Roscommon County, Michigan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Roscommon County
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Roscommon County Building in Roscommon
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Location within the U.S. state of Michigan
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 Michigan's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Michigan |
| Founded | 1840 (created) 1875 (organized) |
| Named for | County Roscommon, Ireland |
| Seat | Roscommon |
| Largest settlement | Houghton Lake Roscommon (incorporated) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 580 sq mi (1,500 km2) |
| • Land | 520 sq mi (1,300 km2) |
| • Water | 60 sq mi (200 km2) 10%% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 23,459 |
| • Density | 47/sq mi (18/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 1st |
Roscommon County is a county located in the state of Michigan in the United States. In 2020, about 23,459 people lived there. The main town and county seat is Roscommon. The county was first created in 1840 and officially started its government in 1875.
Contents
History of Roscommon County
Roscommon County was first formed by the Michigan government in 1840. Back then, it was called Mikenauk County. In 1843, its name was changed to Roscommon County. It was named after County Roscommon, a place in Ireland.
Before 1875, other counties helped manage Roscommon County. These included Michilimackinac (Mackinac), Cheboygan, and Midland counties.
There are three special historical markers in the county. These markers tell about important places or events:
- Gerrish
- Pioneer House
- Terney House
Geography of Roscommon County
Roscommon County covers about 580 square miles. Most of this (520 square miles) is land, and about 60 square miles (10%) is water. The county is located in the northern part of Michigan. A large part of the Au Sable State Forest is found here.
Natural Features
Long, long ago, huge sheets of ice called glaciers moved across this area. They helped shape the land we see today. Much of the county is a flat area with sandy ridges. You can find forests with different types of pine trees here. The glaciers also created many large lakes.
Some important natural spots in Roscommon County are:
- Au Sable River
- Higgins Lake
- Houghton Lake
- Lake St. Helen
- Roscommon Virgin Pine Stand: This is a special 160-acre area within the Au Sable State Forest. It has very old red pine trees, including one that was once the biggest red pine in the country!
Main Roads and Travel
Several important roads run through Roscommon County, making it easy to travel around.
I-75: This major highway goes through the northeastern part of the county.
US 127: This road runs north and south through the western part of the county, passing by Higgins and Houghton Lakes.
M-18: This road goes through the center of the county, passing through Roscommon and Prudenville.
M-55: This road runs east and west through the middle of the county.
There are also two airports in the county:
- Houghton Lake State Airport
- Roscommon County–Blodgett Memorial Airport
Neighboring Counties
Roscommon County shares its borders with these other counties:
- Crawford County – to the north
- Oscoda County – to the northeast
- Ogemaw County – to the east
- Gladwin County – to the southeast
- Clare County – to the southwest
- Missaukee County – to the west
- Kalkaska County – to the northwest
Communities in Roscommon County
Roscommon County has one village, several townships, and other smaller communities.
Village
- Roscommon (This is the county seat, where the main county government offices are.)
Townships
These are smaller local government areas:
- 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
These are areas that the government counts as specific places, but they are not officially incorporated towns:
Other Small Communities
Many other small, unincorporated communities are found throughout the county:
- 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
Population of Roscommon County
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 1,459 | — | |
| 1890 | 2,033 | 39.3% | |
| 1900 | 1,787 | −12.1% | |
| 1910 | 2,274 | 27.3% | |
| 1920 | 2,032 | −10.6% | |
| 1930 | 2,055 | 1.1% | |
| 1940 | 3,668 | 78.5% | |
| 1950 | 5,916 | 61.3% | |
| 1960 | 7,200 | 21.7% | |
| 1970 | 9,892 | 37.4% | |
| 1980 | 16,374 | 65.5% | |
| 1990 | 19,776 | 20.8% | |
| 2000 | 25,469 | 28.8% | |
| 2010 | 24,449 | −4.0% | |
| 2020 | 23,459 | −4.0% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 23,863 | −2.4% | |
| US Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2018 |
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In 2020, the population of Roscommon County was 23,459 people. In 2000, there were 25,469 people living in the county. Most people in the county are White (about 98%). Other groups include Native American, Black or African American, and Asian people. About 0.80% of the population were Hispanic or Latino.
Many people in Roscommon County have roots from different countries. The largest groups include people of German, English, Irish, Polish, and French backgrounds. Almost everyone (97.2%) speaks English as their first language.
Fun Things to Do in Roscommon County
Roscommon County is a great place for outdoor fun! It's surrounded by large state forests and has two very big lakes. You can often see wildlife like bears, deer, eagles, and turkeys.
Here are some popular activities and events:
- Birding: Watching for different kinds of birds, especially the rare Kirtland's warbler.
- Boating and Paddling: Enjoying the lakes and rivers in canoes or kayaks.
- Fishing: Trying to catch fish in the many lakes and streams.
- Hiking: Exploring the trails in the forests.
- Hunting: For those who enjoy hunting, there are opportunities in the area.
- Golf: Playing golf at local courses.
- Nordic Skiing: Skiing across the snow in winter.
- ORV and Snowmobile Trails: Riding off-road vehicles or snowmobiles on special trails.
- Sailing: Sailing on the large lakes.
Annual Events
- Bluegill Festival: Held every summer in St. Helen.
- Firemen's Memorial Festival: An annual event in September since 1979.
- Historical Village Days: Held every August at the Houghton Lake Historical Village & Playhouse since 1972.
- Kirtland Warbler Festival: An annual event in May, celebrating the special Kirtland's warbler bird.
- Tip-up-town Winter Festival: A fun winter festival held in January at Houghton Lake.
Trails
- Michigan Shore-to-Shore Trail: This is a very long trail system, about 500 miles, that passes through the Roscommon County area. It connects places like Empire to Oscoda.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Roscommon (Míchigan) para niños
