Alden, Michigan

Alden is an unincorporated community located in Helena Township in Antrim County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated at the southeast end of Torch Lake, about 20 miles northeast of Traverse City.

Alden is at coord|44|52|52|N|85|16|32|W|region:US-MI_type:city_scale:30000_source:GNIS| and the FIPS place code is 01060. The elevation is 604 feet above sea level. [gnis|619916] The Alden ZIP code 49612 serves portions of Helena Township as well as Custer Township to the east and Clearwater Township to the south and Rapid River Township to the south in Kalkaska County. [ [http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/MapItDrawServlet?geo_id=86000US49612&_bucket_id=50&tree_id=420&context=AdvSearch&_lang=en 49612 5-Digit ZCTA, 496 3-Digit ZCTA - Reference Map - American FactFinder] , U.S. Census Bureau, 2000 census]

The community first began to develop after a store was built in Helena Township in 1868. The settlement that formed around it was initially called Noble. Because it was located at the mouth of Spencer Creek, the community became known as Spencer Creek and received a Post Office with that name on June 15, 1869. After the Pere Marquette Railway came to the town in 1891, the post office was renamed Alden on July 18, 1892, [gnis|2463712|Alden Post Office] for William Alden Smith, who was an official with the railroad company.cite book | last = Romig | first = Walter | authorlink=Walter Romig | year = 1986 | title = Michigan Place Names | origyear= 1973 | publisher = Wayne State University Press | location = Detroit, Michigan | id = ISBN 0-8143-1838-X] Smith later became U.S. Representative and U.S. Senator from Michigan.

References

External links

* [http://user.mc.net/~louisvw/depot/alden/alden.htm Some information about Alden and nice photographs of the Alden railroad depot]