Michigan
“If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about
you,” reads the Michigan State motto. A peninsula is a strip of land that
reaches out into water.
Michigan is made up of two peninsulas that are
completely separated by water. They make Michigan one of the most unique states
in the nation.
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Facts About Michigan
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Capital
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Lansing
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Population
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10,100,000
people
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Rank
among states in population
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8th
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Major
cities
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Detroit,
Grand Rapids, Warren
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Area
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96,700
square miles
250,000 square kilometers |
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Rank
among states in area
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11th
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Statehood
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January
26, 1837, the 26th state
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State
nickname
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The
Wolverine State
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Name
for residents
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Michiganders
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State
bird
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Robin
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State
flower
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Apple
Blossom
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State
tree
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White
Pine
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Abbreviation
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MI
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WATER EVERYWHERE
Michigan is located in the Great Lakes region of
the United States. It borders four of the five Great Lakes—Erie, Huron,
Michigan, and Superior. Michigan has over 3,300 miles (5,300 kilometers) of
shoreline. That’s more shoreline than any other state except Alaska!
But the water isn’t just around the edges of
Michigan. The state has more than 11,000 lakes.
TWO PENINSULAS LINKED BY A BRIDGE
Michigan’s two peninsulas are usually called the Lower
Peninsula and the Upper Peninsula. The Lower Peninsula is the larger of the
two. It’s shaped like a big mitten. The Upper Peninsula is farther north,
between Wisconsin and Canada. Sometimes it’s just called the UP for short.
For most of Michigan’s history, the peninsulas were
connected only by ferryboats. In 1957, the Mackinac Bridge opened. The bridge
links the peninsulas by road.
WHAT’S IN THE LOWER PENINSULA?
The Lower Peninsula is mostly flat with gently
rolling hills. This makes it easy to farm, and most of the state’s crops are
grown there. Most of Michigan’s people live in the Lower Peninsula,
too—especially in the south. That’s where you’ll find Lansing, the state
capital, and Detroit, the biggest city.
The Lower Peninsula is famous for its industry.
More cars are made in the Detroit area than any other place in the world. It’s
also known for its scenic lakes, rivers, and coastal areas, especially in the north.
You can find coastal sand dunes, towering trees, and many kinds of birds and
wildlife.
WHAT’S IN THE UPPER PENINSULA?
The Upper Peninsula has low mountains in the west
but is flatter in the east. It has fewer people than the Lower Peninsula. The
Upper Peninsula is home to Michigan’s lumber and mining industries. It gets
very cold in winter.
The Upper Peninsula is a place of great natural
beauty, and many people vacation there. It has cabins, campgrounds, ski
resorts, great fishing, and scenic drives. It also has the Pictured Rocks
National Lakeshore on Lake Superior. Here, wind and water have shaped sandstone
rocks into strange and colorful forms.
ISLE ROYALE
Michigan has islands, too. The biggest is Isle Royale.
It’s the largest island in Lake Superior. Isle Royale National Park is home to
moose, beavers, timber wolves, mink, eagles, and other wildlife. But you can’t
drive around Isle Royale—there aren’t any roads!
THE FUR TRADE
The first European settlers came to Michigan
seeking animal furs. In 1668, a French missionary named Jacques Marquette built
the first permanent settlement, way up north at Sault Sainte Marie on the
Canadian border. Then in 1701, the French built a fort at Detroit to protect
the growing fur trade.
The prize fur was that of the wolverine. This
badger-like animal was once abundant in northern Michigan. Today, the wolverine
is the Michigan State mascot.
MICHIGAN BECOMES A STATE
The Michigan Territory was formed in 1805. On January
26, 1837, Michigan became the 26th state in the Union.
The name Michigan comes from a Native
American word. Many people believe it comes from the Algonquian word michigama,
which means “big water” or “great lake.”
CARS, CARS, CARS
The fur industry gave Michigan its start. But the
automobile industry built up the state. Today, Michigan is a leading
manufacturing state.
In 1903, Henry Ford started the Ford Motor
Company in Dearborn, Michigan. Ford soon became one of the world’s great
carmakers. The company’s huge River Rouge plant is like a city all by itself.
In addition to Ford, two other major carmakers
have their headquarters in Michigan. They are the General Motors Corporation
and DaimlerChrysler AG. The auto industry is the state’s biggest employer.
THE MOTOR CITY
Because of the auto industry, Detroit’s nickname
is The Motor City. But there is more to Detroit than just cars. It’s a
city of nearly 1 million people. More than half of Michigan’s population lives
in the greater Detroit area!
Detroit is Michigan’s largest and biggest port, even
though it’s inland. The Saint Clair River connects the city to Lake Huron.
Cargo ships from Detroit carry huge loads of manufactured goods across the
Great Lakes and beyond.
For outdoor fun, Detroit has Belle Isle. It’s a
large park that has a children’s zoo, an aquarium, riding stables, picnicking
areas, and other facilities.
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