| Alpena, Michigan | |
|---|---|
| — City — | |
| The Alpena Light at the Alpena Municipal Marina | |
| Motto: A warm and friendly port | |
| Location of Alpena within Alpena County, Michigan | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Michigan |
| County | Alpena |
| Animickee | 1840 |
| Alpena | 1871 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Carol Shafto |
| • City manager | Thad Taylor |
| Area | |
| • Total | 9.1 sq mi (23.5 km2) |
| • Land | 8.4 sq mi (21.7 km2) |
| • Water | 0.7 sq mi (1.8 km2) 7.71% |
| Elevation | 591 ft (180 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 10,483 |
| • Density | 1,248.0/sq mi (476.5/km2) |
| Time zone | EST (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 49707 |
| Area code(s) | 989 |
| FIPS code | 26-01740[1] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0620017[2] |
| Website | alpena.mi.us |
Alpena ( /ælˈpiːnə/) is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Alpena County.[3] It is considered to be part of Northern Michigan. The Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary is located in the city. The population was 10,483 at the 2010 census. The population swells with a large number of visitors in the summer.
Despite its small population, it is by far the largest city in the sparsely populated Northeast Michigan (lower peninsula) area, serving as its commercial and cultural hub. It is considered to be one of the two anchor cities of Northern Michigan, along with Traverse City. The Alpena Regional Medical Center is a federally designated rural regional medical referral center, and is the largest employer in the city.[4]
The region, known as the "Sunrise Side" from its location on the east shoreline of Michigan, was first a site of commercial fishing activity and is still home to extensive commercial fishing activities. Later the region, like much of Michigan, was shaped by the logging era of the 1800s. Today, Alpena is known for its limestone quarry, one of the largest in the world, owned and operated by the Lafarge corporation and is a major cement manufacturer and exporter. Alpena is also the world headquarters of Besser Company, a manufacturer of concrete block machines. Tourism (fishing, hunting, camping and a variety of water sports) is also important to Alpena's economy. A
In February 2007 Bizjournals ranked Alpena as the hottest retirement destination in the Great Lakes area[5] and #44 nationally.[6]
The city has a number of notable buildings, including the Art deco Alpena County Courthouse, and Temple Beth El, one of the Oldest synagogues in the United States.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 23.5 km2 (9.1 sq mi). 8.4 square miles (22 km2) is land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km2) (7.71%) is water. The city is on the shore of Lake Huron's Thunder Bay, with Alpena Township surrounding it on land.
Access to natural resources and water transportation has been important in development of the community. Light stations and lighthouses[7][8] surround Alpena.[9] Several islands off the coast in Thunder Bay are part of the Michigan Islands National Wildlife Refuge, and Scarecrow Island is part of the Michigan Islands Wilderness Area. Charity, Little Charity, Scarecrow, and Thunder Bay Islands form the Lake Huron division of the Michigan Islands NWR. There are lighthouses on Charity (abandoned) and Thunder Bay Islands.
| Climate data for Alpena, Michigan | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 55 (13) |
62 (17) |
75 (24) |
93 (34) |
94 (34) |
100 (38) |
100 (38) |
100 (38) |
99 (37) |
87 (31) |
77 (25) |
65 (18) |
100 (38) |
| Average high °F (°C) | 26.7 (−2.9) |
28.1 (−2.2) |
36.1 (2.3) |
48.3 (9.1) |
60.8 (16.0) |
70.7 (21.5) |
76.7 (24.8) |
75.3 (24.1) |
67.7 (19.8) |
55.4 (13.0) |
42.5 (5.8) |
32.0 (0.0) |
51.7 (10.9) |
| Average low °F (°C) | 12.0 (−11.1) |
12.1 (−11.1) |
21.1 (−6.1) |
32.8 (0.4) |
44.0 (6.7) |
53.4 (11.9) |
59.4 (15.2) |
57.9 (14.4) |
50.1 (10.1) |
39.5 (4.2) |
29.4 (−1.4) |
19.4 (−7.0) |
35.9 (2.2) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −21 (−29) |
−24 (−31) |
−13 (−25) |
6 (−14) |
21 (−6) |
32 (0) |
39 (4) |
36 (2) |
29 (−2) |
20 (−7) |
1 (−17) |
−12 (−24) |
−24 (−31) |
| Precipitation inches (mm) | 1.70 (43.2) |
1.34 (34) |
1.86 (47.2) |
2.13 (54.1) |
2.83 (71.9) |
2.58 (65.5) |
3.17 (80.5) |
3.43 (87.1) |
3.10 (78.7) |
2.43 (61.7) |
2.02 (51.3) |
1.84 (46.7) |
28.43 (722.1) |
| Snowfall inches (cm) | 14.8 (37.6) |
11.7 (29.7) |
9.0 (22.9) |
2.4 (6.1) |
.2 (0.5) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
.2 (0.5) |
4.1 (10.4) |
13.8 (35.1) |
56.2 (142.7) |
| Avg. precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 14.2 | 10.6 | 10.7 | 11.2 | 11.4 | 10.8 | 10.3 | 11.2 | 12.3 | 12.6 | 12.3 | 13.5 | 141.1 |
| Avg. snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 9.1 | 6.5 | 4.1 | 1.3 | .1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .1 | 2.0 | 6.8 | 30.0 |
| Sunshine hours | 108.5 | 135.6 | 195.3 | 222.0 | 279.0 | 294.0 | 316.2 | 257.3 | 195.0 | 142.6 | 84.0 | 74.4 | 2,303.9 |
| Source: The Weather Channel (records),[10] NOAA (normals, 1971–2000),[11] HKO (sun)[12] | |||||||||||||
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 and Sault Ste. Marie operated by Mesaba 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 Combat Readiness Training Center co-utilizes the airfield.
Alpena is situated along the Lake State Railway, formerly the Detroit and Mackinac Railway (D&M).[13] 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.[14]
| US 23 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.[15] On US-23 as it crosses Squaw 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.[16] This is one of 29 places (six are in Michigan) in the U.S.A. where such signs are known to exist.[17] | |
| M-32 ends its 100-mile (160 km) easterly route from Lake Michigan to Lake Huron traversing the northern lower peninsula within downtown Alpena[18] at the intersection of US 23.[19] | |
| M-65 is a few miles west of town, but is a more direct route to the south than US-23, which meanders along the lake shore through many villages and towns. |
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 11,304 people, 4,874 households, and 2,865 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,348.9 per square mile (520.8/km2). There were 5,200 housing units at an average density of 620.5 per square mile (239.6/km2). 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.
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 eight 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 620 square miles (1,600 km2).
There are three 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 the Immaculate) and provides preschool to 6th grade education. Immanuel Lutheran School is supported by the Immanuel Lutheran Church and has preschool to 8th grade classes. The Alpena SDA Elementary School is a Seventh-Day Adventist school that has offers elementary education. Bingham Arts Academy, a charter school run by Mosaica, also provides classes from preschool to 8th grade.
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 that is unparalleled anywhere else, even including a Master Blockmakers Degree for 5-class-accomplished students.
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 the LaFarge Company's cement plant and to Besser Block Co. (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, which is used in steel making in the Great Lakes and Rust Belt regions.
Alpena's primary shopping center is the Alpena Mall, a small enclosed shopping mall featuring approximately 20 stores, with JCPenney as the anchor store.
Fletcher Street Brewing Company is in Old Town on the Thunder Bay River.[20]
Alpena is also home to the Alpena Thunder hockey team.
There are seven recognized historical markers in the city:[21]
Alpena is home to several radio stations.
| Call Sign | Frequency | Format | City Broadcast From |
|---|---|---|---|
| WHAK | 960 | Country | Rogers City |
| WATZ | 1450 | Talk/News | Alpena |
| Call Sign | Frequency | Format | City Broadcast From |
|---|---|---|---|
| WPHN | 90.5 | Religious | Gaylord |
| WCML | 91.7 | Public | Alpena |
| WFDX | 92.5 | Classic Hits | Atlanta |
| WKJZ | 94.9/98.1 | Variety Hits | Hillman |
| WATZ | 99.3/96.7 | Country | Alpena |
| WHAK | 99.9 | Oldies | Rogers City |
| WWTH | 100.7/94.1 | Country | Oscoda |
| WMJZ | 101.5 | Variety Hits | Gaylord |
| WKJC | 104.7 | Country | Tawas City |
| WHSB | 107.7 | Hot AC | Alpena |
Alpena is the third smallest (208) Nielsen Designated Market Area (DMA) in the United States.
There is only one locally programmed terrestrial Television station located within the Alpena DMA:
Rebroadcasts of other television stations include:
Cable only television:
Northeast Michigan is also served by selected major network affiliates from the Northern Michigan and Mid-Michigan DMAs, as well as CBC Television programming from CBMT in Montreal. Cable television service is provided within Alpena and many outlying communities by Charter Communications.
There are many recurring local activities. A calendar is available.[23]
There are a great many citizens, too numerous to list here, who were important in founding Alpena, and making Alpena grow and prosper over the years.[33] Notable people were born in, or have lived in, Alpena, include:
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