Michigan

Abbreviation	MI Source: United States Postal Service - Abbreviations
Capital	Lansing
Population	9,883,640 Source: Resident Population Data - 2010 Census
Governor	Rick Snyder (Republican, to January 2015)
Entered the Union	Jan. 26, 1837 as the 26th state
Motto	Si quaeris peninsulam amoenam circumspice (If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look around you)
Nickname	The Wolverine State
Flower	Apple blossom
Bird	Robin
Song	Michigan, My Michigan
Professional Sports Teams	Detroit Lions (Football); Detroit Pistons (Basketball); Detroit Tigers (Baseball); Detroit Red Wings (Hockey) (sports listing policy)
Origin of Name	From Indian word "Michigana" meaning "great or large lake"
Historical Sites	Mackinac Island, Fort Mackinac, Greenfield Village, Sault St. Marie
Points of Interest	Pictured Rocks and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshores
Bordering States	Michigan borders Indiana, Ohio, Wisconsin, and also the nation of Canada.
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Follow these links to read articles about Michigan from Encyclopedias and Almanacs:

• Britannica Online Encyclopedia
• Columbia Encyclopedia
• Information Please Almanac

Official State Links

• Michigan.gov: the Official State of Michigan Web Site
  http://www.michigan.gov/
  This is the official website for the State of Michigan.
• The Library of Michigan
  http://www.michigan.gov/hal/0,1607,7-160-17445_19270---,00.html
  Here is the homepage for the Michigan State Library.
• Historical Society of Michigan
  http://www.hsmichigan.org/
  Here is the homepage for the Michigan State Historical Society.
• Michigan Historical Museum
  http://www.michigan.gov/hal/0,1607,7-160-17447_18595_18596---,00.html
  Here is the homepage for the Michigan State Museum.
• State Archives of Michigan
  http://www.michigan.gov/hal/0,1607,7-160-17445_19273_19313---,00.html
  Here is the homepage for the Michigan State Archives.
• Michigan State Parks and Recreation Areas
  http://www.michigandnr.com/ParksandTrails/parkmap.aspx
  Here is the homepage for Michigan State Parks.
• Pure Michigan Travel
  http://www.michigan.org/Default.aspx
  Here is the official state travel website for Michigan.
• MI Kids!
  http://www.michigan.gov/kids
  This official state web site all about Michigan was designed just for kids!

Other State Links

• 50states.com: Michigan
  http://www.50states.com/michigan.htm
  The site provides a wealth of information about Michigan. It includes everything from the highest point to county profile to climate.
• Things To Do in Michigan
  http://www.thingstodo.com/states/MI/index.htm
  ThingsToDo.com is an online guide to information about Michigan's entertainment, recreation, and travel, and includes the state's interesting facts, famous people, and special events.
• Roadside America: Michigan Attractions
  http://www.roadsideamerica.com/map/mi.html
  Roadside America describes itself as an online guide to offbeat attractions. This site offers reviews of "weird sites along the highway" in Michigan.
• Virtual Michigan
  http://www.virtualmichigan.com/
  Provides a comprehensive listing of Michigan resources: cities, education, government, entertainment, sports & recreation, travel and more.
• Michigan Economic Development Corporation
  http://michiganadvantage.org/
  Michigan.org also provides this assistance to businesses for locating, starting, expanding and growing businesses in Michigan.
• FedStats: MapStat: United States: Michigan
  http://www.fedstats.gov/qf/states/26000.html
  Fast access to statistics from more than 100 federal agencies on "economic and population trends, crime, education, health care, aviation safety, energy use, farm production and more" in Michigan.

• The Michigan state fishes are the Trout and Brook trout, state gem is the Isle Royal Greenstone, state stone is the Petoskey Stone, and the state tree is the White pine.
• The Mackinac Bridge, which connects the Upper and Lower Peninsulas of Michigan, is one of the world's longest suspension bridges.
• Michigan leads the nation in the production of motor vehicles and motor vehicle parts.
• Michigan produces large amounts of iron, copper, iodine, gypsum, bromine, salt, lime, gravel, and cement. Michigan is famous for its cherry and apple production, but Michigan farmers also produce beans, pears, grapes, potatoes, and sugar beets.

Some Famous People from this State

• Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac (1658 - 1730), French colonial administrator, founder of Detroit (1701).
• Lewis Cass (1782 - 1866), Michigan territorial governor (1813 - 1831), U. S. senator from Michigan (1845 - 1857), U. S. cabinet officer, and Democratic candidate (1848) for the U. S . presidency.
• Walter P. Chrysler (1875 - 1940), industrialist who established the Chrysler Corporation.
• Ty Cobb (1886 - 1961), baseball star, played 22 seasons (1905 - 1926) for the Detroit Tigers.
• George A. Custer (1839 - 1876), commander of Michigan's cavalry brigade in the Civil War, later killed in the Battle of the Little Bighorn.
• Henry Ford (1863 - 1947), industrialist, revolutionized the automobile industry.
• Joe Louis (1914 - 1981), world heavyweight boxing champion (1937 - 1949).
• Walter Reuther (1907 - 1970), labor leader, president of the United Automobile Workers (1946 - 1970).