Lake Odessa, Michigan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lake Odessa, Michigan
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Village
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Main Street in October 2011
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| Nickname(s):
"Lake O"
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Location of Lake Odessa, Michigan
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| Country | United States |
| State | Michigan |
| County | Ionia |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.89 sq mi (2.31 km2) |
| • Land | 0.89 sq mi (2.30 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 850 ft (260 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,994 |
| • Density | 2,240.45/sq mi (865.52/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
48849
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| Area code(s) | 616 |
| FIPS code | 26-44880 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2398383 |
Lake Odessa is a small village in Ionia County, Michigan. It is located in the southern part of the county. The village sits on the northeast shore of Jordan Lake. This lake forms the border with Barry County. In 2020, about 1,994 people lived there. Since 1987, Lake Odessa has been called a "Tree City USA." This award comes from the National Arbor Day Foundation.
Contents
History of Lake Odessa
Early Settlement and Name Changes
The area where Lake Odessa is now was first settled around 1839. Several brothers from the Russell family moved here. Because of them, the place was first known as the "Russell Settlement." Later, it got a new name: "Bonanza." A Post Office was even set up there in 1880.
The Railroad and a New Location
In the 1880s, a new railroad line was built. It was called the Detroit, Lansing and Northern Railroad. This railroad later became the Pere Marquette Railroad. When the tracks came through, the village of Bonanza moved about one mile southwest. This new location was better because it was right next to the railroad station.
How Lake Odessa Got Its Name
When the village moved, its name changed to "Lake Odessa." This name came from two things. "Lake" refers to the nearby Jordan Lake. "Odessa" comes from Odessa Township, which was created in 1846. The township was named after the city of Odesa in Ukraine. One of the founders liked Ukraine and wanted a unique name for the area.
Growth of the Village
In 1887, an investor named Humphrey Wager bought 80 acres (32 hectares) of farmland. This land was next to Jordan Lake. He planned out the new village. Because it had a station on the new railroad, Lake Odessa quickly became more important than the old Bonanza settlement. The village officially became a town in 1889. John R. Waite, a local historian, has done a lot of research on the village's past. He is also the President of the Lake Odessa Area Historical Society. He helps with the Train Depot Museum too.
Geography of Lake Odessa
Lake Odessa covers an area of about 0.89 square miles (2.3 square kilometers). All of this area is land. The village is part of the Lakewood Public School district. This school district also includes the nearby towns of Woodland, Sunfield, and Clarksville.
Population Facts
How Many People Live Here?
The population of Lake Odessa has changed over the years. Here's a look at how many people have lived in the village during different census years:
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1890 | 635 | — | |
| 1900 | 1,037 | 63.3% | |
| 1910 | 1,222 | 17.8% | |
| 1920 | 1,246 | 2.0% | |
| 1930 | 1,220 | −2.1% | |
| 1940 | 1,417 | 16.1% | |
| 1950 | 1,596 | 12.6% | |
| 1960 | 1,806 | 13.2% | |
| 1970 | 1,924 | 6.5% | |
| 1980 | 2,171 | 12.8% | |
| 1990 | 2,256 | 3.9% | |
| 2000 | 2,272 | 0.7% | |
| 2010 | 2,018 | −11.2% | |
| 2020 | 1,994 | −1.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Village Life in 2010
In 2010, there were 2,018 people living in Lake Odessa. These people lived in 835 households. About 534 of these were families. The village had about 2,267 people per square mile (875 people per square kilometer). There were 950 housing units in total.
Many different groups of people lived in the village. About 91.4% of the people were White. A small number were African American, Native American, or Asian. About 4.2% were from other races, and 3.1% were from two or more races. About 10.3% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
Households and Families
In 2010, about 35.2% of households had children under 18 living with them. About 40.7% of households were married couples. Some households had a female head with no husband (17.7%). A smaller number had a male head with no wife (5.5%). About 36% of households were not families.
Many people lived alone. About 31.1% of all households had only one person. About 12.1% of households had someone aged 65 or older living alone. The average household had 2.41 people. The average family had 2.98 people.
Age and Gender
The average age of people in Lake Odessa in 2010 was 34.6 years old. About 27% of the residents were under 18 years old. About 9.3% were between 18 and 24. People aged 25 to 44 made up 26.6% of the population. Those aged 45 to 64 were 23.5%. Finally, 13.5% of residents were 65 years or older. In terms of gender, 48.3% of the population was male and 51.7% was female.
See also
In Spanish: Lake Odessa para niños
