About the Area
Baldwin
Baldwin (pop. 930) is located in Lake County, in the center of the Manistee National Forest, about 75 miles north of Grand Rapids. It is centrally located between the communities of Big Rapids, Reed City, White Cloud, and Ludington. The population in Baldwin is very diverse, consisting of African Americans, Native Americans, Hispanics, Asians, and Whites. A public library, health care, banking, churches, schools, and other services are available in Baldwin. For more information on the Baldwin area, you can visit the Lake County Chamber of Commerce at www.lakecountymichigan.com. Please contact the Ranger Station at 231-745-4631 for specific information.
Manistee
Manistee is a full service community of approximately 6,200 people, situated in the northwest portion of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan on the shores of Lake Michigan. Housing rentals are limited and range from $350 to $1,000 per month. The area abounds with four season outdoor recreation opportunities. Manistee boasts a re-vitalized downtown with a beautiful river-walk adjacent to a variety of retail shops and restaurants. For more information on the Manistee area contact the Manistee Area Chamber of Commerce @ (231) 723-2575 or at www.manistee.com. Please contact the Ranger Station at 231-723-2211for specific information.
Huron Shores/Oscoda
The Huron-Shores Ranger District is located in Oscoda, Michigan at the mouth of the Au Sable River on the Lake Huron coast, has a population of approximately 8,000 and offers many amenities. Most shopping can be done locally but a larger metropolitan area (Bay City, Saginaw, Midland) is located less than two hours away for those seeking expanded opportunities. The Oscoda community is home to churches of various denominations. Many civic and fraternal organizations are also available. The Oscoda Area Schools provide education in grades K-12 with Alpena Community College offering college courses locally. Doctors and dentists are available locally with hospitals located in Tawas (20 miles) and Alpena (45 miles). Outdoor recreation opportunities are abundant with great fishing, hunting, camping, hiking, and winter sports activities. Government housing may be available for a short-term basis within walking distance of the ranger station. More information about the Oscoda area can be found on the Oscoda web page at http://www.oscoda.com/. Please contact the Ranger Station at 989-739-0728 for specific information.
Mio
The Mio Ranger District Administrative Site is a multi-million dollar office and warehouse facility built in 2006. The new facility is comprised of a two story office building, a climate controlled warehouse and workshop, and two fully enclosed barns for storage of supplies and equipment. Mio is 90 miles north of Saginaw, Michigan via I-75 and State Highway M-33. Located midway on the Au Sable River, the cities of Grayling and West Branch are 35 minutes away. Other communities in Oscoda County are McKinley, Comins, Fairview & Luzerne. The Oscoda County Library is located in Mio. Recreational activities in the area include hiking, swimming, camping, boating, canoeing, kayaking, tubing, hunting, motorcycle and ATV riding, snow-mobiling, ice fishing, and cross-country skiing. A nine-hole golf course is conveniently located 5 miles north of town and a 72-hole resort is only 20 miles distant. Please contact the Ranger Station at 989-826-3252 for specific information.