Situated in the interior of Michigan's Lower Peninsula, the Village of Lake Odessa is in southern Ionia County. The village is surrounded by Odessa Township on three sides, bordering Woodland Township in Barry County to the south.
Despite the name of the village, Lake Odessa is situated on the northwestern shores of Jordan Lake, a 430-acre body of water straddling the Barry County and Ionia County lines. Jordan Lake is a man-made lake created where Tupper Creek flows into it from Tupper Lake. From Jordan Lake, the Little Thornapple River flows through Barry County. Tupper Lake is a 94-acre lake just east of the village.
The chief routes through the village are M-50 (Jordan Lake Street), which is also known as Laurel Drive when it exits the village to the west, and Lapo Road to the east, and Jordan Lake Road, (Jordan Lake Avenue), which intersects M-50 near the lake. Other routes include Bonanza Road, Huddle Road, and Tupper Lake Road.
Cities and villages within twenty miles of Lake Odessa include Woodland, Sunfield, Clarksville, Freeport, Mulliken, Saranac, Vermontville, Nashville, Hastings, Ionia, and Portland.
The village has a police department separate from the county, although the Ionia County Sheriff's Department also has jurisdiction within the village. Fire services are provided by the Odessa Township Fire Department, which serves the village and township. Emergency medical services are provided by Life EMS, a private company.
PK-12 public school services are provided by the Lakewood School District. Headquartered in Woodland, its early childhood center, middle school, and high school are located in Woodland, while its elementary school is in Lake Odessa.
Recreational needs within the village are served by several public parks, the largest of which are Village Park, Village Beach, and the Lake Odessa Fairgrounds. Near the intersection of M-50 and 4th Street, Village Park is more than five acres and has accommodated large events. It includes a covered pavilion, play areas, and picnic facilities. Just under three acres in size, Village Beach includes a beach, a park area, and restrooms, as well as a floating dock, playground, a swimming area, and a pavilion. The Lake Odessa Fairgrounds is partly owned by the village and hosts the annual fair, sports events, and other activities.
The Lake Odessa Historical Society operates a museum in the restored Pere Marquette Train Depot, and has plans to construct a historical village complex on Emerson Street.
The area that became Lake Odessa was first settled by European-Americans in the mid to late-1830s, and the community became known as the Russell Settlement after several brothers from the Russell family settled there around 1839. In 1887, Humphrey R. Wagner, a real estate investor from Ionia and Stanton, platted a townsite on an 80-acre farm, developing the Russell Settlement into the village of Bonanza. The townsite was slightly northeast of the current downtown area of the village.
On May 17, 1880, a post office was established, with the name of Bonanza, with Horace F. Miner as postmaster. When the Pere Marquette Railroad came through in 1880, several of the buildings in the village, as well as the post office, were moved about a mile southwest to be nearer to the railroad. The post office was renamed Lake Odessa on August 10, 1880. The railroad opened a depot in Lake Odessa on May 24, 1884, and Lake Odessa was incorporated as a village in 1889. The village took its name from Odessa Township and its three lakes, Jordan, Tupper, and August, each of which was named for early settlers.
Since first appearing on the census rolls in 1890, the village's population has declined only twice, in 1930 and 2010, but it is expected to increase slightly when the 2020 census figures are released. Lake Odessa currently has a population of just over two thousand.
The focus of this portion of our guide is on the village of Lake Odessa, Michigan. Appropriate topics may include online resources representing the village or any businesses, industries, schools, places of worship, organizations, attractions, events, or recreational opportunities within the village.
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Recommended Resources
Jordan Lake Florals & Interiors
Situated on Jordan Lake Street in Lake Odessa, Michigan, the flower shop provides delivery services in Lake Odessa and neighboring cities and villages, which are listed here, along its address, a map, hours of operation, telephone number, and payment options. Family owned and operated, the shop sells a wide variety of flowers, plants, gifts, and other items, including wedding flower services and flower subscriptions. A product catalog is featured on the site, and online shopping is supported.
https://jordanlakeflorals.com/
Located in the village of Lake Odessa, Michigan, the guest accommodations include The Loft, The Main Floor, and The Apartment on Fourth, each of which is described in detail, including photographs, weekday rates, and weekend rates, while additional information may be downloaded from the site. Reservations may be made online, and rental agreements can be viewed through the site. Meeting and party spaces are available on The Main Floor. An introduction to the village is also presented.
http://gardenviewlakeodessa.com/
The community library is located on Fourth Avenue in Lake Odessa, Michigan. The address, hours of operation, telephone number, and email address are published on the site. Other resources include a calendar of events, photos of several areas and stations around the library, and an overview of its programs and activities for children and teens, and digital collections. The Friends of the Library organization is featured, with meeting schedules, a newsletter, and other information.
https://www.lakeodessalibrary.org/
The annual multi-day event in Lake Odessa, Michigan may differ somewhat from year to year, although it may include a carnival, a grand parade, draft horse pulls, live music, a livestock show, horse show, motocross, children's activities, fireworks, and various sports and competition events. A schedule, online ticket sales, and information for vendors and sponsors, youth programs, and agricultural exhibits. The fairgrounds offer event rental space, as well as storage.
https://www.lakeodessafair.org/
Situated on the northeastern shore of Jordan Lake, in southern Ionia County, Lake Odessa was incorporated as a village in 1889. The official municipal website features news and announcements from the village offices and departments, including public notices, meeting schedules, agendas, and minutes, and access to various reports and documents. The village history, master plan, and zoning information are available, and a guide to local schools, churches, libraries, and parks is included.
http://www.lakeodessa.org/
Lakewood Area Chamber of Commerce
Headquartered in the village of Lake Odessa, Michigan, the Chamber is made up of businesses within the Lakewood School District, which includes Clarksville, Freeport, Lake Odessa, Sunfield, and Woodland. Membership information is set forth, and a membership application is available in PDF format, along with a list of participating businesses, event applications, and other documents. Other resources include meeting schedules, a calendar of events, office contacts, photos, and a contact form.
http://www.lakewoodareacoc.org/
Specializing in foreign cars, the Lake Odessa, Michigan auto dealership carries a selection of cars, SUVs, sedans, wagons, pickups, minivans, convertibles, hatchbacks, coupes, boats, and watercraft. Available vehicles are listed by category, with photos, mileage, and other details, including asking prices. Featured vehicles are highlighted on the index page. Its location is published on the site, including a map, along with its business hours, telephone number, and a contact form.
https://www.m50autos.com/
