| Fife Lake, Michigan | |
| Official Name: | Village of Fife Lake |
| Settlement Type: | Village |
| Nickname: | "Fife", "F.L." |
| Motto: | In the Heart of the Forest |
| Pushpin Map: | Michigan |
| Pushpin Label Position: | left |
| Pushpin Label: | Fife Lake |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location within the state of Michigan |
| Mapsize: | 250 |
| Coordinates: | 44.5761°N -85.3517°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Type3: | Township |
| Subdivision Name2: | Grand Traverse |
| Subdivision Name3: | Fife Lake |
| Established Title: | Founded |
| Established Date: | 1872 |
| Founder: | J.L. Shaw |
| Leader Title: | Village president |
| Leader Name: | Tom Hempsted |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
| Area Footnotes: | [1] |
| Area Total Km2: | 3.03 |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 1.17 |
| Area Land Km2: | 1.88 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 0.73 |
| Area Water Km2: | 1.15 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 0.44 |
| Elevation M: | 323 |
| Elevation Ft: | 1060 |
| Population Total: | 456 |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Density Km2: | 242.37 |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | 628.10 |
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP code(s) |
| Postal Code: | 49633 |
| Area Code: | 231 |
| Timezone: | Eastern (EST) |
| Utc Offset: | -5 |
| Timezone Dst: | EDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | -4 |
| Blank Name: | FIPS code |
| Blank Info: | 26-28000[2] |
| Blank1 Name: | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank1 Info: | 0625937[3] |
| Established Title1: | Incorporated |
| Established Date1: | 1889 |
Fife Lake is a village in southeastern Grand Traverse County in the U.S. state of Michigan. Its population was 456 at the 2020 census, up from 443 at the 2010 census. The village is part of the Traverse City metropolitan area, and lies upon the shore of the lake of the same name.
In 1872, J.L. Shaw and others platted two small settlements on a lake on the new Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad.[4] These were known as North Fife Lake and Fyfe Lake (a misspelling of Fife), which were on the north and west sides of Fife Lake, respectively. Later that year, Fife Lake Township was created.[5] The first church in the village was established in 1884.[6] In 1889, Fife Lake was incorporated as a village.[7] [8]
The village annually hosts the Fife Lake Ice Fishing Derby near the end of January.[9] [10]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 1.2sqmi, of which 0.75sqmi is land and 0.45sqmi is water.[11] The village is located in Fife Lake Township, and is adjacent to the eponymous lake.
The village is located immediately west of the Kalkaska County line. Fife Lake is the only community in Grand Traverse County to be located east of US Highway 131.
As of the census[12] of 2010, there were 443 people, 189 households, and 110 families residing in the village. The population density was 590.7PD/sqmi. There were 265 housing units at an average density of 353.3/sqmi. The racial makeup of the village was 95.7% White, 0.7% African American, 1.6% Native American, and 2.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.8% of the population.
There were 189 households, of which 27.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.2% were married couples living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 41.8% were non-families. 30.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.89.
The median age in the village was 41.1 years. 22.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.4% were from 25 to 44; 29.3% were from 45 to 64; and 15.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 49.0% male and 51.0% female.
As of the census of 2000, there were 466 people, 185 households, and 120 families residing in the village. The population density was 632.1sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 256 housing units at an average density of 347.3sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the village was 90.77% White, 0.64% African American, 3.22% Native American, and 5.36% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.21% of the population.
There were 185 households, out of which 35.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.4% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.6% were non-families. 28.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.07.
In the village, the population was spread out, with 28.8% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 30.5% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 9.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.4 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $32,361, and the median income for a family was $42,188. Males had a median income of $32,083 versus $24,375 for females. The per capita income for the village was $19,024. About 9.4% of families and 13.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.0% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.
This climatic region has large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Fife Lake has a humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps.[13]
The nearest airport with commercial service is Cherry Capital Airport in Traverse City. Smaller landing strips are nearby, though, such as Kalkaska City Airport in Kalkaska.
Fife Lake used to be a station on the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad. Today, it is served by the Great Lakes Central Railroad. However, Fife Lake is no longer a station.
Fife Lake is served by the Forest Area Community Schools District. The district includes Fife Lake Elementary School and Forest Area Middle/High School, located in neighboring Springfield Township.[14]