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Michigan is a United States state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake". Michigan is the 11th most extensive and the 8th most populous of the 50 United States. Michigan has the longest freshwater coastline of any political subdivision in the world, being bounded by four of the five Great Lakes, plus Lake Saint Clair. Michigan is one of the leading U.S. states for recreational boating. The state has 64,980 inland lakes and ponds. A person in the state is never more than six miles from a natural water source or more than 85 miles from a Great Lakes shoreline. It is the largest state by total area east of the Mississippi River.
The culture of the state of Michigan is so rich in history, the arts, sports, nightlife, and wildlife that virtually anybody can find something they like in Michigan. With multiple sports teams and fields and areas, the sports fan can find entertainment any season of the year. People with an artistic interest will enjoy most of what cities such as Ann Arbor and Lansing have to offer. Night owls who enjoy various forms of entertainment have various choices of venues, casinos, clubs, and theaters that will suite the taste of anybodies nightlife. For those interested in the rich history of not only Michigan but also different elements of American society will enjoy the museums, historic sites, and recreations of various time periods spread throughout the state.
The history of Michigan is spread throughout different museums and sites. These different historical locations encompass many different aspects of history. The Henry Ford in Dearborn (Detroit suburb) is one of Michigan’s most well known and attended historical sites. Commonly known as the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village (formally the Edison Institute) is the nation’s largest indoor-outdoor history museum. Founded by Henry Ford this museum was opened to preserve historically significant items and homage to the Industrial Revolution. The museum retains a vast collection of famous houses, machinery, and exhibits, such as John F. Kennedy’s limousine, Abraham Lincoln’s chair from the Ford Theater, Edison’s Laboratory, the Wright brothers bicycle shop, and Rosa Parks bus. Other museums in Michigan include the African American History Museum, and the Arab American History Museum.
The history of Michigan is spread throughout different museums and sites. These different historical locations encompass many different aspects of history. The Henry Ford in Dearborn (Detroit suburb) is one of Michigan’s most well known and attended historical sites. Commonly known as the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village (formally the Edison Institute) is the nation’s largest indoor-outdoor history museum. Founded by Henry Ford this museum was opened to preserve historically significant items and homage to the Industrial Revolution. The museum retains a vast collection of famous houses, machinery, and exhibits, such as John F. Kennedy’s limousine, Abraham Lincoln’s chair from the Ford Theater, Edison’s Laboratory, the Wright brothers bicycle shop, and Rosa Parks bus. Other museums in Michigan include the African American History Museum, and the Arab American History Museum.
Michigan has a temperate climate with well-defined seasons. The warmest temperatures and longest frost-free period are found most generally in the southern part of the Lower Peninsula; Detroit has a normal daily mean temperature of 9°C, ranging from –5°C in January to 22°C in July. Colder temperatures and a shorter growing season prevail in the more northerly regions; Sault Ste. Marie has a normal daily mean of 4°C, ranging from –11°C in January to 18°C in July. The coldest temperature ever recorded in the state is –46°C, registered at Vanderbilt on 9 February 1934; the all-time high of 44°C was recorded at Mio on 13 July 1936. Both sites are located in the interior of the Lower Peninsula, away from the moderating influence of the Great Lakes.
Detroit had an average annual precipitation (1971–2000) of 32.9 inches. The greatest snowfall is found in the extreme northern areas, where cloud cover created by cold air blowing over the warmer Lake Superior waters causes frequent heavy snow along the northern coast; Houghton and Calumet, on the Keweenaw Peninsula, average 183 inches of snow a year, more than any other area in the state. Similarly, Lake Michigan's water temperatures create a snow belt along the west coast of the Lower Peninsula.
Detroit had an average annual precipitation (1971–2000) of 32.9 inches. The greatest snowfall is found in the extreme northern areas, where cloud cover created by cold air blowing over the warmer Lake Superior waters causes frequent heavy snow along the northern coast; Houghton and Calumet, on the Keweenaw Peninsula, average 183 inches of snow a year, more than any other area in the state. Similarly, Lake Michigan's water temperatures create a snow belt along the west coast of the Lower Peninsula.
Detroit: Detroit is located in south east Michigan, is the states largest city, and is accessible by car, plane, train and boat. Founded by the Frenchman, Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac in 1701.
Grand Rapids: Welcome to Grand Rapids, Michigan. Here you will find a town that was settled by Dutch immigrants. Join in the local scene.
Ann Arbor: Ann Arbor is the 7th largest city in Michigan with a population of about 114,000, of which 32% are college or graduate students. Ann Arbor is home to the University of Michigan.
Traverse City: Traverse City is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is the largest city in the 21-county Northern Michigan region. As of the 2000 census.
Lansing: Lansing is the capital city of the U.S. state of Michigan, and the state's sixth largest city. It is located mostly in Ingham County.
Auburn Hills: Auburn Hills is a northern suburb of Detroit in Oakland County, Michigan. It is about 16.5 square miles of residential, commercial and industrial properties.
Mackinac Island: Mackinac Island is the truly "all natural" theme park of America. Limited to transportation of horse and buggy, bicycle or foot, surrounded by water, it has escaped the vast changes of time.
Frankenmuth: Frankenmuth is known as "Michigan's Little Bavaria". There are many reasons to travel and visit Frankenmuth.
Troy: Troy is the fourth largest city in Michigan. It is a northern suburb of Detroit in Oakland County. Home to lots of shopping and residential areas and of "Automation Alley".
Munising: Munising is a small town in the U.P. that is about an hours drive east from Marquette. Despite being small there is plenty to do in the area!
Holland: Holland Michigan takes a lot of pride in their Dutch heritage. The whole town is decorated with Tulips and is outspokenly Dutch, with an unmistakably American twist on the subject.
Gladstone: Gladstone, the 'Year 'round Playground' of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, is located about 120 miles north from the city of Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Grand Rapids: Welcome to Grand Rapids, Michigan. Here you will find a town that was settled by Dutch immigrants. Join in the local scene.
Ann Arbor: Ann Arbor is the 7th largest city in Michigan with a population of about 114,000, of which 32% are college or graduate students. Ann Arbor is home to the University of Michigan.
Traverse City: Traverse City is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is the largest city in the 21-county Northern Michigan region. As of the 2000 census.
Lansing: Lansing is the capital city of the U.S. state of Michigan, and the state's sixth largest city. It is located mostly in Ingham County.
Auburn Hills: Auburn Hills is a northern suburb of Detroit in Oakland County, Michigan. It is about 16.5 square miles of residential, commercial and industrial properties.
Mackinac Island: Mackinac Island is the truly "all natural" theme park of America. Limited to transportation of horse and buggy, bicycle or foot, surrounded by water, it has escaped the vast changes of time.
Frankenmuth: Frankenmuth is known as "Michigan's Little Bavaria". There are many reasons to travel and visit Frankenmuth.
Troy: Troy is the fourth largest city in Michigan. It is a northern suburb of Detroit in Oakland County. Home to lots of shopping and residential areas and of "Automation Alley".
Munising: Munising is a small town in the U.P. that is about an hours drive east from Marquette. Despite being small there is plenty to do in the area!
Holland: Holland Michigan takes a lot of pride in their Dutch heritage. The whole town is decorated with Tulips and is outspokenly Dutch, with an unmistakably American twist on the subject.
Gladstone: Gladstone, the 'Year 'round Playground' of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, is located about 120 miles north from the city of Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Because of its resorts, recreation facilities, beauty, and the Great Lakes, about 22 million tourists visit Michigan each year; it's one of the leading tourist states. Ski Michigan's beautiful ski slopes. In the middle of February watch the Suicide Hill Ski Jumping Tournament at Iron Mountain in Ishpeming. If you like to hunt, fish, swim, or hike, Michigan's the state for you.
Railroads: Michigan is served by four Class I railroads: the Canadian National Railway, the Canadian Pacific Railway, CSX Transportation, and the Norfolk Southern Railway. These are augmented by several dozen short line railroads. The vast majority of rail service in Michigan is devoted to freight, with Amtrak and various scenic railroads the exceptions. Amtrak passenger rail services the state, connecting many southern and western Michigan cities to Chicago, Illinois. There are plans for commuter rail for Detroit and its suburbs.
Roadways: United States Highway 2 enters Michigan at the city of Ironwood and runs east to the town of Crystal Falls, where it turns south and briefly re-enter Wisconsin northwest of Florence. It re-enters Michigan north of Iron Mountain and continues through the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to the cities of Escanaba, Manistique, and St. Ignace. Along the way, it cuts through the Ottawa and Hiawatha National Forests and follows the northern shore of Lake Michigan. Its eastern terminus lies at exit 344 of I-75, just north of the Mackinac Bridge. This is generally regarded as the main route through the Upper Peninsula, although some prefer to travel on M-28 as it tends to save time.
Airports: The Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, located in the western suburb of Romulus, was one of the top 10 busiest airfields in North America and the 24th busiest airport in the world in terms of passenger traffic. The Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids is the next busiest airport in the state. Smaller regional and local airports are located throughout the state including on several islands.
Roadways: United States Highway 2 enters Michigan at the city of Ironwood and runs east to the town of Crystal Falls, where it turns south and briefly re-enter Wisconsin northwest of Florence. It re-enters Michigan north of Iron Mountain and continues through the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to the cities of Escanaba, Manistique, and St. Ignace. Along the way, it cuts through the Ottawa and Hiawatha National Forests and follows the northern shore of Lake Michigan. Its eastern terminus lies at exit 344 of I-75, just north of the Mackinac Bridge. This is generally regarded as the main route through the Upper Peninsula, although some prefer to travel on M-28 as it tends to save time.
Airports: The Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, located in the western suburb of Romulus, was one of the top 10 busiest airfields in North America and the 24th busiest airport in the world in terms of passenger traffic. The Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids is the next busiest airport in the state. Smaller regional and local airports are located throughout the state including on several islands.
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