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History
Climate |
The Lake
Township region
once consisted
of sand dunes,
swamps, and
woodlands.
Explorers made
their way to the
area through
Quebec by means
of the Great
Lakes and their
adjoining
rivers.
Permanent
settlers
appeared on the
scene 150 years
after the French
explorations.
Soon a small community called "Laketon" began to
form just north and east of the present city of
Bridgman. In 1846, the area that would be known
as Lake Township was separated from Oronoko
Township. Lake Township was later divided into
Lake and Baroda Township, resulting in a final
size of only about 23 square miles. The first
election was held at the home of Benjamin Lemon,
an early pioneer, with a total of 18 votes cast.
Easy access to Lake Michigan and the abundance
of wood made lumbering the first commercial
interest in the Township. By 1870 several
sawmills were in operation. A much-needed
railroad and a pier were built, which further
stimulated the economic growth of the area. A
lagging economy eventually forced the sawmills
out of operation, and the railroad became a mere
reminder of the "good ole times". After 1890,
the economy rebounded. Immigrants from Russia
and Germany poured into the area. In ten years
the population doubled, as did the price of
land. Fortunately, much of the population
increase was absorbed in the local fruit and
nursery industries.
In 1968, construction started on the Donald C.
Cook Nuclear Plant. Today, thanks to the Cook
Plant, Lake Township is one of the most
prosperous communities in Berrien County. It has
many miles of beautiful shoreline, several
parks, wooded dunes and fertile farmland. It is
truly a beautiful place to live. |
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