Ogemaw County is a county in Michigan, United States, in the north-central part of the Lower Peninsula. It had a population of 20,770 at the 2020 census and covers 563 square miles (1,460 km2) of land plus 11 square miles (28 km2) of water, centred near 44°20′N 84°08′W.
West Branch is the county seat, and its postal code is 48661. The county has two cities, one village, two census-designated places, twelve unincorporated communities and 14 civil townships. Ogemaw County is in the Eastern time zone.
Towns & Villages in Ogemaw County
Ogemaw County’s population centers span two incorporated cities, one incorporated village, two census-designated places (CDPs) and a dozen small unincorporated communities scattered across its 14 townships. Unincorporated places have no municipal government of their own and are listed here under the township that contains them.
| Place | Type | Township | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Branch | City · seat | West Branch | 2,351 | 48661 |
| Rose City | City | Rose | 577 | 48654 |
| Prescott | Village | Richland | 217 | 48756 |
| Lupton | CDP | Churchill | — | 48635 |
| Skidway Lake | CDP | Ogemaw | — | 48661 |
| Camp Lu Lay Lea | Unincorp. | Mills | — | — |
| Campbells Corners | Unincorp. | Foster | — | — |
| Country Village Estates MH Park | Unincorp. | West Branch | — | — |
| Damon | Unincorp. | Logan | — | — |
| Edwards | Unincorp. | Edwards | — | — |
| Elbow Lake | Unincorp. | Hill | — | — |
| Fayettes Corner | Unincorp. | Cumming | — | — |
| Goodar | Unincorp. | Goodar | — | — |
| Greenwood | Unincorp. | Klacking | — | — |
| Ogemaw Springs | Unincorp. | Ogemaw | — | — |
| Selkirk | Unincorp. | Horton | — | — |
| Shady Shores | Unincorp. | Richland | — | — |
| South Branch | Unincorp. | West Branch | — | — |
Several place-names on this list are seasonal or private developments rather than open communities — Camp Lu Lay Lea, Country Village Estates MH Park and the former West Branch Travel Trailer Park are recreational or mobile-home properties, not incorporated settlements, and are kept here as local landmarks rather than towns in their own right.
Townships
| Township | Pop. (2020) | Main settlements |
|---|---|---|
| West Branch | — | West Branch (city), South Branch, Country Village Estates |
| Ogemaw | — | Skidway Lake, Ogemaw Springs |
| Richland | — | Prescott, Shady Shores |
| Rose | — | Rose City |
| Churchill | — | Lupton |
| Mills | — | Camp Lu Lay Lea |
| Foster | — | Campbells Corners |
| Logan | — | Damon |
| Edwards | — | Edwards |
| Hill | — | Elbow Lake |
| Cumming | — | Fayettes Corner |
| Goodar | — | Goodar |
| Klacking | — | Greenwood |
| Horton | — | Selkirk |
Individual 2020 township population counts are not published in this edition; only the countywide figure is verified. West Branch Township is the most populous, containing the county seat itself.
ZIP Codes
- 48661 — West Branch (also serves Skidway Lake and surrounding West Branch Township)
- 48654 — Rose City
- 48756 — Prescott
- 48635 — Lupton
Smaller unincorporated communities such as Damon, Selkirk and Greenwood use the ZIP code of their nearest post office town rather than one of their own.
Geography
Ogemaw County sits in the rolling, forested plains of Michigan’s northern Lower Peninsula, part of the state’s lakes-and-woods recreation belt. The county’s 563 square miles of land are threaded with small lakes and the headwaters of the Rifle River, and its 11 square miles of water are almost entirely lake surface rather than a single large river or reservoir.
Ogemaw County borders Crawford County to the northwest, Oscoda County to the north, Alcona County to the northeast, Iosco County to the east, Arenac County to the southeast, Gladwin County to the southwest and Roscommon County to the west.
Demographics
Ogemaw County had 20,770 residents at the 2020 census, spread over a mostly rural landscape at a density of about 37 people per square mile. West Branch, the county seat, is the largest community with 2,351 residents, followed by Rose City with 577. Median household income in Ogemaw County runs well below the Michigan median of $69,183, consistent with a rural, retirement- and tourism-oriented county economy.
Economy & Local Life
Health care, tourism and light manufacturing anchor the local economy. MyMichigan Medical Center – West Branch is the county’s largest employer, offering rehabilitation, wound-care and obstetrics services to the wider region. West Branch-Rose City Area Schools and Kirtland Community College support education and local jobs. The county’s lakes, state forest land and the Rifle River draw seasonal visitors, and West Branch hosts the Ogemaw County Fair each August and Ogemaw County Winterfest each February.
History
Michigan’s legislature first created Ogemaw County in 1840, but it was absorbed into Iosco County in 1867 before being re-created in 1873 and formally organized in 1875. The name comes from an Anishinaabemowin word meaning “chief,” honoring a respected Native American orator known as Little Elk. Since the late 19th century the county has voted Republican in the large majority of presidential elections.
Getting There
Interstate 75 runs along the county’s eastern edge and M-30, M-33 and M-55 cross the county, meeting at West Branch.
- Standish — 20 miles east
- Houghton Lake — 20 miles west
- Grayling — 25 miles northwest
- Saginaw — 60 miles south
The nearest commercial airport is MBS International Airport near Saginaw.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Ogemaw County?
It’s in the north-central Lower Peninsula of Michigan, along Interstate 75.
What is the population of Ogemaw County?
20,770 people, per the 2020 census.
How big is Ogemaw County?
563 square miles of land (1,460 km2), plus 11 square miles of water.
What is the county seat of Ogemaw County?
West Branch is the county seat.
How many towns are in Ogemaw County?
Two cities (West Branch and Rose City), one village (Prescott), two CDPs and 14 civil townships.
What ZIP codes are in Ogemaw County?
Main ZIPs include 48661 (West Branch), 48654 (Rose City), 48756 (Prescott) and 48635 (Lupton).
What is Ogemaw County’s economy based on?
Health care, tourism around its lakes and the Rifle River, and services tied to West Branch, the seat.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Michigan.