Roscommon County, Michigan
Encyclopedia
Local attractions and activities
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 WarblerKirtland's Warbler
Kirtland's Warbler is a small songbird of the New World warbler family , named after Jared P. Kirtland, an Ohio doctor and amateur naturalist. Nearly extinct just 50 years ago, it is well on its way to recovery. It requires large areas of dense young jack pine for its breeding habitat...
s, and turkeys. Local attractions and activities include:
- Birding
- Bluegill Festival each summer in St. HelenSt. Helen, MichiganSt. Helen is an unincorporated community in Richfield Township, Roscommon County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a census-designated place for statistical purposes and has no legal status as an incorporated municipality. The population was 2,993 at the 2000 census...
. - Boating, Paddling (canoe and kayak)
- Fishing, particularly trout fishing.
- Hiking
- Hunting
- Kirtland Warbler Habitat and Festival is to the north, a must for avid bird-watchers.
- Michigan Shore-to-Shore TrailMichigan Shore-to-Shore TrailThe Michigan Shore-to-Shore Trail is a long trail that runs between Empire on Lake Michigan and Oscoda on Lake Huron across the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. It is open to horseback riders and hikers but not bicycles.The trail's western end is located within the Sleeping Bear Dunes National...
passes through the area. It runs from EmpireEmpire, MichiganEmpire is a village in Leelanau County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 378 at the 2000 census. The village is located within Empire Township.-Description:...
to OscodaOscoda, MichiganOscoda is an unincorporated community in the U.S. state of Michigan located on the northern side of the Au Sable River where it enters Lake Huron. The community of Au Sable is on the other side of the river. Oscoda is in Oscoda Township in Iosco County, and not in Oscoda County, which is to the...
, but also to points north and south. It is a 500-mile interconnected system of trails. - Nordic skiing
- ORV and groomed snowmobile trails.
- Sailing
- Tip-up-town winter festival, Houghton LakeHoughton Lake, MichiganHoughton Lake is an unincorporated community in Roscommon Township, Roscommon County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The Census Bureau has defined a census-designated place for statistical purposes with the same name. The population was 3,749 at the 2000 census.The community is situated on the...
last two weekends in January.
Settlements
Cities- None
Villages
- RoscommonRoscommon, MichiganRoscommon is a village in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 1,133. It is the county seat of Roscommon County....
Unincorporated communities
- Higgins LakeHiggins Lake, MichiganHiggins Lake is a small unincorporated community along the southern and western shores of Higgins Lake, a recreational and fishing lake in Roscommon County, in the U.S. state of Michigan. Higgins Lake is the name of the post office for the area, with ZIP code 48627...
- Houghton LakeHoughton Lake, MichiganHoughton Lake is an unincorporated community in Roscommon Township, Roscommon County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The Census Bureau has defined a census-designated place for statistical purposes with the same name. The population was 3,749 at the 2000 census.The community is situated on the...
- Houghton Lake HeightsHoughton Lake Heights, MichiganHoughton Lake Heights is a small unincorporated residential community located at on the southwestern shore of Houghton Lake.-Founding:The community began about 1883 as a lumbering settlement with the operations of the S. C. Hall Lumber Company. Because of its elevation, it was called "The Heights"...
- PrudenvillePrudenville, MichiganPrudenville is an unincorporated community in Denton Township, Roscommon County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a Census-designated place for statistical purposes...
- St. HelenSt. Helen, MichiganSt. Helen is an unincorporated community in Richfield Township, Roscommon County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a census-designated place for statistical purposes and has no legal status as an incorporated municipality. The population was 2,993 at the 2000 census...
Townships
- Au Sable TownshipAu Sable Township, Roscommon County, MichiganAu Sable Township is a civil township of Roscommon County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 281.-Geography:...
- Backus TownshipBackus Township, MichiganBackus Township is a civil township of Roscommon County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 350.-Geography:...
- Denton TownshipDenton Township, MichiganDenton Township is a civil township of Roscommon County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 5,817 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
- Gerrish TownshipGerrish Township, MichiganGerrish Township is a civil township of Roscommon County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,072 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
- Higgins TownshipHiggins Township, MichiganHiggins Township is a civil township of Roscommon County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,061 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
- Lake TownshipLake Township, Roscommon County, MichiganLake Township is a civil township of Roscommon County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,351 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
- Lyon TownshipLyon Township, Roscommon County, MichiganLyon Township is a civil township of Roscommon County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,462 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
- Markey TownshipMarkey Township, MichiganMarkey Township is a civil township of Roscommon County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,424 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
- Nester TownshipNester Township, MichiganNester Township is a civil township of Roscommon County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 263 at the 2000 census. The township contains the Eggleston School, the only property in the county listed on the National Register of Historic Places....
- Richfield TownshipRichfield Township, Roscommon County, MichiganRichfield Township is a civil township of Roscommon County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township had a total population of 4,139.- Geography :...
- Roscommon TownshipRoscommon Township, MichiganRoscommon Township is a civil township located in southern Roscommon County, Michigan at the south end of Houghton Lake. The population was 4,249 at the 2000 census....
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 25,469 people, 11,250 households, and 7,616 families residing in the county. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
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
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.32% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.64% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.19% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.04% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.10% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.72% from two or more races. 0.80% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race. 24.4% were of German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
, 12.7% English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
, 9.9% Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
, 9.2% Polish
Poles
thumb|right|180px|The state flag of [[Poland]] as used by Polish government and diplomatic authoritiesThe Polish people, or Poles , are a nation indigenous to Poland. They are united by the Polish language, which belongs to the historical Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages of Central Europe...
, 9.2% American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and 6.7% French
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
ancestry according to Census 2000. 97.2% spoke English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
as their first language.
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
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
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.
In the county the population was spread out with 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
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
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.
Government
The county government operates the jail, maintains rural roads, operates themajor local courts, keeps files of deeds and mortgages, maintains vital records, administers
public health
Public health
Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals" . It is concerned with threats to health based on population health...
regulations, and participates with the state in the provision of welfare and
other social services. The county board of commissioners
County commission
A county commission is a group of elected officials charged with administering the county government in local government in some states of the United States. County commissions are usually made up of three or more individuals...
controls the
budget but has only 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.
Roscommon County elected officials
- Prosecuting AttorneyProsecutorThe prosecutor is the chief legal representative of the prosecution in countries with either the common law adversarial system, or the civil law inquisitorial system...
: Mark Jernigan - SheriffSheriffA sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
: Randy Stevenson - County Clerk/Register of Deeds: Ann M. Bonk
- County TreasurerTreasurerA treasurer is the person responsible for running the treasury of an organization. The adjective for a treasurer is normally "tresorial". The adjective "treasurial" normally means pertaining to a treasury, rather than the treasurer.-Government:...
: Julie Dworzynski - Drain CommissionerDrain commissionerA drain commissioner is an elected official in counties of the U.S. state of Michigan with a population over 12,000. In counties with a population under 12,000, the statutory duties and responsibilities of the drain commissioner are performed by the county's board of road commissioners.The office...
: Sheridan Cole
Other affiliations
- It is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of GaylordRoman Catholic Diocese of GaylordThe Roman Catholic Diocese of Gaylord is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the Northern Michigan region of the United States. It comprises the twenty-one most northern counties of the lower peninsula of the state, and includes the cities of Traverse City,...
.
(information as of September 2005)
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Roscommon County, Michigan
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. 554–555
- History of Michigan. Moore, Charles. Chicago: Lewis Publishing Co., 1915. p. 709