State of Michigan
Flag of Michigan Seal Nickname(s): The Wolverine State, The Great Lakes State, The Automotive State, Water-Winter Wonderland Motto(s): Si quaeris peninsulam amoenam circumspice (If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you)
Official language(s)	None (English, de-facto)
Demonym	Michigander Michiganian
Capital	Lansing
Largest city	Detroit
Largest metro area	Metro Detroit
Area	Ranked 11th in the US
- Total	97,990 sq mi (253,793 km²)
- Width	239 miles (385 km)
- Length	491 miles (790 km)
- % water	41. The Flag of the US state of Michigan depicts the state's Coat-of-arms on a dark blue field as set forth by Michigan state law The Great Seal of the State of Michigan depicts the US State 's Coat of arms on a light blue field This is a list of US state nicknames, including officially adopted Nicknames and other traditional nicknames for individual states of the United States. Here is a list of state Mottos for the states of the United States of America. Si quaeris peninsulam amoenam circumspice ( Latin "If you seek a pleasant peninsula look about you" sometimes spelled "Si quæris peninsulam amœnam The United States does not have an Official language; however the majority of the population speaks English as a native language (about 82% A demonym or gentilic is a word that denotes the members of a People or the inhabitants of a place Washington DC has been the capital of the United States since 1800 This is a list of the largest cities of US states by population Table of United States Metropolitan Statistical Areas|Table of United States Core Based Statistical AreasIn the United States, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB has produced The Detroit metropolitan area, often referred to as Metro Detroit, is the metropolitan area located in Southeast Area is a Quantity expressing the two- Dimensional size of a defined part of a Surface, typically a region bounded by a closed Curve. This is a complete list of the states of the United States and its major territories ordered by total area, land area, and water area The square mile is an imperial and US unit of Area equal the area of a square of one statute mile. Square Kilometre ( US spelling square kilometer) symbol km2, is a decimal multiple of the SI unit of The kilometre ( American spelling: kilometer) symbol km is a unit of Length in the Metric system, equal to one thousand 5
- Latitude	41° 42′ N to 48° 16′ N
- Longitude	82° 25′ W to 90° 25′ W
Population	Ranked 8th in the US
- Total	9,938,444
- Density	179/sq mi  67. In Biology a population is the collection of inter-breeding organisms of a particular Species; in Sociology This is a list of states of the United States by population (with inhabited non-state jurisdictions included for comparison as of July 1, 2007, according to the This article is a list of the 50 US States ordered by Population density. 55/km² (15th in the US)
- Median income	$44,627 (21st)
Elevation
- Highest point	Mount Arvon[1] 1,979 ft  (603 m)
- Mean	902 ft  (275 m)
- Lowest point	Lake Erie[1] 571 ft  (174 m)
Admission to Union	January 26, 1837 (26th)
Governor	Jennifer Granholm (D)
Lieutenant Governor	John D. Cherry (D)
U.S. Senators	Carl Levin (D) Debbie Stabenow (D)
Congressional Delegation	List
Time zones
- most of state	Eastern: UTC-5/-4
- 4 U.P. counties	Central: UTC-6/-5
Abbreviations	MI Mich. US-MI
Website	www.michigan.gov

Michigan (IPA: /ˈmɪʃɨgən/, roughly MISH-uh-gun, or MISH-uh-ginn)^[2] is a Midwestern state of the United States of America, located in the east north central states, as defined by the United States Census Bureau. Household income is a measure of current private income commonly used by the United States government and private institutions Wikipedia_talkFeatured_lists#Proposed_change_to_all_featured_lists for an explanation of this and other inclusion tags below --> Mount Arvon, elevation 1979 feet (603 m located in L'Anse Township, Baraga County is the highest point in the U Lake Erie (ˈɪəriː is the fourth largest Lake (by surface area of the five Great Lakes, and the tenth largest globally Wikipedia_talkFeatured_lists#Proposed_change_to_all_featured_lists for an explanation of this and other inclusion tags below -->This is a list of U Events 1340 - King Edward III of England is declared King of France. Year 1837 ( MDCCCXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common A governor is a governing official usually the executive (at least nominally to different degrees also politically and administratively of a non-sovereign level of government Jennifer Mulhern Granholm (born February 5 1959 in Vancouver British Columbia) is a Canadian -born American Politician, former Attorney This is a complete and current List of United States Lieutenant Governors. John D Cherry (born May 5, 1951) is the current Lieutenant Governor of the U The United States Senate is the Upper house of the bicameral United States Congress, the Lower house being the House of Representatives Carl Milton Levin (born June 28, 1934) is a Democratic United States Senator from Michigan and is the Chairman of the Senate Deborah Ann "Debbie" Stabenow (born Deborah Ann Greer on April 29, 1950) is a Democratic United States Senator from The United States Congress is the bicameral Legislature of the federal government of the United States of America, consisting of two houses This is a complete listing of all historical congressional delegations from Michigan to the United States Senate and United States House of Representatives This is a list of United States of America States by time zone Daylight saving time ( DST The Upper Peninsula of Michigan is the northern of the two major land masses that comprise the U Daylight saving time ( DST The traditional abbreviations for US states and territories were widely used in mailing addresses prior to the introduction of two-letter U ISO 3166-2US is an ISO standard which defines Geocodes it is the subset of ISO 3166-2 which applies to the United States of America. A website (alternatively web site or Web site, a back-construction from the Proper noun World Wide Web) is a collection of Web pages A US state is any one of the fifty subnational entities of the United States of America that share Sovereignty with the federal government The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The East North Central States form one of the nine geographic divisions within the United States which are officially recognized by the United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (officially Bureau of the Census as defined in Title) is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census It was named after Lake Michigan, whose name is a French adaptation of the Ojibwe term mishigami, meaning "large water" or "large lake". Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America, and the only one located entirely within the United States. French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people ^[3][4]

Bounded by four of the five Great Lakes, plus Lake Saint Clair, Michigan has the longest freshwater shoreline in the world. The Laurentian Great Lakes are a chain of freshwater lakes located in eastern North America, on the Canada–United States border. Lake St Clair ( French Lac Sainte-Claire) is a Lake that lies between Ontario, Canada, and Michigan in the ^[5] In 2005, Michigan ranked third for the number of registered recreational boats, behind California and Florida. California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. Florida ( is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States, bordering Alabama to the northwest and Georgia to the ^[6] A person in Michigan is never more than 85 miles (137 km) from open Great Lakes water and is never more than six miles (10 km) from a natural water source. The Great Lakes that border Michigan from east to west are Lake Erie, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan and Lake Superior. Lake Erie (ˈɪəriː is the fourth largest Lake (by surface area of the five Great Lakes, and the tenth largest globally Lake Huron, bounded on the west by the US state of Michigan, and on the east by the province of Ontario, Canada, is one of the five Great Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America, and the only one located entirely within the United States. Lake Superior is the largest of the five Great Lakes of North America.

Michigan is the only state to consist entirely of two peninsulas. The Lower Peninsula of Michigan, to which the name Michigan was originally applied, is sometimes dubbed "the mitten," owing to its shape. The Lower Peninsula of Michigan is surrounded by water on all sides except its southern border which it shares with Ohio and Indiana. When asked where in Michigan one comes from, a resident of the Lower Peninsula may often point to the corresponding part of his or her hand. The Upper Peninsula (often referred to as The U. The Upper Peninsula of Michigan is the northern of the two major land masses that comprise the U P. ) is separated from the Lower Peninsula by the Straits of Mackinac, a five-mile (8 km)-wide channel that joins Lake Huron to Lake Michigan. The Straits of Mackinac (ˈmækɨnɔː like MACK-in-aw note the silent "c" is the strip of water that connects two of the Great Lakes, Lake Michigan Lake Huron, bounded on the west by the US state of Michigan, and on the east by the province of Ontario, Canada, is one of the five Great Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America, and the only one located entirely within the United States. The Upper Peninsula (whose residents are often called "Yoopers") is economically important for tourism and natural resources.

The Upper and Lower Peninsulas are connected by the five-mile (8 km)-long Mackinac Bridge, which is the third longest suspension bridge between anchorages in the world. The Mackinac Bridge (ˈmækɨnɔː with a silent "c" at the end of the word is a Suspension bridge spanning the Straits of Mackinac to connect the This article is concerned with a particular type of suspension bridge the suspended-deck type The bridge has given rise to the nickname of "trolls" for residents of the Lower Peninsula, for they live "under" (south of) the bridge. A troll is a fearsome member of a race of creatures from Norse mythology.

Contents 1 History 1.1 17th century 1.2 18th century 1.3 19th century 1.4 20th century to present 2 Government 2.1 Law 2.2 Politics 2.3 Administrative divisions 3 Geography 3.1 Protected lands 3.2 Climate 3.3 Geology 4 Demographics 4.1 Religion 5 Economy 5.1 Taxation 5.2 Agriculture 5.3 Tourism 6 Transportation 6.1 Railroads 6.2 Roadways 7 Important cities and townships 8 Education 8.1 Colleges and universities 8.2 Community colleges and technical schools 9 Professional sports teams 9.1 Former professional teams 10 State symbols and nicknames 11 Facts 11.1 Sister states 12 See also 13 References 14 Further reading 15 External links

History

See also: Timeline of Michigan history, History of railroads in Michigan, and History of Detroit

Michigan was home to various Native Americans centuries before colonization by Europeans. Natural history 13000 BC to 12000 BC The most recent of four major Glaciers ( Wisconsin glaciation) started to recede leaving Railroads have been vital in the history of the Population and Trade of rough and finished Goods in the state of Michigan. The city of Detroit developed from a small French fort in the 18th century to one of the largest American cities in the early 20th century Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples from the regions of North America now encompassed by the continental United States The start of the European colonization of the Americas is typically dated to 1492 although there was at least one earlier colonization effort When the first European explorers arrived, the most populous and influential tribes were Algonquian peoples—specifically, the Ottawa, the Anishnabe (called "Chippewa" in French, after their language, "Ojibwe"), and the Potawatomi. This article is about the large number of peoples speaking Algonquian languages. The Ojibwa or Chippewa (also Ojibwe, Ojibway, Chippeway) is the largest group of Native Americans - First Nations The Potawatomi (also spelled Pottawatomie and Pottawatomi, among many variations) are a Native American people of the upper Mississippi The Anishnabe, whose numbers are estimated to have been between 25,000 and 35,000, were the most populous.

Although the Anishnabe were well-established in Michigan's Upper Peninsula and northern Lower Peninsula, they also inhabited northern Ontario, northern Wisconsin, southern Manitoba, and northern and north-central Minnesota. Ontario (ɒnˈtɛrioʊ is a province located in the central part of Canada, the largest by population and second largest after Quebec Wisconsin ( or wɪˈskɑnsɨn (French Ouisconsin) is one of the fifty United States of America, located in the north central part of the United States Manitoba (English ˌmænɨˈtoʊbə French /manitoba/ is a province of Canada, spanning 647797 square kilometres (250116  sq mi of North America Minnesota ( Native Americans demonstrated the name to early settlers The Ottawa lived primarily south of the Straits of Mackinac in northern and western Michigan, while the Potawatomi were primarily in the southwest. The three nations co-existed peacefully as part of a loose confederation called the Council of Three Fires. The Council of Three Fires, also known as the People of the Three Fires, the Three Fires Confederacy, the United Nations of Chippewa Ottawa and Potawatomi Other First Nations people in Michigan, in the south and east, were the Mascouten, the Menominee, the Miami, and the Wyandot, who are better known by their French name, "Huron". The Mascouten (also Mascoutin, Mathkoutench, or Musketoon) were a tribe of Algonquian-speaking native Americans who are believed to Some placenames use other spellings see also Menomonee and Menomonie. The Miami are a Native American tribe originally found in Indiana, southwest Michigan and Ohio, and now living also in Oklahoma "Huron" redirects here For other uses see Huron (disambiguation.

17th century

French voyageurs explored and settled in Michigan in the 17th century. A coureur des bois (runner of the woods was an individual who engaged in the Fur trade without permission from the French authorities The first Europeans to reach what later became Michigan were those of Étienne Brûlé's expedition in 1622. Étienne Brûlé ( c 1592 ( Champigny-sur-Marne, France) &ndash c The first European settlement was made in 1641 on the site where Father (Père, in French) Jacques Marquette established Sault Sainte-Marie in 1668. Father Jacques Marquette ( June 1, 1637 &ndash May 18, 1675) was a French Missionary who founded Michigan Sault Ste Marie (ˌsuːseɪntməˈriː is the oldest city in both the state of Michigan and in the entire

Saint Ignace was founded in 1671 and Marquette in 1675. Saint Ignace, usually written as St Ignace, is a city in the U Marquette is a city in the US state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 19661 with the 2007 population estimated placing it Together with Sault Sainte-Marie, they are the three oldest cities in Michigan. "The Soo" (Sault Ste. Marie) has the distinction of being the oldest city in both Michigan and Ontario. It was split into two cities in 1818, a year after the U. S. -Canada boundary in the Great Lakes was finally established by the U. S. -U. K. Joint Border Commission.

In 1679, Lord La Salle of France directed the construction of the Griffin, the first European sailing vessel on the upper Great Lakes. René Robert Cavelier Sieur de La Salle, or Robert de LaSalle ( November 22, 1643 &ndash March 19, 1687) was a French Built by René Robert Cavelier Sieur de La Salle, Le Griffon is considered to have been the first full-sized Sailing ship on the upper Great That same year, La Salle built Fort Miami at present-day St. Joseph. St Joseph is a city in the US state of Michigan. It was incorporated as a village in 1834 and as a city in 1891

18th century

In 1701, French explorer and army officer Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac founded Le Fort Ponchartrain du Détroit or “Fort Ponchartrain on-the-Strait” on the strait between Lakes St. Antoine Laumet de La Mothe sieur de Cadillac (1658-1730 was the founder of Detroit, Michigan. Fort Pontchartrain du Détroit or Fort Détroit was a Fort established by the French officer Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac in 1701 Clair and Erie, known as the Detroit River. The Detroit River is a river in the Great Lakes system about 32 miles (51 km long and 0 Cadillac had convinced King Louis XIV's chief minister, Louis Phélypeaux, Comte de Pontchartrain, that a permanent community there would strengthen French control over the upper Great Lakes and repel British aspirations. Early years Birth and ancestry Louis XIV was born in the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye on September 5 1638 and bore the Heir apparent Louis Phélypeaux (1643 &ndash 1727 marquis de Phélypeaux (1667 comte de Maurepas (1687 comte de Pontchartrain (1699 known as the chancellor de Pontchartrain The Kingdom of Great Britain, also known as the United Kingdom of Great Britain, was a State in northwest Europe, in existence from 1707 to 1800

The hundred soldiers and workers who accompanied Cadillac built a fort enclosing one arpent^[7][8] (about . An arpent is the name given to a unit of Length and to a unit of Area. 85 acre, the equivalent of just under 200 feet (61 m) per side) and named it Fort Pontchartrain. Fort Pontchartrain du Détroit or Fort Détroit was a Fort established by the French officer Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac in 1701 Cadillac's wife, Marie Thérèse, soon moved to Detroit, becoming one of the first white women to settle in the Michigan wilderness. Marie Thérèse or Marie-Thérèse may refer to Marie-Thérèse Assiga Ahanda, Cameroonian novelist and chemist Marie-Thérèse The town quickly became a major fur-trading and shipping post. The fur trade is a worldwide industry dealing in the acquisition and sale of animal Fur. The “Église de Saint-Anne,” or Church of Saint Ann, was founded the same year. While the original building does not survive, the congregation of that name continues to be active today.

At the same time, the French strengthened Fort Michilimackinac at the Straits of Mackinac to better control their lucrative fur-trading empire. Fort Michilimackinac was an 18th century French, and later British, fort and trading post in the Great Lakes of North America. By the mid-eighteenth century, the French also occupied forts at present-day Niles and Sault Ste. Niles is a city near South Bend, Indiana in Berrien County in the U Marie. However, most of the rest of the region remained unsettled by whites.

From 1660 to the end of French rule, Michigan was part of the Royal Province of New France. The Viceroyalty of New France (Nouvelle-France was the area colonized by France in North America during a period extending from the exploration of the ^[9] In 1759, following the Battle of the Plains of Abraham, in the French and Indian War (1754–1763), Québec City fell to British forces. The Battle of the Plains of Abraham, also known as the Battle of Quebec, was a pivotal battle in the French and Indian War, the North American theatre of the The French and Indian War (1754&ndash1763 was the North American chapter of the Seven Years' War. Under the 1763 Treaty of Paris, Michigan and the rest of New France passed to Great Britain. The Treaty of Paris, often called the Peace of Paris, or the Treaty of 1763, was signed on February 10, 1763, by the kingdoms of Great Britain

During the American Revolutionary War, Detroit was an important British supply center, but most of the inhabitants were either Native Americans or French Canadians. In this article the inhabitants of the thirteen colonies that supported the American Revolution are primarily referred to as "Americans" with occasional references to "Patriots" Because of imprecise cartography and unclear language defining the boundaries in the 1763 Treaty of Paris, the British retained control of Detroit and Michigan. When Quebec was split into Lower and Upper Canada in 1790, Michigan was part of Kent County, Upper Canada. The Province of Lower Canada (French Province du Bas-Canada) was a British colony on the lower Saint Lawrence River and the shores of the The Province of Upper Canada (French Province du Haut-Canada) was a British colony located in what is now the southern portion of the Province of Ontario Kent County area is a historic county in the Canadian province of Ontario. It held its first democratic elections in August 1792 to send delegates to the new provincial parliament at Newark (now Niagara-on-the-Lake). ^[10]

Under terms negotiated in the 1794 Jay Treaty, Britain withdrew from Detroit and Michilimackinac in 1796. The Jay Treaty, also known as the Treaty of London of 1794, between the United States and Great Britain averted war solved many issues left over from Questions remained over the boundary for many years, and the United States did not have uncontested control of the Upper Peninsula and Drummond Island until 1818 and 1847, respectively. Drummond Township is a Civil township of Chippewa County in the U

19th century

During the War of 1812, Michigan Territory (effectively consisting of Detroit and the surrounding area) was captured by the British and nominally returned to Upper Canada. The War of 1812 was fought between the United States of America and the British Empire, particularly Great Britain and her North American colonies Michigan Territory was an Organized territory of the United States in the early 19th century between June 30, 1805 and January 26 American forces forced the British out in 1813 and pushed into Canada.

The Treaty of Ghent implemented the policy of "Status Quo Ante Bellum" or "Just as Things Were Before the War. The Treaty of Ghent ( signed on December 24 1814, in Ghent, currently in Belgium, was the peace treaty that ended the War of 1812 " That meant Michigan stayed American, and the agreement to establish a joint U. S. -UK boundary commission also remained valid. Subsequent to the findings of that commission in 1817, control of the Upper Peninsula and of islands in the St. Clair River delta was transferred from Ontario to Michigan in 1818. Navigation on St Clair Riverjpg|thumb|250px|Great Lakes Freighters navigating on the lower St Mackinac Island (to which the British had moved their Michilimackinac army base) was transferred to the U. S. in 1847.

The population grew slowly until the opening of the Erie Canal in 1825. The Erie Canal is a popular canal in New York state from the Hudson River to Lake Erie, approximately 360 miles connecting the Great Lakes This brought a large influx of settlers to Michigan because it made transportation by ships through the Great Lakes possible. By the 1830s, Michigan had some 80,000 residents, which were more than enough to apply for statehood.

In 1836 a state government was formed, although Congressional recognition of the state was delayed pending resolution of a boundary dispute with Ohio. The United States Congress is the bicameral Legislature of the federal government of the United States of America, consisting of two houses Both states claimed a 468-square-mile (1,210 km²) strip of land that included the newly incorporated city of Toledo on Lake Erie and an area to the west then known as the "Great Black Swamp. This article is about the city in Ohio, USA. For Toledo Spain, see that article The Great Black Swamp, or simply Black Swamp, was a glacially caused Wetland in northwest Ohio, United States, extending " The dispute came to be called the Toledo War. The Toledo War (1835–1836 also known as the Ohio-Michigan War, was the mostly bloodless boundary dispute between the U Michigan and Ohio militia maneuvered in the area but never exchanged fire. Congress awarded the "Toledo Strip" to Ohio. The Toledo War (1835–1836 also known as the Ohio-Michigan War, was the mostly bloodless boundary dispute between the U Michigan received the western part of the Upper Peninsula as a concession and formally entered the Union on January 26, 1837. Events 1340 - King Edward III of England is declared King of France. Year 1837 ( MDCCCXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common

Thought to be nearly valueless, the Upper Peninsula was discovered to be a rich and important source of lumber, iron, and copper. Lumber or timber is Wood in any of its stages from felling through readiness for use as structural Material for Construction, or Iron (ˈаɪɚn is a Chemical element with the symbol Fe (ferrum and Atomic number 26 Copper (ˈkɒpɚ is a Chemical element with the symbol Cu (cuprum and Atomic number 29 These became the state's most sought-after natural resources and generated early wealth. Geologist Douglass Houghton and land surveyor William Austin Burt were among the first to document many of these resources. A geologist is a contributor to the Science of Geology, studying the physical structure and processes of the Earth and planets of the solar system Douglass Houghton ( September 21, 1809 &ndash October 13, 1845) was an American Geologist and Physician, primarily William Austin Burt ( June 13, 1792 &ndash August 18, 1858) was an American Inventor, Legislator, surveyor Developers rushed to the state. Michigan led the nation in lumber production from 1850s to the 1880s. The lumber harvested in Michigan was shipped to the rapidly developing prairie states, Chicago, to the eastern states, and even all of the way to Europe. Chicago (ʃɪˈkɑːgoʊ is the largest City by population in the state of Illinois and the American Midwest of the United States. The Eastern Half of The United States, the American East, or simply the East is traditionally defined as the states east of the Mississippi River.

The Republican Party was founded in 1854 in Jackson, Michigan by abolitionist Whig Zachariah Chandler. Jackson is a city located along Interstate 94 in the south central area of the U Abolitionism was a political movement of the 18th and 19th century which sought to make Slavery illegal particularly in the United States and British West Indies The Whig Party was a Political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. Zachariah Chandler ( December 10, 1813 &ndash November 1, 1879) was Mayor of Detroit (1851–52 a four-term Michigan made a significant contribution to the Union in the American Civil War and sent more than forty regiments of volunteers to the Federal armies. Michigan made a substantial contribution to the Union during the American Civil War. During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty-three Causes of the war See also Origins of the American Civil War, Timeline of events leading to the American Civil War The coexistence of a slave-owning South A regiment is a Military unit, composed of a variable number of Battalions – commanded by a Colonel. The Union Army was the army that fought for the Union during the American Civil War.

20th century to present

See also: History of Ford Motor Company

Michigan's economy underwent a massive change at the turn of the 20th century. This article is about the History of the Ford Motor Company. For more general information about the company see Ford Motor Company Ford Motor Company is The birth of the automotive industry, with Henry Ford's first plant in Highland Park, marked the beginning of a new era in transportation. Vehicles that can be considered Automobiles were demonstrated as early as 1769 although that date is disputed 1806 marked the introduction of Fuel gas powered Internal Henry Ford ( July 30, 1863 &ndash April 7, 1947) was the American founder of the Ford Motor Company and father of Highland Park is a city in Wayne County in the US state of Michigan. Like the steamship and railroad, it was a far-reaching development. More than the forms of public transportation, the automobile transformed private life. It became the major industry of Detroit and Michigan, and permanently altered the socio-economic life of the United States and much of the world. Grand Rapids, the second-largest city in Michigan, is also a center of automotive manufacturing. Since 1838, the city had also been noted for its thriving furniture industry. Started because of ready sources of lumber, the furniture industry declined in the late 20th century.

In 1910 Michigan held its first primary election. The series of presidential primary elections and caucuses is one of the first steps in the process of electing the President of the United States of America. In 1920 Detroit’s WWJ became the first radio station in the United States to regularly broadcast commercial programs. Throughout that decade, some of the country's largest and most ornate skyscrapers were built in the city. This list of tallest buildings in Detroit ranks Skyscrapers in the U Particularly noteworthy are the Fisher Building, Cadillac Place, and the Guardian Building which are National Historic Landmarks. The Fisher Building (1928 is an ornate skyscraper in the New Center area of Detroit Michigan constructed of Limestone, Granite, and Marble For the downtown Detroit Michigan Office tower known as "Cadillac Tower" see Cadillac Tower. The Guardian Building, designated a National Historic Landmark on June 29, 1989, is a skyscraper in downtown Detroit, Michigan

Detroit boomed through the 1950s, at one point doubling its population in a decade. Housing shortages and racial tension led to outward movement starting after World War II. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including After the 1950s, with suburban sprawl prevalent across the country, Detroit's population began to shift to its suburbs, accelerating after racial strife in the 1960s and high crime rates in the 1970s and 1980s. Government programs such as road-building often facilitated suburban growth.

Michigan is the leading auto producing state in the U. S even though some of the industry has shifted to less expensive labor overseas and in the Southern United States. The Southern United States &mdashcommonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South &mdashconstitutes a large distinctive ^[11] Nevertheless, with more than 10 million residents, Michigan continues to grow and remains a large and influential state, ranking eighth in population among the 50 states.

The Detroit metropolitan area in the southeast corner of the state is the largest metropolitan area in Michigan (roughly 50% of the population resides there) and one of the 10 largest metropolitan areas in the country. A metropolitan area is a large population center consisting of a large Metropolis and its adjacent zone of influence or of more than one closely adjoining neighboring central The Grand Rapids/Holland/Muskegon metropolitan area on the west side of the state is the fastest growing metro area in the state presently, with over 1. Holland is a city in the western region of the Lower Peninsula of the U Muskegon (mus-kēg'n is a city in the US state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 40105 3 million residents as of 2006.

Metro Detroit's population is growing, and Detroit's population is still shrinking, though strong redevelopment in central part of the cities and a significant rise in population in the outskirts of the city are contributing to some population inflow. The Detroit metropolitan area, often referred to as Metro Detroit, is the metropolitan area located in Southeast A period of economic transition, especially in manufacturing, has caused economic difficulties in the region since the recession of 2001. The Early 2000s Recession was felt in mostly Western countries affecting the European Union mostly during 2000 and 2001 and the United States mostly in

In late September 2007 Michigan faced a government shutdown over balancing the budget. Michigan state constitution prohibits spending money without a balanced budget by the start of the fiscal year (October 1). Events 331 BC - Alexander the Great defeats Darius III of Persia in the Battle of Gaugamela. The state faced a $1. 75 billion budget deficit. Governor Jennifer Granholm refused to sign a budget that included cuts to public education, health care, and public safety. Jennifer Mulhern Granholm (born February 5 1959 in Vancouver British Columbia) is a Canadian -born American Politician, former Attorney About 4 hours after midnight on October 1, the Republican-led Senate approved an income tax rate increase to 4. Events 331 BC - Alexander the Great defeats Darius III of Persia in the Battle of Gaugamela. 35% (from 3. 9%). The Senate also approved expanding the state’s 6% sales tax to a broader list of services. The shutdown would have affected 35,000 state employees. ^[12]

Government

See also: List of Michigan Governors, List of United States Senators from Michigan, and List of United States Representatives from Michigan

Law

Lansing is the state capital and is home to all three branches of state government. The Michigan State Capitol is the building housing the legislative and executive branches of the government of the U The following are Governors of the Territory of Michigan and the U Michigan was admitted to the Union on January 26, 1837. Class I This is a list of members of the United States House of Representatives, past and present from the state of Michigan. The Michigan Supreme Court is the highest Court in the US state of Michigan. Washington DC has been the capital of the United States since 1800 The Michigan State Capitol was dedicated in 1879 and has hosted the state's executive and legislative branches ever since. The Michigan State Capitol is the building housing the legislative and executive branches of the government of the U The chief executive is the Governor, and Jennifer Granholm currently holds the office. The Governor of Michigan is the chief executive of the US state of Michigan. Jennifer Mulhern Granholm (born February 5 1959 in Vancouver British Columbia) is a Canadian -born American Politician, former Attorney The legislative branch consists of the bicameral Michigan Legislature, with a House of Representatives and Senate. In Government, bicameralism (bi + Latin la ''camera'' chamber is the practice of having two legislative or Parliamentary chambers Thus a bicameral The Michigan Legislature is the state legislature of the US state of Michigan. The Michigan House of Representatives is the lower body of the Michigan Legislature. The Michigan Senate is the upper body of the Michigan Legislature. The Michigan legislature is a full-time legislature, though some representatives have voiced concerns about the long hours disrupting their home lives and wish to make the job part-time. The Supreme Court of Michigan sits with seven justices. The Michigan Supreme Court is the highest Court in the US state of Michigan. The Michigan Constitution provides for voter initiative and referendum (Article II, § 9,^[13] defined as "the power to propose laws and to enact and reject laws, called the initiative, and the power to approve or reject laws enacted by the legislature, called the referendum. The Constitution of the State of Michigan is the governing document of the U A referendum (plural referendums or referenda) ballot question, or plebiscite (from Latin plebiscita The power of initiative extends only to laws which the legislature may enact under this constitution"). Michigan has two official Governor's Residences; one is in Lansing, and the other is at Mackinac Island. There are two official Governor's Residences in the US state of Michigan. Mackinac Island (ˈmækɨnɔː) is an island covering in land area belonging to the U

Michigan's state universities are immune from control by the legislature, many aspects of the executive branch, and cities in which they are located; but they are not immune from the authority of the courts. Some degree of political control is exercised as the legislature approves appropriations for the schools. Furthermore, the governor appoints the board of trustees of most state universities with the advice and consent of the state Senate. Only the trustees of the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, and Wayne State University are chosen in general elections. The University of Michigan Ann Arbor ( U of M, U-M, UM or simply Michigan) is a top-ranked Coeducational public research Michigan State University ( MSU) is a co-educational public Research university in East Lansing, Michigan USA. Wayne State University is located in Detroit, Michigan, in the city's Midtown Cultural Center.

Michigan was the first state in the Union, as well as the first English-speaking government in the world,^[14][15] to abolish the death penalty, in 1846. Capital punishment has been illegal in the US State of Michigan since 1846 making Michigan's death penalty history unusual in contrast to many other David G. Chardavoyne has suggested that the abolitionist movement in Michigan grew as a result of enmity towards the state's neighbor, Canada, which under British rule made public executions a regular practice. Abolitionism was a political movement of the 18th and 19th century which sought to make Slavery illegal particularly in the United States and British West Indies ^[16]

Politics

The Republican Party dominated Michigan until the Great Depression. In the 1912 election, Michigan was one of the six states to support progressive Republican and third party candidate Theodore Roosevelt for President after he lost the Republican nomination to William Howard Taft. The United States presidential election of 1912 was fought among three major candidates two of whom had previously won election to the office Theodore Roosevelt (ˈroʊzəvɛlt October 27 1858 January 6 1919 also known as T William Howard Taft (September 15 1857 – March 8 1930 was an American politician, the twenty-seventh President of the United States, the tenth Chief Justice In recent years, the state has leaned toward the Democratic Party in national elections. The Democratic Party is one of two major Political parties in the United States, the other being the Republican Party. Michigan supported Democrats in the last four presidential elections. In 2004, John Kerry carried the state over George W. Bush, winning Michigan's 17 electoral votes with 51. } John Forbes Kerry (born December 11 1943 is an American Politician who is currently serving his fourth term as the junior United States Senator George Walker Bush ( born July 6 1946 is the forty-third and current President of the United States. 2% of the vote. Democrats have won each of the last three, and nine of the last ten, U.S. Senate elections in Michigan. The United States Senate is the Upper house of the bicameral United States Congress, the Lower house being the House of Representatives Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm, a Democrat, recently won a second term, defeating Republican candidate Dick DeVos. Dick DeVos (born Richard DeVos Jr October 21, 1955) is a businessman and Republican Politician from Michigan. Republican strength is greatest in the western, northern, and rural parts of the state, especially in the Grand Rapids area. Democrats are strongest in the east, especially in Detroit, Ann Arbor, Flint, and Saginaw. Ann Arbor is a city in the US state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. Flint is a city in the US state of Michigan and is located along the Flint River, 66 miles (106 km northwest of Detroit.

Michigan was the home of Gerald Ford, the 38th President of the United States. Gerald Rudolph Ford Jr (July 14 1913 December 26 2006 was the thirty-eighth President of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977 and the fortieth Vice President The President of the United States is the Head of state and Head of government of the United States and is the highest political official in United States by He was born in Nebraska and moved as an infant to Michigan and grew up there. Nebraska ( is a state located on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States and ^[17][18]

Administrative divisions

Main article: Administrative divisions of Michigan

See also: List of Michigan county seats and List of municipalities in Michigan (by population)

State government is decentralized among three tiers — statewide, county and township. The state of Michigan is largely divided in the same way as many other U The boundaries of the 83 counties in the US state of Michigan have not changed substantially since 1897. List of the top 50 municipalities in Michigan ordered by population Counties are administrative divisions of the state, and townships are administrative divisions of a county. Both of them exercise state government authority, localized to meet the particular needs of their jurisdictions, as provided by state law. There are 83 counties in Michigan. The boundaries of the 83 counties in the US state of Michigan have not changed substantially since 1897.

Cities, state universities, and villages are vested with home rule powers of varying degrees. A city is an Urban area with a large Population and a particular Administrative, Legal, or Historical status A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet, but smaller than a Town or City. Home rule cities can generally do anything that is not prohibited by law. Home rule refers to a demand that constituent parts of a state be given greater self-government within the greater administrative purview of the central government The fifteen state universities have broad power and can do anything within the parameters of their status as educational institutions that is not prohibited by the state constitution. Villages, by contrast, have limited home rule and are not completely autonomous from the county and township in which they are located.

There are two types of township in Michigan: general law township and charter. A civil township is a widely used unit of Local government in the United States, subordinate to a county. Charter township status was created by the Legislature in 1947 and grants additional powers and stream-lined administration in order to provide greater protection against annexation by a city. A charter township is a form of Local government in the US state of Michigan. As of April 2001, there were 127 charter townships in Michigan. In general, charter townships have many of the same powers as a city but without the same level of obligations. For example, a charter township can have its own fire department, water and sewer department, police department, and so on—just like a city—but it is not required to have those things, whereas cities must provide those services. Charter townships can opt to use county-wide services instead, such as deputies from the county sheriff's office instead of a home-based force of ordinance officers.

Geography

See also: Protected areas of Michigan and List of Michigan state parks

Michigan consists of two peninsulas that lie between 82°30' to about 90°30' west longitude, and are separated by the Straits of Mackinac. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is a United States National Lakeshore located along the northwest coast of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan in

The state is bounded on the south by the states of Ohio and Indiana, sharing land and water boundaries with both. Ohio ( is a Midwestern state of the United States. As part of the Great Lakes region, Ohio has long been a cultural and geographical crossroads The State of Indiana ( was the 19th US state admitted into the union Michigan's western boundaries are almost entirely water boundaries, from south to north, with Illinois and Wisconsin in Lake Michigan; then a land boundary with Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula, that is principally demarcated by the Menominee and Montreal rivers; then water boundaries again, in Lake Superior, with Wisconsin and Minnesota to the west, capped around by the Canadian province of Ontario to the north and east. The Menominee River is a river in northwestern Michigan and northeastern Wisconsin in the United States. There are a number of rivers named Montreal River in Canada and the United States Montreal River (Ontario, two rivers in the province of Ontario Canada Wisconsin ( or wɪˈskɑnsɨn (French Ouisconsin) is one of the fifty United States of America, located in the north central part of the United States Minnesota ( Native Americans demonstrated the name to early settlers Ontario (ɒnˈtɛrioʊ is a province located in the central part of Canada, the largest by population and second largest after Quebec The northern boundary then runs completely through Lake Superior, from the western boundary with Minnesota to a point north of and around Isle Royale, thence traveling southeastward through the lake in a reasonably straight line to the Sault Ste. Isle Royale is an island of the Great Lakes, located in the northwest of Lake Superior. Marie area. Windsor, Ontario, once the south bank of Detroit, Upper Canada, has the distinction of being the only part of Canada which lies due south of a part of the lower 48 contiguous United States. Windsor is the southernmost city in Canada and lies at the western end of the heavily populated Quebec City-Windsor Corridor. In Southeastern Michigan there is a water boundary with Canada along the entire lengths of the St. Clair River, Lake St. Clair (including the First Nation reserve of Walpole Island) and the Detroit River. Southeast Michigan, also called Southeastern Michigan, is a region in the Lower Peninsula of the U Navigation on St Clair Riverjpg|thumb|250px|Great Lakes Freighters navigating on the lower St First Nations is a term of Ethnicity that refers to the Aboriginal peoples in Canada who are neither Inuit nor Métis people Walpole Island is an Island and the name of a community in southwestern Ontario, Canada, on the border between Ontario and Michigan The Detroit River is a river in the Great Lakes system about 32 miles (51 km long and 0 The southeastern boundary ends in the western end of Lake Erie with a three-way convergence of Michigan, Ohio and Ontario.

Michigan encompasses 58,110 square miles (150,504 km²) of land, 38,575 square miles (99,909 km²) of Great Lakes waters and 1,305 square miles (3,380 km²) of inland waters. Square Kilometre ( US spelling square kilometer) symbol km2, is a decimal multiple of the SI unit of Only Alaska has more territorial water. Alaska ( Аляска Alyaska) is a state in the United States of America, in the northwest of the North American continent ^[19] At a total of 97,990 square miles (253,793 km²), Michigan is the largest state east of the Mississippi River (inclusive of its territorial waters). The Mississippi River is the second longest River in the United States, with a length of from its source in Lake Itasca in Minnesota to Michigan claims a land area of 58,110 square miles (150,500 km²) of land and 97,990 sq mi (253,790 km²) total, making it the tenth largest state,^[3] but the U. S. Census Bureau claims only 56,803. 82 sq mi (147,121. 22 km²) of land and 96,716. 11 sq mi (250,493. 57 km²) total, making it the 11th largest. Michigan forestland covers nearly 52 percent of the state at 19,300,000 acres (7,800,000 ha). The acre is a unit of Area in a number of different systems including the imperial and U Explanation The hectare is commonly used in most countries around the world especially in domains concerned with land planning and management such as Agriculture, ^[3]

The heavily forested Upper Peninsula is relatively mountainous in the west. The Porcupine Mountains, which are the oldest mountains in North America, rise to an altitude of almost 2,000 feet (610 m) above sea level and form the watershed between the streams flowing into Lake Superior and Lake Michigan. The Porcupine Mountains, or Porkies, are a group of small mountains spanning across the northwestern Upper Peninsula of Michigan in Ontonagon and A foot (plural feet or foot; symbol or abbreviation ft or sometimes &prime – the prime symbol) is a non-SI unit The surface on either side of this range is rugged. The state's highest point, in the Huron Mountains northwest of Marquette, is Mount Arvon at 1,979 feet (603 m). The Huron Mountains are located in the Upper Peninsula of the U Mount Arvon, elevation 1979 feet (603 m located in L'Anse Township, Baraga County is the highest point in the U The peninsula is as large as Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island combined but has fewer than 330,000 inhabitants. Connecticut ( is a state located in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. Delaware ( is a state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts ( is a state located in the New England region of the northeastern United States. Rhode Island ( officially named the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, is a state in the New England region of the United States They are sometimes called "Yoopers" (from "U. P. 'ers"), and their speech (the "Yooper dialect") has been heavily influenced by the numerous Scandinavian and Canadian immigrants who settled the area during the lumbering and mining boom of the late nineteenth century. Yooper is a form of North Central American English mostly spoken in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, which gives the dialect its name (from U Terminology and usage As a cultural term "Scandinavia" has no official definition and is subject to usage by those who identify with the culture in question as well

The Lower Peninsula, shaped like a mitten, is 277 miles (446 km) long from north to south and 195 miles (314 km) from east to west and occupies nearly two-thirds of the state's land area. The surface of the peninsula is generally level, broken by conical hills and glacial moraines usually not more than a few hundred feet tall. Moraine refers to any glacially formed accumulation of unconsolidated glacial debris (soil and rock which can occur in currently glaciated and formerly glaciated regions such as those It is divided by a low water divide running north and south. The larger portion of the state is on the west of this and gradually slopes toward Lake Michigan. The highest point in the Lower Peninsula is either Briar Hill at 1,705 feet (520 m), or one of several points nearby in the vicinity of Cadillac. Cadillac is a city in the US state of Michigan and is the County seat of Wexford County. The lowest point is the surface of Lake Erie at 571 feet (174 m).

The geographic orientation of Michigan's peninsulas makes for a long distance between the ends of the state. Ironwood, in the far western Upper Peninsula, lies 630 highway miles (1,015 km) from Lambertville in the Lower Peninsula's southeastern corner. Ironwood is a city in Gogebic County in the US state of Michigan, about 18 miles south of Lake Superior. Lambertville is an Unincorporated community in Monroe County in the U The geographic isolation of the Upper Peninsula from Michigan's political and population centers makes it culturally and economically distinct. Occasionally U. P. residents have called for secession from Michigan and establishment as a new state to be called "Superior. Superior is the name of a longstanding 51st state proposal involving the Secession of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan from the rest of the state of "

The feature of Michigan that gives it the distinct shape of a mitten is the Thumb. The Thumb is a region and a peninsula of Michigan, so named because the Lower Peninsula is shaped like a Mitten; thus The Thumb is the area that looks This peninsula projects out into Lake Huron and the Saginaw Bay. Lake Huron, bounded on the west by the US state of Michigan, and on the east by the province of Ontario, Canada, is one of the five Great Saginaw Bay is a Bay within Lake Huron located on the eastern side of the U The geography of the Thumb is mainly flat with a few rolling hills. Other peninsulas of Michigan include the Keweenaw Peninsula, making up the Copper Country region of the state. Keweenaw Peninsula (ˈkiːwənɔː roughly KEY-win-awe is the most northern part of Michigan 's Upper Peninsula. The Copper Country is an area in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan in the United States, including all of Keweenaw County Michigan and most of Houghton The Leelanau Peninsula lies in the Northern Lower Michigan region. Leelanau County is a county in the US state of Michigan. It is part of the Traverse City Michigan Micropolitan Statistical Area Northern Michigan - or more properly Northern Lower Michigan - is a region of the U See Also Michigan Regions

Numerous lakes and marshes mark both peninsulas, and the coast is much indented. This list of regions of the United States includes official (governmental and non-official areas within the borders of the United States, not including U A lake (from Latin lacus) is a Terrain feature (or Physical feature) a body of Liquid on the surface of a world that is localized to the In Geography, a marsh, or morass, is a type of Wetland which is subject Keweenaw Bay, Whitefish Bay, and the Big and Little Bays De Noc are the principal indentations on the Upper Peninsula. There is also the village of Whitefish Bay Wisconsin on Lake Michigan. Little Bay de Noc is a bay in the Upper Peninsula of the US state of Michigan. The Grand and Little Traverse, Thunder, and Saginaw bays indent the Lower Peninsula. Grand Traverse Bay is located off Lake Michigan in Northern Michigan. Little Traverse Bay is a small bay 170 feet (55 m deep off Lake Michigan in the northern area of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. This article is about the bay in Michigan see Thunder Bay for other things with a similar name Saginaw Bay is a Bay within Lake Huron located on the eastern side of the U After Alaska, Michigan has the longest shoreline of any state—3,288 miles (5,326 km). Alaska ( Аляска Alyaska) is a state in the United States of America, in the northwest of the North American continent An additional 1,056 miles (1,699 km) can be added if islands are included. This roughly equals the length of the Atlantic Coast from Maine to Florida.

The state has numerous large islands, the principal ones being the Manitou, Beaver, and Fox groups in Lake Michigan; Isle Royale and Grande Isle in Lake Superior; Marquette, Bois Blanc, and Mackinac Islands in Lake Huron; and Neebish, Sugar, and Drummond Islands in St. Mary's River. This is a list of Islands of Michigan. See also Islands of Michigan The Fox Islands consist of the North Fox and South Fox islands in Lake Michigan. Isle Royale is an island of the Great Lakes, located in the northwest of Lake Superior. Grand Island Township is a Civil township of Alger County in the U Bois Blanc Island is coterminous with Bois Blanc Township, Mackinac County in the U Mackinac Island (ˈmækɨnɔː) is an island covering in land area belonging to the U Neebish Island is an Island in the US state of Michigan in the St Sugar Island is an Island in the US state of Michigan in the St Drummond Township is a Civil township of Chippewa County in the U The St Marys River ( French: rivière Sainte-Marie) sometimes written as the St Michigan has about 150 lighthouses, the most of any U. A lighthouse is a Tower, building or framework designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses or in older times from a fire and used as an S. state. The first lighthouses in Michigan were built between 1818 and 1822. They were built to project light at night and to serve as a landmark during the day to safely guide the passenger ships and freighters traveling the Great Lakes. See Lighthouses in the United States. This United States has hundreds of Lights as well as light towers range lights and pier head lights

The state's rivers are small, short and shallow, and few are navigable. This is a list of Michigan rivers. This list includes only streams designated Rivers although some may be smaller than those streams designated creeks runs brooks swales cuts The principal ones include the Au Sable, Thunder Bay, Cheboygan, and Saginaw, all of which flow into Lake Huron; the Ontonagon, and Tahquamenon, which flow into Lake Superior; and the St. Joseph, Kalamazoo, Grand, Muskegon, Manistee, and Escanaba, which flow into Lake Michigan. The Au Sable River in Michigan runs approximately through the northern Lower Peninsula, through the towns of Grayling and Mio, and enters Thunder Bay River is a River in the US state of Michigan. It drains much of Alpena County and Montmorency County, and a small portion The Cheboygan River is a short but significant river in the Lake Huron drainage of the U The Saginaw River is a 22-mile-long (35 km River in the US state of Michigan. The Ontonagon River (pronounced IPA, or approximately on-tun-AH-guhn) is a River flowing to The Tahquamenon River is a long River in the US state of Michigan that flows in a generally eastward direction through the eastern end of the Upper The St Joseph River (locally known as the St Joe) is a river approximately 210 mi (338 km long in southern Michigan and northern Indiana in the The Kalamazoo River is a River in the US state of Michigan. The river is 166 miles (267 km long from the headwaters of the southern branch to Lake The Grand River is the longest River in the US state of Michigan. The Muskegon River is a River in the western portion of the lower peninsula of the U The Manistee River in the US state of Michigan, runs approximately 232 miles through the northern Lower Peninsula, through the villages of Sharon Smithville The Escanaba River is a River in the Upper Peninsula of the U The state has 11,037 inland lakes and 38,575 square miles (62,067 km²) of Great Lakes waters and rivers in addition to 1,305 square miles (3,380 km²) of inland water. No point in Michigan is more than 6 miles (10 km) from an inland lake or more than 85 miles (137 km) from one of the Great Lakes.

Protected lands

See also: List of Michigan state parks

The state is home to one national park: Isle Royale National Park, located in Lake Superior, about 30 miles (48 km) southeast of Thunder Bay, Ontario. This is a list of Michigan state parks and related protected areas under Michigan Department of Natural Resources jurisdiction A national park is a reserve of land usually declared and owned by a national Government, protected from most Human development and pollution Isle Royale National Park is a US National Park in the state of Michigan. Other national protected areas in the state include: Keweenaw National Historical Park, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Huron National Forest, Manistee National Forest, Hiawatha National Forest, Ottawa National Forest Fumee Lake Natural Area and Father Marquette National Memorial. Protected areas are locations which receive protection because of their environmental cultural or similar value Keweenaw National Historical Park is a unit of the US National Park Service. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is a US National Lakeshore on the shore of Lake Superior in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, United States Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is a United States National Lakeshore located along the northwest coast of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan in The Huron-Manistee National Forests are actually two National forests combined in 1945 for administration purposes and which comprise of public lands including of The Huron-Manistee National Forests are actually two National forests combined in 1945 for administration purposes and which comprise of public lands including of Hiawatha National Forest is a National Forest in the Upper Peninsula of the state of Michigan in the United States. The Ottawa National Forest is a 10 million acre (4000 km² national forest in the Upper Peninsula of the U Father Marquette National Memorial pays tribute to the life and work of Jacques Marquette The North Country National Scenic Trail also passes through Michigan. The North Country National Scenic Trail ( NCNST) planned to stretch more than 4600 miles from Crown Point in eastern New York to Lake Sakakawea

With 78 state parks, 19 state recreation areas, and 6 state forests, Michigan has the largest state park and state forest system of any state. State Park is a term used in the United States and in Mexico for an area of land preserved on account of its natural beauty historic interest recreation or other State forest is a term with differing meanings in different countries State forest is a term with differing meanings in different countries These parks and forests include Ludington State Park, Tawas Point State Park, Au Sable State Forest, and Mackinaw State Forest. Ludington State Park is a State park located in Ludington Michigan between the shores of Lake Michigan and Hamlin Lake Tawas Point State Park is a Michigan State park located in Northern Michigan near the city of East Tawas. The Au Sable State Forest is a State forest in the north-central Lower Peninsula of Michigan. The Mackinaw State Forest is a 717500-acre (2870 km² forested area owned by the U

Climate

Michigan has a humid continental climate, although there are two distinct regions. The humid continental climate is a Climate found over large areas of land masses in the temperate regions of the mid-latitudes where there is a zone of conflict between The southern and central parts of the Lower Peninsula (south of Saginaw Bay and from the Grand Rapids area southward) have a warmer climate (Koppen climate classification Dfa) with hot summers and cold winters. Saginaw Bay is a Bay within Lake Huron located on the eastern side of the U The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems It was developed by Wladimir Köppen, a German climatologist The northern part of Lower Peninsula and the entire Upper Peninsula has a more severe climate (Koppen Dfb), with warm, but shorter summers and longer, cold to very cold winters. Some parts of the state average high temperatures below freezing from December through February, and into early March in the far northern parts. During the winter through the middle of February the state is frequently subjected to heavy lake-effect snow. Lake-effect snow is produced in the winter when cold Arctic winds move across long expanses of warmer lake water providing energy and picking up Water vapor which freezes The state averages from 30-40 inches (75-100 cm) of precipitation annually.

The entire state averages 30 days of thunderstorm activity per year. These can be severe, especially in the southern part of the state. The state averages 17 tornadoes per year, which are more common in the extreme southern portion of the state. A tornado is a violent rotating column of air which is in contact with both the surface of the earth and a Cumulonimbus cloud or in rare cases the base of a Cumulus Portions of the southern border have been nearly as vulnerable historically as parts of Tornado Alley. For the book by William S Burroughs, see Tornado Alley (book. Farther north, in the Upper Peninsula, tornadoes are rare. ^[20]

Monthly Normal High and Low Temperatures For Various Michigan Cities in °F
City	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Detroit	31/18	34/20	45/28	58/38	70/49	79/59	83/64	81/62	74/54	61/42	48/34	36/23
Flint	29/13	32/15	43/24	56/35	69/45	78/55	82/59	80/57	72/49	60/39	46/30	34/19
Grand Rapids	29/16	33/17	43/26	57/36	70/47	78/56	82/60	80/59	72/51	60/40	46/31	34/21
Lansing	29/14	33/15	44/24	57/34	69/45	78/54	82/58	80/57	72/49	60/39	46/30	34/20
Marquette	20/3	24/5	33/14	46/27	62/39	70/48	75/54	73/52	63/44	51/34	35/22	24/10
Muskegon	30/17	32/18	42/25	55/35	67/45	76/54	80/60	78/59	70/51	59/41	46/32	35/23
Sault Ste Marie	22/5	24/7	34/16	48/29	63/39	71/46	76/52	74/52	65/45	53/36	39/26	27/13
[3]

Geology

The geological formation of the state is greatly varied. Fahrenheit is a temperature scale named after Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit (1686–1736 a German Physicist who proposed it in 1724 Primary boulders are found over the entire surface of the Upper Peninsula (being principally of primitive origin), while Secondary deposits cover the entire Lower Peninsula. The Upper Peninsula exhibits Lower Silurian sandstones, limestones, copper and iron bearing rocks, corresponding to the Huronian system of Canada. The Silurian is a geologic period and system that extends from the end of the Ordovician period about 443 The central portion of the Lower Peninsula contains coal measures and rocks of the Permo-Carboniferous period. The Permo-Carboniferous refers to the time period including the latter parts of the Carboniferous and early part of the Permian period Devonian and sub-Carboniferous deposits are scattered over the entire state. The Devonian is a geologic period and system of the Paleozoic era spanning from to  million years ago.

The soil is of a varied composition and in large areas is very fertile, especially in the south. However, the Upper Peninsula for the most part is rocky and mountainous, and the soil is unsuitable for agriculture. The climate is tempered by the proximity of the lakes and is much milder than in other locales with the same latitude. The principal forest trees include basswood, maple, elm, sassafras, butternut, walnut, poplar, hickory, oak, willow, pine, birch, beech, hemlock, witchhazel, tamarack, cedar, locust, dogwood, and ash.

Demographics

See also: Michigan census statistical areas

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1800	3,757		—
1810	4,762		26. 8%
1820	7,452		56. 5%
1830	28,004		275. 8%
1840	212,267		658. 0%
1850	397,654		87. 3%
1860	749,113		88. 4%
1870	1,184,059		58. 1%
1880	1,636,937		38. 2%
1890	2,093,890		27. 9%
1900	2,420,982		15. 6%
1910	2,810,173		16. 1%
1920	3,668,412		30. 5%
1930	4,842,325		32. 0%
1940	5,256,106		8. 5%
1950	6,371,766		21. 2%
1960	7,823,194		22. 8%
1970	8,875,083		13. 4%
1980	9,262,078		4. 4%
1990	9,295,297		0. 4%
2000	9,938,444		6. 9%
Est. 2007	10,071,822		1. 3%

As of the July 1, 2007 population estimate, Michigan has an estimated population of 10,071,822 , which is a decrease of 30,500, or -0. "July 1st" redirects here For the Ayumi Hamasaki song see H (song. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. 3%, from the prior year, but an increase of 133,340, or 1. 3%, since the year 2000. The state's population increased by 776,525 between 1990 and 2007, a 7. 7% growth. As of 2000, the state had the 8th largest population in the Union.

The center of population of Michigan is located in Shiawassee County, in the southeastern corner of the civil township of Bennington, which is located directly north of the village of Morrice. In Demographics, the center of population of a region is the geographical point nearest to all the inhabitants of that region on average Shiawassee (ˌʃaɪəˈwasi is a county in the US state of Michigan, the sole county of the Owosso Micropolitan Statistical Area A civil township is a widely used unit of Local government in the United States, subordinate to a county. Bennington Township is a Civil township of Shiawassee County in the U Morrice is a village located within Perry Township in Shiawassee County, of the U ^[21]

As of 2006, the state had a foreign-born population of 688,413. In recent years, the foreign-born population in the state has grown. Michigan has the largest Dutch-American, Finnish-American and Macedonian-American populations in the United States.

The five largest reported ancestries in Michigan are: German (20. German Americans ( German: Deutschamerikaner) are citizens of the United States of Ethnic German ancestry 4%), African American (14. African Americans or Black Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have origins in any of the black populations of Africa 2%), Irish (10. Irish Americans (Gael-Mheiriceánach are citizens of the United States who can claim ancestry originating in Ireland. 8%), English (9. English Americans (occasionally known as Anglo -Americans although this may have a wider cultural meaning are Citizens of the United States whose ancestry 9%), and Polish (8. A Polish American is an American citizen of Polish descent There are an estimated 10 million Americans of Polish descent 6%).

Michigan has a large white population (81. 3%). Americans of European descent including German, French, and British ancestry live throughout most of Michigan and Metro Detroit. French Americans or Franco-Americans are citizens or permanent residents of the United States of French descent The Detroit metropolitan area, often referred to as Metro Detroit, is the metropolitan area located in Southeast People of Nordic (especially Finnish) and Cornish ancestry have a notable presence in the Upper Peninsula. The Nordic countries make up a region in Northern Europe called the Nordic region, consisting of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Finnish Americans are Americans of Finnish descent who currently number about 700000 The Cornish people (Kernowyon are regarded as an Ethnic group of the United Kingdom originating in Cornwall. Western Michigan is known for the Dutch heritage of many residents (the highest concentration of any state), especially in the Grand Rapids-Holland area. A Dutch American is an inhabitant of the United States of whole or partial Dutch ancestry Metro Detroit also has residents of Polish and Irish descent. A Polish American is an American citizen of Polish descent There are an estimated 10 million Americans of Polish descent Irish Americans (Gael-Mheiriceánach are citizens of the United States who can claim ancestry originating in Ireland.

Dearborn has become the center of a large Arab-American community, now mostly Lebanese Muslims, in addition to descendants of Lebanese Christians who immigrated for jobs in the auto industry in the 1920s. Dearborn is a city in the US state of Michigan. It is located in the Detroit metropolitan area and Wayne County, and is the tenth largest An Arab American is a United States citizen or resident of Arab cultural and linguistic heritage and/or Identity whose ancestry traces back to any of various African-Americans, who came to Detroit and other northern cities in the Great Migration of the early 20th century, form a majority of the population of the city of Detroit and of other industrial cities, including Flint and Benton Harbor. African Americans or Black Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have origins in any of the black populations of Africa See also Second Great Migration (African American The Great Migration was the movement of approximately seven million African-Americans out of the Benton Harbor is a city in Berrien County in the US State of Michigan.

An individual from Michigan is called a "Michigander" or "Michiganian". Michigander is a Demonym for residents of the US state of Michigan. ^[22] Also at times, but rarely, a "Michiganite". ^[23]

Demographics of Michigan (csv)
By race	White	Black	AIAN*	Asian	NHPI*
2000 (total population)	83. 05%	14. 92%	1. 26%	2. 10%	0. 08%
2000 (Hispanic only)	2. 98%	0. 22%	0. 11%	0. 03%	0. 01%
2005 (total population)	82. 65%	15. 05%	1. 21%	2. 57%	0. 08%
2005 (Hispanic only)	3. 51%	0. 23%	0. 11%	0. 05%	0. 02%
Growth 2000–05 (total population)	1. 35%	2. 77%	-2. 51%	24. 24%	12. 50%
Growth 2000–05 (non-Hispanic only)	0. 66%	2. 67%	-2. 71%	24. 04%	10. 70%
Growth 2000–05 (Hispanic only)	19. 89%	9. 70%	-0. 48%	36. 87%	20. 51%
* AIAN is American Indian or Alaskan Native; NHPI is Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander

Religion

The religious affiliations of the people of Michigan are:^[24]

• Christian – 82%
  • Protestant – 58%
    • Baptist – 15%
    • Methodist – 10%
    • Pentecostal – 7%
    • Lutheran – 5%
    • Reformed – 4%
    • United Church of Christ – 3%
    • Church of Christ – 2%
    • Other Protestant – 12%
  • Catholic – 23%
  • Other Christian – 1%
• Muslim – 2%
• Jewish – 1%
• Other Religions – <1%
• Non-Religious – 15%

Michigan has 2% Muslims (who live mainly in the Metro Detroit area) and a high percentage of Reformed Christians (concentrated in the western part of the state). Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings Protestantism refers to the forms of Christian faith and practice that originated in the 16th century Protestant Reformation. Baptist is a term describing individuals belonging to a Baptist church or a Baptist denomination. Methodism is a movement within Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations Pentecostalism is a renewalist religious movement within Christianity that places special emphasis on the direct personal experience of God through the Baptism Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the teachings of the sixteenth-century German reformer Martin Luther The Reformed churches are a group of Christian Protestant Denominations formally characterized by a similar Calvinist system of doctrine historically The United Church of Christ ( UCC) is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination principally in the United States, Catholic is an Adjective derived from the Greek adjective '' / 'katholikos' meaning "whole" or "complete". For other meanings including people named 'Islam' see Islam (disambiguation. Judaism (from the Greek Ioudaïsmos, derived from the Hebrew יהודה Yehudah, " Judah " in Hebrew יַהֲדוּת Yahedut The history of Islam in the United States starts in the early 16th century, with Estevánico of Azamor being the first Muslim to enter the historical record The Reformed churches are a group of Christian Protestant Denominations formally characterized by a similar Calvinist system of doctrine historically About 300,000 people trace their roots to the Middle East. The Middle East is a Subcontinent with no clear boundaries often used as a synonym to Near East, in opposition to Far East. ^[25]

Economy

See also: List of companies based in Michigan and Economy of metropolitan Detroit

The Michigan economy leads in information technology, life sciences, and advanced manufacturing. Information technology ( IT) as defined by the Information Technology Association of America (ITAA is "the study design development implementation support Foundations of modern biology There are five unifying principles Michigan is commonly known for its auto industry. Michigan ranks fourth nationally in high-tech employment with 568,000 high-tech workers, including 70,000 in the automotive industry. ^[26] Michigan typically ranks second or third in overall research and development expenditures in the United States. The phrase research and development (also R and D or more often R&D) according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, refers ^[27] Its research and development, which includes automotive, comprises a higher percentage of the state's overall gross domestic product than for any other U. S. state. ^[28] The state is an important source of engineering job opportunities. Engineering is the Discipline and Profession of applying technical and scientific Knowledge and The domestic auto industry accounts directly and indirectly for one of every ten jobs in the U. S. ^[29] Some of the major industries/products/services include automobiles, cereal products, information technology, aerospace, military equipment, copper, iron, and furniture. Copper (ˈkɒpɚ is a Chemical element with the symbol Cu (cuprum and Atomic number 29 Iron (ˈаɪɚn is a Chemical element with the symbol Fe (ferrum and Atomic number 26 Furniture is the Mass noun for the movable objects which may support the human body (seating furniture and beds, provide storage or hold objects on horizontal Michigan is the third leading grower of Christmas trees with 60,520 acres (245 km²) of land dedicated to Christmas tree farming. A Christmas tree, Yule tree, holiday tree or Tannenbaum (fir tree is one of the most popular Traditions associated with the celebration ^[30][31] The beverage Vernors was invented in Michigan in 1866, sharing the title of oldest soft drink with Hires Root Beer. Vernors Ginger ale shares the title of America's oldest Soft drink with Hires Root Beer. Faygo was founded in Detroit on November 4, 1907. Faygo or Faygo Pop is a Soft drink brand headquartered in Detroit Michigan Events 1333 - Flood of the Arno River, causing massive damage in Florence as recorded by the Florentine chronicler Giovanni Villani Year 1907 ( MCMVII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year

Michigan has experienced economic difficulties brought on by volatile stock market disruptions following the September 11, 2001 attacks. This caused a pension and benefit fund crisis for many American companies, including General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler. The American auto companies are proving to be more resilient than other affected industries as each company implements its respective turnaround plans (In 2007, General Motors reported a $9. 6 billion surplus in its pension fund). Despite problems, Michigan ranked second nationally in new corporate facilities and expansions in 2004. From 1997 to 2004, Michigan was listed as the only state to top the 10,000 mark for the number of major new developments, led by Metro Detroit. ^[32] Manufacturing in Michigan grew 6. 6% from 2001 to 2006. ^[11] In 2007, General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler reached agreements with the United Auto Workers Union to transfer the liabilities for their respective health care and benefit funds to a 501(c)(9) Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association (VEBA) raising prospects for corporate turnaround plans. Template talkInfobox Union for usage -->The United Automobile Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America International IRS Definition A voluntary employees' beneficiary association (VEBA under Internal Revenue Code section 501(c(9 is an organization organized to pay life sick

Even though Michigan is known as the birthplace of the automobile industry, its diverse economy leads in many other areas. Michigan has a booming biotechnology industry and the Michigan Life Sciences Corridor is a $1 billion biotechnology initiative in the state of Michigan. Biotechnology is Technology based on Biology, especially when used in Agriculture, Food science, and Medicine. The Michigan Life Sciences Corridor (MLSC is a $ 1 billion Biotechnology initiative in the U ^[33] As leading research institutions, the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, and Wayne State University are important partners in the state's economy. Michigan's workforce is well-educated and highly skilled, making it attractive to companies. Michigan's infrastructure gives it a competitive edge; Michigan has 38 deep water ports. ^[34]

Detroit Metropolitan Airport is one of the nation's most recently expanded and modernized airports with six major runways, and large aircraft maintenance facilities capable of servicing and repairing a Boeing 747. Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, sometimes called Detroit Metropolitan Airport, Detroit Metro Wayne Airport, Metro Airport, or simply WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout Michigan's schools and colleges rank among the nation's best. The state has maintained its early commitment to public education.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis estimated Michigan's 2004 gross state product at $372 billion. The United States dollar ( sign: $; code: USD) is the unit of Currency of the United States; it has also been ^[35] Per capita personal income in 2003 was $31,178 and ranked twentieth in the nation.

Taxation

Michigan's top tax bracket on personal income of 4. 35% is among the lowest in the nation. Some cities impose additional income taxes. Michigan's state sales tax is six percent. A sales tax is a Consumption tax charged at the Point of purchase for certain goods and services Property taxes are assessed on the local, not state, level. Property tax, or millage tax, is an Ad valorem tax that an owner pays on the value of the property being taxed In 2007, Michigan repealed its Single Business Tax (SBT) and replaced it with a Michigan Business Tax (MBT) in order to stimulate job growth by reducing taxes for seventy percent of the businesses in the state. ^[36] According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, recent growth in Michigan is 0. 1%. ^[37]

Agriculture

Michigan is a leading grower of fruit, including blueberries, cherries, apples, grapes, and peaches. ^[38][39] These fruits are mainly grown in West Michigan, and some are grown in rural areas of Southeast Michigan. West Michigan, also known as Western Michigan, is a Region in the U Southeast Michigan, also called Southeastern Michigan, is a region in the Lower Peninsula of the U Michigan produces wines and a multitude of food products. Kellogg's cereal is based out of Battle Creek, Michigan and processes many locally grown foods. Kellogg Company (often referred to as simply Kellogg or Kellogg's, or even more formally Kellogg's of Battle Creek) is an American multinational Michigan is home to very fertile land in the Flint/Tri-Cities and Thumb areas. The Flint/Tri-Cities area is a region in the Lower Peninsula of the U The Thumb is a region and a peninsula of Michigan, so named because the Lower Peninsula is shaped like a Mitten; thus The Thumb is the area that looks Products grown there are sugar beets, navy beans, and soy beans. Sugar beet harvesting usually begins the first of October. It takes the sugar factories about five months to process the 3. 7 million tons of sugarbeets into 970 million pounds of pure, white sugar. ^[40] Michigan's largest sugar refiner, Michigan Sugar Company ^[41] is the largest east of the Mississippi River and the fourth largest in the nation. Michigan Sugar brand names are Pioneer Sugar and the newly incorporated Big Chief Sugar. Potatoes are grown in Northern Michigan, and corn is dominant in Central Michigan. Northern Michigan - or more properly Northern Lower Michigan - is a region of the U This article is about the geographic region for the university of the same name see Central Michigan University. Michigan State University is dedicated to the study of agriculture. Michigan State University ( MSU) is a co-educational public Research university in East Lansing, Michigan USA.

Tourism

See also: List of National Historic Landmarks in Michigan, List of Registered Historic Places in Michigan, and List of museums in Michigan

Michigan has a thriving tourist industry. Visitors spend $17. 5 billion per year in the state, supporting 193,000 tourism jobs. Michigan's tourism website ranks among the busiest in the nation. ^[42] Destinations draw vacationers, hunters, and nature enthusiasts from across the United States and Canada. Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page Michigan is fifty percent forest land, much of it quite remote. A forest is an area with a high density of Trees There are many definitions of a forest based on various criteria Both the forests and thousands of miles of beaches are top attractions. Tourists also flock to many of the museums, particularly those in Metro Detroit, including The Henry Ford, the Detroit Institute of Arts, the Detroit Historical Museum, the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, and the Arab American National Museum. The Henry Ford, a National Historic Landmark, (also known as the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village, and more formally as the Edison Institute The Detroit Institute of Arts ( DIA) originally named the Detroit Museum of Art, has one of the largest most significant art collections in the United States The Detroit Historical Museum is located at 5401 Woodward Avenue in the city's museum district The Charles H Wright Museum of African American History is located in the Cultural Center of the U The Arab American National Museum, located in Dearborn Michigan, is the first of its kind and opened May 5[[ 005]] The Metro Detroit area offers four major casinos, MGM Grand Detroit, Greektown, Motor City, and Casino Windsor; moreover, Detroit is the largest city to offer casino gambling.

Hunting is a major component of Michigan's economy. Hunting is the practice of pursuing Animals for Food, Recreation, or Trade. Michigan ranks first in the nation in licensed hunters (over one million) who contribute $2 billion annually to its economy. The United States dollar ( sign: $; code: USD) is the unit of Currency of the United States; it has also been Over three-quarters of a million hunters participate in white-tailed deer season alone. The White-tailed deer ( Odocoileus virginianus) also known as the Virginia deer, or simply as the whitetail, is a medium-sized Deer found throughout Many school districts in rural areas of Michigan cancel school on the opening day of rifle season, because of attendance concerns.

Michigan's Department of Natural Resources manages the largest dedicated state forest system in the nation. The forest products industry and recreational users contribute $12 billion and 200,000 associated jobs annually to the state's economy. Michigan has more than 90 native species of trees, more than all of Europe combined.

The state has numerous historical markers, which can themselves become the center of a tour. A historical marker or historic marker is an indicator such as a plaque or Sign to commemorate an event or person of Historic interest ^[43]

With its position in relation to the Great Lakes and the countless ships that have foundered over the many years in which they have been used as a transport route for people and bulk cargo, Michigan is a world-class SCUBA diving destination. The Laurentian Great Lakes are a chain of freshwater lakes located in eastern North America, on the Canada–United States border. The Michigan Underwater Preserves are 11 underwater areas where wrecks are protected for the benefit of sport divers. Michigan Underwater Preserves or Michigan Bottomland Preserves are protected areas of the Great Lakes on Michigan 's coast

Transportation

Michigan has nine international crossings with Ontario, Canada:

• International Bridge (Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan and Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario)
• Blue Water Bridge, a twin-span bridge (Port Huron, Michigan and Point Edward, Ontario, but the larger city of Sarnia, Ontario is usually referred to on the Canadian side
• Detroit-Windsor Tunnel
• Ambassador Bridge, North America's busiest international border crossing. The International Bridge, or more properly the Sault Ste Marie International Bridge, spans the St Sault Ste Marie (ˌsuːseɪntməˈriː is the oldest city in both the state of Michigan and in the entire Sault Ste Marie (nicknamed "the Sault" or "the Soo" is a City on the St The Blue Water Bridge is a twin-span bridge that spans the St Port Huron is a city in the US state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census the city had a population of 32338 with a 2006 estimate of 31302 Point Edward is a Village in the Canadian province of Ontario. Sarnia is a City in Southwestern Ontario, Canada (city population 71419 census area population The Detroit–Windsor Tunnel is a partially submerged Highway tunnel connecting Detroit Michigan in the United States, with Windsor Ontario The Ambassador Bridge is a Privately-owned Suspension bridge that connects Detroit, Michigan, in the United States, with Windsor
• Canadian Pacific Railway tunnel
• Detroit-Windsor Truck Ferry (Detroit, Michigan and Windsor, Ontario)
• St. The Detroit-Windsor Truck Ferry is a Ferry service that has been shuttling cars and Trucks across the Detroit River for over 100 years Windsor is the southernmost city in Canada and lies at the western end of the heavily populated Quebec City-Windsor Corridor. Clair River Railway Tunnel (Port Huron, Michigan and Sarnia, Ontario)
• Walpole Island Ferry (Algonac, Michigan and Walpole Island First Nation, Ontario
• Blue Water Ferry (Marine City, Michigan and Sombra, Ontario)
• A second international bridge is currently under development between Detroit, Michigan and Windsor, Ontario. Port Huron is a city in the US state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census the city had a population of 32338 with a 2006 estimate of 31302 Sarnia is a City in Southwestern Ontario, Canada (city population 71419 census area population Walpole Island is an Island and the name of a community in southwestern Ontario, Canada, on the border between Ontario and Michigan Algonac is a city in St Clair County of the US state of Michigan. Walpole Island is an Island and the name of a community in southwestern Ontario, Canada, on the border between Ontario and Michigan Marine City is a city in St Clair County in the US state of Michigan. Windsor is the southernmost city in Canada and lies at the western end of the heavily populated Quebec City-Windsor Corridor. ^[44]

Railroads

See also: List of Michigan railroads and History of railroads in Michigan

Michigan is served by five Class I railroads: the Canadian National Railway, the Canadian Pacific Railway, CSX Transportation, the Norfolk Southern Railway, and Conrail. The following Railroads operate in the US state of Michigan. Common freight carriers Adrian and Blissfield Rail Road (ADBF Railroads have been vital in the history of the Population and Trade of rough and finished Goods in the state of Michigan. A Class I railroad in the United States and Mexico, or a Class I rail carrier in Canada, is a large freight Railroad, as classified The Canadian Pacific Railway ( This article is about the present railroad formed in 1990 For the former regional railroad in Virginia and North Carolina a small part of the new one see Norfolk Southern Consolidated Rail Corporation, also known as Conrail, began operations on April 1, 1976 as a federally funded takeover of the major railroad These are augmented by several dozen short line railroads. Short Line is also one of the four railroads in the popular Board game Monopoly, probably named after the Shore Fast Line, an Interurban streetcar The vast majority of rail service in Michigan is devoted to freight, with Amtrak and various scenic railroads the exceptions. ^[45]

Main article: Michigan Services

Amtrak passenger rail services the state, connecting many southern and western Michigan cities to Chicago, Illinois. Michigan Services is an Umbrella term used by Amtrak to describe passenger rail service by three separate routes connecting Chicago, Illinois The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, Doing business as Amtrak, is a Government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971 "Railroad" and "Railway" both redirect here For other uses see Railroad (disambiguation. Chicago (ʃɪˈkɑːgoʊ is the largest City by population in the state of Illinois and the American Midwest of the United States. The State of Illinois ( roughly ill-i-NOY is a state of the United States of America, the 21st to be admitted to the Union. There are plans for commuter rail for Detroit and its suburbs (see SEMCOG Commuter Rail). Commuter rail, regional rail or suburban rail is a Passenger rail transport service between a city center and outer suburbs and Commuter towns South San Jose (cropjpg||thumb|A suburban development in San Jose California. SEMCOG Commuter Rail is a proposed Regional rail link between the cities of Ann Arbor and Detroit Michigan, slated to begin operation no earlier than 2008 ^[46][47] Amtrak passenger rail service no longer continues east of Port Huron to Toronto via Sarnia, Ontario. Port Huron is a city in the US state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census the city had a population of 32338 with a 2006 estimate of 31302 Toronto (təˈrɒntoʊ colloquially pronounced or) is the largest city in Canada and is the provincial capital of Ontario Sarnia is a City in Southwestern Ontario, Canada (city population 71419 census area population Lengthy customs delays made it impossible for trains to maintain their schedules. Amtrak trains originate and terminate at Port Huron. VIA trains terminate and originate at Sarnia.

Roadways

See also: Michigan Highway System

Interstate 75 is the main thoroughfare between Detroit and Flint, extending to Sault Saint Marie and providing access to Sault Saint Marie, Ontario. The Michigan State Trunkline Highway System is made up of all the Highways designated as Interstates, U Interstate 75 (I-75 is a major north-south Interstate Highway in the midwest and southeastern United States. The expressway crosses the Mackinac Bridge between the Lower and Upper Peninsulas. The Mackinac Bridge (ˈmækɨnɔː with a silent "c" at the end of the word is a Suspension bridge spanning the Straits of Mackinac to connect the Branching highways include I-275 and I-375 in Detroit; I-475 in Flint; I-675 in Saginaw.

Interstate 69 enters the state near the Michigan-Ohio-Indiana border, and it extends to Port Huron and provides access to the Blue Water Bridge crossing into Sarnia. Interstate 69 (I-69 is an Interstate Highway in the United States. The Blue Water Bridge is a twin-span bridge that spans the St

Interstate 94 enters the western end of the state at the Indiana border, and it travels east to Detroit and then northeast to Port Huron and ties in with I-69. I-194 branches off from this freeway in Battle Creek.

Interstate 96 runs east-west between Detroit and Muskegon. Interstate 96 (I-96 is an intrastate Interstate highway that is entirely within the U I-496 loops through Lansing. Interstate 496 (I-496 is an Interstate highway that passes through downtown Lansing, Michigan and is a "child" of Interstate 96. I-196 branches off from this freeway at Grand Rapids and connects to I-94 near Benton Harbor. Interstate 196 (I-196 is a long Freeway spur route in the US state of Michigan linking Grand Rapids, Holland, South Benton Harbor is a city in Berrien County in the US State of Michigan. I-696 branches off from this freeway at Novi and connects to I-94 near St Clair Shores. Novi is a city in Oakland County of the US state of Michigan. St Clair Shores is a City in Macomb County of the US state of Michigan.

Major bridges include the Ambassador Bridge, Blue Water Bridge, Mackinac Bridge, and International Bridge. The Ambassador Bridge is a Privately-owned Suspension bridge that connects Detroit, Michigan, in the United States, with Windsor The Blue Water Bridge is a twin-span bridge that spans the St The Mackinac Bridge (ˈmækɨnɔː with a silent "c" at the end of the word is a Suspension bridge spanning the Straits of Mackinac to connect the The International Bridge, or more properly the Sault Ste Marie International Bridge, spans the St Michigan also has the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel crossing into Canada. The Detroit–Windsor Tunnel is a partially submerged Highway tunnel connecting Detroit Michigan in the United States, with Windsor Ontario

Important cities and townships

Further information: List of cities, villages, and townships in Michigan

The largest municipalities in Michigan are (according to 2006 census estimates):

Rank	City	Population
1	Detroit	918,849
2	Grand Rapids	193,083
3	Warren	134,589
4	Sterling Heights	127,991
5	Flint	117,068
6	Lansing	114,276
7	Ann Arbor	113,206
8	Clinton Township	96,781
9	Livonia	96,736
10	Dearborn	92,382

Other important cities include:

• Battle Creek ("Cereal City U. This is a list of cities, Villages and townships in the US state of Michigan, arranged in alphabetical order Warren is a city in Macomb County in the US state of Michigan. Sterling Heights (sometimes referred to as The Heights) is a city in Macomb County of the U Flint is a city in the US state of Michigan and is located along the Flint River, 66 miles (106 km northwest of Detroit. Ann Arbor is a city in the US state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The Charter Township of Clinton, usually referred to as Clinton Township, is a Charter township of Macomb County Livonia is a city located in the northwest part of Wayne County in the U Dearborn is a city in the US state of Michigan. It is located in the Detroit metropolitan area and Wayne County, and is the tenth largest S. A. ", world headquarters of Kellogg Company)
• Benton Harbor / St. Joseph (headquarters of Whirlpool Corporation)
• East Lansing (home of Michigan State University)
• Fremont (home of the Gerber Products Company)
• Kalamazoo (home to Western Michigan University)
• Manistee (home to the world's largest salt plant, owned by Morton Salt)
• Marquette (largest city in the Upper Peninsula with 19,661 people)
• Midland (headquarters of the Dow Chemical Company and the Dow Corning Corporation)
• Muskegon (largest Michigan city on Lake Michigan)
• Pontiac (major automobile manufacturing center, and home of the Pontiac Silverdome)
• Port Huron (major international crossing and home of the Blue Water Bridge)
• Mount Pleasant (home of Central Michigan University)
• Sault Ste. Marie (home of the Soo Locks and Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge)
• Saginaw (the largest of the Tri-Cities, which consist of Bay City, Midland and Saginaw)
• Traverse City ("Cherry Capital of the World", making Michigan the country's largest producer of cherries)
• Ypsilanti (home of Eastern Michigan University)

Half of the wealthiest communities in the state are located in Oakland County, just north of Detroit. Kellogg Company (often referred to as simply Kellogg or Kellogg's, or even more formally Kellogg's of Battle Creek) is an American multinational Benton Harbor is a city in Berrien County in the US State of Michigan. St Joseph is a city in the US state of Michigan. It was incorporated as a village in 1834 and as a city in 1891 Whirlpool Corporation ( is a Fortune 500 company and a global manufacturer and marketer of major Home appliances,with annual sales of approximately $18 billion more East Lansing is a city in the US state of Michigan. The city is located directly east of Lansing, Michigan, the state's capital Michigan State University ( MSU) is a co-educational public Research university in East Lansing, Michigan USA. Fremont is a city in Newaygo County in the US state of Michigan. Gerber Products Company is a purveyor of Baby food and baby products Western Michigan University (WMU is a Public university established in 1903 by Dwight B Manistee is a city in the US state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 6586 Morton Salt is a United States company producing Salt for food water conditioning industrial agricultural and road/highway use Marquette is a city in the US state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 19661 with the 2007 population estimated placing it The Upper Peninsula of Michigan is the northern of the two major land masses that comprise the U Midland is a city in the US state of Michigan in Flint/Tri-Cities region of the state The Dow Chemical Company () is an American Multinational corporation headquartered in Midland Michigan. Dow Corning is a multinational Corporation headquartered in Midland Michigan, USA. Muskegon (mus-kēg'n is a city in the US state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 40105 Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America, and the only one located entirely within the United States. Pontiac is a city in the US state of Michigan named after the Ottawa Chief Pontiac. The Pontiac Silverdome is a Domed Stadium in Pontiac, Michigan, a Satellite city of Detroit. Port Huron is a city in the US state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census the city had a population of 32338 with a 2006 estimate of 31302 The Blue Water Bridge is a twin-span bridge that spans the St Mount Pleasant is a City in the US state of Michigan and the county seat of Isabella County. Central Michigan University (also known as CMU) is a Coeducational State university located in Mount Pleasant in the U Sault Ste Marie (ˌsuːseɪntməˈriː is the oldest city in both the state of Michigan and in the entire The Sault Locks (usually called the Soo Locks) allow Ships to travel between Lake Superior and the lower Great Lakes. The International Bridge, or more properly the Sault Ste Marie International Bridge, spans the St Bay City is a city in the US state of Michigan located near the base of the Saginaw Bay on Lake Huron. Midland is a city in the US state of Michigan in Flint/Tri-Cities region of the state Traverse City is a City in the US state of Michigan. It is the largest city in the 21-county Northern Michigan region Ypsilanti (ˌɪpsɨˈlænti Ǐp'-sǐ-lǎn-tē but often /ˌjɪpsɨˈlænti/ by outsiders is a city in Washtenaw County in the U Eastern Michigan University is a comprehensive co-educational Public university located in Ypsilanti Michigan. Oakland County is a county in the US state of Michigan. As of 2007, the population was estimated at 1206089 Another wealthy community is located just east of the city, in Grosse Pointe. Grosse Pointe is a wealthy suburban city bordering Detroit in Wayne County in the U Only three of these cities are located outside of Metro Detroit. The city of Detroit itself, with a per capita income of $14,717, ranks 517th on the list of Michigan locations by per capita income. Michigan has the fifteenth highest Per capita income in the United States of America at $22168 (2000 Benton Harbor is the poorest city in Michigan, with a per capita income of $8,965, while Barton Hills is the richest with a per capita income of $110,683. Benton Harbor is a city in Berrien County in the US State of Michigan. Barton Hills is a village in Washtenaw County in the US state of Michigan.

Education

See also: List of school districts in Michigan

Colleges and universities

Adrian College Albion College Alma College Andrews University Aquinas College Ave Maria College Ave Maria School of Law Baker College Calvin College Calvin Theological Seminary Center for Humanistic Studies Central Bible College Central Michigan University Cleary University College for Creative Studies Concordia University

Cornerstone University Cranbrook Academy of Art Davenport University Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary Eastern Michigan University Ecumenical Theological Seminary Ferris State University Finlandia University Grace Bible College Grand Rapids Theological Seminary Grand Valley State University Great Lakes Christian College Hillsdale College Hope College Kalamazoo College Kendall College of Art and Design

Kettering University Kuyper College Lake Superior State University Lawrence Technological University Lewis College of Business Madonna University Marygrove College Michigan Jewish Institute Michigan State University Michigan Technological University Michigan Theological Seminary Northern Michigan University Northwestern Michigan College Northwood University Oakland University Olivet College Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary Rochester College Sacred Heart Major Seminary

SS. Cyril and Methodius Seminary Saginaw Valley State University Siena Heights University Spring Arbor University Theological School of the Protestant Reformed Churches Thomas M. Cooley Law School University of Detroit Mercy University of Michigan System University of Michigan-Ann Arbor University of Michigan-Dearborn University of Michigan-Flint University of Phoenix Walsh College of Accountancy and Business Wayne State University Western Michigan University Western Theological Seminary William Tyndale College Yeshiva Gedolah Ateres Mordechai of Greater Detroit

Community colleges and technical schools

American College of Computer and Information Sciences Alpena Community College Bay de Noc Community College Bay Mills Community College Delta College Ellis College of NYIT Glen Oaks Community College Gogebic Community College Grand Rapids Community College Henry Ford Community College ITT Technical Institute Jackson Community College

Kalamazoo Valley Community College Kellogg Community College Kirtland Community College Lake Michigan College Lansing Community College Macomb Community College Mid-Michigan Community College Michigan Career and Technical Institute Michigan Institution of Aviation and Technology Monroe County Community College Montcalm Community College Mott Community College Muskegon Community College National Institute of Technology

North Central Michigan College Northwestern Michigan College Oakland Community College Olympia Career Training Institute Ross Medical Education Center Saint Clair County Community College Schoolcraft College Southwestern Michigan College Washtenaw Community College Wayne County Community College West Shore Community College

Professional sports teams

Most major league sports teams in Michigan are located in Metro Detroit, with the Detroit Tigers baseball team, Detroit Lions football team, and Detroit Red Wings ice hockey team located within the city of Detroit. This is a complete listing of School districts in the state of Michigan. Adrian College is a private co-educational Liberal arts college related to the United Methodist Church and located in the city of Adrian in the Albion College is a private liberal arts college located in Albion Michigan. This article is about Alma College in Alma Michigan For historic Alma College in St Andrews University is a Seventh-day Adventist university in Berrien Springs Michigan. Aquinas College is a small Catholic college that aims to provide a liberal arts education with a global perspective Ave Maria University - Latin American Campus Ave Maria University – Latin American Campus (AMULAC is a branch campus of Ave Maria University in Florida Ave Maria School of Law, a Roman Catholic Law school, is located in Ann Arbor Michigan. Baker College is a private not-for-profit American College in Michigan, founded in 1911 Calvin College is a comprehensive Liberal arts College located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Calvin Theological Seminary is a Seminary affiliated with the Christian Reformed Church, located in Grand Rapids Michigan, and closely tied to Central Bible College is an Assemblies of God institution of higher learning located in Springfield Missouri. Central Michigan University (also known as CMU) is a Coeducational State university located in Mount Pleasant in the U Cleary University is a business university with campuses in Ann Arbor and Howell, Michigan (Livingston Campus College for Creative Studies (CCS is a leading art education institution in the United States. Concordia University is a private liberal arts university in Ann Arbor Michigan. Cornerstone University is an independent non-denominational Christian liberal arts and professional studies institution located in Grand Rapids, Michigan The Cranbrook Educational Community, a National Historic Landmark, in the U Davenport University is a private, non-profit multi-location University located throughout the states of Indiana and Michigan. Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary is an Independent Fundamental Baptist Seminary in Allen Park Michigan, operated in association with the Inter-City Eastern Michigan University is a comprehensive co-educational Public university located in Ypsilanti Michigan. The Ecumenical Theological Seminary is located at 2930 Woodward Avenue in Detroit, Michigan. Ferris State University has a main campus in Big Rapids Michigan, in Mecosta County and a secondary campus in Grand Rapids Michigan, and smaller programs Finlandia University in Hancock Michigan, USA is a baccalaureate degree-granting co-educational Learning community dedicated to academic excellence spiritual Grace Bible College is a Fundamentalist Christian college in the Premillennial, Dispensational tradition located in Grand Rapids Michigan Grand Rapids Theological Seminary (GRTS of Cornerstone University is an evangelical Christian Seminary located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Grand Valley State University ( GVSU) is an American liberal arts University located in Allendale Michigan. For the high school in Beamsville ON see Great Lakes Christian College (Beamsville Great Lakes Christian College ( GLCC) is a four year Christian Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Michigan is a co-educational Liberal arts college known for its refusal of government funding and its monthly publication Hope College is a medium-sized (3200 undergraduates private residential liberal arts college located in downtown Holland Michigan, a few miles from Kalamazoo College ( K College or K) is a private liberal arts college located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University is a college of the Visual arts in downtown Grand Rapids Michigan, Kuyper College is a ministry-focused Christian leadership college located in Grand Rapids Charter Township, just northeast of the city of Grand Rapids, Lake Superior State University is a small Public university in Sault Sainte Marie Michigan. Lawrence Technological University is a Private university located in Southfield Michigan. Lewis College of Business is an unaccredited institution of higher education in Detroit, Michigan in the United States. Madonna University is a private Non-profit, Catholic university located in suburban Livonia, Michigan, on the western perimeter of metropolitan Location and Purpose Marygrove College is an independent Catholic Liberal arts College located in Detroit Michigan. Michigan State University ( MSU) is a co-educational public Research university in East Lansing, Michigan USA. Michigan Technological University ( abbr Michigan Tech or MTU) is an American Public university with a range of degree offerings The Michigan Theological Seminary is a Christian Seminary, located in Plymouth Michigan. Northern Michigan University is a four-year Public university established in 1899 located in Marquette, in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Established in 1951 Northwestern Michigan College, known as NMC to local residents is a Community college in Traverse City, Grand Traverse County Northwood University (formerly known as Northwood Institute) is a private university with locations in several U Oakland University is a Public university located in Rochester Michigan. Olivet College is a private Coeducational, Liberal arts college located in Olivet, Michigan. The Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary (PRTS is a conservative Reformed Seminary located in Grand Rapids Michigan. Rochester College is a private four-year College located in Rochester Hills, Michigan and affiliated with the Churches of Christ. Sacred Heart Major Seminary is a Catholic institution of higher learning associated with the Archdiocese of Detroit. SS Cyril and Methodius Seminary is a four-year private Polish Seminary in Orchard Lake Michigan. Saginaw Valley State University, commonly known as SVSU, is a State university in the U Siena Heights University is a private Roman Catholic University in Adrian Michigan, United States. Spring Arbor University (often called "The Arbor" by its students is located in Spring Arbor, Michigan, United States (8 miles South-West of Thomas M Cooley Law School, located in Lansing, Michigan, is the largest Law school as measured by full-time and part-time student enrollment in the University of Detroit Mercy (UDM is a Comprehensive university in Detroit Michigan, United States, created in 1990 The University of Michigan Ann Arbor ( U of M, U-M, UM or simply Michigan) is a top-ranked Coeducational public research The University of Michigan-Dearborn, located in Dearborn Michigan, USA, is a coeducational nationally ranked masters-level public university which is part of the The University of Michigan-Flint, located in Flint Michigan, USA, is one of three campuses in the University of Michigan system The University of Phoenix ( UPX) is a for-profit educational institution that specializes in Adult education. Walsh College of Accountancy and Business is a private non-profit Business college based in Troy, Michigan. Wayne State University is located in Detroit, Michigan, in the city's Midtown Cultural Center. Western Michigan University (WMU is a Public university established in 1903 by Dwight B Western Theological Seminary (WTS is a professional and Graduate school in Holland Michigan affiliated with the Reformed Church in America William Tyndale College, often simply Tyndale, was a former Nondenominational Christian college located in Farmington Hills Michigan. Alpena Community College ( ACC) is a public two-year college located in Alpena, Michigan, United States, and was founded in 1952 Bay Mills Community College is a two-year tribal college chartered by the Bay Mills Indian Community of Michigan. Delta College is a two-year Community college located near Bay City, Michigan United States. Glen Oaks Community College is a Community college located in the village of Centreville Michigan, USA in Saint Joseph County. Grand Rapids Community College ( GRCC) is a Community college located in the city of Grand Rapids in the U Henry Ford Community College (HFCC is a public two-year college located in Dearborn Michigan. ITT Technical Institute (often shortened to ITT Tech is a private for-profit, technical institute with 100 campuses in 35 states of the United States Jackson Community College (also known as JCC is a Community college located in Jackson County Michigan. Kalamazoo Valley Community College is a two-year Community college in southwest Michigan that offers degrees and certificates in scores of academic programs occupations Kellogg Community College is a two-year institution of higher learning which provides academic occupational general and lifelong learning opportunities on campus in Battle Creek Kirtland Community College is a two-year public college located in Roscommon County, Michigan. Lake Michigan College is a regional two-year Community college located in Berrien County Michigan. Lansing Community College is a two-year public college founded in 1957 Macomb Community College is a Community college with several locations in Michigan. Montcalm Community College (MCC, founded in 1965, is a two-year Community college located in Sidney Michigan. Charles Stewart Mott Community College (MCC is a publicly supported post-secondary institution located in Flint Michigan. Muskegon Community College is a Community college in Muskegon Michigan. National Institutes of Technology (NITs are premier colleges of engineering and technology education in India. North Central Michigan College (NCMC is Michigan's 12th Community college; it was established in 1958 in Petoskey Michigan. Established in 1951 Northwestern Michigan College, known as NMC to local residents is a Community college in Traverse City, Grand Traverse County Oakland Community College ( OCC) is a Community college established June 8 1964 in Oakland County Michigan. Olympia Career Training Institute is now Everest Institute a system of For-profit colleges in Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo Michigan Ross Medical Education Center is an allied-health school with ten locations in Michigan and two in the Atlanta Georgia area St Clair County Community College, or SC4 is a two-year Community college located in Port Huron Michigan. Schoolcraft College is a two-year Community college located in Livonia Michigan with a satellite campus in Garden City MI. Washtenaw Community College is a Community college located in Ann Arbor Michigan. Wayne County Community College is a two year school located in south eastern Michigan. West Shore Community College, or WSCC, is a Community college located in Mason County Michigan. The Detroit Tigers are a professional baseball team based in Detroit, Michigan, USA Baseball is a Bat-and-ball Sport played between two teams of nine players each The Detroit Lions are an American football team based in Detroit Michigan. American football, known in the United States and Canada simply as football, is a competitive Team sport known for mixing strategy with The Detroit Red Wings are a professional Ice hockey team based in Detroit Michigan, and current Stanley Cup champions Ice hockey, often referred to simply as hockey, is a team Sport played on Ice. The Detroit Pistons men's basketball team and the Detroit Shock women's basketball team currently play at the Palace of Auburn Hills. The Detroit Pistons are a team in the National Basketball Association based in the Detroit metropolitan area Basketball is a team Sport in which two teams of five active players each try to score points against one another by propelling a ball through a 10 feet (3 m The Detroit Shock is a Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA team based in Detroit Michigan. The Palace of Auburn Hills, often referred to simply as The Palace, is a Sports and entertainment venue in Auburn Hills, Michigan, a suburb The Pistons played at Detroit's Cobo Arena until 1978 and at the Pontiac Silverdome until 1988. Cobo Hall, officially Cobo Conference/Exhibition Center, is a Convention center situated in downtown Detroit, Michigan, USA. The Pontiac Silverdome is a Domed Stadium in Pontiac, Michigan, a Satellite city of Detroit. The Detroit Lions played at Tiger Stadium in Detroit until 1974, then moved out to the Silverdome before moving to Ford Field in 2002. The Detroit Lions are an American football team based in Detroit Michigan. Tiger Stadium (formerly Navin Field then Briggs Stadium is a Stadium located in the Corktown neighborhood of Detroit, Michigan. Ford Field is an indoor football Stadium located in Detroit Michigan that is the home of the Detroit Lions of the NFL.

The Arena Football League's Grand Rapids Rampage is the state's other "major league" sports team. The Arena Football League (AFL was founded in 1987 as an American football indoor league. The Grand Rapids Rampage is an Arena Football League team that began playing as a 1998 expansion team Eight-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams was born in Saginaw. Serena Jameka Williams (born September 26 1981 is a professional tennis player who is currently ranked World No Professional hockey got its start in Houghton, when the Portage Lakers were formed. Houghton is a City in the US state of Michigan 's Upper Peninsula and largest city in the Copper

Other notable sports teams include:

Club	Sport	League
Alpena IceDiggers	Ice hockey	North American Hockey League
Flint Generals	Ice hockey	International Hockey League
Grand Rapids Griffins	Ice hockey	American Hockey League
Kalamazoo Wings	Ice Hockey	International Hockey League
Marquette Rangers	Ice Hockey	North American Hockey League
Muskegon Fury	Ice hockey	International Hockey League
Plymouth Whalers	Ice hockey	Ontario Hockey League
Saginaw Spirit	Ice hockey	Ontario Hockey League
Traverse City North Stars	Ice hockey	North American Hockey League
Lansing Lugnuts	Baseball	Minor League Baseball, Midwest League
Great Lakes Loons	Baseball	Minor League Baseball, Midwest League
Kalamazoo Kings	Baseball	Minor League Baseball
Traverse City Beach Bums	Baseball	Minor League Baseball
West Michigan Whitecaps	Baseball	Minor League Baseball, Midwest League
Grand Rapids Rampage	Arena football	Arena Football League
Kalamazoo Xplosion	Indoor football	Continental Indoor Football League
Flint Phantoms	Indoor football	Continental Indoor Football League
Muskegon Thunder	Indoor football	Continental Indoor Football League
Saginaw Sting	Indoor football	Continental Indoor Football League
Detroit Demolition	Football	Independent Women's Football League
Detroit Ignition	Soccer	Major Indoor Soccer League
Kalamazoo Kingdom	Soccer	USL Premier Development League
Michigan Bucks	Soccer	USL Premier Development League
Michigan Hawks	Soccer	W-League
Michigan Phoenix	Soccer	Women's Premier Soccer League
West Michigan Edge	Soccer	USL Premier Development League
West Michigan Firewomen	Soccer	W-League

Former professional teams

See also: List of Michigan sport championships

Club	Sport	League(s)	Status
Detroit Gems	Basketball	National Basketball Association	Moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota and became the Minneapolis Lakers, would move again to Los Angeles, California and are now the Los Angeles Lakers
Detroit (NFL) (Heralds/Tigers/Panthers/Wolverines)	Football	National Football League	Defunct
Detroit Wheels	Football	World Football League	Moved to Charlotte, North Carolina for one game, then disbanded in the middle of the 1974 season
Detroit Falcons (basketball)	Basketball	Basketball Association of America	Defunct
Michigan Panthers	Football	USFL	Defunct
Detroit Stars	Baseball	Negro National League, 2nd Negro National League, Negro American League	The team ceased operations in 1960
Detroit Wolverines	Baseball	National League	Disbanded, 1888
Michigan Stags	Ice Hockey	World Hockey Association	Moved to Baltimore, Maryland and became the Baltimore Blades for the rest of the team's existence
Detroit Vipers	Ice Hockey	International Hockey League	Disbanded when IHL became AHL
Detroit Fury	Arena football	Arena Football League	Francise terminated September 20, 2004
Michigan Mayhem	Basketball	Continental Basketball Association	Disbanded after 2005-2006 season

State symbols and nicknames

• State nicknames: Wolverine State, Great Lakes State, Mitten State, Water-Winter Wonderland
• State motto: Si quaeris peninsulam amoenam circumspice (Latin: If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you) adopted in 1835 on the coat-of-arms, but never as an official 'motto'. Ice hockey, often referred to simply as hockey, is a team Sport played on Ice. see also North American Hockey League (1973–1977 The North American Hockey League (NAHL and the defunct America West Hockey League See also Flint Generals (IHL for the 1969 to 1985 team The Flint Generals are a professional Ice hockey team based in Flint Michigan The International Hockey League is a mid-level Professional Ice hockey league with teams in the United States. The Grand Rapids Griffins are a hockey team in the American Hockey League. American Hockey Association (1926–1942The American Hockey League (AHL is a Professional Ice hockey league in North America that serves as the primary See also Kalamazoo Wings (1974-2000 The Kalamazoo Wings (usually shortened to K-Wings) are a professional hockey team in Kalamazoo Michigan that The Muskegon Fury was a International Hockey League Ice hockey team located in Muskegon Michigan. The Plymouth Whalers are a major Junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League. The Saginaw Spirit are a Junior ice hockey team from Saginaw, Michigan, United States of America, playing in the Ontario Hockey League The Traverse City North Stars are a Junior A Ice hockey team in the North American Hockey League's north division and play out of Centre ICE Arena Baseball is a Bat-and-ball Sport played between two teams of nine players each Part of the History of baseball series Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of Professional baseball leagues in North The Midwest League is a Class A Minor league baseball league which operates in the Midwestern United States. The Great Lakes Loons, based in Midland Michigan, is a Low Class A Minor league baseball team affiliated with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Kalamazoo Kings are a professional baseball team based in Kalamazoo Michigan, in the United States. The Traverse City Beach Bums are a professional baseball team based in the Traverse City Michigan suburb of Blair Township, in the United States. The West Michigan Whitecaps are a Class A Minor league baseball team affiliated with the Detroit Tigers, that plays in the Midwest League. The Grand Rapids Rampage is an Arena Football League team that began playing as a 1998 expansion team This article is about the sport of Arena Football See Arena Football (video game for the EA Sports Video game of the same name The Arena Football League (AFL was founded in 1987 as an American football indoor league. The Kalamazoo Xplosion are a 2007 expansion team of the Continental Indoor Football League, formerly the Great Lakes Indoor Football League This article discusses indoor variations of American football for indoor versions of association football (soccer see Futsal and Indoor soccer and for the The Continental Indoor Football League ( CIFL) is an indoor football league based along the Northeastern United States region The Flint Phantoms are a team in the Continental Indoor Football League set to begin play for the 2008 season The Muskegon Thunder is a team of the Indoor Football League which began play in 2007 as a member of the Continental Indoor Football League. The Saginaw Sting is a team of the Indoor Football League that began play as a 2008 expansion franchise in the Continental Indoor Football League. The Detroit Demolition are a women's semi-professional American football team based in the Detroit Michigan area American football, known in the United States and Canada simply as football, is a competitive Team sport known for mixing strategy with The Independent Women's Football League was founded in 2000, and began play in 2001. Honors Championships None Division Titles 2006-07 MISL Regular Season 2007-08 MISL Regular Season Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a Team sport played between two teams of eleven players and is widely considered The Major Indoor Soccer League was the top professional Indoor soccer league in the USA. Kalamazoo Kingdom were an American Soccer team founded in 1996. History In 1995 the USISL split into two leagues one professional and one amateur Michigan Bucks is an American Soccer team founded in 1995. The team is a member of the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League Michigan Hawks is a professional American women’s Soccer team founded in 2006 which is a member of the United Soccer Leagues W-League, the premier History The W-League's inaugural season was in 1995 Originally called the United States Interregional Women's League it later changed its name to the W-League West Michigan Edge are an American Soccer team founded in 1995. West Michigan Firewomen is a professional American women’s Soccer team founded in 2005 which is a member of the United Soccer Leagues W-League, The following are Michigan's professional sports league champions NCAA Division I basketball champions and NCAA Division II football champions 1887 The Detroit Wolverines The Los Angeles Lakers franchise has a long and storied history predating the formation of the National Basketball Association (NBA The Los Angeles Lakers franchise has a long and storied history predating the formation of the National Basketball Association (NBA Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West The Los Angeles Lakers are a National Basketball Association (NBA team based in Los Angeles, California. The National Football League ( NFL) is the largest professional American football league. See also Detroit Wheels (disambiguation Detroit Wheels were an American football team a charter member of the ill-fated World Football League. The World Football League was an American football league that played in 1974 and part of 1975. The Detroit Falcons were a professional basketball team based in Detroit Michigan. The Michigan Panthers were a professional American football team that played in the United States Football League in the mid-1980s For the proposed "New USFL" see United States Football League (2010. The Detroit Stars were a United States Baseball team in the Negro Leagues and played at historic Mack Park. The Negro American League was one of the several Negro Leagues which were created during the time organized baseball was segregated The Detroit Wolverines were a 19th century Baseball team that played in the National League from 1881 to 1888 in the city of Detroit Michigan. The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the National League ( NL) is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball The Michigan Stags were a professional Ice hockey team based out of Detroit, USA that played in the World Hockey Association. The World Hockey Association (French Association Mondiale de Hockey) was a professional Ice hockey league that operated in North America from 1972 The Michigan Stags were a professional Ice hockey team based out of Detroit, USA that played in the World Hockey Association. The Detroit Vipers were an International Hockey League team The team was founded in 1994, and played at The Palace of Auburn Hills. The International Hockey League (IHL was a minor Professional Ice hockey league in the United States and Canada from 1945 to 2001 The International Hockey League (IHL was a minor Professional Ice hockey league in the United States and Canada from 1945 to 2001 American Hockey Association (1926–1942The American Hockey League (AHL is a Professional Ice hockey league in North America that serves as the primary The Detroit Fury were an Arena Football League team The team began play in 2001 and was based in Auburn Hills Michigan, a suburb of Detroit This article is about the sport of Arena Football See Arena Football (video game for the EA Sports Video game of the same name The Arena Football League (AFL was founded in 1987 as an American football indoor league. Events 451 - The Battle of Chalons takes place in North Eastern France. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Michigan Mayhem was a Minor league professional Basketball team based in Muskegon Michigan that competed in the Continental Basketball Association Basketball is a team Sport in which two teams of five active players each try to score points against one another by propelling a ball through a 10 feet (3 m The Continental Basketball Association ( CBA) is a professional men's Basketball league in the United States. This is a list of US state nicknames, including officially adopted Nicknames and other traditional nicknames for individual states of the United States. Here is a list of state Mottos for the states of the United States of America. Si quaeris peninsulam amoenam circumspice ( Latin "If you seek a pleasant peninsula look about you" sometimes spelled "Si quæris peninsulam amœnam This is a paraphrase of the epitaph of British architect Sir Christopher Wren about his masterpiece, St. An architect is a licensed individual who leads a design team in the Planning and Design of buildings and participates in oversight of Building Construction Sir Christopher Wren ( 20 October 1632 &ndash 25 February 1723) was a 17th century English Designer, Astronomer Paul's Cathedral. ^[48][49]
• State song: My Michigan (official since 1937, but disputed amongst Michiganders^[50])
• State bird: American Robin (since 1931)
• State animal: Wolverine (traditional)
• State game animal: White-tailed deer (since 1997)
• State fish: Brook trout (since 1965)
• State reptile: Painted Turtle (since 1995)
• State fossil: Mastodon (since 2000)
• State flower: Apple blossom (adopted in 1897, official in 1997)
• State wildflower: Dwarf Lake Iris (since 1998). Introduction Forty-nine states of the United States (all except New Jersey) have one or more state songs, selected by the state This is a list of US state birds as designated by each state's legislature The American Robin, Turdus migratorius, is a migratory Songbird of the thrush family A state mammal is the official or representative Animal of a U The White-tailed deer ( Odocoileus virginianus) also known as the Virginia deer, or simply as the whitetail, is a medium-sized Deer found throughout This is a list of official and *unofficial US state fish:The only states lacking a state fish as of 2008 are Arkansas Indiana Kansas and Ohio The brook trout, Salvelinus fontinalis, (sometimes called the eastern brook trout, Adirondack coaster lake trout) is a Species of Fish This is a list of official US state reptiles: See also Lists of United States state insignia "Painted Turtle" is also the name of an imprint of Wayne State University Press. Most American states have made a state fossil designation in many cases during the 1980s. Mastodons or Mastodonts (from Greek μαστός and οδούς, meaning " Nipple tooth" are members of the extinct This is a list of US state flowers: See also List of US state trees Lists of U The apple is the pomaceous Fruit of the apple tree Species Malus domestica in the Rose family Rosaceae. The Dwarf Lake Iris ( Iris lacustris) is a tiny iris species endemic to the northern shores of Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. Known as Iris lacustris, it is a federally listed threatened species.
• State tree: White pine (since 1955)
• State stone: Petoskey stone (since 1965). This List of US state trees includes official trees of the following states and U Eastern White Pine' ( Pinus strobus) is a large Pine native to eastern North America, occurring from Newfoundland west to Minnesota Not every state has an official state mineral rock stone or gemstone A Petoskey stone is a rock and a fossil often pebble-shaped that is composed of a fossilized Coral, Hexagonaria percarinata. It is composed of fossilized coral (Hexagonaria pericarnata) from long ago when the middle of the continent was covered with a shallow sea. Corals are Marine organisms from the class Anthozoa and exist as small Sea anemone –like Polyps typically in colonies of many
• State gem: Isle Royale greenstone (since 1973). Not every state has an official state mineral rock stone or gemstone Chlorastrolite is a green or bluish green stone usually with finely radiated or stellate masses Also called chlorastrolite (literally "green star stone"), the mineral is found on Isle Royale and the Keweenaw peninsula. Isle Royale is an island of the Great Lakes, located in the northwest of Lake Superior. Keweenaw Peninsula (ˈkiːwənɔː roughly KEY-win-awe is the most northern part of Michigan 's Upper Peninsula.
• State soil: Kalkaska Sand (since 1990), ranges in color from black to yellowish brown, covers nearly a million acres (400,000 ha) in 29 counties. This is a list of Representative US State Soils. A state soil is a Soil that has special significance to a particular state. Kalkaska Sand is the official Soil of the US state of Michigan.

Facts

• Michigan is home to more public golf courses than any other state.
• Michigan ranks 1st in the nation in the number of registered snowmobiles. A snowmobile (known locally as snowmachine, snowsled or by the Brandname Ski-Doo) is a land vehicle that is commonly propelled by ^[51]
• Michigan ranks 3rd in the nation in licensed hunters at over 750,000

Michigan residents often show where in Michigan they have been, by pointing to their hands. Hunting is the practice of pursuing Animals for Food, Recreation, or Trade.

Sister states

• Shiga Prefecture, Japan^[52]
• Sichuan Province, Peoples Republic of China ^[53]

See also

• List of Michigan-related topics

References

Further reading

External links

• State of Michigan government website
• Michigan History Magazine
• Michigan's Official Travel Site
• Info Michigan, detailed information on 630 cities
• Michigan Historic Markers
• Michigan Lighhouse Chronology - Clark Historical Library
• Michigan Underwater Preserves Council
• Michigan travel guide from Wikitravel
• USGS real-time, geographic, and other scientific resources of Michigan
• Michigan State Fact Sheet from the U. Wikitravel is a Web -based project "to create a free, complete up-to-date and reliable worldwide travel guide. S. Department of Agriculture

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