[4] The town was platted by John D. Standish in 1871, who owned all of the land in the vicinity.

Before the plat was formally recorded, Standish sold off some of his land in the area.

In 1888 the railroad depot was built by local farmers in the area, each bringing their own materials to help with the construction.

Standish was incorporated as a village in 1893 with James Austin as its president, and later a city in 1903, with Mr. H. Randall was as its first mayor.

By 1912 the city got its first commercial electric lighting for homes and businesses, with power being available between 7 A.M. to Midnight.

By 1926 the city was receiving 24-hour electricity service supplied by the Northern Power Company.

The same year that prohibition on alcohol took effect, 1920, three illegal moonshine stills were confiscated by the sheriff, and local arrests were made.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.15 square miles (5.57 km2), all land.

36.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

In late 2009 the facility was briefly considered as a potential United States site for more than 220 prisoners to be relocated from the Guantanamo Bay detention camp, although neighbors and local residents expressed concern and opposition.

[12][13][14] At the time, Michigan public officials, including both of its senators (Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow) and governor Jennifer Granholm, also objected to the idea.