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History · Otter Lake

Otter Lake dates to 1838, and 54% of its homes were built before 1940

Below: maps from 1963 on and the census since 1890.

1838founded
0on the National Register
54%homes built before 1940
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Quick answers

How Otter Lake began

When was Otter Lake founded?

1838

Otter Lake dates its founding to 1838 (Wikipedia’s history). The census first counted it in 1890.

First census: 243 in 18902020 census: 426188 years
Founding year: Wikipedia. First post office: 1873.The full story ↓

What stands out about Otter Lake’s past

Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.

A history waiting to be writtenNo old photos of Otter Lake are in the public archives yet. The rest are in attics and albums.Old housesHalf of Otter Lake’s homes were built before 1938.Deep rootsEstablished in 1838: 188 years of Otter Lake.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start Otter Lake’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Otter Lake’s history is told.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
0 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
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The story

How Otter Lake came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of Otter Lake.

Read it all →

Otter Lake was first settled in 1838 by Andrew McArthur. The Otter Lake post office opened on February 12, 1873, with postmaster John M. McDonald. In 1874, Page & Benson pine lumber company platted the community. That same year, the Pere Marquette Railroad came through. The village was named after the nearby body of water which had numerous otters. The Village of Otter Lake was incorporated in 1883.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

By decade

Otter Lake, decade by decade

Today4 recent
Otter Lake, Michigan location2023Otter Lake, Michigan locationMdprovost - Chloe the Huntress on an Adventure, Otter Lake, MI (by-sa)2007Mdprovost - Chloe the Huntress on an Adventure, Otter…Mdprovost - Chloe the Huntress on an Adventure, Otter Lake, MI (by-sa) (cropped)2007Mdprovost - Chloe the Huntress on an Adventure, Otter…MIMap-doton-OtterLake2005MIMap-doton-OtterLake
On the map

Otter Lake on the map, 1963 to 1990

Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Otter Lake. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.

Otter Lake on the 1963 USGS mapOtter Lake on the 1984 USGS mapOtter Lake on the 1990 USGS map1963Columbiaville sheet · 1:24,000

U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Otter Lake.

People over time

Otter Lake, census by census

01002003004005006001900192019401960198020002020Peak: 562

Between 212 and 562 people in every census since 1890.

14 censuses, 1890–2020.

U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Otter Lake’s Wikipedia page.

Famous people

Famous people close to Otter Lake

Nobody well known was born in Otter Lake itself, so here are the best known from just nearby.

See all →
Thomas C. HartUnited States Navy admiral and United States Se… · b. 1877
Jake LongAmerican football player · b. 1985
Maxx CrosbyAmerican football player · b. 1997
Charles E. PotterAmerican politician · b. 1916
Thomas CarriganAmerican actor · b. 1886
T
Terry KnightAmerican singer and music producer · b. 1943

Questions about Otter Lake’s history

What year was Otter Lake founded?

In 1838, according to Wikipedia’s history of the town. Otter Lake’s post office opened in 1873, and the census of 1890 counted 243 people here.

Memory lane

What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.

Town Square →
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Sources

Where this page comes from

Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021). How TownRatings grades history →

From Wikimedia Commons (4), Wikipedia, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps and U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia). Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.