Houghton Lake, Michigan | |
|---|---|
 Looking west along M-55 | |
%252C_MI_location.png.webp) Location within Roscommon County | |
  Houghton Lake Location within the state of Michigan  Houghton Lake Location within the United States | |
| Coordinates: 44°18′53″N 84°45′53″W / 44.31472°N 84.76472°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Michigan |
| County | Roscommon |
| Townships | Denton, Lake, and Roscommon |
| Settled | 1873 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 12.38 sq mi (32.07 km2) |
| • Land | 10.75 sq mi (27.84 km2) |
| • Water | 1.63 sq mi (4.22 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,145 ft (349 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
| • Total | 5,294 |
| • Density | 492.47/sq mi (190.14/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code(s) | |
| Area code | 989 |
| FIPS code | 26-39400[2] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0628665[3] |
Houghton Lake (/ˈhoʊtən/; HOH-tən) is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Roscommon County in the US state of Michigan. The population was 5,294 at the time of the 2020 census, making it the largest unincorporated community in Northern Michigan. The CDP is located within Denton, Lake, and Roscommon townships.
The community of Houghton Lake is named after and situated upon Houghton Lake, the largest inland lake in Michigan.[4] The CDP includes the unincorporated community of Houghton Lake Heights. The CDP of Prudenville is immediately east of Houghton Lake. M-55 is the primary thoroughfare serving the community, running east–west.
History
The Houghton Lake area's first settlers of European descent were said to be the Emery family in 1873. Augustus Emery, his wife, and their 7 children left their home in Chesaning, Michigan, and made their way on foot to an area three miles south of the lake via the well-known Saginaw Trail. It was here that Mr. Emery and his three sons, Augustus Jr., 21, William, 19, and Harvey, 17, would construct the family home on 160 acres of homesteaded property.
Lumbering had a profound impact on the early development of Houghton Lake. In the mid-1800s, lumber camps in the area were abundant, and roads, towns, and railways were established to support the lumber trade. Logs were floated from Houghton Lake down the Muskegon River to sawmills and shipping facilities in Muskegon. It has been estimated that in 1860 alone, mills on the Muskegon River produced 75,000,000 board feet of lumber.
By the late 1800s, lumbering became the primary industry in the area. As lumber camps sprung up around sawmills, more settlers arrived. Around 1883, a community at Houghton Lake had been created.
Houghton Lake was originally called "Roscommon Lake". However, in 1879, after the untimely death of a famous physician, explorer, and Michigan's first state geologist, Douglass Houghton, Roscommon Lake was honorably renamed Houghton Lake.
The lumber industry declined in the early 1900s, leading to the repurposing of railways that were previously used for transportation of lumber. They were now designated as passenger lines, taking outdoorsmen to fish, hunt, and experience the beauty of the "north country." The Houghton Lake fishery became renowned and attracted visitors from far and wide.
By the mid-1900s, Houghton Lake had gained a reputation as a desirable resort area. Today, thousands of seasonal cottages, year-round homes, and businesses line the lake. Houghton Lake remains one of Michigan's top resort and vacation destinations, attracting thousands of visitors to its shores each year.
In 1927, the "Johnson Dance Hall," presently known as "The Playhouse," was erected and served for many years as the entertainment center for the area. The Playhouse and the surrounding property are now home to The Houghton Lake Historical Society, as well as the yearly event "Historic Village Days"
The town was struck by a windstorm on June 11, 1932, which killed four people.[5] During a snowstorm that caused reduced visibility, two married couples died when they drove their cars into the frozen lake on New Year's Day, 1957.[6] The Limberlost Hotel, situated on the shore of Houghton Lake, was destroyed by a fire in 1968 causing one injury but no deaths.[7][8] Two men drowned in a snowmobile accident during a carnival on the frozen lake in 1980.[9]
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 12.38 square miles (32.06 km2), of which 10.75 square miles (27.84 km2) is land and 1.63 square miles (4.22 km2) (13.17%) is water.[1]
Climate
| Climate data for Houghton Lake, Michigan (Roscommon County – Blodgett Memorial Airport), 1991–2020 normals,[lower-alpha 1] extremes 1913–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 58 (14) |
64 (18) |
85 (29) |
89 (32) |
96 (36) |
107 (42) |
107 (42) |
100 (38) |
100 (38) |
88 (31) |
77 (25) |
64 (18) |
107 (42) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 45 (7) |
47 (8) |
62 (17) |
75 (24) |
84 (29) |
90 (32) |
90 (32) |
89 (32) |
85 (29) |
76 (24) |
60 (16) |
48 (9) |
92 (33) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 26.9 (−2.8) |
29.6 (−1.3) |
40.4 (4.7) |
53.8 (12.1) |
67.2 (19.6) |
76.7 (24.8) |
80.5 (26.9) |
78.3 (25.7) |
70.6 (21.4) |
56.8 (13.8) |
43.1 (6.2) |
32.1 (0.1) |
54.7 (12.6) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 19.1 (−7.2) |
20.3 (−6.5) |
29.7 (−1.3) |
42.2 (5.7) |
54.7 (12.6) |
63.9 (17.7) |
67.8 (19.9) |
65.8 (18.8) |
58.3 (14.6) |
46.8 (8.2) |
35.5 (1.9) |
25.6 (−3.6) |
44.1 (6.7) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 11.4 (−11.4) |
11.0 (−11.7) |
19.1 (−7.2) |
30.7 (−0.7) |
42.3 (5.7) |
51.1 (10.6) |
55.0 (12.8) |
53.3 (11.8) |
46.1 (7.8) |
36.8 (2.7) |
27.9 (−2.3) |
19.0 (−7.2) |
33.6 (0.9) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | −11 (−24) |
−12 (−24) |
−5 (−21) |
16 (−9) |
28 (−2) |
37 (3) |
42 (6) |
39 (4) |
30 (−1) |
23 (−5) |
13 (−11) |
0 (−18) |
−16 (−27) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −32 (−36) |
−48 (−44) |
−25 (−32) |
−15 (−26) |
12 (−11) |
23 (−5) |
26 (−3) |
27 (−3) |
19 (−7) |
7 (−14) |
−14 (−26) |
−28 (−33) |
−48 (−44) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 1.70 (43) |
1.41 (36) |
1.78 (45) |
3.10 (79) |
3.15 (80) |
3.22 (82) |
2.74 (70) |
2.86 (73) |
2.59 (66) |
3.08 (78) |
2.20 (56) |
1.76 (45) |
29.59 (752) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 16.4 (42) |
13.6 (35) |
8.3 (21) |
4.4 (11) |
0.1 (0.25) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.5 (1.3) |
7.5 (19) |
15.1 (38) |
65.9 (167) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 14.0 | 11.4 | 10.5 | 12.0 | 11.7 | 10.9 | 10.0 | 9.5 | 10.9 | 13.5 | 13.2 | 13.5 | 141.1 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 12.8 | 10.6 | 5.9 | 2.9 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 5.8 | 10.6 | 49.0 |
| Source: NOAA[10][11] | |||||||||||||
Demographics
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 3,353 | — | |
| 2000 | 3,749 | 11.8% | |
| 2010 | 3,427 | −8.6% | |
| 2020 | 5,294 | 54.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[12] | |||
As of the 2020 census,[13] there were 5,294 people, across 2,705 households in the CDP. The population density was 492.5 inhabitants per square mile (190.2/km2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 98.0% White, 0.1% African American, 0.0% Native American, 0.0% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, and 1.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.1% of the population.
As of the 2010 census,[1] there were 1,646 households, out of which 23.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.7% were married couples living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.4% were non-families. 32.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.5% 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 2.78.
In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 21.4% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 23.3% from 25 to 44, 26.7% from 45 to 64, and 21.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.5 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $27,443, and the median income for a family was $30,735. Males had a median income of $23,346 versus $16,111 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $16,862. About 10.2% of families and 16.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.6% of those under age 18 and 7.7% of those age 65 or over.
Transportation
Bus
- Indian Trails provides daily intercity bus service between St. Ignace and East Lansing, Michigan.[14]
- Greyhound Lines provides daily bus service to the Greyhound network from Houghton Lake.[15]
Major highways
US 127 runs north to south, west of Houghton Lake. The highway begins at I-75 south of Grayling and runs into central and southern Michigan via the cities of Mt. Pleasant, Lansing, and Jackson, before entering Ohio.
M-55 runs east and west through Houghton Lake. The highway begins near Lake Michigan in Manistee, and runs east through Cadillac and Lake City before entering Houghton Lake. The highway continues eastward through nearby Prudenville and into West Branch before ending near Lake Huron in Tawas City.
Airport
Houghton Lake State Airport is located in the northwest corner of Houghton Lake near the intersection of M-55 and Old U.S. Highway 27.
Public transit
Recreation
_(July_2019).jpg.webp)
Tip Up Town USA
Houghton Lake is home to Tip Up Town USA, Michigan’s longest-running and largest winter festival. Tip Up Town features various events throughout the month of January. Events include an opening assembly, Polar Bear Plunge, fundraising auctions, and contests for various honorary titles. The festival peaks in the fourth weekend of January with a parade and winter carnival featuring ice fishing, contests, carnival rides, and snowmobile races.[18]
Fishing
At 22,000 acres, Houghton Lake is Michigan's largest inland lake and has been called a "Fish Factory" by many sources.[19][20] It is relatively shallow with a maximum depth of 24 feet and heavy weed bed cover, making an ideal fish habitat. There are 7 public access sites on the lake, and a supporting commercial infrastructure (e.g., bait and tackle shops, marinas, and boat dealerships) has sprung up around the recreational fishing industry.[21]
Golf
There are three golf courses in Houghton Lake. They are:
- Pine View Highlands, which has won several awards, including “One Of The Gems Of The North” by The Detroit News, “One Of The Top Picks Of Michigan Courses” by AAA Michigan Living Magazine, and “#1 People’s Choice Award” by Roscommon County[22]
- The Quest Golf Club, a championship course designed by PGA professional Ken Green.[23]
- White Deer Country Club[24]
Historic Village Museum
Houghton Lake's Historic Village Museum features a recreated village containing 14 historical buildings restored or rebuilt to reflect life in the logging era of the late 1800s. Artifacts from this era of northern Michigan are housed in a ca. 1876 hand-hewn log school house. The village museum also features a chapel, town hall, various businesses, and two homes.
References
- ↑ Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. the highest and lowest temperature readings during an entire month or year) calculated based on data at said location from 1991 to 2020.
- 1 2 3 "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
- ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ↑ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Houghton Lake, Michigan
- ↑ "Managing Our Inland Lakes | Michigan Lakes & Streams Association, INC". Retrieved April 17, 2023.
- ↑ "Michigan Storm is Fatal To Four". The Milwaukee Journal, June 12, 1935. p. 4.
- ↑ "Auto Plunges Through Ice On Lake, 4 Die". The Spokesman-Review, January 2, 1957, p 2.
- ↑ "Fire Razes Hotel At Houghton Lake". The Toledo Blade. September 3, 1968. p. 15.
- ↑ "Houghton Lake Hotel Burns."The Owosso Argus-Press. September 3. 1968. p 14 Web March 29. 2011
- ↑ "Bodies of drowned snowmobilers recovered from Michigan lake". Lakeland Ledger, January 27. 1980, p 4A.
- ↑ "NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
- ↑ "Station: Houghton LK Roscommon AP, MI". U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
- ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
- ↑ "Houghton Lake CDP, Michigan". United States Census Bureau.
- ↑ "EAST LANSING-PETOSKEY-ST. IGNACE" (PDF). Indian Trails. January 15, 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 29, 2014. Retrieved February 27, 2013.
- ↑ "Greyhound Bus Stations in Houghton Lake, Michigan". www.greyhound.com. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
- ↑ "Roscommon County Transportation Authority". Roscommon County Transportation Authority. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
- ↑ "Rates". Roscommon County Transportation Authority. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
- ↑ "Tip Up Town USA". Houghton Chamber of Commerce. Houghton Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
- ↑ columnist, BOB GWIZDZ Outdoors (January 17, 2019). "Bob Gwizdz: Houghton Lake Overtime: Michigan's largest inland lake is 'fish factory'". Traverse City Record-Eagle. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
- ↑ "Houghton Lake, MI". Freshwater Therapy Fishing Guide Service. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
- ↑ "Houghton Lake Area Fishing". www.visithoughtonlake.com. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
- ↑ "Pine View Highlands Houghton Lake, Michigan". Pine View Highlands. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
- ↑ "The Quest Golf Club | Lake Golf Courses | Lake Public Golf". The Quest Golf Club. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
- ↑ "Prudenville, MI Golf - White Deer Country Club - 989 366 5812". www.whitedeercc.com. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
Further reading
- Carman, Beulah. Capsules of Time: A Saga of Houghton Lake. Houghton Lake, Mich.: Bankov Printing, 1987.
- Scott, I.D. (1921) Inland Lakes of Michigan Michigan Geological Society.
Municipalities and communities of Roscommon County, Michigan, United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| Village |  Map of Michigan highlighting Roscommon County | |
| Civil townships | ||
| CDPs | ||
| Other communities | ||
| Ghost towns | ||