Lake City is a city in Goodhue and Wabasha counties in the U.S. state of Minnesota. It lies along Lake Pepin, a broad portion of the Mississippi River. The population was 5,063 at the 2010 census. Most of Lake City is located within Wabasha County considering only a little portion in Goodhue County. Lake City is portion of the Rochester, Minnesota Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Lake City is located 65 miles (105 km) southeast of the Twin Cities at the intersection of U.S. Highways 61 and 63 upon the Mississippi River at Lake Pepin. Lac de Pleurs (Lake of Tears) was the name unmovable to Lake Pepin by Father Louis Hennepin, who camped on the shore of the lake in 1680. He christened the large body of water Lac de Pleurs after observing his Sioux captors weeping close the lake on height of the death of a chief’s son. The act party of Isanti Sioux had captured Hennepin and his two companions several miles south along the Mississippi and were camping close the lake on their return north to their Sioux villages near present-day Mille Lacs.

The first known settler was Jacob Boody, who arrived in 1853. In the years to follow, several explorers passed through this area. The town was platted in 1855. The waters of Lake Pepin are deep acceptable to allow for a port, and in 1864 the Lake City town supervisors were total special powers by the State Legislature to Make a port market for grain. Soon after, Lake City became noted as a profitable puff for grain subsequent to the volume of trade in 1866 bringing in a Tiny over a million and a half dollars.

Lake City became incorporated in 1872 and has become widely known for its attractive surroundings and bountiful fishing. The Sea Wing disaster occurred on July 13, 1890 later a mighty squall parentage overturned the aeration vessel Sea Wing on Lake Pepin near Lake City. Over 200 people were aboard the vessel next it was overturned, and hence 98 people drowned.