular, Alpena is home to Lafarge-Holcim cement plant and to Besser Company (maker of a concrete block making machinery), as well as a drywall board manufacturing facility owned by Decorative Panels International. Rogers City is the location of the world's largest limestone quarry (see Michigan Limestone and Chemical Company), which is used in steel making in the Great Lakes and Rust Belt regions.
MidMichigan Health, a federally-designated rural regional medical referral center, is the largest employer in the city of Alpena.
Alpena's primary shopping center is the Alpena Mall, the only enclosed shopping mall in the northeastern Lower Peninsula, featuring approximately 20 stores, with JCPenney and Gordon Food Service as the anchor stores. Other retailers operate in this part of town and on M-32 west of town and south on US-23.
Alpena was also home to the Alpena Thunder hockey team, which was disbanded in 2011.
Historical markers
There are seven recognized historical markers in the city:
Alpena City Hall
Alpena County Courthouse
The Daniel Carter Family, Alpena'a first settlers.
First Congregational Church
Monarch Mill
St. Bernard Catholic Church
World's Largest Cement Plant (see Lafarge)
Media
Print
The Alpena News is the daily (Monday to Saturday) newspaper of record for much of northeastern lower peninsula of Michigan.
Daily editions of the Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News are also available throughout the area.
Radio
Alpena is home to several radio stations.
AM
FM
Television
Alpena is the third smallest (208) Nielsen Designated Market Area (DMA) in the United States.
Television stations located within the Alpena DMA:
Channel 11: WBKB-TV - (CBS, NBC on DT2, ABC on DT3, Fox/MyNetworkTV on DT4); the only locally programmed terrestrial station within the market
Channel 6: WCML-TV - (PBS) - satellite of WCMU-TV Mount Pleasant
Cable only television:
Cable 3: Alpena Community College educational television
Cable 5: Alpena CW - (The CW)
Northeast Michigan is also served by selected major network affiliates from the Northern Michigan DMA, as well as CBC Television programming from CBMT-DT in Montreal. Cable television service is provided within Alpena and many outlying communities by Charter Communications.
Arts and culture
Alpena is served by a number of institutions that enhance the artistic and cultural character of the city, reflecting its rich heritage in Great Lakes shipping and industry. Alpena is the gateway to the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, one of Michigan's 13 underwater preserves. The cold, fresh waters of the Great Lakes serve a valuable role in preserving the numerous shipwrecks in Lake Huron, documenting a history of tragedy that spans over 300 years. The Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center in Alpena is the interpretive and administrative center of the sanctuary, located on the banks of the Thunder Bay River.
The local history of the Alpena area is documented by the Besser Museum, founded with an endowment from industrialist Jesse Besser. The Besser Museum is located on an campus in northern Alpena, and is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. Permanent attractions at the Besser Museum include a planetarium and the Katherine V., a wooden fishing tug that spent its entire life on Lake Huron. The Besser Museum also features rotating collections of art, science, and local history. The museum is the publisher of The Town that Wouldn't Die: A Photographic History of Alpena, Michigan from Its Beginnings Through 1940.
The Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library serves Alpena County. Its special collections include the Northeast Michigan Oral History Archive, the comprehensive Great Lakes Maritime Collection, and a full collection of Alpena newspapers dating back to 1871.
Arts organizations in the Alpena area include the Alpena Symphony Orchestra; the Alpena Civic Theatre; and the Thunder Bay Theatre, Northeast Michigan's year-round professional theatre located in the historic 1904 Spens Block on North Second Ave. Cinema in Alpena is supported by the newly-opened Sanctuary Cinema, located in a former JCPenney store in Downtown Alpena, and the Maltz Opera House, under renovation to its 1920s-era appearance.
Notable people
Jesse Besser, inventor and benefactor of the Besser Museum for Northeast Michigan; lived in Alpena
Paul Bunker, 1901 and 1902 All-American football player; College Football Hall of Famer; born in Alpena
William Comstock, 33rd governor of Michigan; born in Alpena
Leon Czolgosz, assassin of U.S. President William McKinley; lived in Alpena
Bob Devaney, football coach for Nebraska Cornhuskers football and Wyoming Cowboys football; College Football Hall of Famer; lived in Alpena
Brian Dutcher, basketball coach for San Diego State; born in Alpena
Jim Dutcher, former basketball head coach for University of Minnesota; born in Alpena
Robert L. Emerson, Michigan state Senator; born in Alpena
The Frost, psychedelic rock band of the '60s and '70s originated in Alpena. Several members were born there.
Stanley Grenz, Christian theologian; born in Alpena
Blaise Ilsley, pitcher for the Chicago Cubs; born in Alpena
Lloyd R. Leavitt, Jr., United States Air Force general; born in Alpena
Betty Mahmoody, author of Not Without My Daughter; lived in Alpena
Harvey Marlatt, shooting guard for the Detroit Pistons; born in Alpena
Andrew Marwede, professional disc golfer; born in Alpena
Arthur William McLeod, member of the Wisconsin State Assembly; born in Alpena
Joel Potrykus, filmmaker (Ape (2012 film)); born in Alpena
Dan Rohn, infielder for the Chicago Cubs and Cleveland Indians; born in Alpena
Paul Fitzpatrick Russell, Roman Catholic archbishop and diplomat; lived in Alpena
Michael Bailey Smith, actor (Charmed); born in Alpena
K. J. Stevens, novelist and short story writer; born in Alpena
Kevin Young, first baseman for the Kansas City Royals and Pittsburgh Pirates; born in Alpena
In popular culture
Bruce Willis and the film crew of Die Hard 2 used Alpena's airport to shoot several scenes of the film. Although the location was selected because snow was expected to be integral to the movie (and was moved from Denver's Stapleton Airport which had no snow), a dearth of precipitation in Alpena necessitated the use of artificial snow.
In Season 5 Episode 12 of Home Improvement, Tim and Al are stuck at the Alpena airport on their way to Binford Tools' winter festival.
Parks
Avery Park
Duck Park
Island Park
Mich-e-ke-wis Park
McRae Park
Rotary Island
Starlite Beach
Sytek Park
Thompson Park
Washington Park
Rockport State Park is Michigan's 100th state park and a dark sky preserve, is situated just north of the city on the Lake Huron shore. Within its s, it contains a abandoned limestone quarry, Devonian fossils, sinkholes and a protected deep water harbor. It is a U.S. 23 route heritage site. It is part of the "Alpena Blueway" paddling route. There are many other state parks in the area.
See also
Alpena Light
Alpena Power Company
Roman Catholic Diocese of Gaylord
References
Notes
Citations
Bibliography
External links
City of Alpena's official website
Harbor webcam, Alpena
Alpena County Soil Survey, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Michigan State University Extension Service (soil, history, good general information)
Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University, Bibliography on Alpena, Michigan
Cities in Alpena County, Michigan
County seats in Michigan
Populated places on Lake Huron in the United States
Micropolitan areas of Michigan
Populated places established in 1840
1840 establishments in Michigan