Manitou Beach–Devils Lake is a census-designated place (CDP) in Lenawee County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population of the CDP was 2,032 at the 2020 census. It is located within Rollin Township to the south and Woodstock Township to the north.

The census-designated place consists of the unincorporated communities of Devils Lake, Geneva, and Manitou Beach and includes the larger lakes of Devils Lake and Round Lake.

Communities

  • Devils Lake is at the northern end of Devils Lake on U.S. Route 223 at .
  • Geneva is at the south end of the smaller Round Lake to the southeast, at .
  • Manitou Beach is at the southwest end of Devils Lake at , approximately southwest of Devils Lake and about east-southeast of Addison. Manitou Beach contains its own post office that uses the 49523 ZIP Code that serves the majority of the CDP and parts of the surrounding area.

History

thumb|left|250px|Extensive damage to the area during the [[1965 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak]]

thumb|left|250px|U.S. Post Office in Manitou Beach

Devil's Lake was a Potawatami village until about 1830. Most of the people were forced west of the Mississippi River after passage of the Indian Removal Act that year under President Andrew Jackson.

Manitou Beach was first noted by Euro-American settlers in the early 1830s. By the turn of the 20th century, it became a favored resort in southeast Michigan. It quickly outgrew the comparably sized community of Devils Lake at the north end of the lake. Steam launches ferried tourists from the depot to the hotels and attractions, which included bath houses, a dance pavilion, pleasure craft rental facilities, a water slide, picnic areas and eating establishments. The name 'Manitou Beach' is derived from the Potawatomi name of Devils Lake, "Michemanetue'", meaning, "Lake of God (Michi Mantitou is a variation of the Ojibwe word for the Creator)

The Manitou Beach post office was established on March 20, 1889, with Columbus F. Becker as the first postmaster. The office was discontinued on December 31, 1892, and reestablished on January 17, 1893. Manitou Beach was a station on the Cincinnati, Jackson and Mackinaw Railroad (later part of the Cincinnati Northern Railway).

Devil's Lake was said to have been named by Potawatomi leader Meteau (or Mitteau) after his daughter drowned in the lake and her body was never recovered. As she had been an able swimmer, Meteau believed her to have been taken by evil spirits.

The first European-American, or white, settlers arrived here in 1833. The Devils Lake post office was established on October 19, 1885, with John B. Allen as the first postmaster. The office was discontinued on October 31, 1936. The Detroit, Toledo and Milwaukee Railroad had a stop at Devil's Lake.

In the late 20th century, the Manitou Beach region was devastated by two F4 tornadoes during the April 11, 1965 Palm Sunday Tornado Outbreak. Most of what was destroyed was rebuilt, including the dance hall and two churches. Over the course of the past five decades, the resort has had few reminders of the tornado.

The Devils Lake Drive-In-Church, a drive-in movie theater, closed its doors after 58 seasons due to the death of its operator. The Manitou Beach Inn, a long-time staple of the business community, was destroyed by fire January 3, 2010. When the inn was rebuilt, it helped start revitalization of the historic business district along Walnut Street.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of , of which is land and (31.99%) is water.

As of the census