Did You Know? Fascinating Facts About Lake City’s Past and Present

Did you know Lake City was originally called Reeder? A post office by that name opened in 1872, and just one year later, the community won a close vote, by a single vote to become the county seat of Missaukee County. The name was changed to Lake City in 1877, officially incorporated as a village in 1889, and later became a city in 1932.

Though Lake City covers just 1.05 square miles, it sits at the junction of two major Michigan trunklines: M-55, which runs east to west across the state, and M-66, one of Michigan’s longest highways, stretching from the Indiana border to Charlevoix. More than 12,000 vehicles pass through Lake City each day, connecting the community to the rest of the state.

Lake City is also proudly known as the Christmas Tree Capitol of Michigan thanks to its many thriving tree farms. A standout moment in the city’s history came in 1984, when a 20-foot blue spruce from the yard of Russell Hammond, a local World War I veteran, was selected by Dutchman Tree Farms as the official White House Christmas tree. The tree was displayed in the Blue Room during President Ronald Reagan’s administration. Reagan personally invited the growers and their families to the White House, where they were “treated like royalty.”

As of 2025, Lake City is home to 843 residents. The median age is 41.3, with 34.6% male and 57.6% female. The city receives an average of 32.41 inches of precipitation annually and experiences an average temperature of 43.8°F, with seasonal lows around 12°F and highs near 80°F.

From humble beginnings to national recognition, Lake City’s rich history and vibrant present make it a uniquely proud part of Michigan’s story.