Surrounded by Rogers Township on the north, west, and south, and by Lake Huron on the east, Rogers City, Michigan is the county seat of Presque Isle County.
Rogers City is within the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Underwater Preserve, which protects 116 historically significant shipwrecks.
Located on the shores of Lake Huron in the northeast section of the Lower Peninsula, the city is between Cheboygan to the northwest, and Alpena to the southeast. US-23 connects the three cities. Other routes through the city include Bus US-23, which runs through downtown Rogers, as well as M-68 and County Road 451.
Cities and villages within fifty miles of Rogers City include Posen, Millersburg, Onaway, Hillman, Alpena, and Cheboygan, while the unincorporated community of Manitou Beach is about seven miles to the northwest.
The Port of Calcite, the world's largest open-pit limestone quarry, is located within the city, which is one of the largest shipping ports on the Great Lakes. Also in Rogers City, the Great Lakes Lore Maritime Museum specializes in the maritime history of the Great Lakes.
Just northwest of Rogers City, P.H. Hoeft State Park is a public recreation area on the shores of Lake Huron. The heavily wooded park features 144 campsites and four miles of hiking trails, playgrounds, a picnic pavilion, and a lodge. The park is connected to Rogers City and the 40 Mile Lighthouse county park by the Huron Sunrise Trail bicycle path.
First appearing on a census roll in 1880 with a population of 325, Rogers City was still under a thousand in 1910, but grew to a peak population of 4,722 in 1960. Since then, it declined each decade until 2020, when it increased by 0.8%, with a population of 2,850.
The earliest European settlers in the area were French explorers, fur traders, and missionaries, who came in the 1600s. Ceded to the United States in 1836, Presque Isle County was surveyed in 1840, and William E. Rogers, Albert Molitor, and Frederick Denny Larke came to the area to harvest lumber in the winter of 1868-69.
Mr. Molitor built a cabin, a dock, and a mill on the shores of Lake Huron, and this became the anchor for Rogers City, although it was named for Mr. Rogers, as he owned much of the land upon which the village was laid out by his partner, Mr. Molitor.
A post office was established as Rogers' Mills on September 23, 1870, with Mr. Molitor as postmaster. The name was changed to Rogers City on January 19, 1872, shortened to Rogers on January 22, 1895, and renamed Rogers City on January 25, 1928.
Rogers City was incorporated as a village in 1877, and became a city in 1944.
The area grew during the lumber boom of the late 1800s and early 1900s. As the lumber industry declined, the limestone industry grew, which is where the city's population thrived.
In the early 1900s, Crawford's Quarry was founded to mine a deposit of high chemical-grade limestone used in the steel-making process. Sold to United States Steel, the quarry was renamed Calcite. Currently owned by Carmeuse Lime and Stone, Calcite remains in operation.
The quarry is served by the Port of Calcite, a deep-water port hosting stone-shipping fleets and employing a large number of residents. The Port Calcite Collaborative was recently formed to expand the use of the deep-water port, so that it can be used to ship other industrial and commercial products.
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The Driftwood Motel is the only motel in Presque Isle County that is situated right on Lake Huron, and within walking distance from downtown. Offering direct access to the beach and to the Huron Sunrise Trail, the guest lodging facility includes an indoor pool and hot tub, wireless Internet, Dish Network, and dog-friendly policies. Its rates are posted, and rooms may be reserved through the site, and its check-in policies are noted. A map shows the location of the motel.
http://www.driftwoodmotelrc.com/
Open year-round, the motel offers easy access to Lake Huron beaches, and the municipal boat harbor in Rogers City, Michigan, as well as rivers, parks, lighthouses, hiking, biking, and snowmobile trails, and other tourist attractions. Directions and a map are provided, the accommodations and common areas are highlighted in photographs, and links to nearby attractions, recreational areas, and organizations are included. Payment options are posted. and reservations may be made by phone.
http://www.huronshoresmotel.com/
Lighthouse Restaurant & Lounge, The
Located on North 3rd Street in Rogers City, Michigan, the restaurant and lounge are open from Monday through Saturday from 11:00 am to 10:00 pm, and on Sunday from 9:00 am to 10:00 pm. Available online, its menu includes appetizers, burgers and sandwiches, dinner specialties, and specials. The restaurant also includes a banquet room, which may be reserved through an online reservation form. The address is posted, and a map shows the location of the facilities.
https://www.thelighthousemi.com/
Purple Martin Lakeside Inn & Nature Center
Situated on five acres, including a large garden area and garden structure, which may be used for small groups, small corporate retreats, weddings, and family reunions. The inn and guest house offers views of Lake Huron, including spectacular sunrises and sunsets. Additionally, the grounds are a National Wildlife Federation accredited property, a Purple Martin Sanctuary, and a Monarch Butterfly Way Station. An introduction to the owners, photos of the accommodations, and contacts are provided.
https://www.purplemartininn.com/
The full-service marina on Lake Huron features full-service hookups, high-speed Internet, discounted fuel on volume purchases, and other incentives for using the marina. Its boat launch, parking passes, winterization contracts, daily slip reservations, and seasonal slip reservations are featured, along with a marina cam, slip rates, rules and regulations, fuel dock information, a map showing its location, telephone number, fax number, and an online contact form.
https://www.rogerscitymarina.com/
Situated along the western shores of Lake Huron, in the northwestern portion of the Lower Peninsula, Rogers City is the county seat of Presque Isle County. The official municipal website displays schedules for the regular and rescheduled meetings of the city council, a city meeting calendar, and meeting minutes, as well as its master plan, city charter, ordinances and code, and annual budget data. Administrative and departmental contacts are provided, and an online contact form is included.
https://www.rogerscity.com/
