Alba is an

unincorporated community An unincorporated area is a region that is not governed by a local municipal corporation. Widespread unincorporated communities and areas are a distinguishing feature of the United States and Canada. Most other countries of the world either have ...

and

census-designated place A census-designated place (CDP) is a concentration of population defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes only. CDPs have been used in each decennial census since 1980 as the counterparts of incorporated places, such ...

(CDP) located in Antrim County in the U.S. state of

Michigan Michigan () is a state in the Great Lakes region of the upper Midwestern United States. With a population of nearly 10.12 million and an area of nearly , Michigan is the 10th-largest state by population, the 11th-largest by area, and the ...

. The population was 287 at the 2020 census. Located just north of Mancelona along

U.S. Route 131 US Highway 131 (US 131) is a north–south United States Highway, of which all but 0.64 of its 269.96 miles (1.03 of 434.46 km) are within the state of Michigan. The highway starts in rural Indiana south of the state line as a sta ...

, Alba is divided between Star Township on the east and Chestonia Township on the west.

History

Alba was first settled as a flag station named Cascade along the

Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad The Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad at its height provided passenger and freight railroad services between Cincinnati, Ohio, and the Straits of Mackinac in Michigan, USA. The company was formed on January 18, 1854. Beginnings After grappl ...

in 1876. At the time, it was part of

Forest Home Township, Michigan Forest Home Township is a civil township of Antrim County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,720 at the 2010 census. Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , of which is land a ...

. A post office opened on December 4, 1877, and the village was platted the next year. The name was changed to Alba in 1884 after local entertainer Alba Haywood. The community of Alba was listed as a newly-organized

for the 2010 census, meaning it now has officially defined boundaries and population statistics for the first time.

Geography

According to the

U.S. Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...

, the Alba CDP has an area of , all land.

Demographics

References

{{authority control Unincorporated communities in Antrim County, Michigan Census-designated places in Michigan Census-designated places in Antrim County, Michigan Unincorporated communities in Michigan Populated places established in 1876 1876 establishments in Michigan