Lake Odessa, Michigan
Lake Odessa is a village of 2,155 people in Ionia County, Michigan.
Why visit Lake Odessa
Townapedia lists 3 museums and landmarks, 6 parks and trails and 9 places to eat in and around town.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 81°F; January lows average 16°F, and about 54 inches of snow fall in a normal year.
Weather in Lake Odessa
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Lake Odessa
Lake Odessa is a village in Ionia County of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 census, Lake Odessa had a population of 1,994. It is located in the southern portion of the county in Odessa Township on the northeast shore of Jordan Lake, which is the boundary with Barry County.
From the Wikipedia article Lake Odessa, Michigan (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Museums and landmarks3
The Freight House
Museum
New construction building for housing Lake Odessa Historical Society's collection
Parks, trails and playgrounds6
Restaurants and cafes9
Buddy's on the Beach
Restaurant · Burger, Sandwich, Pizza, American, Asian · 0.5 mi
1223 Lakeview Drive, Lake Odessa
Mo-Th 11:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-23:00; Su 11:00-21:00
Fourth Avenue Inn & Bistro
Cafe · Ice Cream, Sandwich, Soda
1002 4th Avenue
Tu 15:00-21:00; We,Th 11:00-21:00; Fr,Sa 11:00-22:00; Su 13:00-21:00
Penny's Five Star Pizza
Restaurant · Pizza
1033 4th Avenue, Lake Odessa
Mo 11:00-21:00; Tu,We,Th,Sa 11:00-22:00; Fr 11:00-23:00; Su 12:00-21:00
Subway
Fast food · Sandwich · 0.4 mi
1203 Jordon Lake Street, Lake Odessa
Mo-Fr 07:00-22:00; Sa 08:00-22:00; Su 09:00-21:00
Churches and places of worship6
History
The area near modern day Lake Odessa was first settled by members of the Russell family in 1839, and named the "Russell Settlement". The area was later renamed "Bonanza", and a post office was established here on May 17th, 1880, by Postmaster Horace F. Miner.
When the Detroit, Lansing and Northern Railroad (later the Pere Marquette Railroad) was built through the area in the 1880s, the village was moved about a mile southwest. At that time the name was changed to "Lake Odessa", derived from the nearby Jordan Lake and the name of Odessa Township, which had been established in 1846. The township had been named for the city of Odesa in Ukraine, reflecting an interest of one of the founders in Ukraine as well as a desire for a distinctive name. Investor Humphrey Wager purchased 80 acres (320,000 m2) of farmland on Jordan Lake and platted the village in 1887. With the advantage of a station on the new railroad, the new village quickly eclipsed the former settlement at Bonanza. The village incorporated in 1889. John R. Waite, a local man with an interest in history, has been credited with significant historical research for the village of Lake Odessa. John is also recognized as the President of the Lake Odessa Area Historical Society and is involved with the Train Depot Museum.
From the History section of Lake Odessa, Michigan on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Shopping3
Gas and EV charging3
Schools, colleges and libraries5
Map of Lake Odessa
35 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 29°F | 16°F | 2.2 in | 15.5 in |
| Feb | 32°F | 16°F | 1.7 in | 11.9 in |
| Mar | 42°F | 24°F | 2.2 in | 7.0 in |
| Apr | 56°F | 35°F | 3.3 in | 1.6 in |
| May | 68°F | 47°F | 4.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 77°F | 57°F | 3.9 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 81°F | 60°F | 3.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 79°F | 59°F | 3.7 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 72°F | 50°F | 3.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 59°F | 40°F | 3.5 in | 0.5 in |
| Nov | 46°F | 30°F | 2.8 in | 3.6 in |
| Dec | 34°F | 22°F | 2.2 in | 14.1 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Ionia 2Ssw (12 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Ionia County has had 8 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for floods.
- 2024-02-08: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Flood)
- 2021-07-15: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes (Severe Storm)
- 2020-03-27: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2013-06-18: Flooding (Flood)
- 2005-09-07: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation (Hurricane)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 21 miles away.
- Ionia 14 mi north, about 22 min by car
- Caledonia 19 mi west, about 31 min by car
- Forest Hills 22 mi northwest, about 35 min by car
- Kentwood 24 mi west, about 39 min by car
- Waverly 26 mi east, about 41 min by car
- East Grand Rapids 26 mi northwest, about 42 min by car
- Cutlerville 27 mi west, about 44 min by car
- Grand Rapids 29 mi northwest, about 47 min by car
- Lansing 30 mi east, about 48 min by car
- Wyoming 30 mi west, about 48 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Lake Odessa, Bazaarshop, CC BY-SA 3.0
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.