Roscommon County ( ) is a county located in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 census, the population was 23,459. The county seat is Roscommon. The county was founded in 1840 and organized in 1875. The county is home to Houghton Lake, the largest inland lake in Michigan.

History

The county was formed by the Michigan Legislature in 1840 as Mikenauk County, (from Ojibwe mikinaak meaning turtle) then renamed Roscommon County in 1843. It was administered by Michilimackinac (Mackinac), Cheboygan, and Midland counties, in succession, prior to the organization of county government in 1875. Roscommon County was named after County Roscommon, Ireland.Michigan History, Arts and Libraries on sources of County names.

There are three official Michigan historical markers in the county: Gerrish Pioneer House Terney House

Geography According to the US Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (10%) is water. Roscommon County is considered to be part of Northern Michigan. Part of Michigan's Au Sable State Forest falls within the county. The US Forest Service's Roscoe Fire Management Unit includes Ogemaw and Roscommon Counties.

Geographic features During prehistoric times, glacial action helped shape the Michigan-area terrain. A large portion of the area is the Grayling outwash plain, which includes sandy ice-disintegration ridges; jack pine barrens, white pine-red pine forest, and northern hardwood forest. Large lakes were created by glacial action. Michigan regional geology

Prominent geographic features include: Au Sable River Backus Creek Cut River Dead Stream Flooding Higgins Lake Houghton Lake, the largest inland lake in Michigan Houghton Lake Flats Lake St. Helen Marl Lake Roscommon Virgin Pine Stand – a parcel within the Au Sable State Forest, north of St. Helen, Michigan, and 8 miles east of Roscommon. An old-growth stand of red pine, which includes a former national champion red pine. Underground oil deposits

Major highways – runs south, SE, and east through the NE middle portion of county. – runs north–south through west portion of county. Passes on west side of Higgins and Houghton Lakes. – runs north–south through center of county. Passes Roscommon and Prudenville. Leaving Roscommon, runs east along north line of county for before turning to NE. – runs east–west through center of county to intersection with I75, west of east line of county. – short () north-south spur connecting M18 to M55, east of Houghton Lake. – runs south from Prudenville. Exits the county on the line between Clare and Gladwin counties.Roscommon County MI Google Maps (accessed 6 September 2018)

Airports Houghton Lake State Airport is located in Roscommon Township. Roscommon County–Blodgett Memorial Airport is located in Markey Township.

Adjacent counties

Crawford County – north Oscoda County – northeast Ogemaw County – east Gladwin County – southeast Clare County – southwest Missaukee County – west Kalkaska County – northwest

Communities

Village Roscommon (county seat)

Civil townships

Au Sable Township Backus Township Denton Township Gerrish Township Higgins Township Lake Township Lyon Township Markey Township Nester Township Richfield Township Roscommon Township

Census-designated places Houghton Lake Prudenville St. Helen

Other unincorporated communities

Artesia Beach Au Sable River Park Geels Higgins Lake Hillcrest Houghton Lake Heights Houghton Point Keno Loxley Lyon Manor Maple Valley Meads Landing Michelson Nellsville Sharps Corner Tent City

Demographics

Racial and ethnic composition +Roscommon County, Michigan – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 1980Pop 1990Pop 2000Pop 2010 Pop 2020% 1980% 1990% 2000% 2010% 2020White alone (NH)16,23919,52124,79523,59221,88399.18%98.71%97.35%96.49%93.28%Black or African American alone (NH)0378189600.00%0.19%0.32%0.36%0.26%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)51101158136940.31%0.51%0.62%0.56%0.40%Asian alone (NH)15234972760.09%0.12%0.19%0.29%0.32%Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)x included in the Asian category in the 1980 Censusx included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census10210xx0.04%0.01%0.04%Other race alone (NH)5073470.03%0.00%0.03%0.01%0.20%Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)x not an option in the 1980 Censusx not an option in the 1990 Census165280855xx0.65%1.15%3.64%Hispanic or Latino (any race)64942042754340.39%0.48%0.80%1.12%1.85%Total16,37419,77625,46924,44923,459 100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 23,459. The median age was 56.6 years. 14.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 33.0% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 101.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 100.1 males age 18 and over.

As of the 2020 census, the racial makeup of the county was 94.1% White, 0.3% Black or African American, 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.5% from some other race, and 4.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.9% of the population.

As of the 2020 census, 56.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 43.9% lived in rural areas.

As of the 2020 census, there were 11,415 households in the county, of which 16.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 44.5% were married-couple households, 22.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 25.3% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 36.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

As of the 2020 census, there were 23,069 housing units, of which 50.5% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 81.5% were owner-occupied and 18.5% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.0%.

2000 census

At the 2000 United States census, there were 25,469 people, 11,250 households, and 7,616 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 23,109 housing units at an average density of .

In 2000, the racial makeup of the county was 97.99% White, 0.32% Black or African American, 0.64% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.10% from other races, and 0.72% from two or more races. 0.80% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 24.4% were of German, 12.7% English, 9.9% Irish, 9.2% Polish, 9.2% American and 6.7% French ancestry. 97.2% spoke English as their first language. Those citing "American" ancestry in Roscommon County are of overwhelmingly English extraction, however most English Americans identify simply as having American ancestry because their roots have been in North America for so long, in some cases since the 1600s.Sharing the Dream: White Males in a Multicultural America By Dominic J. Pulera.Reynolds Farley, 'The New Census Question about Ancestry: What Did It Tell Us?', Demography, Vol. 28, No. 3 (August 1991), pp. 414, 421.Stanley Lieberson and Lawrence Santi, 'The Use of Nativity Data to Estimate Ethnic Characteristics and Patterns', Social Science Research, Vol. 14, No. 1 (1985), pp. 44-6.Stanley Lieberson and Mary C. Waters, 'Ethnic Groups in Flux: The Changing Ethnic Responses of American Whites', Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, Vol. 487, No. 79 (September 1986), pp. 82-86.

Attractions and events The community is centered in the area of two very large lakes, in the middle of large state forests. Wildlife are nearby, including bear, deer, eagles, Kirtland's warblers, and turkeys. Local attractions and activities include: Birding Bluegill Festival each summer in St. Helen Boating, paddling (canoe and kayak) Firemen's Memorial Festival, an annual event (September) since 1979.Firemen's Memorial Festival Fishing Golf Hiking Historical Village Days, an annual event (August) held on the grounds of the Houghton Lake Historical Village & Playhouse, since in 1972. Hunting Kirtland Warbler Habitat and Festival is an annual (held in May) event hosted by Kirtland Community College. Michigan Shore-to-Shore Trail, a system of interconnected trails, passes through the area. It runs from Empire to Oscoda, and points beyond.Michigan Shore to Shore Riding and Hiking Trail. Nordic skiing ORV and groomed snowmobile trails Sailing Tip-up-town winter festival, Houghton Lake, an annual event (held in January).Tip-up-town. Roscommon County, Michigan, hosts an event known as Christmas in the Village. This event is held on the first Saturday in December annually. Christmas in the Village began in 1994 when the old Roscommon Middle School was purchased for a dollar and transformed into the community building, called the CRAF Center. The committee for Christmas in the Village was composed of volunteers. Each year features burn barrels, an annual tree lighting, an electric light parade, and more. As time passes, new activities are added annually. Typically, you can find a craft show in the gym of the CRAFT Center and a petting zoo. Vendors set up shops in the CRAF center gym to sell plenty of goods. There is a wide variety, from fudges to quilts. The town gathers to celebrate the holidays together. Santa arrives on the train.

Government Roscommon County voters tend to vote Republican; they have selected the Republican Party nominee in 75% of national elections (27 of 36).

The county government operates the jail, maintains rural roads, operates the major local courts, records deeds, mortgages, and vital records, administers public health regulations, and participates with the state in the provision of social services. The county board of commissioners controls the budget and has limited authority to make laws or ordinances. In Michigan, most local government functions — police and fire, building and zoning, tax assessment, street maintenance, etc. — are the responsibility of individual cities and townships.

Elected officials

Prosecuting Attorney: Michael Edwards Sheriff: Ed Stern County Clerk/Register of Deeds: Michelle Stevenson County Treasurer: Rebecca A. Ragan Drain Commissioner: Pamela Bale

(information as of January 2021)

See also List of counties in Michigan List of Michigan State Historic Sites in Roscommon County, Michigan National Register of Historic Places listings in Roscommon County, Michigan County Roscommon

References

External links

Roscommon County Higgins Lake/Roscommon Chamber of Commerce Houghton Lake/Roscommon Chamber of Commerce

A history of northern Michigan and its people Powers, Perry Francis. Chicago: Lewis Publishing Co., 1912. pp. 554–5 History of Michigan. Moore, Charles. Chicago: Lewis Publishing Co., 1915. p. 709