Tawas City, city in and the county seat of Iosco County, Michigan, United States
Tawas City is the county seat of Iosco County, a small lakeside town on the shore of Lake Huron in Michigan. The downtown area runs close to the water and is made up of local shops, parks, and a stretch of beach that defines much of the town's layout.
The town grew in the 1800s around logging and fishing, two industries that shaped the shore of Lake Huron across much of northern Michigan. When those industries faded, the town shifted gradually toward a quieter role as a small residential and seasonal destination.
The name Tawas comes from the Anishinaabe language and refers to middle water. Along the waterfront, people still fish from the docks and gather near the shore during local celebrations, keeping a visible connection to the lake alive.
The town sits along the Sunrise Side Coastal Highway, making it easy to reach by car when traveling along Michigan's eastern shore. The downtown area is compact and easy to walk, with parks and the beach a short distance from the main streets.
Tawas Point Lighthouse stands on a narrow strip of land that juts out into Lake Huron and is surrounded by a state park. The lighthouse is still an active aid to navigation, which makes it one of the few working lighthouses visitors can walk right up to on this stretch of shore.
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