In the fall of 1854, Charles Bradford, John Gaffney, William Spofford, Charles Fitch, George W. Smock and Lyman Brainerd purchased land in this region.  Today it is known as Williams Township.  Originally known as “Williams Place,” it was incorporated by the Saginaw County Board of Supervisors in 1855.  In 1857, it became part of Bay County.

The first post office, in what is now known as Auburn, was established in 1869.  Mr. Skinner, Assistant Postmaster General in Lasing, established “Skinnerville” as its name.  In 1877, Postmaster Ira Swart renamed the community “Auburn” after his hometown in New York.  

In the early 1900’s coal mining became a main occupation of many of its citizens.  Nine mines were located in a five mile radius of Auburn.  On February 14, 1948, Auburn was established as a City.

The Auburn area consists of the City of Auburn and the surrounding Townships of Williams, Beaver, and Monitor with a combined population of nearly 20,000 residents.  This primarily residential community is uniquely centered within the bustling Tri-City area of Michigan.

It is proximity to the Tri-Cities, being just seven miles west of Bay City, eleven miles north of Saginaw, and four miles east of Midland affords the residents of this peaceful community easy access to the jobs, shopping, entertainment, and medical facilities of all three of these larger cities.

Auburn offers the quality of life you have been searching for . . . natural quality.  Auburn offers a hometown atmosphere and an uncongested, relaxed lifestyle; you will enjoy this environment where peace and tranquility balance the faster pace of the larger cities in the surrounding area.  Auburn’s environment allows a reverence for tradition as well as an open mind to progress, which is ideal for family living.

In the past, Auburn has been dominated primarily by agriculture.  Today, a move toward service and light manufacturing exists, as demonstrated by the presence of Dow Corning International and Dow corning Manufacturing.

Many serviced are provided locally to residents of the Auburn Area.  We are proud to have the most dedicated and efficient volunteer fire department in the State of Michigan.  They have the most modern equipment and an exceptional record of minimizing property losses.  The Auburn Police Department along with the Bay County Sheriff Department maintains extremely low levels of crime and helps keep the streets safe for everyone.