Roscommon County, Michigan

{{short description|County in Michigan, United States}} {{for|the county in Ireland|County Roscommon}} {{Use American English|date=June 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}} {{Infobox U.S. county | county = Roscommon County | state = Michigan | ex image = Roscommon County Building (Michigan).jpg | ex image size = 300 | ex image cap = Roscommon County Building in Roscommon | seal = | founded year = 1840 (created) 1875 (organized)<ref name=Clarke>{{cite web|url=https://www.cmich.edu/library/clarke/AccessMaterials/Bibliographies/MichiganLocalHistory/Pages/roscommon.aspx|publisher=Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University|title=Bibliography on Roscommon County|access-date=January 29, 2013}}</ref> | founded date = | seat wl = Roscommon | city type = settlement | area_total_sq_mi = 580 | area_land_sq_mi = 520 | area_water_sq_mi = 60 | area percentage = 10% | census yr = 2020 | pop = 23459 | pop_est_as_of = 2025 | population_est = 23914 {{gain}} | density_sq_mi = 47 | district = 1st | time zone = Eastern | web = roscommoncounty.net | named for = County Roscommon, Ireland | largest city = Houghton Lake Roscommon (incorporated) }}

'''Roscommon County''' ({{IPAc-en|r|ɒ|s|ˈ|k|ɒ|m|ən}} ''{{respell|ross|KOM|ən}}'') is a county located in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 census, the population was 23,459.<ref name=QF>{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/roscommoncountymichigan/POP010220|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=September 15, 2021}}</ref> The county seat is Roscommon.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> The county was founded in 1840 and organized in 1875.<ref name=Clarke/> The county is home to Houghton Lake, the largest inland lake in Michigan.

==History== [[Image:1842 Manistee Kawtawwabet Missaukee Mickenauk Ogemaw Kanotin Notipeskago Aishcum Unwattin Kaykakee Gladwin Arenac counties Michigan.jpg|thumb|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.<ref name=Newberry/>) Several nearby counties are also shown with names that would later be changed.]] {{See also|History of Northern Michigan}} The county was formed by the Michigan Legislature in 1840 as '''Mikenauk County''',<ref>{{cite book |author=George Dawson |date=1840 |title=Acts of the Legislature of the State of Michigan Passed at the Annual Session of 1840 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aDg4AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA196 |location=Detroit |pages=196–200}}</ref> (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.<ref name=Newberry>{{cite web |url=http://publications.newberry.org/ahcbp/documents/MI_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm|title=Michigan: Individual County Chronologies|author=Newberry Library|website=Atlas of County Historical Boundaries|access-date=November 4, 2016}}</ref> Roscommon County was named after County Roscommon, Ireland.<ref name=Clarke/><ref>[http://www.michigan.gov/hal/0,1607,7-160-15481_20826_20829-54126--,00.html Michigan History, Arts and Libraries on sources of County names.]</ref>

There are three official Michigan historical markers in the county:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.michmarkers.com/Frameset.htm|title=Michigan Historical Markers|work=michmarkers.com|access-date=February 7, 2008|archive-date=March 15, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100315141338/http://www.michmarkers.com/Frameset.htm|url-status=usurped}}</ref> * Gerrish * Pioneer House * Terney House<ref>{{cite web|title=Terney House|url=http://www.michmarkers.com/Pages/L0631.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020114082137/http://www.michmarkers.com/pages/L0631.htm|url-status=usurped|archive-date=January 14, 2002}}</ref>

==Geography== According to the US Census Bureau, the county has a total area of {{convert|580|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|520|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|60|sqmi}} (10%) is water.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_26.txt|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=September 28, 2014|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census GazetteerFiles|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113024015/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_26.txt|archive-date=November 13, 2013}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/habitat/rlandscp/s7-2-2.htm|title=NPWRC :: Regional Landscape|access-date=December 12, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130625181556/http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/habitat/rlandscp/s7-2-2.htm|archive-date=June 25, 2013}} Michigan regional geology</ref>

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 {{convert|160|acre|m2|adj=on}} parcel within the Au Sable State Forest, {{convert|8|mi|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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-30301_31154_31260-54027--,00.html|title=Roscommon Red Pines|publisher=Michigan Department of Natural Resources|access-date=December 26, 2012}}</ref> * Underground oil deposits

===Major highways=== * {{jct|state=MI|I|75}} – runs south, SE, and east through the NE middle portion of county. * {{jct|state=MI|US|127}} – runs north–south through west portion of county. Passes on west side of Higgins and Houghton Lakes. * {{jct|state=MI|M|18}} – runs north–south through center of county. Passes Roscommon and Prudenville. Leaving Roscommon, runs east along north line of county for {{convert|5.6|mi|km}} before turning to NE. * {{jct|state=MI|M|55}} – runs east–west through center of county to intersection with I75, {{convert|7|mi|km}} west of east line of county. * {{jct|state=MI|M|157}} – short ({{convert|1.1|mi|km|abbr=on|disp=semicolon}}) north-south spur connecting M18 to M55, east of Houghton Lake. * {{jct|state=MI|CDH|F-18}} – runs south from Prudenville. Exits the county on the line between Clare and Gladwin counties.<ref>[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Roscommon+County,+MI/@44.3026217,-84.6256746,13.5z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x88203618bbd6d803:0xcbd42ce38956d3fd!8m2!3d44.3516109!4d-84.6897495 ''Roscommon County MI'' Google Maps (accessed 6 September 2018)]</ref>

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

===Adjacent counties=== {{div col|colwidth=18em}} * Crawford County – north * Oscoda County – northeast * Ogemaw County – east * Gladwin County – southeast * Clare County – southwest * Missaukee County – west * Kalkaska County – northwest {{div col end}}

==Communities== [[File:Roscommon County, MI census map2.png|thumb|right|300px|U.S. Census data map showing local municipal boundaries within Roscommon County]]

===Village=== * Roscommon (county seat)

===Civil townships=== {{Div col|colwidth=15em}} * Au Sable Township * Backus Township * Denton Township * Gerrish Township * Higgins Township * Lake Township * Lyon Township * Markey Township * Nester Township * Richfield Township * Roscommon Township {{div col end}}

===Census-designated places=== * Houghton Lake * Prudenville * St. Helen

===Other unincorporated communities=== {{Div col|colwidth=15em}} * 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 {{div col end}}

==Demographics== {{US Census population | 1880 = 1459 | 1890 = 2033 | 1900 = 1787 | 1910 = 2274 | 1920 = 2032 | 1930 = 2055 | 1940 = 3668 | 1950 = 5916 | 1960 = 7200 | 1970 = 9892 | 1980 = 16374 | 1990 = 19776 | 2000 = 25469 | 2010 = 24449 | 2020 = 23459 |estyear=2025 |estimate=23914 |estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2025">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html|title=County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2025|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 12, 2026}}</ref> {{increase}} | align-fn = center | footnote = US Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=US Decennial Census|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=September 28, 2014}}</ref> 1790-1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=September 28, 2014}}</ref> 1900-1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/mi190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=September 28, 2014}}</ref> 1990-2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=September 28, 2014}}</ref> 2010-2018<ref name=QF/> | align = right }} thumb|2020 population density of Roscommon County MI by census block<ref>{{Cite web |title=2025 TIGER/Line® Shapefiles |url=https://www.census.gov/cgi-bin/geo/shapefiles/index.php?year=2025&layergroup=Blocks+(2020) |access-date=2026-04-13 |website=www.census.gov}}</ref>

===Racial and ethnic composition=== {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;" |+'''Roscommon County, Michigan – Racial and ethnic composition''' {{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}} !Race / Ethnicity (''NH = Non-Hispanic'') !Pop 1980<ref name=1980Census>{{Cite web|title=1980 Census of Population - General Social and Economic Characteristics - Michigan - Tables 15 and 16 – Race by Sex: 1980 and Tables 16 and 17 – Persons by Spanish Origin, Race, and Sex: 1980 |url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1980/1980censusofpopu80124uns_bw.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau|page=24-59|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250111013246/https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1980/1980censusofpopu80124uns_bw.pdf| archive-date=January 11, 2025|via= Wayback Machine}}</ref> !Pop 1990<ref name=1990Census>{{Cite web |title=1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Michigan: Table 3-5 - Race and Hispanic Origin |website=United States Census Bureau|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1990/cp-1/cp-1-24.pdf|access-date=|page=37-179|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260304021445/https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1990/cp-1/cp-1-24.pdf|via= Wayback Machine| archive-date=March 4, 2026}}</ref> !Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Roscommon County, Michigan|url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=050XX00US26143&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|website=United States Census Bureau |access-date= }}</ref> !Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Roscommon County, Michigan|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US26143&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=United States Census Bureau |access-date= }}</ref> !style="background-color: #ffffb3;" | Pop 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Roscommon County, Michigan|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US26143&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=United States Census Bureau |access-date= }}</ref> !% 1980 !% 1990 !% 2000 !% 2010 !style="background-color: #ffffb3;" |% 2020 |- |White alone (NH) |16,239 |19,521 |24,795 |23,592 |style='background: #ffffe6; |21,883 |99.18% |98.71% |97.35% |96.49% |style='background: #ffffe6; |93.28% |- |Black or African American alone (NH) |0 |37 |81 |89 |style='background: #ffffe6; |60 |0.00% |0.19% |0.32% |0.36% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.26% |- |Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) |51 |101 |158 |136 |style='background: #ffffe6; |94 |0.31% |0.51% |0.62% |0.56% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.40% |- |Asian alone (NH) |15 |23 |49 |72 |style='background: #ffffe6; |76 |0.09% |0.12% |0.19% |0.29% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.32% |- |Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) |x <ref>included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census</ref> |x <ref>included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census</ref> |10 |2 |style='background: #ffffe6; |10 |x |x |0.04% |0.01% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.04% |- |Other race alone (NH) |5 |0 |7 |3 |style='background: #ffffe6; |47 |0.03% |0.00% |0.03% |0.01% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.20% |- |Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) |x <ref>not an option in the 1980 Census</ref> |x <ref>not an option in the 1990 Census</ref> |165 |280 |style='background: #ffffe6; |855 |x |x |0.65% |1.15% |style='background: #ffffe6; |3.64% |- |Hispanic or Latino (any race) |64 |94 |204 |275 |style='background: #ffffe6; |434 |0.39% |0.48% |0.80% |1.12% |style='background: #ffffe6; |1.85% |- |'''Total''' |'''16,374''' |'''19,776''' |'''25,469''' |'''24,449''' |style='background: #ffffe6; |'''23,459 ''' |'''100.00%''' |'''100.00%''' |'''100.00%''' |'''100.00%''' |style='background: #ffffe6; |'''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.<ref name="Census2020DP">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dp?get=NAME,DP1_0021P,DP1_0024P,DP1_0025C,DP1_0049C,DP1_0045C,DP1_0069C,DP1_0073C,DP1_0125P,DP1_0126P,DP1_0129P,DP1_0133P,DP1_0137P,DP1_0138P,DP1_0139P,DP1_0141P,DP1_0142P,DP1_0143P,DP1_0145P,DP1_0146P,DP1_0147C,DP1_0148C,DP1_0149C,DP1_0156C,DP1_0157C,DP1_0158C,DP1_0159P,DP1_0160P&for=county%3A143&in=state%3A26|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=January 1, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref>

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.<ref name="Census2020PL">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=NAME,P1_001N,P1_003N,P1_004N,P1_005N,P1_006N,P1_007N,P1_008N,P1_009N,P2_001N,P2_002N,H1_001N,H1_002N&for=county%3A143&in=state%3A26|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=January 1, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref>

As of the 2020 census, 56.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 43.9% lived in rural areas.<ref name="Census2020DHC">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dhc?get=NAME,P2_002N,P2_003N&for=county%3A143&in=state%3A26|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2023|access-date=January 1, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref>

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.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

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%.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

===2000 census===

At the 2000 United States census,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> there were 25,469 people, 11,250 households, and 7,616 families residing in the county. The population density was {{convert|49|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people |people|}}. There were 23,109 housing units at an average density of {{convert|44|/mi2|/km2|}}.

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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/censusdata/files/pc80-s1-10/tab03.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111061729/http://www.census.gov/population/www/censusdata/files/pc80-s1-10/tab03.pdf |archive-date=January 11, 2012 |url-status=live|title=Ancestry of the Population by State: 1980 - Table 3|access-date=February 10, 2012}}</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=SVoAXh-dNuYC&dq=Sharing+the+dream:+white+males+in+multicultural+America++english+ancestry&pg=PA57 Sharing the Dream: White Males in a Multicultural America] By Dominic J. Pulera.</ref><ref>Reynolds Farley, 'The New Census Question about Ancestry: What Did It Tell Us?', ''Demography'', Vol. 28, No. 3 (August 1991), pp. 414, 421.</ref><ref>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.</ref><ref>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.</ref>

==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.<ref>[http://www.firemensmemorial.org Firemen's Memorial Festival]</ref> * 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://warbler.kirtland.edu/|title=Kirtland|date=May 13, 2014|work=kirtland.edu|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080102164632/http://warbler.kirtland.edu/|archive-date=January 2, 2008}}</ref> * Michigan Shore-to-Shore Trail, a {{convert|500|mi|km|adj=on}} system of interconnected trails, passes through the area. It runs from Empire to Oscoda, and points beyond.<ref>[http://www.kerchevalave.com/mtra/sh2sh.html Michigan Shore to Shore Riding and Hiking Trail].</ref> * Nordic skiing * ORV and groomed snowmobile trails * Sailing * Tip-up-town winter festival, Houghton Lake, an annual event (held in January).<ref>[http://www.tip-up-townusa.com/cgi-bin/tutusa2006/index.html Tip-up-town.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061207203415/http://www.tip-up-townusa.com/cgi-bin/tutusa2006/index.html|date=December 7, 2006}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web | title=Our Story | url=https://roscommonchristmasinthevillage.com/history/ }}</ref>

==Government== Roscommon County voters tend to vote Republican; they have selected the Republican Party nominee in 75% of national elections (27 of 36). {{PresHead|place=Roscommon County, Michigan|source=<ref>[http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS US Election Atlas]</ref>}}  {{PresRow|1884|Democratic|427|435|13|Michigan}} {{PresRow|1888|Republican|360|358|2|Michigan}} {{PresRow|1892|Democratic|239|286|15|Michigan}} {{PresRow|1896|Republican|282|141|8|Michigan}} {{PresRow|1900|Republican|327|175|5|Michigan}} {{PresRow|1904|Republican|373|116|33|Michigan}} {{PresRow|1908|Republican|427|147|41|Michigan}} {{PresRow|1912|Progressive|134|150|309|Michigan}} {{PresRow|1916|Republican|311|239|32|Michigan}} {{PresRow|1920|Republican|652|182|32|Michigan}} {{PresRow|1924|Republican|484|99|112|Michigan}} {{PresRow|1928|Republican|780|236|7|Michigan}} {{PresRow|1932|Democratic|601|757|52|Michigan}} {{PresRow|1936|Republican|836|782|66|Michigan}} {{PresRow|1940|Republican|1,360|739|19|Michigan}} {{PresRow|1944|Republican|1,292|484|13|Michigan}} {{PresRow|1948|Republican|2,055|687|39|Michigan}} {{PresRow|1952|Republican|2,547|676|16|Michigan}} {{PresRow|1956|Republican|2,674|827|8|Michigan}} {{PresRow|1960|Republican|2,731|1,226|5|Michigan}} {{PresRow|1964|Democratic|1,722|2,345|7|Michigan}} {{PresRow|1968|Republican|2,635|1,639|439|Michigan}} {{PresRow|1972|Republican|4,136|2,187|122|Michigan}} {{PresRow|1976|Republican|4,608|3,691|102|Michigan}} {{PresRow|1980|Republican|5,280|3,763|616|Michigan}} {{PresRow|1984|Republican|6,419|3,359|45|Michigan}} {{PresRow|1988|Republican|5,866|4,394|43|Michigan}} {{PresRow|1992|Democratic|4,170|5,243|2,594|Michigan}} {{PresRow|1996|Democratic|4,135|6,092|1,607|Michigan}} {{PresRow|2000|Democratic|6,190|6,433|305|Michigan}} {{PresRow|2004|Republican|7,364|6,810|185|Michigan}} {{PresRow|2008|Democratic|6,727|7,082|287|Michigan}} {{PresRow|2012|Republican|6,701|6,198|178|Michigan}} {{PresRow|2016|Republican|8,141|4,287|668|Michigan}} {{PresRow|2020|Republican|9,670|5,166|198|Michigan}} {{PresRow|2024|Republican|10,582|5,290|212|Michigan}} {{PresFoot}} {{U.S. SenHead|place=Roscommon County, Michigan|Seat=1|source=<ref>{{cite news |title=2024 Senate Election (Official Returns)|website=Commonwealth of Michigan by county |date=November 5, 2024 |access-date=December 5, 2024 |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-elections/pennsylvania-senate-results}}</ref>}}  {{U.S. SenRow|2024|Republican|10,115|5,254|472|Michigan}} {{U.S. SenFoot}} {{M.I. GovHead|place=Roscommon County|Seat=|source=}}  {{M.I. GovRow|2022|Republican|7,391|5,284|276}} {{M.I. GovFoot}} 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=== {{div col|colwidth=22em}} * Prosecuting Attorney: Michael Edwards * Sheriff: Ed Stern * County Clerk/Register of Deeds: Michelle Stevenson * County Treasurer: Rebecca A. Ragan * Drain Commissioner: Pamela Bale {{div col end}}

(information as of January 2021)

==References== {{Reflist|30em}}

==External links== {{Commons category}} * [http://www.roscommoncounty.net/ Roscommon County] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20080222030442/http://www.hlrcc.com/events.asp Higgins Lake/Roscommon Chamber of Commerce] * [http://www.visithoughtonlake.com/ Houghton Lake/Roscommon Chamber of Commerce] * {{cite web|url=http://clarke.cmich.edu/resource_tab/bibliographies_of_clarke_library_material/michigan_local_history/county_material/roscommon.html|publisher=Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University|title=Bibliography on Roscommon County}} * [http://www.hti.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=micounty;cc=micounty;sid=919206273df14f5ef463c3eada19472e;q1=St.%20Helen;rgn=full%20text;idno=BAC9250.0001.001;view=image;seq=00000592 ''A history of northern Michigan and its people''] Powers, Perry Francis. Chicago: Lewis Publishing Co., 1912. pp. 554–5 * [http://www.hti.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=micounty;cc=micounty;sid=919206273df14f5ef463c3eada19472e;q1=St.%20Helen;rgn=full%20text;idno=BAC8762.0002.001;view=image;seq=00000083 ''History of Michigan.''] Moore, Charles. Chicago: Lewis Publishing Co., 1915. p. 709

{{Geographic Location |Centre = Roscommon County, Michigan |North = Crawford County |Northeast = Oscoda County |East = Ogemaw County |Southeast = Gladwin County |Southwest = Clare County |West = Missaukee County |Northwest = Kalkaska County }}

{{Roscommon County, Michigan}} {{Northern Michigan}} {{Michigan}} {{Authority control}} {{Coord|44.33|-84.61|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-MI_source:UScensus1990}}

Category:Roscommon County, Michigan Category:Michigan counties Category:1875 establishments in Michigan Category:Populated places in the United States established in 1875