Situated in northeast Orion Township in northeast Oakland County, about thirty miles north of Detroit, the village of Lake Orion, Michigan includes several islands, some with seasonal or year-round residences.
The body of water for which the village is named is a 470-acre lake, the eighth-largest lake in the county. The current body of water was formed in the 1820s when several smaller lakes were united after a power dam was built. Most of the lake and its largest islands are within the village limits.
The largest islands, Bellevue Island and Park Island, are connected to the mainland by two-lane bridges and populated throughout the year, while the remaining islands can be reached only by watercraft. Victoria Island, the third-largest, has seasonal and year-round residences, while Squaw Island had one residence for about a hundred years, up to the 1950s, although little remains of the island today, due to erosion. Sweet's Island hosts the Lake Orion Boat Club, and includes a private boathouse and docks for club members. Armada Island has four seasonal cottages, and Dot Island and Romance Island have one each.
The chief route through Lake Orion is M-24 (North Park Boulevard, South Broadway Street), which runs roughly north-south through the mainland portion of the village. Other routes include Orion Road, Miller Road, and Newton Drive.
Cities and villages within twenty miles of Lake Orion include Oxford, Rochester, Auburn Hills, Pontiac, Rochester Hills, Leonard, Clarkston, Lake Angelus, Metamora, Romeo, Ortonville, Bloomfield Hills, Sylvan Lake, Dryden, Keego Harbor, Lapeer, Troy, Utica, and Goodrich.
The first land entries in Lake Orion were made by John Wetmore and Judah Church in 1819, and the nearby Judah Lake was named for Mr. Church. In 1829, Philip Bigler, Jesse Decker, and Needham Hemingway built a dam on Paint Creek to power a sawmill, thereby converting six small lakes into one larger lake. In 1837, Needham Hemingway raised the height of the dam to power a large grist mill that he located below the sawmill, further enlarging the size of the lake to what it is today.
The settlement that grew up around the lake was first known as Canandaigua, for the New York city by that name, the hometown of several of the early settlers.
In 1836, James Stillson platted the townsite as Canandaigua City. However, when a post office was established on June 30, 1834, the community's name was changed to Orion, largely because it was a shorter name. James Decker was the community's first postmaster. The post office's name was changed to Oakland on May 11, 1842, but was closed soon after. On June 28, 1854, the New Canandaigua post office was moved here, and renamed Orion. Orion was incorporated as a village in 1859. On March 25, 1926, the post office was renamed Lake Orion, and the village took that name in 1929.
For about thirty years, Lake Orion was a popular vacation destination, as wealthy Detroit residents bought summer cottages in Lake Orion, while others rented cottages in the area or made day trips to the lake.
The Michigan Central Railroad was built in 1872, facilitating the transport of visitors to the lake. In 1874, a group of local residents, including E.R. Emmons, formed the Orion Park Association to develop a park, now known as Greens Park, near the train depot. A steam-powered boat offered excursions on the lake. Over time, the park was expanded to include a penny arcade, a carousel, souvenir booths, refreshment booths, dining rooms, dance halls, and a roller coaster. The north side of the park included a bathhouse, a waterslide, and diving boards, and the lake was stocked for fishing purposes. In 1930, the park was acquired by the village.
Today, however, Lake Orion is largely a residential community, although it includes several restaurants and commercial businesses serving residents, travelers, and visitors.
The focus of this portion of our guide is on the village of Lake Orion, Michigan. Appropriate topics for this section include websites representing the municipal government, as well as local businesses, industries, schools, places of worship, organizations, attractions, events, recreational opportunities, and informational sites.
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Recommended Resources
Representing the Lake Orion Downtown Development Authority (Lake Orion DDA), which was established in 1985 to revitalize the Village of Lake Orion downtown district, becoming a Main Street America Accredited Community in 2006, the site introduces the organization, and offers information and various resources for businesses and visitors. An introduction to the Main Street program is included, along with meeting schedules, staff contacts, and a calendar of events.
https://downtownlakeorion.org/
Held annually at the Orion Art Center, the Dragon on the Lake Festival has its origins in a century-old legend that probably stemmed from a prank played by two young brothers who built a dragon that they floated on the lake. Featured are informational articles, an overview of the legend, and information on participating in the event, live music schedules, festival hours, a map of the grounds, information about shuttle services, and data regarding volunteer and sponsorship opportunities.
https://dragononthelake.com/
Knights of Columbus - Lake Orion
The K of C is a global Catholic fraternal service order whose membership is limited to Catholic men. Lake Orion, Michigan members are part of Council 4764, and associated with St. Joseph Catholic Church and Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church. Its site includes a history of the council, a photo gallery, and a calendar of events, along with information about its programs and activities for family members, youth, and links to the websites of Council Friends. Hall rental information is included.
https://www.kofclakeorion.com/
Sponsored by the First Baptist Church of Lake Orion, the Christian school provides elementary, middle, and high school programs, taking place in thirteen classrooms. Its academics programs are featured, and its athletics programs are part of the Wolverine Christian Conference and the Michigan Association of Christian Schools, which compete with other Christian schools in the Metro Detroit region. Tuition and fees are posted on the site, and a calendar of events is included.
http://lobs.info/
Headquartered in Lake Orion, Michigan, the PK-12 public school district operates several school campuses, all but one of them located within the village. Each of its campuses and other programs is featured, with staff contacts, schedules, and policy information. Its academics and athletics programs are provided, along with an introduction to the district, the Lake Orion community, and other resources, such as boundary maps, enrollment information, and school board members.
https://www.lakeorionschools.org/
Based in Lake Orion, Michigan, the newspaper has been in publication since 1881. Subscriptions to the print edition may be initiated or renewed online. Select news and sports stories, public notices, public safety reports, announcements, and local obituaries are available through the website, along with classified advertising, featured posts and comments, business reports, and other information are included, along with advertising opportunities, letters to the editor, and archives.
https://lakeorionreview.com/
Founded in 1996, the bicycle shop has locations in Washington and Lake Orion, Michigan, where it provides bicycle repairs, tune-ups, bicycle fitting, and information on bicycle financing. Qualified buyers can be pre-approved for financing in minutes online, or at the store. The store locations are provided, along with its hours of operation, an overview of its services, tune-up package options, individual services, and products. Group rides are also scheduled, with dates and other information.
https://www.mainstreetbicycles.com/
Canterbury Village is a unique commercial area in Lake Orion, Michigan that includes retail shops, markets, salons, restaurants, churches, entertainment venues, and other businesses or organizations. A map of the shopping area is provided, with photos, descriptions, contacts, and web addresses for businesses located within the area. Other resources include leasing information for buildings that are available for lease. Several photos are presented, along with contacts and a contact form.
https://www.canterburyvillage.com/
In business since 1989, the company rents pontoons from Memorial Day to Labor Day, with reservations taken beginning on May 1. The company's website features several photos of the watercraft and the lake, its hours of operation, policies, and fees, although reservations are made by telephone only. A phone number is provided. The company also offers dock slips, with openings occurring occasionally, and its fuel docks are open from May 1 to October 1, operated by credit card only.
https://orionmarine.com/
ONTV is a community media outlet covering the Lake Orion, Michigan area. Videos may be viewed on-demand through the site, along with live-streaming of education, government, and other public access programs. From time to time, various activities and programs that require registration may be completed here, as well. Video production classes, podcasting classes, and other classes and workshops are announced, with information about any requirements, fees, schedules, and contacts.
https://orionontv.org/
The village of Lake Orion, Michigan is situated on the lake by that name, and includes several islands. The official municipal website features forms, reports, and downloads for residents and businesses, along with contacts for the village manager, clerk, finance offices, and those dealing with planning, zoning, and building. Other resources include its master plan, a staff directory, and a directory of local businesses. As well as demographic data, and an overview of municipal services.
http://www.lakeorion.org/
Led by Allen M. Wolf, Esq., the Lake Orion, Michigan firm was established in 2000, and staffed with attorneys experienced in covering a wide range of legal matters, including criminal law, serious and catastrophic personal injury cases, business and civil litigation, employment law, insurance matters, internal and fraud investigations, and civil and criminal appeals. Its location, directions, a map, office hours, and a contact form are set forth, along with client reviews.
https://www.thewolflawfirm.com/
