Oakland County contains the bulk of Detroit's northern suburbs with Pontiac being the county seat. As of the 2020 Census, its population was 1,274,395, making it the second-most populous county in Michigan (behind neighboring Wayne County), and the largest county in the United States without a city of 100,000 residents.
Founded in 1819 and organized in 1820, Oakland County is composed of 62 cities, villages, and townships. In 2010, Oakland County was among the ten wealthiest counties in the United States to have over one million residents.
Oakland County contains 387 lakes, and four major rivers run through the county:
The headwaters of each of these rivers lie in Oakland County.
Oakland County is home to the following State Parks and Recreation Areas:
- Pontiac Lake Recreation Area
- Dodge #4 State Park
- Seven Lakes State Park
- Holly Recreation Area
- Ortonville Recreation Area
- Proud Lake State Park
- Highland State Park
- Bald Mountain State Park