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The Communities We
Serve
Mercy Hospital Grayling and its physician
offices serve a seven-county area: Crawford, Roscommon, Oscoda,
Otsego, Kalkaska, Montmorency and Ogemaw.
Our two primary service areas, Crawford and
Roscommon counties, are outlined below:
CRAWFORD COUNTY
With over 20 lakes and two of the most pristine
rivers in the United States, nature beckons you to stay in Crawford
County. A four-season resort area, Grayling offers something for
everyone.
Spring brings the opening of trout season.
The 778 miles of shore line along the AuSable and Manistee Rivers
offer 20 public fishing sites. During this time of year, the sights
and sounds of nature abound. Whether staying at one of the many
local lodging facilities or camping at one of the 22 public camping
areas, summer fun begins in Crawford County.
From biking, hiking and fishing to watersports,
outdoor enthusiasts find dozens of activities to fill days in
the sun. Warm summer nights welcome campfires and quiet times
enjoying the sounds of nature. In the shades of reds, greens and
golds, fall is picture perfect. Continue your favorite summer
activity in the warmth of fleece. Hiking, biking, canoeing and
kayaking are great ways to tour the colors of nature. Hunters
are always welcome to look for game on the thousands of acres
of state hunting land. Before the holidays, Crawford County turns
into a winter wonderland of skiing, snowshoeing, sledding and
snowmobiling. If winter sports are not in your repertoire, there
is plenty of unique shopping.
Crawford County boasts one of the best locations
in the State of Michigan for economic growth and distribution
by being located just north of the junction of I-75 and US-27.
Meeting the growing needs of northern Lower Michigan, Crawford
County is perfectly situated to enable business, industry and
individuals to come together for social or professional gatherings
or to locate on a permanent basis.
Quality educational opportunities can be found
in Crawford County. The Crawford AuSable School District operates
one primary school in Grayling, two elementary schools (one in
Grayling and one in Frederic), one middle school and one high
school, both located in Grayling. All schools are accredited by
the North Central Association of Schools and Colleges. Adult basic
education, G.E.D. preparation, adult high school completion, adult
jobs education and an adult enrichment program are also offered.
Enrollment in September 1998 was 2,280 students.
The district employs 141 faculty members and professional staff
and 136 support staff members.
Nearby Kirtland Community College offers 24
two-year associate in applied science programs and 23 one-year
certificate programs, plus two-year associate degree transfer
programs in art, fine arts, business administration and science.
Local Resources
Crawford County
Crawford County Avalanche
Grayling
Grayling Regional Chamber of Commerce
ROSCOMMON COUNTY
Roscommon County came into being when it was
separated from Midland County in 1875. The area which included
Roscommon County was originally called "Mikenauk" for
Chief Mikenauk who was an Ottawa Indian referred to as a Chief
of the First Class in the treaty of 1836. Houghton Lake was originally
named Roscommon Lake. In 1877, the Village of Houghton Lake was
described as follows: "The County Seat of Roscommon County, a
place of 20 population, settled in 1873."
In 1879, the Village of Roscommon was named
the county seat by a vote of the supervisors and a courthouse
was built shortly thereafter. About this time, Houghton Lake was
named for Douglas Houghton, Michigan's first geologist. Lumbering
was the main industry and sawmills sprung up here and there along
the railroad.
Roscommon County has three large lakes and
many smaller ones. Higgins Lake, covering 9,600 acres and reaching
a depth of 141 feet, was once rated as the 6th most
beautiful lake in the world by National Geographic Magazine. Houghton
Lake, with 20,044 acres and 30 miles of shoreline, is the largest
inland lake of Michigan and not too far from Roscommon and Higgins
Lake. Lake St. Helen, as in the other two larger lakes, is known
for its fishing, such as bluegill. Among the beautiful streams
in the County that provide fine fishing and scenic canoeing are
the headwaters of the Muskegon, AuSable and Tittabawassee Rivers.
Besides the lakes and streams, there are approximately 2,000 acres
of backwater above the Reedsburg Dam. There are 188996 acres of
public land furnishing good hunting for deer, grouse, woodcock,
squirrels and ducks. Roscommon County welcomes visitors to the
area by providing beautiful scenery, hiking trails, golfing, camping
facilities, fishing, hunting, horseback riding, boating, swimming,
water skiing, snow skiing, ice skating, sledding, snowmobiling,
bowling and airplane rides at the airport.
A beautiful statue paying tribute to the many
firemen in Michigan who help save lives is located in Roscommon.
A weekend festival to celebrate the accomplishments of fire fighters
is held in mid September that brings many visitors.
The Official 1990 Census count was 19,776
full time residents. Unofficial census estimates in 1997 put the
county population at about 24,000 making the area one of the fastest
growing areas in the state, coming in as the fourth ranking county
with a 20.8% population growth since 1980.
The industrial park located in the Village
of Roscommon has provided industry to the area and employment
for some of the parents of the 2,000+ school age children attending
area schools. Kirtland Community College provides continued education
for more than 1,500 students in many fields of study. Churches
represent many denominations. Commercial tourist accommodations
and activities are many and varied.
Local Resources
Higgins Lake/Roscommon Chamber of Commerce
Houghton Lake Chamber of Commerce
Roscommon County
Roscommon County — Houghton Lake Area Tourism & Convention Bureau
If you are a Mercy Hospital Grayling patient and have
a compliment, concern, or complaint, please contact one of our Patient
Liaisons.
We welcome your comments and suggestions about this Web site.
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