Michigan
The Great Lakes State
Quick Stats
Map
Seal & Motto
"Si quaeris peninsulam amoenam circumspice"
Additional Information
Latin for "If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you."
Adopted 1835.
Population Growth
Overview
Michigan, the 'Great Lakes State,' is a Midwestern titan defined by its extraordinary 3,288-mile Great Lakes coastline — more freshwater shoreline than any other state. The birthplace of the modern automobile and Motown music, it is a leading center for automotive innovation, advanced manufacturing, and world-class higher education today.
Historical Significance
Michigan officially joined the Union on January 26, 1837, as the 26th state. Its history is inseparable from the story of American industry — from the 1903 founding of Ford Motor Company to the rise of the UAW labor movement and the creation of Motown Records, Michigan fundamentally shaped both American economic and cultural identity.
Top Cities & Hubs
Detroit
Population: ~639,000The legendary "Motor City," birthplace of the global automobile industry and the soulful Motown sound, undergoing a historic urban renaissance driven by technology and the arts.
Grand Rapids
Population: ~198,000Known as "Furniture City," now a nationally recognized hub for healthcare innovation, a thriving craft brewery scene, and a world-class ArtPrize competition held annually.
Warren
Population: ~139,000A major automotive and industrial hub in the Detroit metro area, home to General Motors' massive Technical Center, one of the largest corporate research facilities in the world.
Sterling Heights
Population: ~134,000One of the largest and safest cities in Michigan, a core Detroit suburb with a strong manufacturing sector and a highly diverse international community.
Ann Arbor
Population: ~123,000A vibrant college town anchored by the University of Michigan, a global leader in research, medicine, and technology and consistently ranked one of the best cities for quality of life.
Key Landmarks & Economy
Did You Know?
- Michigan is the only state in the contiguous U.S. that consists of two separate peninsulas, the Upper and Lower, connected by the Mackinac Bridge.
- The state has more registered boats per capita than any other, and with 11,000 inland lakes, residents are never more than 6 miles from a lake.
- Kellogg's cereal and Post cereals were both invented in Battle Creek, Michigan, earning the city its enduring nickname the "Cereal Capital of the World."