Oscoda County ( ) is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 census, the population was 8,219, making it the least populous county in the Lower Peninsula, and the sixth-least populous county in the entire state. The county seat is Mio, an unincorporated community near the center of the county.

History

The county was established on April 1, 1840, by act of the Michigan State legislature. However, its governing structure was not completed until 1881. He served as the US Indian agent and was also a geographer, surveying and naming newly established counties and towns.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of , of which is land and (1.0%) is water. Oscoda County is part of Northern Michigan.

Geographic features

  • Mio is situated in the Au Sable River Valley.
  • The county is surrounded by the Huron National Forest and the Rifle River State Recreation Area.
  • The county is part of the Au Sable State Forest, specifically the Grayling Fire Management Unit, which consists of Alcona, Crawford, Oscoda, and northern Iosco counties.
  • Much of the area sits on the "Grayling outwash plain", a unique habitat.
  • The Oscoda County Park offers a good vantage point.

Glaciers shaped the area, creating a unique regional ecosystem. Much of the area is the Grayling outwash plain, a broad outwash plain including sandy ice-disintegration ridges, jack pine barrens, white pine-red pine forest, and northern hardwood forest. Large lakes were created by glacial action.

  • – runs east from Mio into Alcona County. Passes McKinley.

Adjacent counties

  • Montmorency County - north
  • Alpena County - northeast
  • Alcona County - east
  • Iosco County - southeast
  • Ogemaw County - south
  • Roscommon County - southwest
  • Crawford County - west
  • Otsego County - northwest

National protected area

  • Huron National Forest (part)

Communities

thumb|300px|[[United States Census|U.S. Census data map showing local municipal boundaries within Oscoda County]]Oscoda County is the only county in Michigan with no incorporated communities.

Civil townships

  • Big Creek Township
  • Clinton Township
  • Comins Township
  • Elmer Township
  • Greenwood Township
  • Mentor Township

Census-designated place

  • Mio (county seat)

Other unincorporated communities

  • Biggs Settlement
  • Comins
  • Fairview
  • Kneeland
  • Luzerne
  • McKinley
  • Red Oak

Ghost towns

  • Dew
  • Hardy
  • Indian Lake
  • Mack City
  • McCollum
  • Odessa
  • Royce
  • Ryno
  • Spoor
  • Tyrell
  • Wood

Demographics

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Oscoda County operates the county 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

  • Prosecuting Attorney – Kristi Mcgregor
  • Sheriff – Kevin R. Grace
  • County Clerk/Register of Deeds – Ann Galbraith
  • County Treasurer – William Kendall
  • Commissioner Dist. 1 – Chuck Varner (Chairman)
  • Commissioner Dist. 2 – Tom McCauley
  • Commissioner Dist. 3 – Jackie Bondar
  • Commissioner Dist. 4 – Ted Handrich
  • Commissioner Dist. 5 – Libby Marsh

<small> current as of January 2022</small>

Recreation

The AuSable River, near Mio, provides opportunity for fishing, canoeing, kayaking, or tubing. The M-33 access north of Mio has a launch area and public facilities. A second launch area is at the Mio Dam Pond.

Oscoda County offers snowmobile trails, ATV trails, hiking trails, and cross country skiing trails. Snowmobile and ATV trails are located throughout Luzerne, McKinley, and Mio. There is a scramble area at Bull Gap in the Huron National Forest. The Loud Creek Trail offers 7 different routes with varying difficulty levels. The trail's total distance is 10 kilometers.

In Fairview, there is a horseback riding ranch and a golf course. Karefree Ranch Boarding Stables offers guided horseback rides in Huron National Forest. The Fairview Hills Golf Club is a 9-hole golf course on M-33.

See also

  • List of Michigan State Historic Sites in Oscoda County, Michigan
  • National Register of Historic Places listings in Oscoda County, Michigan
  • Michigan AuSable Valley Railroad

References

  • Oscoda County Web Site
  • Au Sable Valley connection
  • Enchanted forest, Northern Michigan source for information and calendars
  • Calendar of Events, Sunrise side
  • Sunrise side travel and information