Lake Ozark

History

A post office called Lake Ozark has been in operation since 1932. The community took its name from the nearby Lake of the Ozarks. Bagnell Dam was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2008. The segment of Bagnell Dam Boulevard from Horse Bend Parkway to the Bagnell Dam is named "Bagnell Dam Strip." There are two muffler mans named Injun Joe and another named Country Bumpkin. The latter was gone from 2013 until 2024. It suffered damage on the shoe part from vandalism a few weeks after returning.

Geography

The city is in western Miller County, with a portion crossing into eastern Camden County. The city sits at the northeast (downstream) end of the Lake of the Ozarks, with the lakeshore forming portions of the city's western border. The city is bordered to the northeast by the town of Bagnell and to the south by the city of Osage Beach. Lake Ozark encircles the smaller, inactive city of Lakeside. U.S. Route 54 passes through the east side of the city, while Route 54 Business passes through the center. US 54 leads north to Eldon and northeast to Jefferson City, the state capital, while to the south it passes through Osage Beach and leads to Camdenton. The Lake of the Ozarks Community Bridge carries Highway MM across the lake from the southwest part of the city; the highway leads west to Sunrise Beach. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city of Lake Ozark has a total area of , of which are land and , or 9.10%, are water. Lake Ozark has a humid subtropical climate. Summers are hot and humid, with thunderstorms and other severe weather common. Winters are generally cold with mild periods, but the temperature of the lake can alter the climate with heavy fog and milder weather than other municipalities further away from the lake. Winters also consist of occasional snowfall of about 10 inches per year.

Race & ethnicity

Largest nearby schools

• OSAGE HIGH
  High · OSAGE BEACH · 666 students · 17.1:1 ratio
• SOUTH ELEM.
  Elementary · ELDON · 566 students · 16.6:1 ratio
• OSAGE MIDDLE
  Middle · OSAGE BEACH · 485 students · 14.7:1 ratio
• OSAGE UPPER ELEM.
  Elementary · OSAGE BEACH · 437 students · 14.1:1 ratio
• ELDON UPPER ELEM.
  Elementary · ELDON · 425 students · 17:1 ratio
• HERITAGE ELEMENTARY
  Elementary · LAKE OZARK · 385 students · 12:1 ratio
• MILLER CO. ELEM.
  Elementary · TUSCUMBIA · 129 students · 9.9:1 ratio
• TUSCUMBIA HIGH
  High · TUSCUMBIA · 52 students · 6.5:1 ratio