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Rose City:
Rose City is located on M-33 in northern Ogemaw County. This town began in
1875 when Allen S. Rose moved here from New York and built a general store.
The town was originally named Churchill, until 1892 when the railroad came
through and it was renamed Rose City. It was incorporated into a city in 1905.

This city has survived over the years as a result of tourism and its location to so
many lakes and streams in the scenic surrounding area, including Houghton
Creek, which runs through town. It is also supported by several small businesses
and manufacturing facilities, including plastics, machinery and auto parts
production.
West Branch:
West Branch, the county seat of Ogemaw County, is located at the junction of M-
55 and M-30 in Michigan’s northeast Lower Peninsula.

This town was given its name from its location on the west branch of the Rifle
River. It began in the early 1870’s when the Jackson, Lansing & Saginaw Railroad
built a line to the area for transporting lumber. It was given a post office in 1873
and organized as a village in 1885. It later reorganized as a city in 1905.

Since then, West Branch has experienced steady growth, with a diverse economy
supported by tourism, small businesses and various production facilities, such as
machinery, lumber processing and auto industry related products. The downtown
area contains many unique shops and restaurants, and demonstrates a strong
community spirit in its careful preservation of many its turn-of-the-century style
buildings and architecture.
Ogemaw County:
Ogemaw County is located in the northeastern section of Michigan’s Lower
Peninsula. This very hilly and scenic county features many small lakes and
streams, including the Rifle River, a canoer’s dream-come-true.

The county is named after the Indian title "chief" which in Chippewa is
pronounced: "Ogema." The land was originally platted in 1840. The county was
organized in 1875, when the first settlers arrived near Ogemaw Springs and set
up a lumber mill, about 5 miles from where today stands West Branch, the county
seat and largest city in the county. Other prominent communities include Rose
City and Prescott.

Today, Ogemaw County retains its country-like charm along with carefully
planned growth. Its main economic support comes from tourism, auto-industry
related production, plastics manufacturing and agriculture. Oil production can
also be found in the southwest corner of the county.
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