The Hillsdale County village of Allen, Michigan is situated at the intersection of US 12 (Chicago Road) and M-49 (W Chicago Road, N Railroad Street) in the central-southern part of the Lower Peninsula.
Jonesville is 5.7 miles east on US 12, Litchfield is 6.6 miles north on M-49, Reading is 8.9 miles south on M-49, Hillsdale is 8.9 miles south on M-49, and Coldwater is 12.3 miles west on US 12.
Its total land area is only 0.16 square miles, making it the fourth-smallest village by land area in the state, and the fifth smallest overall. Its peak population was 594 in 1880, and its population at the time of the 2010 census was 191.
The village was named for Captain Moses Allen, a veteran of the War of 1812, who came to the region in 1827 and is believed to have first settled the heavily wooded area. A post office was established there on July 13, 1830, with Richard W. Corbus as its first postmaster, although the post office was called Sylvanus. On September 5, 1834, the post office was closed, but restored a year later.
In 1868, the village was platted and recorded, and the post office was renamed for its first settler, although the village was not incorporated until 1950. Allen was a station on the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railway.
In 1869, the Allen High School was built, at a cost of $11,000. It burned in 1913, and a resolution was drawn to build a new school building within three weeks. However, in 1945, under pressure from the state, the district voted to merge with Quincy Community Schools, and there are currently no public schools operating in Allen.
The focus of this category is on the village of Allen, Michigan. Websites representing the village or any business, industry, church, school, organization, or individual within the village are appropriate for this category, as are sites whose focus relates to the village itself.
Recommended Resources
Located on West Chicago Road (US 12) in Allen, Michigan, the antique barn features two malls under one roof, dedicated to antiques and collectibles, including more than three hundred booths on two floors. Directions and travel information are put forth, and a photographic tour of the interior of the shopping area, as well as its outside picnic area, are included. For those interested in participating as a dealer, the benefits of using their space are posted, along with prices and policies.
http://www.allenantiquebarn.com/
Organized in 1954, the Allen Baptist Church met at the Gleaners Hall in South Allen until construction on its church building began in 1957, completed in 1959. Located on North Edon Road in Allen, Michigan, the church’s history is presented, a map shows its location, and an overview of its beliefs is put forth. Weekly worship service and Bible study program schedules are posted, with a calendar of events, and a sermon archive that can be sorted through a number of variables.
https://allenbaptist.org/
Open seven days a week, except for listed holidays, the Allen, Michigan antique mall features 23,000 square feet of space dedicated to the sale of antiques, collectibles, and craft items. The mall also features a large parking lot that can accommodate tour buses and RVs. Directions and photos of the sales floor are presented, along with information for those interested in renting dealer space. Features and amenities for dealers are listed, and a private dealer area is included.
http://www.hogcreekmall.com/
Based in Allen, Michigan, the contractor specializes in directional drilling in Allen and the surrounding Hillsdale County region, promising that they are experienced, competent, insured, safe, and timely. Operated by Jerry Sheely and Rob Yeager, telephone numbers and email addresses for both of the owner-operators are presented, along with a contact form.
http://www.michunderground.com/
