Lake City is a city and the main city in Missaukee County, which is located in the U.S. state of Michigan. According to the 2020 census, the population of Lake City was 829. The city is known as "Michigan's Christmas Tree Capital" because there are many farms near the city that grow Christmas trees.

History

Daniel Reader, the first person to settle in the community, built his home on Muskrat Lake, now called Lake Missaukee, in 1868. On January 22, 1872, a post office named Reeder opened, and Daniel Reader was its first postmaster. In 1873, the county chose Reeder as the county seat by a single vote. The community became a stop along the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad. On January 25, 1877, the community was renamed Lake City. In 1889, Lake City was officially recognized as a village and mapped out for development. The village became a city in 1932.

Missaukee County grew significantly during the early 1900s because of the area's timber industry. The community continues to grow because of local lumber mills.

Geography

Lake City is located in western Missaukee County, 14 miles (23 km) by road northeast of Cadillac and 13 miles (21 km) southeast of Manton. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city covers an area of 1.05 square miles (2.72 km²), all of which is land.

The city got its name from the many lakes nearby, including Lake Missaukee, which forms the city’s western boundary. Other large lakes in the area are Crooked Lake and Sapphire Lake.

Education

The Lake City Area Schools district manages education in Lake City. Students in high school attend Lake City High School.

Transportation

• M-55 is a highway that runs east to west across the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. It begins in Manistee near Lake Michigan and ends in Tawas City near Lake Huron. The highway also passes through Cadillac, Houghton Lake, Prudenville, and West Branch.
• M-66 is a highway that runs north to south in Michigan. It starts near the Indiana border in Sturgis and ends in Charlevoix near Lake Michigan. M-66 is the second-longest highway in Michigan and travels through Battle Creek, Ionia, McBain, and Kalkaska. North of Lake City, M-66 meets M-42, which connects to Manton.

Demographics

As of the 2010 census, the city had 836 people, 337 households, and 216 families. The population density was 796.2 people per square mile (307.4 per square kilometer). There were 489 housing units, with an average density of 465.7 per square mile (179.8 per square kilometer). The racial makeup was 95.2% White, 1.2% African American, 1.7% Native American, 0.7% Asian, and 1.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race made up 2.9% of the population.

Of the 337 households, 28.8% had children under 18 living with them. Forty-five point four percent were married couples living together, 12.2% had a female householder without a husband, 6.5% had a male householder without a wife, and 35.9% were non-families. Thirty-two percent of households had only one person, and 17% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.35 people, and the average family size was 2.89 people.

The median age in the city was 40.5 years. Twenty-three point four percent of residents were under 18, 8.6% were between 18 and 24, 21.2% were aged 25 to 44, 27.5% were aged 45 to 64, and 19.3% were 65 or older. The gender distribution was 51.2% male and 48.8% female.

As of the 2000 census, the city had 923 people, 381 households, and 238 families. The population density was 854.9 people per square mile (330.1 per square kilometer). There were 493 housing units, with an average density of 456.6 per square mile (176.3 per square kilometer). The racial makeup was 97.72% White, 0.11% African American, 0.43% Native American, 0.76% Asian, 0.43% from other races, and 0.54% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race made up 1.63% of the population.

Of the 381 households, 29.1% had children under 18 living with them. Forty-six point seven percent were married couples living together, 12.9% had a female householder without a husband, and 37.3% were non-families. Thirty-three point one percent of households had only one person, and 15.7% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.32 people, and the average family size was 2.93 people.

In 2000, 24.1% of the population was under 18, 9.6% were aged 18 to 24, 22.5% were aged 25 to 44, 23.6% were aged 45 to 64, and 20.2% were 65 or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.9 males. For every 100 females aged 18 or older, there were 86.4 males.

The median household income in the city was $28,864, and the median family income was $34,286. Males had a median income of $27,361, while females had a median income of $19,044. The average income per person was $17,067. About 10.7% of families and 13.1% of the population lived below the poverty line. This included 13.7% of those under 18 and 17.2% of those aged 65 or older.

Notable people

• Albert J. Engel, former politician
• Albert J. Engel Jr., former judge for the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
• Bruce Rendon, politician
• Daire Rendon, former Republican state representative charged with conspiracy related to improper handling of a voting machine and false claims about the 2020 election
• Burt Reynolds, actor who has been nominated for an Oscar and has won a Golden Globe award
• James Wieghart, former newspaper editor