MICHIGAN, East Jordan

East Jordan is a small town located in the upper-lower peninsula of Michigan on the shores of Lake Charlevoix. It's present population (1970 census) is 2,041. East Jordan experienced its peak days in the lumbering era as lumbering made the town, and in a sense it broke it, too. Now the town centers around institutions and industries such as the East Jordan Ironworks, Gulf & Western, and the school. Entertainment,, virtually none, unless you are eighteen and can enter the three bars in town. Alls towns have their bad aspects, but people in East Jordan have an exceptionally high amount of pride. It's the people that make the town, more so in East Jordan. Soloman Issman settled on the west side in 1867. By 1873 he had opened up a small store from his home. In 1874 he was appointed Postmaster of South Arm, what the west side came to be called. About that time an important man in area history settled near Issman, his name was Empey. Empey opened a general store, running it until the lumber came, when he moved to the east side and established another general store on the north-west corner of Main and Mill streets. The East Jordan post office opened in 1878. It was in applying for the post office that East Jordan acquired its name. Empey submitted several names and asked the state to pick one. East Jordan was chosen and the name has remained.