Lake Leelanau, MI

Lake Leelanau is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Leelanau County, Michigan, near the lake of the same name. The 2020 census counted 229 residents. Lake Leelanau is situated along M-204 at the "narrows" that separate North and South Lake Leelanau. The community is divided between Leland Township and Suttons Bay Township. Lake Leelanau makes sense once you see how its past, landscape, and current gathering spots overlap. The useful thing to know about Lake Leelanau is that its older landmarks and current settings belong to one connected place. The Native Americans who first inhabited the area called this land ke-ski-bi-ag, which means "narrow body of water," and called the lake itself lee-lan-au, which means "delight of life". The narrows connect North and South Lake Leelanau. The community of Lake Leelanau is in northeastern Leelanau County and the southeastern part of Leland Township.