Ogemaw County

Ogemaw County, which got its name from the Chippewa chief Ke-ke-to, was organized in 1840, and in 1870, the first permanent population arrived along with the railroads. The white pines brought lumbermen as early as 1863, but by 1890, the pines were gone and only hardwoods remained. Today the county boasts 119 lakes among its forests, artesian wells, and the Rifle River, which begins in Devoe Lake and is favored by outdoor recreationists. The Smiley water tower greets travelers as they arrive here, the last stop for food and gasoline in a vacationer's journey "up north." Step back in time to visit Karcher's and Gould's Drug Stores, the dairy bar, the marl plant, and the Monoghan, Richland, and West Branch Hotels. Remember trout festivals past and the Ogemaw County Fair, as well as Ogemaw's residents who danced holes in their shoes at the Graceland Ballroom with members of Detroit's infamous Purple Gang.