Lake Columbia
Encyclopedia
Lake Columbia is a small man-made lake
in Columbia Township
in southern Jackson County
in the U.S. state
of Michigan
. Originally formed as a mill pond
in 1836, it was expanded to 840 acres (3.4 km²) in 1961. At its greatest extent, the lake is 2 and 1/4 miles long and 1 and 3/4 miles wide. It has approximately 14 miles (22.5 km) of shoreline and the water source to the lake is Goose Creek. The lake has an average depth of 18 feet (5.5 m). Lake Columbia is located 2 miles (3.2 km) west of Brooklyn, Michigan
. The latitude for the lake is 42.0928 and the longitude is -84.3011 with an elevation of 988 ft (301.1 m) above sea level.
Lake Columbia resides in the Columbia School District. Columbia schools offer 1 Pre-k School located near Clark Lake. 2 Elementary Schools (K-5), 1 in Brooklyn and 1 in Cement City. 1 Middle school (6-8) in Brooklyn. 1 High School (9-12) located near Brooklyn and 1 Alternative School located near Clark Lake.
Lake Columbia is one of the many lakes in Jackson County that is entirely private. Yearly membership dues in the Lake Columbia Property Owners Association are required by residents of the lake. The lake has a total of 16 private parks. It also has 14 named shores where residents reside. It is a boaters and fishers paradise for local residents of the lake. Lake Columbia is stocked annually with Walleye
or Bluegill
fish. The fish population continues to grow in Lake Columbia every year.
Lake Columbia has a primary inflow from Goose Creek and a primary outflow from Goose Creek. Goose Creek mainly flows from east to west and flows into the Raisin River. The Raisin River connects Clark Lake, Vineyard Lake, Norvell Lake and Lake Columbia together by way of Goose Creek also. The drainage area of Lake Columbia is 25,000 Sq. Acres which drains into Jackson County and Hillsdale County, Michigan.
with the intentions of using the small stream to power a set of mills. By 1836, with the dam completed and the mills in operation, the small village of Jefferson was platted. Soon after, a post office was opened and the name was changed to Columbia, as the name Jefferson had already been taken. The original village was located near the intersection of Jefferson Rd and Hewitt Rd, a portion of which was later rerouted when the lake was expanded.
, the people in the Lake Columbia area, which was then mostly farmland, were contacted and their farms purchased. The company was looking to sell attractive land around a private lake. Construction started in July 1961 on the earthen L-shaped dam that now stops the flow of Goose Creek. The dam is 950 ft (289.6 m) long and 35 ft (10.7 m) high with the head of water at 28 ft (8.5 m). It has a 225 ft (68.6 m) long spillway made of 2,000 cubic yards of concrete and 200,000 pounds of reinforced steel. The mouth of the spillway is 50 ft (15.2 m) in diameter. By early Autumn, the dam was completed and attention shifted to clearing the wooded portions of the basin. Flooding commenced on November 10, 1961 culminating in the 840 acres (3.4 km²) of water that make up the modern Lake Columbia.
Each year Lake Columbia offers many events around and on the lake. There are community-oriented events year-round, including fishing tournaments, an annual community-wide garage sale, a golf league, block parties and "trunk-or-treat" at Halloween. Wintertime activities include snowmobiling, ice hockey for kids, ice skating and ice fishing.
Lake Columbia also has one of the most spectacular Fourth of July fireworks displays around Jackson County. It is set up through the Lake Columbia Property Owners Association, and is funded through private donations and the LCPOA.
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
in Columbia Township
Columbia Township, Jackson County, Michigan
Columbia Township is a civil township of Jackson County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 7,234.-Communities:*The village of Brooklyn is in the southeast of the township....
in southern Jackson County
Jackson County, Michigan
As of the census of 2000, there were 158,422 people, 58,168 households, and 40,833 families residing in the county. The population density was 224 people per square mile . There were 62,906 housing units at an average density of 89/sq mi...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. Originally formed as a mill pond
Mill pond
A mill pond is any body of water used as a reservoir for a water-powered mill. Mill ponds were often created through the construction of a mill dam across a waterway. In many places, the common proper name Mill Pond name has remained even though the mill has long since gone...
in 1836, it was expanded to 840 acres (3.4 km²) in 1961. At its greatest extent, the lake is 2 and 1/4 miles long and 1 and 3/4 miles wide. It has approximately 14 miles (22.5 km) of shoreline and the water source to the lake is Goose Creek. The lake has an average depth of 18 feet (5.5 m). Lake Columbia is located 2 miles (3.2 km) west of Brooklyn, Michigan
Brooklyn, Michigan
Brooklyn is a village in Jackson County of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 1,176. It is located just off U.S. Highway 12 Brooklyn (formerly Swainsville) is a village in Jackson County of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the village...
. The latitude for the lake is 42.0928 and the longitude is -84.3011 with an elevation of 988 ft (301.1 m) above sea level.
Lake Columbia resides in the Columbia School District. Columbia schools offer 1 Pre-k School located near Clark Lake. 2 Elementary Schools (K-5), 1 in Brooklyn and 1 in Cement City. 1 Middle school (6-8) in Brooklyn. 1 High School (9-12) located near Brooklyn and 1 Alternative School located near Clark Lake.
Lake Columbia is one of the many lakes in Jackson County that is entirely private. Yearly membership dues in the Lake Columbia Property Owners Association are required by residents of the lake. The lake has a total of 16 private parks. It also has 14 named shores where residents reside. It is a boaters and fishers paradise for local residents of the lake. Lake Columbia is stocked annually with Walleye
Walleye
Walleye is a freshwater perciform fish native to most of Canada and to the northern United States. It is a North American close relative of the European pikeperch...
or Bluegill
Bluegill
The Bluegill is a species of freshwater fish sometimes referred to as bream, brim, or copper nose. It is a member of the sunfish family Centrarchidae of the order Perciformes.-Range and distribution:...
fish. The fish population continues to grow in Lake Columbia every year.
Hydrology
Natural history
The natural wildlife that surround and inhabit Lake Columbia are White Tail Deer, Walleye fish, Bluegill fish, Red Fox's, and Common Loon's.Prior to 1960
In 1835, John H. and Broadhead Du Bois settled along Goose Creek about 2.4 mi (3.9 km) west of BrooklynBrooklyn, Michigan
Brooklyn is a village in Jackson County of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 1,176. It is located just off U.S. Highway 12 Brooklyn (formerly Swainsville) is a village in Jackson County of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the village...
with the intentions of using the small stream to power a set of mills. By 1836, with the dam completed and the mills in operation, the small village of Jefferson was platted. Soon after, a post office was opened and the name was changed to Columbia, as the name Jefferson had already been taken. The original village was located near the intersection of Jefferson Rd and Hewitt Rd, a portion of which was later rerouted when the lake was expanded.
1960 to 1999
In September 1960, after an intensive study by American Central Corporation of Lansing, MichiganLansing, Michigan
Lansing is the capital of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located mostly in Ingham County, although small portions of the city extend into Eaton County. The 2010 Census places the city's population at 114,297, making it the fifth largest city in Michigan...
, the people in the Lake Columbia area, which was then mostly farmland, were contacted and their farms purchased. The company was looking to sell attractive land around a private lake. Construction started in July 1961 on the earthen L-shaped dam that now stops the flow of Goose Creek. The dam is 950 ft (289.6 m) long and 35 ft (10.7 m) high with the head of water at 28 ft (8.5 m). It has a 225 ft (68.6 m) long spillway made of 2,000 cubic yards of concrete and 200,000 pounds of reinforced steel. The mouth of the spillway is 50 ft (15.2 m) in diameter. By early Autumn, the dam was completed and attention shifted to clearing the wooded portions of the basin. Flooding commenced on November 10, 1961 culminating in the 840 acres (3.4 km²) of water that make up the modern Lake Columbia.
2000 to Present
Currently the association boasts more than 1,600 members. There are more than 700 lakefront homes, and nearly 650 more near the lake which are still considered part of the Lake Columbia Association. Homes around the lake range in price from $50,000 to over $1 million. The privacy of Lake Columbia is kept up through annual membership dues required every year. As of 2011, the membership dues are $360 dollars for the first lot owned, and $40 dollars for each additional lot.Each year Lake Columbia offers many events around and on the lake. There are community-oriented events year-round, including fishing tournaments, an annual community-wide garage sale, a golf league, block parties and "trunk-or-treat" at Halloween. Wintertime activities include snowmobiling, ice hockey for kids, ice skating and ice fishing.
Lake Columbia also has one of the most spectacular Fourth of July fireworks displays around Jackson County. It is set up through the Lake Columbia Property Owners Association, and is funded through private donations and the LCPOA.
Parks around Lake Columbia
Private parks located around Lake Columbia:- Archwood - Located off Archwood Circle(off Somerset Dr.)
- Bedford, East - Located off Bedford Dr.
- Bedford, West - Located off Bedford Dr.
- Castlewood - Located off Castlewood Dr.(off Wesch Rd.)
- Claremont - Located off Claremont Circle
- Donald - Located off Claremont Circle
- Grand Pointe - Located off Grand Pointe Dr.
- Hawthorne - Located at the end of Hawthorne / Waverly Ct
- Hilltop - Located at end of Hilltop Ct.(off Nottingham)
- Karen Court - Located off Somerset Dr.
- Kelley - Located off Kelley Rd.
- Nottingham - Located at the end of Nottingham
- Princess - Located off Princess Dr.- across the channel from Archwood Park (off Somerset Dr)
- Riviera - Located off Riviera Dr.(off Kelly Rd.)
- Somerset - Located off Somerset Dr.(off Hayes Rd.)
- Southern Shores - Located off Southern Shores Dr
Local towns and areas
- BrooklynBrooklyn, MichiganBrooklyn is a village in Jackson County of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 1,176. It is located just off U.S. Highway 12 Brooklyn (formerly Swainsville) is a village in Jackson County of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the village...
(located east 1.7 miles (2.7 km)) Population (2000) 1,176 - Cement CityCement City, MichiganCement City is a village in Jackson and Lenawee counties in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 452 at the 2000 census.Cement City is the home of Norman A...
(located southwest 0.8 miles (1.3 km)) Population (2000) 452 - Clark Lake (Jackson County, Michigan)Clark Lake (Jackson County, Michigan)Clark Lake is a small lake in Columbia Township in southern Jackson County in the U.S. state of Michigan.-Local towns and areas:*Brooklyn Population 1,176*Cement City Population 452...
- located north 1.4 miles (2.3 km) - JacksonJackson, MichiganJackson is a city located along Interstate 94 in the south central area of the U.S. state of Michigan, about west of Ann Arbor and south of Lansing. It is the county seat of Jackson County. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 33,534...
(located north approximately 12.9 miles (20.8 km)) Population (2000) City: 36,316 - Metro Area: 163,629 - NapoleonNapoleon, MichiganNapoleon is an unincorporated community in Napoleon Township of Jackson County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is also a Census-designated place for statistical purposes and without any legal status as an incorporated municipality...
(located north east 4.8 miles (7.7 km)) Population (2000) 1,254
Golf Courses
Golf Courses, parks and many other recreational activities surround the lake and provide a person with things to do year round. Lake Columbia is located closely to the Irish Hills, Michigan International Speedway and the downtown area of Brooklyn. There are over 14 different challenging golf courses within 20 miles (32.2 km) of Lake Columbia.| The Grande | Clark Lake | Green Valley | Hills' Heart of the Lakes | Cascades |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 Holes | 27 Holes | 18 Holes | 18 Holes | 18 Holes |
| 7157 yards (6,544.4 m) | 7,000 + Yards | 6035 yards (5,518.4 m) | 5472 yards (5,003.6 m) | 6551 yards (5,990.2 m) |
| Par 72 | Par 72 | Par 70 | Par 69 | Par 72 |
State and local parks
- Clark Lake Park
- Vineyard Lake County Park
- Walter J. Hayes State Park
- Cambridge Junction Historic St. Park
Points of interest
- Michigan International SpeedwayMichigan International SpeedwayMichigan International Speedway is a two-mile moderate-banked D-shaped superspeedway located off U.S. Highway 12 on more than in Brooklyn, in the scenic Irish Hills area of southeastern Michigan. The track is used primarily for NASCAR events. It is sometimes known as a "sister track" to Texas...
- Hidden Lake GardensHidden Lake GardensHidden Lake Gardens colloquially known as Hidden Lake , is a botanical garden and an arboretum operated by Michigan State University situated in the Irish Hills of southeast Michigan. The Gardens are known for their large collection of native and nonnative trees, shrubs and flowers. HLG was given...
- Irish HillsIrish HillsThe Irish Hills is an area of land located roughly in southeastern Jackson County and northwest Lenawee County in the U.S. state of Michigan. Its name comes from the Irish immigrants who settled there from 1830-1850...