Michigan is known for:
- Fishing
- Cold and snowy winter
- Automobile industry
- Lakes
- Agricultural industry, particularly cherries, apples, and blueberries
Geography & Demographics
State Abbreviation |
MI |
State Capital |
Lansing |
State Size |
Total (Land + Water): 96,716 sq miles; Land Only: 56,804 sq miles |
Number of Counties |
83 |
Time Zone |
Eastern Time Zone, Central Time Zone |
Bordering States |
Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota (water border), Ohio, Wisconsin |
Highest Point | Mount Arvon, 1,979 feet |
Tallest Building | Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center in Detroit, 727 feet |
Largest Stadium | Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, capacity 107,601 |
National Parks | Isle Royale National Park |
State Population (2020) | 10,077,331 |
State Population Density | 177.4 people / square mile |
Area Codes |
231, 248, 269, 313, 517, 586, 616, 679, 734, 810, 906, 947, 989 |
Top 5 Cities (2020 population) |
Detroit (665,369)
Grand Rapids (200,031)
Warren (132,877)
Sterling Heights (131,709)
Ann Arbor (119,280)
|
Government & Legislature
State Symbols
State Bird |
American robin |
State Fish | Brook trout |
State Flower |
Apple blossom |
State Fossil | Mastodon |
State Game Mammal | White-tailed deer |
State Gem | Chlorastrolite |
State Motto |
Si quaeris peninsulam amoenam circumspice (If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you) |
State Nickname |
Wolverine State |
State Reptile | Painted turtle |
State Soil | Kalkaska sand |
State Stone | Petoskey stone |
State Tree |
White pine |
State Wildflower | Dwarf lake iris |
Sports Teams
Popular Tourist Attractions
- Binder Park Zoo: Zoo in Battle Creek, Michigan.
- Detroit Institute of Arts: Art museum in Detroit, Michigan.
- Detroit Opera House: Theater in Detroit, Michigan.
- Detroit Zoo: Zoo in Royal Oak, Michigan.
- DTE Energy Music Theatre: Music venue in Village of Clarkston, Michigan.
- Grand Rapids Public Museum: Museum in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
- Greenfield Village: Museum in Dearborn, Michigan.
- Isle Royale National Park: Island and national park located in Lake Superior, in the state of Michigan.
- John Ball Zoo: Zoo in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
- Mackinac Bridge: Suspension bridge that connects the Upper and Lower Peninsula of Michigan.
- Mackinac Island: Island and resort area in Lake Huron, in the state of Michigan.
- Michigan International Speedway: Car racking track in Brooklyn, Michigan.
- Michigan's Adventure: Amusement park and water park in Muskegon, Michigan.
- Porcupine Mountains: Group of small mountains spanning the northwestern Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
- Sleeping Bear Dunes: National lakeshore located along the northwest coast of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan.
- The Henry Ford: Museum in Dearborn, Michigan.
Festivals and Events
Top festivals and events in Michigan. They are listed in approximate order of when they take place during the year.
Festival / Event |
When |
Location |
Tulip Time Festival | May | Holland |
Electric Forest | June | Rothbury |
Frankenmuth Bavarian Festival | June | Frankenmuth |
Michigan Challenge Balloonfest | June | Howell |
Field of Flight Air Show & Balloon Festival | Late June to early July | Battle Creek |
Traverse City Cherry Festival | Late June to early July | Traverse City |
Ann Arbor Art Fair | July | Ann Arbor |
Hot Air Jubilee | July | Jackson |
Mackinac Island Lilac Festival | July | Mackinac Island |
Michigan Renaissance Festival | Late August to late September | Holly |
Detroit Jazz Festival | Labor Day Weekend, September | Detroit |
Michigan Irish Music Festival | September | Muskegon |
ArtPrize | September to October | Grand Rapids |
Popular Iconic Michigan Foods
Michigan is famous for the following foods:
- Coney Island Hot Dog
- Pasty
- Detroit Style Pizza
- Mackinac Island Fudge
- Chipati
- Paczki
- Better Made Potato Chips
- Whitefish
- Web Burrito
- Taverse City Cherries
- Michigan Cherry Pie
- Superman Ice Cream
Famous People Born In Michigan
Nobel Prize Winners
Pro Football Hall Of Fame Members
- Bill Hewitt (End, Fullback. Inducted in 1971)
- Paul Krause (Safety. Inducted in 1998)
- Joe DeLamielleure (Guard. Inducted in 2003)
- Jerome Bettis (Running Back. Inducted in 2015)
- Tony Dungy (Coach. Inducted in 2016)
Baseball Hall Of Fame Players
- Charlie Gehringer (Second Baseman. Inducted in 1949)
- Kiki Cuyler (Right Fielder. Inducted in 1968)
- Hal Newhouser (Pitcher. Inducted in 1992)
- John Smoltz (Pitcher. Inducted in 2015)
- Ted Simmons (Catcher. Inducted in 2020)
- Jim Kaat (Pitcher. Inducted in 2022)
Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall Of Fame Players
- Dave DeBusschere (Forward. Inducted in 1983)
- George Gervin (Guard. Inducted in 1996)
- Magic Johnson (Guard. Inducted in 2002)
- Mel Daniels (Center. Inducted in 2012)
- Rudy Tomjanovich (Coach. Inducted in 2020)
- Chris Webber (Forward. Inducted in 2021)
Hockey Hall Of Fame Members
- Mark Howe (Defense. Inducted in 2011)
- Mike Modano (Center. Inducted in 2014)
Famous Actors And Actresses
- Ellen Burstyn
- Burt Reynolds
- Tom Selleck
- J. K. Simmons
- David Spade
- Kate Upton
Famous Singers
- Alice Cooper
- Madonna
- Ted Nugent
- Iggy Pop
- Smokey Robinson
- Diana Ross
- Jackie Wilson
- Stevie Wonder
Michigan Fun Facts
- The name Michigan is derived from the Ojibwa Indian word "meicigama," meaning "large lake" or "large water."
- Michigan is the only state in the United Sates that touches four of the five Great Lakes (Huron, Michigan, Erie, and Superior).
- Michigan has world's only floating post office, a boat called J. W. Westcott II. It delivers mail to ships as they are underway.
- The Detroit-Windsor Tunnel, a highway tunnel that connects Detroit, Michigan with Windsor, Ontario, Canada, is the first tunnel in the world that connects two countries.
- The Kalamazoo Mall is the first outdoor pedestrian shopping mall in the United States.
- Michigan has about 150 lighthouses, more than any other state in the United States.
- Battle Creek is called the Cereal Capital of the World. It is home to Kellogg's.
- In 1920, Detroit was home to the first four-way traffic light.
- Michigan is the only state made up of two peninsulas.
- In 1846, Michigan became the first state to abolish the death penalty (except for treason).
- In Michigan, it is unlawful to buy or sell cars on Sundays.
This page was last updated on October 12, 2024.
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