Lake Orion, Michigan
| Village of Lake Orion | |
|---|---|
| — Village — | |
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| Coordinates: 42°47′3″N 83°14′44″W / 42.78417°N 83.24556°WCoordinates: 42°47′3″N 83°14′44″W / 42.78417°N 83.24556°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Michigan |
| County | Oakland |
| Government | |
| • Village Council President | William Siver |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.3 sq mi (3.3 km2) |
| • Land | 0.8 sq mi (2.0 km2) |
| • Water | 0.5 sq mi (1.3 km2) |
| Elevation | 984 ft (300 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 2,973 |
| • Density | 2,300/sq mi (900/km2) |
| Time zone | EST (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP codes | 48359-48362 |
| Area code(s) | 248 |
| FIPS code | 26-44940[1] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0629989[2] |
| Website | www.lakeorion.org |
Lake Orion (pronounced OR-ee-un) is a village in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,973 at the 2010 census.[3] "Lake Orion" is often used to describe both the village and the much larger Orion Township,[citation needed] of which the village is a part.
Lake Orion originated as a resort town and over time has incorporated elements of a bedroom community. At the turn of the twentieth century, the town featured a small amusement park near Park Island on Lake Orion. It included a wooden roller coaster and carousel.
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[edit] History
Judah Church and Moses (or Samuel) Munson were among the first settlers. Munson, who arrived in 1824, built a sawmill in 1825, and planted the first orchard. Jesse Decker arrived from upstate New York with his wife, Mary, in 1825. Decker proved to be energetic and became "everything to everybody", so that the place soon became known as "Decker's Settlement".[4] The settlement grew into a bustling commercial center with a sawmill, tavern, post office, general store, blacksmith shop, school and cemetery.[citation needed]
In 1830, Jesse Decker raised the first frame barn in the area with the help of local Indians. The first post office was opened in 1832, with Decker as postmaster.[4] In 1835, a group of settlers gathered in his home and formed a township. By 1836, two persons were licensed to keep taverns in the town, one of whom was Decker.[4] By 1840 Decker owned 440 acres (1.8 km2) of land.[citation needed]
Decker was elected to the Michigan House of Representatives in 1837, and also served as justice of the peace.[citation needed]
The township of Orion was approved by the Michigan Territory in 1835, the same year it applied for statehood. Jesse Decker became the first Supervisor of Orion, with a salary of $2.00 a year.[citation needed]
Another settlement nearby, New Canadaigua, was absorbed by Orion. This land later helped Orion to establish its first public school in 1859. Orion, already well-established, was platted and chartered, also in 1859. In 1862, a fire ravaged Orion, destroying nearly the entire town.[4] Despite this, the town was rebuilt. The railroad that was built in Orion paved the way to mass development in 1872. The great resort era soon followed after another incredible recovery from a fire in 1874. Orion became well known when lumberjacks bringing lumber to Detroit bunked there, and when Lapeer Road, a highway running through Orion, was paved in 1929, permanent residents moved in.[citation needed]
In 1929, Amelia Earhart visited Lake Orion and flew an experimental glider at Scripps Mansion.[5]
Lake Orion was served by trains on the Michigan Central Railroad and DUR interurban.[6] Today, the track east of M-24 has been removed, and the line now serves as the recreational Paint Creek Trail.[7]
[edit] Folklore
The story of the Lake Orion Dragon says that sometime in the 1800s a group of local kids played a prank by building a fake dragon and launching it out in the lake. A number of people saw it and soon Lake Orion was known for its dragon. There are a number of stories around about who made it and how they built it but it is widely agreed that it was a prank.
"That same year [1894] the Lake Orion 'dragon' made its entrance into Orion history. First seen by two ladies near the present Robert’s Rondevoo cove, the animal grew in length as the story grew in listeners. What had started out as an average-sized lake monster was claimed by some to be at least eighty feet long. Detroit and other newspapers joshingly suggested, upon hearing of the behemoth, that Orion residents should 'drink more well water in the future.'"[8] The nickname of Lake Orion High School's sports teams (the Dragons) is derived from this.
[edit] Geography
[edit] Lake Orion
| Lake Orion | |
|---|---|
| Location | Lake Orion, Michigan |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 482 acres (195 ha) |
| Max. depth | 80 ft (24 m) |
| Settlements | Village of Lake Orion, Michigan |
Lake Orion (less commonly known as "Orion Lake") is an medium-sized inland lake, with area 482 acres (3.2 km²).[9][10] It has a maximum depth of 80 feet and an average depth of 16 feet. [11] The lake is located within the Village of Lake Orion, Michigan, and Orion Township, Michigan. It is the seventh largest lake by area in Oakland County.
The current area of the lake was formed by a collection of smaller lakes with the damming of Paint Creek in 1839[12]. Canals have also been dredged to maximize lake frontage.
There is a public access boat launch on the northern side of the lake. It is administered by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.[13]
[edit] Islands
There are several islands in Lake Orion, some of which feature seasonal and year-round residences. The largest islands, Bellevue and Park, are connected to the mainland by 2-lane bridges. Most boats can pass under the Bellevue Bridge, which has a clearance of 9.6 feet.[14]Victoria Island is the third largest island, and is home to several season and year-round homes. A smaller island, Squaw Island, was previously was home to a single residence from the 1850s to the 1950s. Little remains of the island due to erosion, and the shallow waters can be a hazard to boaters. Sweet's Island is home to the Lake Orion Boat Club, and features a private boathouse and docks. Romance Island is home to a single cottage. Preston Island is home to two seasonal cottages. Dot Island is home to one seasonal cottage. Armada Island is home to 4 seasonal cottages. Pine Island currently features no residences, but is used to rent out boat docks. It is connected to the mainland by a small bridge.
[edit] Demographics
The demographics below are for the village only. Refer to Orion Township for the demographics of the entire township.
In the village the population was spread out with 20.3% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 33.6% from 25 to 44, 22.9% from 45 to 64, and 14.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 98.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.7 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $51,311, and the median income for a family was $71,250. Males had a median income of $51,012 versus $37,802 for females. The per capita income for the village was $28,671. About 1.5% of families and 5.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.1% of those under age 18 and 21.4% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Government
Lake Orion is served by the Lake Orion Community Schools school district.
[edit] Notable past and current residents
- Matthew Blackmer, American pair skater
- Christopher Bowman, U.S. Winter Olympian, National Champion, World Medalist champion figure skater
- Scott Amedure, The Jenny Jones Show murder victim
- Brace Beemer, one of the radio voices of The Lone Ranger
- William Broomfield, former congressman
- Pat Caputo, sportswriter, radio personality
- Rolla C. Carpenter, engineer, academic, writer
- Dave Collins, coach, former professional baseball player
- Barbara Ann Crancer, associate circuit court judge, daughter of Jimmy Hoffa
- Matthew Dear, musician
- Andrew J. Feustel, NASA astronaut
- Frontier Ruckus, art-folk band
- Tom Gillis, professional golfer
- Frederick Henderson, former CEO of General Motors
- James P. Hoffa, current International Brotherhood of Teamsters President, son of Jimmy Hoffa
- Jimmy Hoffa (family summer home), former International Brotherhood of Teamsters President
- Zak Keasey, professional football player
- Mickey Lolich, professional baseball player and donut shop owner
- James Marcinkowski, politician, attorney, former CIA case officer
- Chris "Hot Wings" Michels, syndicated radio show host
- Jamie Milam, professional hockey player
- Troy Milam, professional hockey player
- Frank Novak, former NFL coach
- Raymond Plouhar, staff sergeant, USMC
- William Edmund Scripps, newspaper magnate
- Rich Strenger, lawyer, former professional football player
- Ron Tripp, World Sambo and Judo champion; President of USA Judo
- Cynthia Watros, actress
- Mike Weger, business owner, former professional football player
[edit] References
- ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Lake Orion, Michigan
- ^ "Race, Hispanic or Latino, Age, and Housing Occupancy: 2010 Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171) Summary File (QT-PL), Lake Orion village, Michigan". U.S. Census Bureau, American FactFinder 2. http://factfinder2.census.gov. Retrieved August 19, 2011.
- ^ a b c d Seeley, Thaddeus D. History of Oakland County, Michigan. Chicago & New York: The Lewis Publishing Company (1912), Vol. I, pp. 440-43.
- ^ http://www.stmarysinthehills.org/about-st-marys/history
- ^ http://www.michiganrailroads.com/RRHX/Stations/CountyStations/OaklandStations/LakeOrionMI.htm
- ^ http://www.paintcreektrail.org/
- ^ Scott, Paul M. - ORION SINCE 1818
- ^ http://www.mcgi.state.mi.us/miswims/lakedetails.aspx?nky=63-1221&fltr=info
- ^ http://www.dnr.state.mi.us/SPATIALDATALIBRARY/PDF_MAPS/INLAND_LAKE_MAPS/OAKLAND/LAKE_ORION.PDF
- ^ http://www.mcgi.state.mi.us/miswims/lakedetails.aspx?nky=63-1221&fltr=info
- ^ http://www.lakeorion.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=107&Itemid=192
- ^ http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10365_10884-65805--,00.html
- ^ http://www.clarkstonnews.com/Articles-i-2006-08-16-170685.112112_From_The_Lake_Orion_Review_archives.html
[edit] External links
- Village of Lake Orion official site
- Village of Lake Orion Downtown Development Agency
- Orion Township Public Library
- Lake Orion Community Information Network
- Orion Neighborhood Television
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