Cadillac, Michigan is located in the northwest of the Lower Penninsula. Since we live 'under the bridge' people from the Upper Peninsula (Yoopers), will jokingly refer to us as 'trolls'. Unlike a lot of my international co-workers, my hometown doesn't have a very long history (it was only incorporated in 1870) but it's fun to see the history reflected in the names of the places around the area.

The city is named after French explorer Antoine Laumet, dit de La Mothe, sieur de Cadillac who lead the party that founded Detroit. Despite the connection to Detroit and the name, we don't actually make Cadillacs in Cadillac, we make Four Winns boats.

Cadillac is the current county seat for Wexford County. The county was originally called Kautowaubet meaning 'land of water', but was changed to Wexford in 1840. Cadillac wasn't always the county seat. Because of a political dispute, the seat moved to the neighboring town of Manton, but some people in Cadillac didn't like that decision. They decided (presumably with some help from alcohol) to go over to the court house in Manton and steal the records back which triggered the short Battle of Manton. Cadillac has been the county seat ever since.

As hinted in the original county name, the area is covered in lakes, swamps and streams. Cadillac itself is situated on two large lakes, Lake Cadillac and Lake Mitchell. These lakes had previously been known as Little and Big Clam Lake, but were renamed after the town and one of the city's most prominent lumber family, the Mitchell's. The old name is still preserved in the one of the township names (Clam Lake Township) and the Clam Lake Community Band.

I actually did not grow up in Cadillac, I lived about 3 miles outside of town on a much smaller lake. Though previously known as Frog Lake, it's now known as Berry Lake. Both names are equally apt, but the wild strawberries didn't keep me awake at night like the peepers did!

Cadillac is a popular tourist destination because of its natural beauty. In 2007 it was featured in the book 101 Best Outdoor Towns: Unspoiled Places to Visit, Live & Play. Winter brings people up to go snowmobiling, cross country or downhill skiing at Caberfae Ski Resort. Cadillac holds the North American Snow(mobile) Festival in late January/early February on the frozen Lakes. During the spring and summer people come to go camping, fishing or even just boating on one of the many lakes in the area. If you're lucky, you might even find some highly-prized Morel mushrooms in the woods or get a chance to taste some chestnuts from some of the rare trees in the area that survived the Chestnut Blight. In the fall "Color Tours" bring tourists from all over to enjoy the changing of the leaves and perfect temperatures for hiking.