Michigan was home to various
Native Americans centuries before colonization by Europeans.
The most populous and
influential were Algonquian peoples;
the Ottawa, the Anishnabe (also called "Chippewa" or "Ojibwe"),
and the Potawatomi.
Other First Nations people in Michigan
were the Mascouten, the Menominee, the Miami, and the Wyandot
(better known as "Huron").
The state was named after a French adaptation of the Ojibwe phrase
mishigami
("large water" or "large lake").
Michigan entered the Union on Jan 26, 1837.
The state is bordered on the south by the states of Ohio and
Indiana,
sharing land and water boundaries with both.
There is a water boundary with Canada along the entire lengths of the
St.Clair River, Lake St.Clair and the Detroit River.
The Great Lakes that border Michigan from
east to west are Lake Erie, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan and Lake Superior.
Michigan has an area of
58110 mi² (150504 km²),
38575 mi² (99909 km²) of Great Lakes waters and
1305 mi² (3380 km²) of inland waters.
Bounded by 4 of the 5 Great Lakes, plus Lake Saint Clair,
Michigan has the longest freshwater
shoreline in the world.
It is the only state to consist entirely of 2 peninsulas.
The Upper Peninsula is separated from the Lower Peninsula by the
Straits of Mackinac, a 5~mile (8 km) wide
channel that joins Lake Huron to Lake Michigan,
the only great lake which lies entirely within the United States.
The 2 Peninsulas are connected by the 5~mile (8 km) long Mackinac Bridge,
which is the one of the longest suspension bridges in the world.
The oldest mountains in North America, the Porcupine Mountains,
rise to an altitude of almost 2000 ft (610 m) above
sea level and form the watershed between the streams
flowing into Lake Superior and Lake Michigan.
The over 10 million inhabitants in Michigan are never more than 85 miles (137 km)
from open water and is never more than 6 miles (10 km)
from a natural water source. Only Alaska has more territorial water.
WEATHER
Michigan has a temperate climate with
well~defined seasons. The warmest temperatures and longest frost~free
period are found most generally in the southern part of the lower peninsula.
Detroit has a normal daily mean temperature of 49 ° F (9 ° C),
ranging from 23 ° F (–5 ° C) in January
to 72 ° F (22 ° C) in July.
Colder temperatures and a shorter growing season prevail in
northern regions;
ranging from 13 ° F (–11 ° C) in January
to 64 ° F (18 ° C) in July.
The Great Lakes cool the hot winds of summer and warm the cold winds
of winter, generally giving Michigan a
milder climate than most other north~central states.
The coldest temperature ever recorded
was –51 ° F (–46 ° C);
the all~time high was 112 ° F (44 ° C).
Both extremes were located in the interior of the lower peninsula,
away from the moderating influence of the Great Lakes.
The greatest snowfall is found in the extreme northern areas,
where cloud cover created by cold air blowing over the
warmer Lake Superior waters causes frequent heavy snow along
the northern coast; averaging 183 in (465 cm) of snow a year,
more than any other area in the state.
Lake Michigan's water temperatures
create a snow belt along the west coast of the lower peninsula.
Cloudy days are more common in Michigan than in most states,
in part because of the condensation of water vapor from the Great Lakes.
Detroit has sunshine, on average,
only 32% of the days in
December and January, and only 49% year~round.
The annual precipitation in Detroit
is about 32.9 in (83.6 cm).
The southern half of the lower peninsula is an area of heavy
thunderstorm activity. Late spring and early summer are the
height of the tornado season.
Weather can be severe, especially in the southern part of the state,
where they get about 17 tornadoes and 30 days of
thunderstorm activity per year.
ECONOMY
The Michigan Chamber of Commerce
applies the resources of the state’s job providers to
lower taxes, reduce business costs,
fight unnecessary government regulations and
interference, improve the economy and create
jobs for Michigan citizens.
Major industries/products/services include automobiles,
cereal products, technology, aerospace, military equipment,
copper, iron, and furniture.
Michigan's infrastructure gives it a competitive edge;
there are 38 deep water ports.
Michigan is famous for its
Detroit automotive industry.
The domestic auto industry accounts directly and indirectly for 1 out of
every 10 jobs in the U.S.
Even though Michigan is known worldwide as the birthplace of
automobile manufacturing,
its diverse economy leads in many other areas,
such as information
technology,
life sciences, and advanced manufacturing.
Michigan also has a booming bio~tech industry.
The state is an source of many engineering job opportunities,
typically ranking 2nd or 3rd
overall in research and development expenditures in the United States.
Research and development (including automotive),
comprises a higher percentage of the state's
gross domestic product than for any other state.
Michigan has over
60 thousand acres (250 km²) of land dedicated to Christmas tree farming,
making it the 3rd largest producer of Christmas trees in the nation.
The state produces wines and a multitude of food products.
Products grown include sugar beets, navy beans, and soy beans.
Michigan is a leading grower of fruit, including blueberries, cherries, apples, grapes, and peaches.
Michigan has a thriving tourist industry,
supporting almost 200 thousand tourism jobs.
Both the forests and thousands of miles of beaches are top attractions.
Michigan is 50% forest land, much of it quite remote.
Destinations draw vacationers, hunters, and nature enthusiasts
from all over the world.
Hunting is a major component of the economy.
Michigan ranks 1st in the nation in licensed hunters.
Michigan has more than 90 native species of trees,
more than all of Europe combined.
The task of managing the largest dedicated state forest system in the nation,
the forest products industry, and recreational users, supplies and supports
about 200 thousand jobs statewide.
Michigan's top tax bracket on personal
income is among the lowest in the nation.
SCHOOLS
Michigan's schools and colleges rank among
the nation's best. The state has maintained its early commitment to
public education.
Even before statehood, Michigan was a
leader in public education.
In 1809 judicial districts created schools and levied taxes to
support them. Then, 20 years later, The Territorial Council divided
the districts into school districts and gave the State the right
to supervise schools.
Michigan's first constitution created a
Superintendent of Public Instruction in 1835.
The Michigan State Board of Education's current responsibilities
were established by the 1963 State Constitution.
The leadership legacy continues as Board members lead the way
in improving public education through recommendations and actions
that have resulted in key legislative changes.
The strategic goal is to attain substantial and meaningful improvement in
academic achievement for all students/children
with primary emphasis on high priority
schools and students.
The priority is to advocate and promote high school reform,
with an emphasis on
relevance, relationships, and implementation.
The mission of the Student Financial Services Bureau is to excel in
assisting citizens to pursue postsecondary education by
providing equality of access to student financial resources and information.
The Student Financial Services Bureau accomplishes that mission by
offering several services to Michigan citizens and residents.
For more details please contact the
Michigan Department of Education.
HOSPITALITY
Michigan is a state blessed with the
riches of unspoiled nature: the world's longest freshwater coastline,
lakes that feel like oceans, shimmering beaches, cherry orchards,
glorious sunrises and sunsets, daytime skies of
the deepest blue, night~time skies scattered with stars.
Home to more than 100 public beaches, some of the highest
freshwater sand dunes in the world, stunning multi~colored
sandstone cliffs.
More than 100 lighthouses, numerous maritime museums,
ten shipwreck~diving preserves and historic military
fortifications rim Michigan's Great Lakes shoreline.
Lakes, campgrounds, wildlife refuges and 99 state parks and
recreation areas create a wide variety of recreational pursuits.
Rivers for water sports, and thousands of miles of hiking,
biking, cross~country skiing and snowmobiling trails thread
their way among some 100 species of trees.
Hundreds of islands dot Michigan waters.
Isle Royale National Park is a remote wilderness retreat in
Lake Superior where wolves and moose roam free.
Mackinac Island
hass a lush resort community fixed firmly in the Victorian era,
a car~free island dominated by an historic fort and
the century~old Grand Hotel.
The Upper Peninsula, which is 90% forest, is accessible wilderness.
Vast wildlife and waterfowl refuges,
150 waterfalls, and 2 Great Lakes are within an easy
drive of one another.
Long days, relaxing weather and more than 800 pristine golf courses make for
the perfect tee time.
Being able to play all day is Pure Michigan.
Michigan offers a near infinite array of moments that live forever
in memory. Come find out what
Pure Michigan feels like.
For more details please contact
Michigan State Tourism.
NEWS
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