Houghton Lake

History

The area around Houghton Lake has been occupied for thousands of years and is within Odawa and Ojibwe homelands. In the Treaty of Washington of 1836, the Odawa and Ojibwe ceded nearly 16 million acres of their land to the United States in the eastern Upper Peninsula and northwest Lower Peninsula. The following year, Michigan gained statehood, and the area became part of Midland County. The lake was first recorded as Red Lake by surveyor John Brink in 1838. During an 1852 resurvey of the county, the lake was renamed to Houghton Lake, in honor of Michigan's first state geologist, Douglass Houghton. The lumber industry declined in the early 1900s, leading to the repurposing of railways that were previously used for the 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. 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 a popular vacation spot in Michigan, 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. 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. The Limberlost Hotel, situated…

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of , of which are land and (13.17%) are water. }}

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Red-winged Blackbird

  Agelaius phoeniceus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  2,093
• Mallard

  Anas platyrhynchos Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  1,969
• Canada Goose (canadensis Group)

  Branta canadensis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  1,967
• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  1,656
• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  1,440
• Black-capped Chickadee

  Poecile atricapillus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  1,394
• Common Grackle

  Quiscalus quiscula (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  1,367
• Mourning Dove

  Zenaida macroura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  1,363