Auburndale

Auburndale's roots can be traced back to 1873, when John Ledue became the first official settler on Lake Ariana. The first house was built in July 1884, four months after the completion of the railroad through the area. Auburndale received its name in July of 1884 when Major Louis McClain, the civil engineer in charge of laying out the downtown area, described the location to a personal friend, the editor of the Boston Herald newspaper. The editor's wife said the description reminded her of her hometown of Auburndale, Massachusetts. At first glance, Auburndale appears to be a quiet city with "hometown quality." A lingering look reveals a firmly established, steadily growing community with a population of 12,512 residents.