The city of New Baltimore is a waterfront community that has evolved from an early manufacturing and shipping community to one with resort ships bringing tourists to visit world-class hotels, as well as being the epicenter of an interurban railroad system between Port Huron and Detroit and, in modern times, a friendly waterfront community. The area post office was established in 1851 and called Ashleyville for founder Alfred Ashley. In 1867, New Baltimore officially became a village, and it soon prospered and grew. The village became a city in 1931 and annexed land from St. Clair County, which meant leaving the governing authority of Chesterfield Township.