Michigan, the 26th state in the USA, has several epithets that characterize it. The “Mitten State” is also known as “The Great Lakes State” and “Wolverine State”. It is known as “The Birthplace of Automotives” and “Water Winter Wonderland”.
- The US state of Michigan borders four of the five Great Lakes in the American Midwest: Lake Michigan, Lake Erie, Lake Huron, and Lake Superior.
- Michigan is the only state in the USA to have a mainland divided into two parts – Lake Michigan stretches between the two peninsulas.
- Michigan’s rivers such as the Grand River, Detroit, Kalamazoo, Manistee, and Saint Clair are major transportation routes for goods traffic.
Lansing – The capital of the US state Michigan spreads out like a chessboard in Ingham County along the confluence of the Red Cedar in the Grand River. Their name recalls the origins of many settlers from the city of Lansing in Tomkins County, New York. Detroit was the capital of Michigan until 1847.
- ABBREVIATIONFINDER.ORG: Overview of state Michigan, including major cities and most commonly used abbreviations of Michigan.
Michigan – the geography of the 26th US state
Michigan’s geography is characterized by diverse landscapes with lakes, highlands, mountain ranges and plains, which are a paradise for nature lovers:
- The 288 square kilometer Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore was created by glacial sand on the northwestern shore of Lake Michigan on the lower peninsula. The impressive sand dunes in the sanctuary, which also includes the islands of North Manitou Island and South Manitou Island, are up to 140 meters high.
- On Lake Superior, the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore impresses with its colorful layers of rock, bizarre rock formations and thundering waterfalls.
- Families feel at home on the beach at Silver Lake Sand Dunes, an expansive dune landscape on the shores of Lake Michigan.
- The Isle Royale National Park is located on the border with Canada: it consists largely of water with scattered small islands.
Michigan – Area and Population
Michigan extends over 250, 494 square kilometers, of which 147, 121 is land and 103, 372 is water. Its population is 9, 987 million, the majority of whom live in the southernmost third of Lower Michigan. Michigan is the only US state to have a declining population. The ten largest cities are Detroit, Grand Rapids, Warren, Sterling Heights, Lansing, Ann Arbor, Flint, Dearborn, Livonia and Westland.
Michigan – the economy of the birthplace of the automotive industry
With a population of 672, 662, Detroit is Michigan’s largest city. According to COUNTRYAAH.COM, the former metropolis on the Detroit River is considered the cradle of the automotive industry, where mass production of cars began in 1909 with the Ford Model T. The US “Big Three” Ford, Chrysler and General were based here and were a driving force behind the economy. During the 1970s, Motown, as the industrial city of Detroit was also known, began to decline.
Today tourism, agriculture, mining and the timber industry represent the main economic sectors of Michigan. The automotive industry also continues to play an important role.
Michigan – History and Formation of the Mitten State
The following historical key data provides an overview of the history of the US state Michigan:
- 1688 which took place founded a first settlement of Europeans by Jesuits.
- In 1701 Fort Detroit was built on the site of today’s city of the same name.
- In 1763, the Michigan area came under British rule.
- In 1783 the two peninsulas were ceded to the Union.
- In 1787 Michigan was part of the Northwest Territory.
- In 1800 the Indiana Territory was separated from the Northwest, and then in 1805 the Michigan Territory.
- The first constituent assembly took place in 1835.
- On January 26, 1837, Michigan became the 26th state in the United States.
- In 1847 Lansing was declared the new capital.
Michigan is one of the “blue states” in the elections as a Democratic stronghold. During the 1980s, the state voted for the Republican presidential candidate, and from 1992 onwards, the Democrats regained a majority. 2016 chose Michigan with Donald Trump surprisingly a Republican candidate and applies to the 2020 presidential election as a swing state.
