Houghton Lake Map
Houghton Lake is an unincorporated community in Roscommon Township, Roscommon County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The Census Bureau has defined a census-designated place (CDP) for statistical purposes with the same name. The population was 3,749 at the 2000 census.
The community is situated on the southwest shore of Houghton Lake. The CDP includes the nearby community of Houghton Lake Heights, which is about one mile northwest along the shore of the lake. M-55 runs through both communities. The community of Prudenville is adjacent to the CDP on the east, at the southeast end of the lake. US 127 passes just west of the communities. A small portion of the CDP area extends into Lake Township to the north.
Houghton Lake, originally named "Roscommon Lake," welcomed its first white settlers, the Emery's, in 1873. Augustus Emery, his wife and their 7 children left their home in Chesaning, Michigan making their way, on foot, to an area three miles south of the lake via the well-known Saginaw Trail. It was here that Mr. Emery and his three sons, Augustus, Jr., 21, William, 19, and Harvey, 17 would construct the family home on 160 acres of homesteaded property.
Nearby cities include Harrison, Prudenville.