Rose City is a city in Ogemaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 653 at the 2010 census. Houghton Creek, a tributary of the Rifle River, runs through part of the city limits. The city is supported by some small businesses and manufacturing facilities, but has survived over the years primarily as a result of tourism and the attraction of the many lakes and streams in the scenic surrounding area. The Rifle River State Recreation Area is less than three miles from the city limits.
History
Churchill was the original name of this lumbering town, which was located from its present spot. Hiram Hodge was the first resident of the community. He built a hotel, but later left. The Rose family, including Allan S. Rose, his father and two brothers, came from New York State in 1875. They built a general store with space for a post office. A post office opened with the name Churchill on September 8, 1875. On July 23, 1892, the settlement was moved east and the post office's name was changed to Rose City. Rose City was incorporated as a city in 1905. In 1910, the city was hit with a major fire that destroyed the business section with in an hour. The prosperous lumber town was engulfed in flames as it covered the commercial district. The fire has started at D.W. Benjamins grocery store on the south side of West Main Street and spread quickly. Even with the efforts of the fireman the fire continued to spread down the north side of the town. Due to the fact that most buildings back then were of frame construction it had taken less than an hour for the business district to burn. With the loss of over thirty buildings, property losses, and looting the damage estimated $175,000. The only two business left standing during the fire were two concrete buildings on the main street the bell’s store and the naylor’s store. Between 1950 to 2010 there have been a total 1433 extreme weather events recorded within 50 miles of rose city, mi. There have been over 20 blizzards, 78 winter storms, 11 ice storms, 125 heavy snowfall, 436 hail storms, a total of 603 thunderstorms, 45 floods, 4 wildfires ect.
At the 2010 census there were 653 people in 238 households, including 154 families, in the city. The population density was. There were 288 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the city was 96.9% White, 0.2% African American, 1.2% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.5% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.7%. Of the 238 households 35.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.1% were married couples living together, 21.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 7.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 35.3% were non-families. 30.7% of households were one person and 14.3% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.87. The median age was 44.6 years. 23.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 19.6% were from 25 to 44; 25% were from 45 to 64; and 24.8% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.4% male and 51.6% female.
At the 2000 census there were 721 people in 241 households, including 155 families, in the city. The population density was 665.7 per square mile. There were 283 housing units at an average density of 261.3 per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 96.26% White, 0.14% African American, 0.83% Native American, 0.97% from other races, and 1.80% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.39%. Of the 241 households 35.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.7% were married couples living together, 21.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.3% were non-families. 30.7% of households were one person and 13.3% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.16. The age distribution was 26.4% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 23.3% from 25 to 44, 17.2% from 45 to 64, and 26.4% 65 or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 82.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.2 males. The median household income was $25,192 and the median family income was $31,042. Males had a median income of $24,861 versus $18,417 for females. The per capita income for the city was $10,684. About 18.3% of families and 24.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.5% of those under age 18 and 3.1% of those age 65 or over.
Government
Rose City is governed by a mayor and a six-member city council.
