The Village of Roscommon, population approximately 1,133, is situated in Roscommon County near the apex of I-75 and M-27. Nearby is Higgins Lake, named by the National Geographic Society as one of the six most beautiful lakes in the world. Also adding to the "water sports" flavor of the village is the historic AuSable River, featuring some of the nation's best fishing, canoeing and kayaking experiences.
In 1879 the Village of Roscommon was named the county seat by unanimous vote by the Supervisors and a courthouse was built shortly thereafter. The railroads were instrumental in starting the resort industry of the county in the late 1800's, furnishing transportation for people from Detroit and other cities to Roscommon, where they were than transported to one of the camps at Higgins Lake.
CULTURE
Our churches represent many denominations, and offer activities for all ages in the community, including frequent fund raisers for area organizations. The Village of Roscommon has two public parks; Wallace Park, located right off M-18 at the AuSable River, which offers easy canoe and kayak access to the river, as well as Metro Park, with fine baseball fields, tennis courts and ice skating in the winter. Metro Park is operated by the Roscommon Metropolitan Recreation Authority, under the jurisdiction of the Village Government. RMRA also operates the AuSable River Center, which is a museum that features antique canoes, history of paddle boating and exploration of the rivers and canals of the area. In addition, the Gahagan Nature Preserve, named after Margaret Gahagan, offers trail walks, educational series and group outings for all ages.
