This aim of this research was to identify the geographical reasons for change in Cheboygan, Michigan between 1844 and the present day.  Cheboygan grew up as a “paper town” in the mid 19th Century.  However, the decline of the lumber industry saw Cheboygan’s rivers and lakes become places of recreation and important to the city’s ‘quality of life’.  The profit motive drove initial growth and change, whilst the railroad companies invested in the tourist industry when the lumber industry declined.  As with the canals and railroads, the highway brought Cheboygan closer to the rest of the United States.  Today, the Chamber of Commerce and City Government are trying to attract visitors and businesses through ‘quality of life’ projects on Main Street and the Cheboygan River.  Change in Cheboygan must also be seen in the context of the many social changes in the last 150 years, including the convenience of the car, increased leisure time and greater disposable income.  The research reveals that change has been governed by the interaction of these many factors and has not been determined by just one.  Cheboygan’s historical and current development also reflects the experiences of other cities on the American Frontier.