Timeline of Alpena County

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1830

• 1830 Michigan Census (courtesy of Kent County MIGenWeb)

  Alpena County officially was not in existence at this time. However, it would have been considered a portion of Michilimackinac County.   

  • Censuses available from Berrien, Brown, Cass, Chippewa, Crawford, Iowa, Lenawee, Macomb, Michilimackinac, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair, St. Joseph, Van Buren, Washtenaw and Wayne Counties.

  • Some land patents can be found this early at the Bureau of Land Management.  

1840

 

• Again, officially Alpena was not Alpena County YET. At this time it was known as Anamickee County, formed from Cheybogan County in 1840. I believe the records can still be found under Michilimackinac County for the censuses.

  • Censuses available from Allegan, Barry, Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Chippewa, Clinton, Eaton, Genesee, Hillsdale, Ingham, Ionia, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Kent, Lapeer, Lenawee, Livingston, Macomb, Michilimackinac, Monroe, Oakland, Oceana, Ottawa, Saginaw, Shiawassee, St. Clair, St. Joseph, Van Buren, Washtenaw and Wayne Counties

  • William Morrison has graciously offered lookups from this census.

1850

• Even though Alpena County was officially formed in 1843, the census records for this time period are still found under Michilimackinac County.

  • Censuses available from Allegan, Barry, Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Chippewa, Clinton, Eaton, Genesee, Hillsdale, Houghton, Huron, Ingham, Ionia, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Kent, Lapeer, Lenawee, Livingston, Macomb, Marquette, Mason, Michilimackinac, Midland, Monroe, Montcalm, Newaygo, Oakland, Oceana, Ontonagon, Ottawa, Saginaw, Sanilac, Schoolcraft, Shiawassee, St. Clair, St. Joseph, Tuscola, Van Buren, Washtenaw and Wayne Counties.

  • William Morrison has graciously offered lookups from this census.

 

1860

• The federal government FINALLY got around to changing things over and the first records for ALPENA County in the census appear!

  • Index of 1860 Federal Census, Alpena County

• 1867 - Birth, death and marriage recordings officially begin by the State of Michigan

1870

• Michigan 1870 Census Index offered by the Library of Michigan

• 1872-1875 - History of Alpena City Fires

• 1876 - Complete History of Alpena County by William Boulton

1880

• 1880 Census

• 1883 Military Pensioners

• 1883, 1884, 1886, 1887, 1888 - Alpena High School Graduating Classes

1890

• Destroyed in the fire, I am trying to assemble alternative sources for information between 1880 and 1900. Some Suggestions:

  • 1883 Notaries

  • 1884 Michigan State Census (available at the Michigan State Archives)

    • Note: For the 1884 and 1894, and a few other scattered censuses, availability is listed here: Genealogy Research with Michigan State Census Records (just scroll down to the table at the bottom of the file).

  • 1894 Michigan State Census (available at the Michigan State Archives)

  • 1897-98 Alpena City Directory  

  • 1897-98 Alpena County Directory

• 1892 Article on Michigan Republican Party Delegates

• 1892-93, 1893-94, 1899-1900 - David McNeil Lumber Camp Ledgers

• 1894 Civil War Vets

• 1894 Census of Soldiers, Sailors and Marines from Alpena County

• 1897 - Official divorce recordings begin by the State of Michigan

• 1899 - Company D, 3rd Infantry- Alpena, MI

• A Merry Christmas to You All -- A Christmas ad from 1899 from Greenbaums store in Alpena 

• Deer Slayers - The Alpena Evening News, November 7, 1899

 

1900

 

• 1899-1900 Alpena City Directory

• 1899-1900 Alpena Public School Teachers

• Notes on a Michigan Lumber Town - by Rollin Hart, a special from Harper's Magazine

• 1900-1901, 1901-1902, 1902-1903, Summer 1903, 1903-1904 - David McNeil Lumber Camp Ledgers

• 1900 Census - Try Ancestry.com or Heritage Quest.

• Another big immigration wave happened between 1900 and 1904. Perhaps your person may be found in the 1904 State Census (available for a few counties at the Michigan State Archives)

• 1905 Alpena City Directory

• 1905 - Alpena High School Graduating Classes

• Alpena Argus - Order of the Eastern Star Organization -  June 21, 1905

• List of Granges from Alpena County, 1906

• 1908 City Directory - Not here yet, but eventually!

• 1908 Northern Michigan Forest Fire

 

1910

 

• 1910 Census - Try Ancestry.com or Heritage Quest.

• 1911 Northern Michigan Forest Fire
• The Great Storm of 1913 

• The Great Storm of 1913 Page 2

 

 

1920

 

• 1920 Census - Try Ancestry.com or Heritage Quest.

• Alpena, Michigan 1920 City Directory - Thanks to DistantCousin.com!

 

1930

 

• 1930 Census - Try Ancestry.com.

• 1938/39 - Alpena High School Fire

1940

 

• Census coming in 2012!!! Only 3 years to go!

• 1940 Alpena High School Graduation Program

1950

 

• Census coming in 2022!!!

• 1958 - Carl D. Bradley Crew List (Shipwreck)

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Copyright © 2004-2008 Concetta Franco Phillipps
2004 Jolene Kelly Pillars

1997-2003 by Jill Olmack

Updated 09 Nov 2008