In 1872, J.L. Shaw and others built two small settlements on a lake on the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad. These were known as North Fife Lake and Fyfe Lane, which were on the north and west sides of Fife Lake, respectively. In 1867, these towns united into Fife Lake. Today on maps, the divide between the former villages is still clearly visible. The lake was named after William H. Fife of nearby Yuba. Later that year, Fife Lake Township was created. The first church inthe village was established in 1884. In 1889, Fife Lake was incorporated as a village. The village annually hosts the Fife Lake Ice Fishing Derby near the end of January. The contest is based on how well the contestants are at ice fishing.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of, of which is land and is water.
As of the census of 2010, there were 443 people, 189 households, and 110 families residing in the village. The population density was. There were 265 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the village was 95.7% White, 0.7% African American, 1.6% Native American, and 2.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.8% of the population. There were 189 households, of which 27.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.2% were married couplesliving together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 41.8% were non-families. 30.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.89. The median age in the village was 41.1 years. 22.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.4% were from 25 to 44; 29.3% were from 45 to 64; and 15.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 49.0% male and 51.0% female.
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 466 people, 185 households, and 120 families residing in the village. The population density was 632.1 per square mile. There were 256 housing units at an average density of 347.3 per square mile. The racial makeup of the village was 90.77% White, 0.64% African American, 3.22% Native American, and 5.36% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.21% of the population. There were 185 households, out of which 35.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.4% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.6% were non-families. 28.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.07. In the village, the population was spread out, with 28.8% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 30.5% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 9.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.4 males. The median income for a household in the village was $32,361, and the median income for a family was $42,188. Males had a median income of $32,083 versus $24,375 for females. The per capita income for the village was $19,024. About 9.4% of families and 13.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.0% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.
Fife Lake used to be a station on the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad. Today, it is served by the Great Lakes Central Railroad. However, Fife Lake is no longer a station.
