The Auburn Chamber of Commerce was established in 1903 to service the business needs of our community. We began a partnership with the Butler Chamber of Commerce in September of 2007. The Ashely Hudson Chamber joined us in July of 2010 and we now are called the DeKalb Chamber Partnership.  We currently represent over 300 businesses in our trade area. Below is a brief history of DeKalb County.

The first person who came to DeKalb County was John Houlton, who built the county's first house in 1834. By the end of that year about 15 log houses had been built, and in 1835 a general store was constructed. The first grist mill was erected that same year. It was small and rather crude, but was welcomed by the early settlers.

In February 1837, Auburn was chosen as the county seat. In 1840, the first presidential election in which DeKalb County participated was held, with William Harrison receiving 177 votes and Martin Van Buren receiving 167. The DeKalb County Commissioners elected that year were Isaac Beecher, Sam Widney and Peter Fair; John Coburn was elected Clerk/recorder and Wesley Park was elected Sheriff.

Many other firsts in DeKalb County have been duly recorded. The first wedding was that of Nelson Ulm and Elvina Lockwood. Then first funeral was that of Max Barker. The first minister was Benjamin Alton and the first religious service was given in 1836. Also in 1836, Mr. Wesley Park set up the first tavern. Approximately a year later, the first school was established. The first physician was Dr. Scheldon, who only remained in the county for one year and was succeeded by Dr. Pink.

A railroad line running westward through DeKalb County was a sign of new times. Numerous towns sprang into existence and log cabins gave way to frame and brick buildings. Several railroad lines successfully ran from 1855 until 1937, when automobile travel became more mainstream.

Auburn is widely recognized as a pioneer city in the building of automobiles. The center for vehicle development and manufacturing in the early 20th century, Auburn automotive companies were known for their innovative construction, power and design. One such corporation was the Auburn Automobile Company, which became the 11th-largest export company in the United States. Although automobiles are no longer built in Auburn, the original factories still stand. This rich history has been preserved and is proudly shared with all.