Michigan (MI) is located in the northern Midwestern United States along the shores of the five Great Lakes, which are some of the most popular tourist attractions. Michigan’s economy relies heavily on the automotive industry, which is concentrated around its largest city, Detroit. In 1925, Michigan became one of the first US states to impose a gasoline tax to fund the development of road infrastructure. The capital of Michigan is Lansing.
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Table of Contents
Quick Facts
Name Michigan Abbreviation MI Capital Lansing Largest city Detroit (Population: 633 218) Current time 12:50 Time zone EST (UTC-5), CST (UTC-6) is in effect in four districts. The State observes Daylight Saving Time EDT (UTC-4) and CDT (UTC-5) Population 10,077,674 (#10 most populous US state) Area 96,715 mi² (#11 largest US state) Admitted to the Union January 26, 1837 (#26 state to join) ⭐ Capital of Michigan
The capital of Michigan is Lansing, which was first settled sometime around 1835. The name refers to the city of Lansing, New York. Lansing became the capital of Michigan in 1847.
🏙️ Largest City in Michigan
The largest city in Michigan is Detroit, with a population of 633,218 in 2023. The second largest is Grand Rapids with a population of 196,608 and the third largest is Warren with 136,655.
🕒 Time in Michigan
The current time in Michigan is 12:50. Eastern Standard Time (EST, UTC-5) is used in almost all of Michigan, with only four counties following Central Standard Time (CST, UTC-6). The entire state switches to daylight saving time from March to November.
🧑🤝🧑 Population of Michigan
As of 2023, Michigan had a population of 10,077,674, ranking it as the 10th most populous state in the USA.
📍 Area of Michigan
Michigan’s total area is 96,715 mi², of which 58,110 mi² is land and 38,606 mi² is water. Michigan is the 11th largest US state.
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Fun Facts About Michigan
🧩 Michigan Neighboring States
Michigan shares a land border with three US states, which are Wisconsin, Ohio and Indiana. In addition, it shares a water border with the state of Illinois, an indirect water border across Lake Superior with Minnesota, and a land border with the Canadian province of Ontario.
📅 Date of Michigan Statehood
Michigan was admitted to the Union on January 26, 1837, as the 26th state to enter the Union, its predecessor being the Territory of Michigan.
📛 Nickname of the State of Michigan
Michigan has several nicknames, the most famous of which “The Great Lake State” refers to the Great Lakes. Four of the five lakes plaster Michigan’s shores, they are Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, and Lake Erie.
The nickname “The Wolverine State” refers to the wolverine, a land carnivore that resembles a bear and is the unofficial symbol of Michigan. Its English name, Wolverine, is often used in conjunction with sports team names.
The third nickname, “Water – Winter Wonderland”, was intended to promote tourism in the state and to showcase it as a destination to visit in winter and summer.
⛰️ Highest Mountain in Michigan
The highest mountain in Michigan is with 1,979 ft Mount Arvon, which is the highest peak of the Huron Mountains.
🏞️ Rivers in Michigan
The longest river in Michigan is the Grand River with a total flow length of 252 mi. It is followed by the Muskegon River (216 mi), the St. Joseph River (206 mi), the Manistee River (193 mi), and the Raisin River (139 mi).
🎓 Universities in Michigan
The largest university is Michigan State University, which was founded in 1855 in East Lansing and is attended by around 39,000 students. In second place is the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor with around 32 thousand students and in third place is Wayne State University in Detroit with around 17 thousand students.
✉️ Michigan ZIP Codes
Michigan has a dedicated zip code range of 480xx-499xx, to find out the ZIP code for a specific address you can visit the USPS website. For more information, see the article ZIP Codes in the USA.
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Weather in Michigan
The best time of year to visit Michigan is summer, when pleasant weather beckons you to explore the natural beauty.
Spring in Michigan is initially very cool, with temperatures in Detroit in March ranging between 27°F and 43°F. In the following weeks there is a gradual warming up to May’s 48°F to 66°F. Rainfall is very frequent, and snow cover may persist in northern Michigan into April.
Summers in Michigan tend to be warm, but tropical temperatures do not usually prevail. From June to August there are usually 63°F to 81°F. Summer thunderstorms are common, often intense, but usually brief, with fewer rainy days than in spring. July and August in particular are very popular months, so expect higher visitor numbers at most attractions.
Autumn in Michigan is cool and dry, with temperatures in September and October usually ranging between 50°F and 68°F. In November, it cools down to 34°F–46°F, northern Michigan areas may already be hit by snow showers.
Michigan winters tend to be long, cold and full of snow. Temperatures in January and February are below freezing most days, and can drop to 14°F. Snowstorms are common in the north of the state, which creates good conditions for winter sports but can also make travel difficult.
🌡️ Average Temperatures and Precipitation in Michigan
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Things to Do in Michigan
1️⃣ Isle Royale National Park
Isle Royale National Park is located in the northern part of Lake Superior, close to the Canadian border. The park is known for its remoteness, accessible only by ferry or plane. It offers a peaceful setting for viewing moose, wolves and other wildlife or for diving and canoeing.
There are no roads or other modern infrastructure in the park, but several hiking trails are available for visitors.
2️⃣ Michigan’s Adventure Amusement Park
Michigan’s Adventure is the largest amusement park in Michigan, located in Muskegon near the shores of Lake Michigan. The amusement park operates dozens of rides for the whole family, with seven roller coasters, including one wooden one, being the most successful. Refreshment in the summer months is provided by the adjacent WildWater Adventure water park with its water slides and water slides.
3️⃣ Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation
The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn is dedicated to industrial and technical innovation, with a major emphasis on the automobile. The museum boasts an extensive collection of historic automobiles, trains, planes and other means of transportation.
Among the most interesting exhibits is the original chair from Ford’s Theatre, that Abraham Lincoln was sitting in when he was shot. You can also see the Lincoln Continental car that President John F. Kennedy was sitting in when he was shot in 1963.
4️⃣ Mackinac Island
Mackinac Island is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Michigan. It is known for its historic buildings, and notably, motor vehicles are not allowed on the island. All transportation is only possible on foot or by bicycle. The main attraction of the island is Fort Mackinac, built in 1780, which is open to tourists.
5️⃣ Michigan State Capitol
The capitol building in the state capital of Lansing is one of the most important buildings in Michigan. The neoclassical-style capitol was built between 1872 and 1878.
Visitors are offered free guided tours of the building where they can learn more about the history and workings of Michigan government. As they walk through the interior, they can admire the beautifully decorated rotunda, historic offices and marble columns.
6️⃣ Detroit Zoo
The Detroit Zoo opened in 1928 and today is home to over 2,000 animals of 245 different species. Among the most interesting pavilions are the polar bears, which can be seen swimming over visitors’ heads through a transparent tunnel.
Other themed pavilions include an African safari, an Australian garden and a penguin house. With a focus on animal conservation and a strong emphasis on sustainability, the zoo is an ideal stop for families.
7️⃣ Tahquamenon Falls State Park
Tahquamenon Falls State Park is home to the falls of the same name, which are some of the largest in the eastern half of the United States. The falls are divided into Upper and Lower Falls, with a total height of 48.0 ft. You can observe them from one of the many hiking trails that run through the park. The park is also suitable for fishing and canoeing, and in winter you can go cross-country skiing.
8️⃣ Kitch-iti-kipi
Kitch-iti-kipi is the largest natural spring in Michigan, found in Palms Book State Park near the shores of Lake Michigan. The name of the spring means “big cold spring” in the Ojibway language.
The spring is known for its crystal clear water and a floating platform that allows visitors to see all the way to the bottom and watch the fish swim by. Kitch-iti-kipi is surrounded on all sides by beautiful forests, making the spring a favorite among photographers.
9️⃣ Detroit Institute of Arts
The Detroit Institute of Arts ranks among the most important art museums in the USA, housing a vast collection of art ranging from ancient civilizations to modern times. Among art connoisseurs, the institute is famous for its collection of murals by Mexican painter Diego Rivera, who used them to chart the history of industry in Detroit. Among the exhibits are works by Vincent van Gogh, Rembrandt and Pablo Picasso.
🔟 Silver Lake Sand Dunes
The high sand dunes of Silver Lake lie on the shores of Lake Michigan, offering an excellent opportunity for outdoor activities. You can try sandboarding or ride all-terrain vehicles on the dunes. The area offers an interesting mix of sand dunes and forests, and there are several marked hiking trails that offer beautiful views of the lake.
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Largest Cities in Michigan
The table below shows the ten largest cities in the state of Michigan in 2023, the source of the data is the United States Census Bureau, a federal agency whose main job is to count the population.
City County Population 1 Detroit Wayne 633,218 Map of Detroit 2 Grand Rapids Kent 196,608 Map of Grand Rapids 3 Warren Macomb 136,655 Map of Warren 4 Sterling Heights Macomb 133,306 Map of Sterling Heights 5 Ann Arbor Washtenaw 119,381 Map of Ann Arbor 6 Lansing Clinton, Eaton, Ingham 112,115 Map of Lansing 7 Dearborn Wayne 105,811 Map of Dearborn 8 Livonia Wayne 92,185 Map of Livonia 9 Troy Oakland 87,339 Map of Troy 10 Westland Wayne 82,574 Map of Westland -
Sports Teams in Michigan
🏒 Ice Hockey (NHL)
The only team from Michigan in the NHL is the Detroit Red Wings, which was founded in 1926 and falls in the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference. The Red Wings play their home games at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, and their club colors are red and white.
🏈 American Football (NFL)
The only team from Michigan in the NFL is the Detroit Lions of the NFC North Division. The club entered the league in the 1930 season and plays its home games at Ford Field in Detroit. The Lions chose blue, silver, black and white as their club colors.
🏀 Basketball (NBA)
Michigan has been represented in the NBA since the 1948 season, as the only Detroit Pistons from the Central Division in the Eastern Conference. The players play their home games on the floor of Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, the club colors are royal blue, red, chrome black and white.
⚾ Baseball (MLB)
Michigan is represented in the MLB baseball league by the Detroit Tigers, and has been part of the American League since 1901, where it falls in the Central Division. The team plays its home games at Comerica Park in Detroit; the club colors are navy blue, orange, and white.
⚽ Soccer (MLS)
There is no team from Michigan in the MLS soccer league.
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Michigan State Symbols
Michigan has a number of officially recognized state symbols, below are some of them.
State Flag of Michigan
The Michigan flag has been in its current form since August 1, 1911, and is defined by law as the state emblem placed on a dark blue field. An official state-designated flag month runs from June 14 to July 14 each year, when tribute is paid to the flag.
Great Seal of Michigan
The Great Seal of Michigan has been in use since July 22, 1835, but the corresponding law was not passed until 1963. The seal takes the form of the Michigan state emblem on a light blue field. The coat of arms includes three Latin mottos: “E Pluribus Unum” (the motto of the United States) on a red ribbon, “Tuebor” on a blue shield, and “Si Quæris Peninsulam Amœnam Circumspice” (the motto of the State of Michigan) on a white ribbon.
State Tree
In 1955, the eastern white pine (Pinus strobus) was declared the state tree. The tallest trees in Hartwick Pines State Park range in height from 148 ft to 157 ft.
State Song
The national anthem was chosen in 1933 as the song Michigan, My Michigan, with lyrics written by Giles Kavanagh and music composed by Harold O’Reilly Clint.
State Reptile
Since 1995, the painted turtle (Chrysemys picta) has been the official state reptile, and can be seen in the wild in Michigan, particularly in the Lower Peninsula.
State Flower
The official state flower has been the apple blossom since 1897. The decision was made in connection with the 1893 World’s Fair, when a wreath of 44 different flowers was created to represent the 44 states of the USA at the time. Michigan was represented in the wreath by the apple blossom, which later inspired lawmakers to declare it the state symbol.
State Fish
Since 1988, the official fish symbol has been the brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis), which is commonly found in Michigan’s rivers and lakes.
State Grain
The list of state symbols was expanded in 2023 by a native cereal known as Indian rice or manoomin. The plant, with the Latin names Zizania palustris and Zizania aquatica, is commonly found around the Great Lakes.
State Stone
In 1965, the Petoskey Stone was added to the list of state symbols, named for the town on the shores of Lake Michigan. The stone is made up of the fossilized remains of one specific coral, and is very often pebble-shaped.
State Wildflower
The official wildflower of the state of Michigan since 1998 is the dwarf lake iris (Iris lacustris). The plant, with its typically purple flowers, grows exclusively on the northern shores of Lake Huron and Lake Michigan.
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