city, seat (1882) of Wexford county, northwestern Lower Peninsula of Michigan, U.S. It lies on the shores of Lakes Cadillac and Mitchell (linked by a canal), some 100 miles (160 km) north of Grand Rapids. Settled by lumbermen in the 1860s and incorporated in 1875 as the village of Clam Lake, it was renamed at its incorporation as a city in 1877 for the founder of Detroit, Antoine Laumet de La Mothe Cadillac (Cadillac, Antoine Laumet de La Mothe).

Cadillac is the headquarters of Huron and Manistee national forests and is a year-round resort noted for boating, fishing, and winter sports; nearby Caberfae Peaks is a noted ski area. Cadillac is also the location of the northern trailhead for White Pine Trail State Park (opened 1995), which runs 92 miles (148 km) on an abandoned railbed from Comstock Park, north of Grand Rapids. An extensive system of trails within and around the city have been developed for hiking, bicycling, skiing, and snowmobiling. The North American Snowmobile Festival is held there annually in February. The city's economy is now balanced between light manufacturing (rubber, plastic, and metal products, as well as boats, auto parts, vacuum cleaners, and industrial equipment), tourism, and agriculture. Pop. (2000) 10,000; (2005 est.) 10,167.