[3] Missaukee County is part of the Cadillac, MI micropolitan statistical area.

[6] Missaukee County may be named after a prominent Ottawa chief, Nesaukee, who signed the treaties of 1831 and 1833.

[11] The lakes and streams in much of the county drain into the Muskegon River, which flows generally north to south through its eastern tier of townships.

The 51.1-mile-long (82.2 km)[12] Clam River, a tributary of the Muskegon, flows generally west to east through the county.

[20] Missaukee County is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Gaylord and has 1 congregations and 800 members.

[25] The county government operates the jail, maintains rural roads, operates the major local courts, keeps files of deeds and mortgages, maintains vital records, administers public health regulations, and participates with the state in the provision of welfare and other social services.

The county board of commissioners controls the budget but has only limited authority to make laws or ordinances.

In Michigan, most local government functions — police and fire, building and zoning, tax assessment, street maintenance, etc.

Despite its strong Republican leanings, Missaukee County has voted for Democratic gubernatorial candidates on two rare occasions, those being for James Blanchard in 1986 and William B. Fitzgerald Jr. in 1978.