Indian
tribes were living in the Michigan region when the first European, Étienne
Brulé of France, arrived in 1618. Other French explorers, including Jacques
Marquette, Louis Joliet, and Sieur de la Salle, followed, and the first permanent
settlement was established in 1668 at Sault Ste. Marie. France was ousted from
the territory by Great Britain in 1763, following the French and Indian Wars.
After
the Revolutionary War, the U.S. acquired most of the region, which remained the
scene of constant conflict between the British and U.S. forces and their respective
Indian allies through the War of 1812.
Bordering
on four of the five Great Lakes, Michigan is divided into Upper and Lower peninsulas
by the Straits of Mackinac, which link lakes Michigan and Huron. The two parts
of the state are connected by the Mackinac Bridge, one of the world's longest
suspension bridges. To the north, connecting lakes Superior and Huron, are the
busy Sault Ste. Marie Canals.
While
Michigan ranks first among the states in production of motor vehicles and parts,
it is also a leader in many other manufacturing and processing lines, including
prepared cereals, machine tools, airplane parts, refrigerators, hardware, and
furniture.
The
state produces important amounts of iron, copper, iodine, gypsum, bromine, salt,
lime, gravel, and cement. Michigan's farms grow apples, cherries, beans, pears,
grapes, potatoes, and sugar beets. Michigan's forests contribute significantly
to the state's economy, supporting thousands of jobs in the wood-product, tourism,
and recreation industries. With 10,083 inland lakes and 3,288 mi of Great Lakes
shoreline, Michigan is a prime area for both commercial and sport fishing.
Points
of interest are the automobile plants in Dearborn, Detroit, Flint, Lansing, and
Pontiac; Mackinac Island; Pictured Rocks and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshores;
Greenfield Village in Dearborn; and the many summer resorts along both the inland
lakes and Great Lakes.
Coming Soon!
See
more on Michigan: Encyclopedia: Michigan Encyclopedia: Geography Encyclopedia:
Economy Encyclopedia: Government Encyclopedia: History Monthly Temperature
Extremes
Accredited
Colleges and Universities
Selected
famous natives and residents:
Nelson Algren novelist; Tim Allen
actor and comedian; Anita Baker singer; William Boeing, Sr. airplane manufacturer;
Ralph J. Bunche statesman; Ellen Burstyn actress; Bruce Catton historian;
Roger Chaffee astronaut; Francis Ford Coppola film director; Thomas
E. Dewey politician; Edna Ferber novelist; Gerald Ford former president;
Henry Ford industrialist; Ali Haji-Sheikh football player; Julie Harris
actress; Earvin “Magic” Johnson basketball player; Casey Kasem
radio personality; John Harvey Kellogg surgeon and health reformer; Ring
Lardner writer; Charles A. Lindbergh aviator; Madonna singer; Dick
Martin comedian; Terry McMillan author; John N. Mitchell attorney general;
Ted Nugent singer; Chief Pontiac Ottawa chief; Iggy Pop musician;
Gilda Radner comedienne; Della Reese singer; Jason Robards, Sr. actor;
Diana Ross singer; Steven Seagal actor; Bob Seger singer; Tom
Selleck actor; Thomas Schippers conductor; Potter Stewart jurist; Lily
Tomlin actress; Danny Thomas entertainer; William E. Upjohn pharmaceuticals
manufacturer; Margaret Whiting singer; Robin Williams comedian and actor;
Stevie Wonder singer.
Capital:
Lansing
State
abbreviation/Postal code: Mich./MI
Governor:
Jennifer Granholm, D (to Jan. 2007)
Lieut.
Governor: John D. Cherry, D (to Jan. 2007)
Senators:
Carl Levin, D (to Jan. 2009); Debbie A. Stabenow, D (to Jan. 2007)
U.S.
Representatives: 15
Secy.
of State: Terri Lynn Land, R (to Jan. 2007)
Atty.
General: Mike Cox, R (to Jan. 2007)
Treasurer:
Jay B. Rising (apptd. by governor)
Organized
as territory: Jan. 11, 1805
Entered
Union (rank): Jan. 26, 1837 (26)
Present
constitution adopted: April 1, 1963, (effective Jan. 1, 1964)
Motto:
Si quaeris peninsulam amoenam circumspice (If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look
around you)
State
symbols: flower apple blossom (1897) bird robin (1931) mammal white-tailed
deer (1997) fishes trout (1965), brook trout (1988) gem isle royal greenstone
(chlorastrolite) (1972) stone petoskey stone (1965) tree white pine (1955)
soil kalkaska soil series (1990) reptile painted turtle (1995) flag
“Blue charged with the arms of the state” (1911) wildflower Dwarf
Lake iris (1998)
Nickname:
Wolverine State
Origin
of name: From Indian word “Michigana” meaning “great or large lake”
10
largest cities (2003 est.): Detroit, 911,402; Grand Rapids, 195,601; Warren,
136,016; Sterling Heights, 126,182; Flint, 120,292; Lansing, 118,379; Ann Arbor,
114,498; Livonia, 99,487; Dearborn, 96,670; Westland, 85,707
Land
area: 56,804 sq mi. (147,122 sq km)
Geographic
center: In Wexford Co., 5 mi. NNW of Cadillac
Number
of counties: 83
Largest
county by population and area: Wayne, 2,016,202 (2004); Marquette, 1,821 sq
mi.
State
parks and recreation areas: 97
Residents:
Michigander, Michiganian, Michiganite
2004
resident population est.:
10,112,620
2000
resident census population (rank): 9,938,444 (8). Male: 4,873,095 (49.0%);
Female: 5,065,349 (51.0%). White: 7,966,053 (80.2%); Black: 1,412,742 (14.2%);
American Indian: 58,479 (0.6%); Asian: 176,510 (1.8%); Other race: 129,552 (1.3%);
Two or more races: 192,416 (1.9%); Hispanic/Latino: 323,877 (3.3%). 2000 percent
population 18 and over: 73.9; 65 and over: 12.3; median age: 35.5.
