The city of Leslie lies just east of US 127 in Ingham County on gently rolling hills.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.29 square miles (3.34 km2), all land.

[4] Leslie was first settled by Elijah Woodworth in 1836, who built the first log cabin in the city.

It was originally named Meekerville after a pioneer to the area, Benjamin Meeker.

Jerry G. Cornell named the town after a prominent Leslie family in eastern New York[clarification needed], his home state.

The name Leslie was adopted officially when a post office was assigned to the area in 1841.

Leslie's one public school has an average graduating class of between 100 and 130 students.

In 2005, White Pine Academy built a new facility at 510 Russell Street.

Varsity sports offered at Leslie include basketball, baseball, football, golf, tennis, cross country, track, soccer and wrestling for the boys and basketball, softball, cheerleading, golf, tennis, cross country, track, soccer and volleyball for the girls.

In 2008 the Leslie Blackhawks football team played for the Division VI state championship at Ford Field, but fell short to the Montague Wildcats, 41–20.