Wakefield is located in the western Upper Peninsula about 10 miles (16 km) east of the Wisconsin border.

Mr. Wakefield became interested in logging and real estate and acquired vast tracts of land in the western Upper Peninsula of Michigan in the 1870s and 1880s.

Together with various other capitalists he built sawmills and logged the pine forests of the area, and later became involved in mineral exploration.

He was one of the parties who held interests in the mineral rights to the Sunday Lake mine, as well as a few nearby properties.

Mr. Wakefield was also a major stockholder in the Beacon, Continental, Cosmos, International, and Summit mineral land companies.

The founding of Wakefield and much of its early history was based upon the discovery of iron ore[7] on the east end of Sunday Lake by George A. Fay in 1881.

They all support the larger industries of lumber and plywood mills located in Gogebic County and outlying areas.

After the local mining jobs were lost, many in the community began providing goods and services, which included restaurants, food markets, bakery, bars, gas stations, hardware stores, drug stores and other commerce that supports the needs of the community.

As a typical small town, many are drawn back to participate in the annual old-fashioned July 4 celebration.

The week-long event includes softball tournaments, high school class reunions, homecoming church services, town picnic and concert at Eddy Park, a Sunday Lake run contest, Main Street parade, children's races, and fireworks display over Sunday Lake.

The storm produced flash floods across the area and one confirmed EF0 tornado in nearby Bessemer Township.

In particular, the city of Wakefield was struck with a thunderstorm with straight-line winds around 90 mph which downed numerous trees and power lines, turned over a camper trailer, and tore the roof off of a former ice rink along Sunday Lake.

The City Staff operate from the building and Department of Public Works garage which include:[20] On September 17, 2014, the City Council voted unanimously to approve a one-year Lease with Option to Purchase Agreement with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Marquette for Father Daniel Hall (FDH).

The boilers and some bathrooms were not functioning, the exterior required extensive tuck-pointing and repair, and the building did not meet ADA standards.

The new City Hall, now called the municipal building, was purchased in October 2015 for $101,899 using general funds.

[21] Active commissions include:[22] Current projects are:[23] Completed in 1924 on the south shore of Sunday Lake, the 52,000-square-foot (4,800 m2) Wakefield Memorial Building was the center of the community.

By the late 1950s after the local iron mines closed, the major tax base was lost and the city no longer had adequate funds to operate the Memorial Building.

The harsh winters soon destroyed the roof and the building was soon structurally unsound and in a dilapidated state.

[29] The State Historic Preservation Office did not want the old building torn down[30] but after lengthy negotiations a consensus was reached by the project coordinator[31] and shortly thereafter the City Council approved the demolition.

[32] By late spring 2010 the Michigan State Historic Preservation Office approved the archival records compiled of the memorial building and Wakefield City Hall.

It was originally located on the second floor of the City Hall building on Sunday Lake Street.

The dream for the library dates back to Oct 17, 1934 when a group of local citizens concerned about the literary heritage of their community decided to take action.

The city of Wakefield made its first appropriation of $1,000 to lay the groundwork of the fine community facility we enjoy today.