Alpena, Michigan

Alpena, Michigan
City
City of Alpena
Alpena City Hall
Nickname: 
"Sanctuary of the Great Lakes"
Location within Alpena County
Alpena
Location within the state of Michigan
Coordinates: 45°03′42″N 83°25′58″W / 45.06167°N 83.43278°W / 45.06167; -83.43278
Country United States
State Michigan
CountyAlpena
Settled1835
Founded1840
Incorporated1871
Government
  TypeMayor–council
  MayorCindy Johnson
  Mayor pro temMichael Nowak
  ManagerRachel Smolinski
Area
  Total
8.86 sq mi (22.94 km2)
  Land8.17 sq mi (21.17 km2)
  Water0.68 sq mi (1.77 km2)
Elevation
591 ft (180 m)
Population
 (2020)
  Total
10,197
  Density1,247.80/sq mi (481.78/km2)
Demonym"Alpenan(s)"
Time zoneUTC-5 (EST)
  Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code(s)
49707
Area code989
FIPS code26-01740
GNIS feature ID0620017
Websitewww.alpena.mi.us

Alpena (/ælˈpnə/ al-PEE-nə) is the only city and the county seat of Alpena County, Michigan, United States. 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.