Local folk-lore has it that the name came from the city fathers not being able to agree on a new name until they saw a fleecy white cloud floating overhead; or that White Cloud received its name from an Indian Chief.

Tradition has it that Colonel Morgan (for which the town was originally named) had a beautiful daughter, Minnie, who was kidnapped by outlaws.   After a harrowing chase the outlaw band was trapped by Chief White Cloud and his Indian band and Minnie was rescued and returned to her father.  In gratitude, Colonel Morgan renamed the thriving lumber town White Cloud.

These stories have never been documented and the truth probably will never be known.  However, historians say that at the time period in which the name of Morgantown was changed, the state legislature was encouraging communities to be named after famous Indians.  At that time there was a renegade Indian named Red Cloud who was on the warpath in the western states and was very much in the news.  The historians also say that at the same timer there was a chief named White Cloud, also resident in the west, who was a model of docility and it was probably this chief who was honored by having a Michigan village named after him.

The White River, one of Michigan's finest trout streams, has it's beginning in underground springs just north of the city and is the setting for White Cloud City Campground, Smith Park and Raceway Park.  Lake White Cloud was formed by impounding the White River at what is now Raceway Park, during the lumbering era to generate electric power.  It now provides the community and surrounding area with excellent swimming, fishing and recreational facilities.  Smith Park, also located on the lake, has a bath house, life guard in season, swimming instruction and playground.  Raceway Park has grills and tables, with excellent trout fishing from the banks. 

Other city parks also have excellent picnic facilities.  The Flowing Well Park on the west side of the city has natural mineral springs and is a popular picnic area.  Many families bring jugs to take home the mineral water.  The White Cloud City Campground (formerly a State Park) is an 89 acre campground with complete services including hot showers, electric and sanitation hookups, and enclosed shelter house with kitchen facilities.  The park is popular with organized camping groups for rallies because of it's enclosed shelter and close proximity to the shopping district and other activities.

White Cloud Public Schools are consolidated with the surrounding area and daily nearly 2,000 students are transported into the city.   The High School, new in 1993, was uniquely designed, incorporating the old high school into the middle school, utilizing shared resources.  Jack Jones Elementary school was enlarged in 1992 to accommodate a growing number of students in the area.   A good relationship exists between the school and the community with school facilities used for community activities and organized recreation programs.

Ten churches in the immediate area minister to the spiritual needs of the people.  Nearly every major denomination is represented.

Little League, Senior League, Men and Women's Softball League, Boy & Girl Scouts, 4-H, Senior Citizens Clubs, Lions and Lioness' Clubs, Rotary Club, Zonta Club, VFW, Masons, Eastern Star, Garden Club, Craft Clubs, Historical Society and organized recreation programs occupy the leisure hours of residents and visitors alike.

The health needs of the community are served by two fine local clinics and pharmacies; a well staffed dental facility and a generous selection of medical and dental professionals in Fremont, Grant and Newaygo.  Gerber Hospital is located in Fremont, 16 miles from the city.  The county ambulance service maintains a well equipped ambulance in the city with trained para-professionals serving as drivers and attendants.  Other emergency needs of the area are met by the dedicated members of the White Cloud volunteer Fire Department which is a part of the Rural Fire Board that serves the residents of the surrounding area.  The twenty volunteers of the White Cloud Fire Department has available two 750 gallon pumpers, one 1,200 gallon tanker, and a rescue wagon equipped for many kinds of emergencies including extracting trapped accident victims, aiding victims of heart failures and drowning, as well as being used at the scene of fires.  All members of the department take regular upgrading classes to keep abreast of the latest fire fighting and rescue techniques.

The White Cloud Community Library is known as one of the finest small city libraries in Michigan with access to the great resources of the regional and state libraries through automated circulation connection with the Lakeland Library Cooperative.  The historical department of the library is drawing patrons from throughout the United States to trace family histories in the extensive collection of local and count records maintained in the library by the Newaygo County Society of History and Genealogy.

Newaygo County has 234 natural lakes and ponds, 356 miles of rivers and streams covering 12,543 acres; almost 350,000 acres of forest land and five progressive cities.  White Cloud is the center of this prime recreational and industrial county.