Michigan, "The Great Lake State"
Geographic Information
- State Size: 57,022 square miles of land (Ranked 22nd)
- 38,575 square miles of Great Lakes water
- 11,037 inland lakes.
- 3,200 miles of shoreline, the longest of any state but Alaska
- 36,000 miles of rivers and streams
- You are never more than six miles from a lake or stream in Michigan
- Lake Superior is the largest freshwater lake in the world, 31,820 square miles.
- More than 150 waterfalls
- The Great Lakes account for one-fifth of the world's surface freshwater supply.
- Michigan leads the nation with appx. one million registered pleasure boats.
- More than 90 percent of the Upper Peninsula's land is forested.
- There are 3.9 million acres of state forest land with about 150 campgrounds and 2.7 million acres of national forest with some 80 campgrounds.
- Highest Point: Mt.Arvon; 1980 feet
- Lowest Point: Shore of Lake Erie; 572 feet
- Counties: 83 counties, 68 in the Lower Peninsula and 15 in the Upper Peninsula. 40 border the great lakes
- Appx. 40 ski resorts
- More than 4,000 miles of snowmobile trails.
- Mackinac Bridge: Completed in 1957, the five-mile-long suspension bridge (WORLD'S LONGEST SUSPENSION BRIDGE) connects Michigan's peninsulas across the Straits of Mackinac.
Demographic Information
- State representatives, 110; state senators, 38; U.S. representatives, 16; U.S. senators, 2.
- 1990 Population 9,295,297
- 1994 Population 9,440,299
- 2000 Population est. 9,938,444 (Ranked 8th)
- Average Household size 2.7
- Average Age 34.5
- Median Household income $31,020
- Persons per square mile, 173.6 versus national 77.1 (1999)
Historical information and state symbols
- Statehood: Michigan was admitted to the Union on January 26,1837, as the 26th state.
- State name: Michigan's name is derived from the two Indian words michi-gama meaning "great lake."
- Nicknames: Wolverine State / Great Lakes State / Water Wonderland / Water - Winter Wonderland
- State motto: Si quaeris peninsulam amoenam circumspice (if you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you).
- State capital: Lansing, since 1847.
- State tree, White Pine - 1955
- State flower, Apple Blossom - 1897
- State bird, Robin - 1911
- State stone, Petoskey Stone - 1965
- State fish, Brook Trout - 1965
- State gem, Isle Royale Greenstone
- State reptile, Painted Turtle - 1996
- State song: (unofficial) Michigan, My Michigan
- Highest recorded temperature: 112 F on July 13, 1936
- Lowest recorded temperature: -51 F on February 9, 1934
- 24 Hour Rainfall: 9.78 inches in Bloomingdale, August 31/September 1, 1914
- Agriculture: Michigan leads the nation in the production of tart cherries, blueberries, and dry edible beans.
A guide listing all Michigan Historical Markers and their locations is available by calling the Historic Preservation office in the Michigan Historical Center, Dept. of History, Arts, and Libraries.