Not to be confused with the county in the Republic of Ireland, County Roscommon.

Roscommon County, Michigan
Eggleston School in Nester Township.
Location in the U.S. state of Michigan
Michigan's location in the U.S.
Founded	1840 (created) 1875 (organized)[1]
Named for	County Roscommon, Ireland
Seat	Roscommon
Largest village	Roscommon
Area
• Total	580 sq mi (1,502 km2)
• Land	520 sq mi (1,347 km2)
• Water	60 sq mi (155 km2), 10%
Population
• (2010)	24,449
• Density	47/sq mi (18/km2)
Congressional district	4th
Time zone	Eastern

Roscommon County is a county located in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 24,449.^[2] The county seat is Roscommon.^[3] The county was founded in 1840 and organized in 1875.^[1] Both the county and county seat are commonly referred to by locals as "Rosco".^[4]

History[edit]

A detail from A New Map of Michigan with its Canals, Roads & Distances (1842) by Henry Schenck Tanner, showing Roscommon County as "Mickenauk" (a misspelling of Mikenauk, the county's name from 1840 to 1843.^[5]) Several nearby counties are also shown with names that would later be changed.

The county was formed by the Michigan Legislature in 1840 as Mikenauk County, 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.^[5] Roscommon County was named after County Roscommon, Ireland.^[1][6]

There are three official Michigan historical markers in the county:^[7]

• Gerrish


• Pioneer House


• Terney House^[8]

Geography[edit]

According to the US Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 580 square miles (1,500 km²), of which 520 square miles (1,300 km²) is land and 60 square miles (160 km²) (10%) is water.^[9]
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[edit]

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.^[10]

Prominent geographic features include:

• Au Sable River


• Higgins Lake


• Houghton Lake


• Lake St. Helen


• Marl Lake


• 
  Roscommon Virgin Pine Stand – a 160-acre (650,000 m²) parcel within the Au Sable State Forest, 8 miles (13 km) 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.^[11]


• Underground oil deposits

Major highways[edit]

• 
  I-73 (future)


• 
  I-75 – runs south, SE, and east through the NE middle portion of county.


• 
  US 127 – runs north-south through west portion of county. Passes on west side of Higgins and Houghton Lakes.


• 
  M-18 – runs north-south through center of county. Passes Roscommon and Prudenville. Leaving Roscommon, runs east along north line of county for 5.6 miles (9 km) before turning to NE.


• 
  M-55 – runs east-west through center of county to intersection with I75, 7 miles (11 km) west of east line of county.


• 
  M-157 – short (1.1 mile/1.8 km) north-south spur connecting M18 to M55, east of Houghton Lake.


• 
  F-18 – runs south from Prudenville. Exits the county on the line between Clare and Gladwin counties.^[12]

Adjacent counties[edit]

Demographics[edit]

As of the 2000 United States Census,^[18] there were 25,469 people, 11,250 households, and 7,616 families residing in the county. The population density was 49 people per square mile (19/km²). There were 23,109 housing units at an average density of 44 per square mile (17/km²). 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 according to Census 2000. 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.^{[19][20][21][22][23]}

There were 11,250 households out of which 21.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.70% were married couples living together, 7.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.30% were non-families. 28.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.69.

The county population contained 20.00% under the age of 18, 5.50% from 18 to 24, 21.40% from 25 to 44, 29.30% from 45 to 64, and 23.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females there were 96.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,029, and the median income for a family was $35,757. Males had a median income of $31,878 versus $20,549 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,837. About 8.60% of families and 12.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.90% of those under age 18 and 6.50% of those age 65 or over.

Religion[edit]

• Roscommon County is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Gaylord.^[24]


• 
  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has one meetinghouse in the county, in Houghton Lake.^[25]

Government[edit]

Roscommon County voters tend to vote Republican; they have selected the Republican Party nominee in 74% of national elections (25 of 34).

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[edit]

(information as of May 2015)

Attractions and events[edit]

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.^[27]


• Fishing


• Golf


• Hiking


• Hunting


• 
  Kirtland Warbler Habitat and Festival is an annual (held in May) event hosted by Kirtland Community College.^[28]


• 
  Michigan Shore-to-Shore Trail, a 500-mile (800 km) system of interconnected trails, passes through the area. It runs from Empire to Oscoda, and points beyond.^[29]


• Nordic skiing


• ORV and groomed snowmobile trails


• Sailing


• Tip-up-town winter festival, Houghton Lake, an annual event (held in January).^[30]


• Roscommon Zoo - home of domestic and exotic animals

Education[edit]

Some popular schools in Roscommon County is the Charlton Heston Academy, Roscommon Area School District, Houghton Lake Community Schools, and Kirtland Community College.^[31]

Communities[edit]

Au Sable
Township

Richfield
Township

Roscommon Township

Nester Township

Eggleston School•

Backus
Township

Denton
Township

Gerrish
Township

Higgins
Township

Lake Township

Lyon Township

Markey
Township

Roscommon

Higgins Lake

Houghton Lake Heights

Houghton Lake

Prudenville

St. Helen

Higgins Lake

Houghton Lake

Lake St. Helen•

•S. Higgins Lake State Park

Village[edit]

• 
  Roscommon (county seat)

Census-designated places[edit]

• Houghton Lake


• Prudenville


• St. Helen

Unincorporated communities[edit]

• Higgins Lake


• Houghton Lake Heights

Townships[edit]

See also[edit]

• 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[edit]

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Roscommon County, Michigan.

• Roscommon County


• Higgins Lake/Roscommon Chamber of Commerce


• Houghton Lake/Roscommon Chamber of Commerce


• 
  "Bibliography on Roscommon County". Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University. 
  


• 
  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

Coordinates: 44°20′N 84°37′W / 44.33°N 84.61°W / 44.33; -84.61