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The city of Harbor Beach, Michigan is in eastern Huron County, on the western shore of Lake Huron, in the Thumb Region of the Lower Peninsula.

The city is served largely by M-25 (Huron Avenue) and M-142 (State Street), which intersect in downtown Harbor Beach. Other routes include Section Line Road, Pierce Road, Schock Road, and Old Shore Drive. Cities and villages within twenty miles of Harbor Beach include Port Hope, Forestville, Minden City, and Bad Axe.

While Harbor Beach is incorporated as a city, it is a small town of fewer than two thousand people. However, it is one that enjoys five parks, a 142-acre campground, a full-service marina, two museums, and a community center with a library and theater. The city has a stable manufacturing base, an agricultural industry, a commercial district, and tourism. The city has its own water and sewer system, fire department, and police department. Harbor Beach is home to the Harbor Beach Community Hospital, as well as eight churches, three schools, and several community organizations.

Like many Michigan communities, Harbor Beach began as a lumber town. John Allen and Alanson Daggett settled just south of where the city now is in 1837. They named the area Allen's Creek, for the waterway now known as Rock Falls Creek, upon which they built a water-powered sawmill.

On March 31, 1856, a post office was established, although the post office was named Barnettsville, with John Hunting as postmaster. On March 31, 1856, the post office's name was changed to Sand Beach, and moved north to the area now within the Harbor Beach city limits.

In 1864, Pack, Jenks & Company purchased the sawmill, operating it until the partnership was dissolved in 1876, after which it became Jenks & Company, and operated by Jeremiah Jenks. Soon, Jenks branched out to form the J. Jenks & Company Salt Block and Flour Mill, which later became the Huron Milling Company.

When Huron County was organized in 1859, Sand Beach became the county seat. A courthouse was built in 1860, but was burned in an 1864 fire, after which the county seat was moved to Port Austin.

In 1880, the Pere Marquette Railroad established a station at Sand Beach, and the community was incorporated as a village in 1882, with Jeremiah Jenks serving as its first president. On April 18, 1889, the village and post office were renamed Harbor Beach, the goal being to keep people from thinking there was nothing there but sand. In 1899, Harbor Beach became a city.

The focus of this category is on Harbor Beach, Michigan. Appropriate topics include online resources representing the city or any businesses, industries, schools, places of worship, organizations, attractions, or events within the city.

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