Roscommon County

Between 1880 and 1884, the population of Roscommon County increased rapidly due to the lumbering boom. Between 1884 and 1894, as the pine forests were being exhausted, there was a corresponding decrease in population. The first resort development took place along the northeastern shore of Higgins Lake in 1884. With the advent of improved roads and motorized transportation, the area surrounding the various lakes has grown into what is currently a popular resort and vacation area. Roscommon County is primarily a rural area. Approximately 86% of the county is forest, water and wetland. The Houghton Lake Forest accounts for one-half of the land area. Tourism is a major economic activity located in the northern recreation portion of east central Michigan. St. Helen, Higgins, and Houghton Lakes, along with the AuSable and Muskegon Rivers, provide water-based recreation and tourism opportunities. Federal, state, and local government are the largest employers in the county. Retail trade, services, tourism, manufacturing, and petroleum production dominate the private sector.

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Roscommon County