Portal:Michigan/Cities/3

Alpena is a city in Michigan with a population of 11,304 (2000 census). It is the county seat of Alpena County. The city is on the shore of Lake Huron's Thunder Bay, with Alpena Township surrounding it on land. The Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary is located offshore of the city.

Despite its small population, it is by far the largest city in sparsely-populated Northeast Michigan, serving as its commercial and cultural hub. It is one of the two anchor cities of Northern Michigan, along with its cross-peninsula rival, Traverse City. The region, known as the "Sunrise Side" from its location on the west shore of Lake Huron, was first a site of commercial fishing 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's industry includes its limestone quarry, operated by the Lafarge corporation.