Michigan Almanac
Michigan got its name from the Indian word meaning "Great Lake." This state touches on all but one of the Great lakes and has 40,000 square miles of water within its boundaries. Woodland Indians lived in the land when French explorers and fur traders first came to it. Once the timber, minerals, and fertile soil were discovered, settlers flocked to Michigan. They stayed to make this state first in production of automobiles, breakfast cereals, furniture, cherries, cucumbers, navy beans, and seedling pines.
Quick Facts
Michigan "Wolverine State" Admitted to the Union: Thursday, January 26, 1837 Capital: Lansing Motto: Si Quaeris Peninsulam Ameonam, Circumspice (If You Seek a Beautiful Peninsula, Look Around) Land Area (square miles): 58,216
Population Statistics
1810 4,762
1820 8,896
1830 31,639
1840 212,267
1850 397,654
1860 749,113
1870 1,184,059
1880 1,636,937
1890 2,093,890
1900 2,420,982
1910 2,810,173
1920 3,668,412
1930 4,842,325
1940 5,256,106
1950 6,371,766
1960 7,823,194
1970 8,875,083
1980 9,262,078
1990 9,295,297
- Population is ranked 8th (in US) at 9,549,353 (1995 estimate)
- Total area - 96,791 square miles [including water areas]
- Greatest length [north to south] - 310 miles
- Greatest width [east to west] - 400 miles
- Highest point - 1,980 feet
- Lowest point - 572 feet
- Highest recorded temperature - 112 degrees
- Lowest recorded temperature - -51 degrees
- 3,288 miles of shoreline
- 11,000 inland lakes
- 36,000 miles of rivers and streams
- 18.4 million acres of forest
- Principal cities - Detroit, Flint, Grand Rapids, Dearborn, Lansing
- White pine is the state tree
- Robin is the state bird
- Apple blossom is the state flower
- Petoskey is the state stone
- Isle Royale greenstone is the state gem
- Brook trout is the state fish
- State song is "Michigan My Michigan"