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One of the U.S. states in the East North Central region is Michigan. The name of the state is derived from the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, which means “big water” or “great lake” in French.
See the fact file below for more information on Michigan, or you can download our 24-page worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.
Key Facts & Information
HISTORY
- Thousands of years ago, the state that is today known as Michigan had already been inhabited.
- Numerous Native American tribes, including the Kickapoo, Miami, Ojibwe, Potawatomi, Menominee, Fox, and Sauk, inhabited the area for many years after the first settlers.
- Around 1618, French explorers arrived there. The region was ruled by France until the middle of the eighteenth century when England overcame it in the French and Indian War (1754β1763).
- In 1805, Michigan became a U.S. territory (many Native Americans fought behind France against England).
- As the 26th free state of the United States, Michigan was admitted to the Union in 1837.
- It quickly developed into a significant hub for trade and manufacturing in the Great Lakes region, drawing immigrants from numerous European nations in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Particularly many immigrants came from Finland, Macedonia, and the Netherlands.
GEOGRAPHY
- Michigan State is a part of the United States of America. Even though Michigan is the 22nd-smallest state in terms of geographical area among the 50 states, the addition of the Great Lakes waters under its control greatly expands its territory, making it the 11th overall.
- South-central Michigan’s Lansing serves as the state capital. The term “michi-gama,” an Ojibwa (Chippewa) word that means “big lake,” is the source of the state’s name.
- Michigan has the longest freshwater shoreline in the world and the second-longest total shoreline in the United States, excluding island shorelines.
- In 2005, it had more recreational boats registered than any other state besides California and Florida. It is bordered by four of the five great lakes and Lake Saint Clair.
- With a few hills in the north, the Lower Peninsula is primarily flat. Thousands of miles of beachfront may be found there as well, including Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, whose 400-foot dunes provide a clear perspective of Lake Michigan.
- The state has the highest percentage of water coverage of any state at over 40%. Even islands exist in Michigan, such as the national park on Isle Royale in the center of Lake Superior.
DEMOGRAPHICS
- In terms of population, Michigan is the tenth-biggest state; in terms of size, it is the eleventh-largest state, and it is the largest state east of the Mississippi River.
- Its population is close to 10.12 million, and its land area is close to 97,000 square miles (250,000 kilometers).
- The Motor City, Detroit, is the biggest city in Michigan. 713,862 people were living there, according to the 2010 census.
- It is evident from a glance at Detroit’s population that the state’s demographic issues are largely concentrated there.
- The city’s population peaked in 1950 at 1.85 million inhabitants. That number has decreased by more than a million since 2016.
- Michiganβs population in 2022 is estimated to be 10 million, becoming the tenth most populous state in the US.
- In Michigan, the population is 39.5 years old on average. About 50.8% of people in Michigan identify as female, compared to 49.2% of people who identify as male.
- In terms of religion, Michigan has a 70% preference for Christian-based faiths, compared to 5% who identify with non-Christian faiths and 24% who have no religious affiliation.
- According to the most recent ACS, white people made up 77.56% of Michigan’s population, black or African Americans (13.64%), people of two or more races (3.77%), Asians (3.18%), people of other races (1.32%), Native Americans (0.50%), and people of Pacific Island descent (0.03%).
ECONOMY
- By the late 19th century, Michigan’s economy, which had initially been centered on small-scale agriculture, had come to rely heavily on mining and logging.
- Between the 1830s and 1905, large white pine woods underwent a frantic pace of lumbering, nearly depleting their resources.
- Michigan’s economy started to be dominated by the auto sector in the second decade of the 20th century.
- Since then, despite contributions from other forms of manufacturing, tourism, and the agriculture and forestry industries, Michigan has remained entwined with the fortunes of automobile manufacturers.
- However, during the latter half of the 20th century, fewer farms operated in the state as a result of suburbanization of the surrounding farmlands as well as the acquisition and consolidation of smaller holdings by larger agricultural firms.
- Owing to its rich soils and favorable climate, Michigan has continued to be a significant agricultural state.
- The Saginaw Valley and Thumb regions of Michigan include extremely fertile ground. There, crops like corn, sugar beets, navy beans, and soybeans are cultivated. The first of October is typically when sugar beet harvesting starts.
- The 3.7 million tons of sugar beets are converted by the sugar plants into 485,000 tons of pure, white sugar in about five months. The largest sugar refiner east of the Mississippi River and the fourth largest in the country is the Michigan Sugar Company.
EDUCATION
- Michigan’s educational system includes 1.6 million K-12 students who attend public schools. More than 124,000 pupils study in private institutions, and an unspecified number are homeschooled in accordance with the law.
- According to the 2022 U.S. survey, three high schools in Michigan are among the top 100 high schools in the nation. City High Middle School came in at number 18, International Academy of Macomb at number 21, International Academy at number 52, and Washtenaw International High School at number 107 in News & World Report’s rankings.
FUN FACT
- Michigan is the only place in the world with a floating post office that has operated for 125 years. The J.W. Westcott II was the boat to deliver mail to ships while they were still underway.
CULTURE
- The different ethnicities of Detroit’s residents have given the city a cosmopolitan feel throughout Michigan’s history and served as a draw for a wide range of cultural activities.
- Before the American Civil War, an opera theater was built in Detroit, which also hosted the first touring theatrical companies to perform in the state.
- There are about 300 newspapers published in Michigan, including weekly, monthly, and daily publications.
- The Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News are the most well-known dailies, and they are distributed all over the state.
- Woods and water are the primary areas in Michigan for outdoor leisure. The Great Lakes were a popular vacation destination even in the 1830s, especially for people living in the eastern states.
- The establishment of Michigan’s park system, which currently includes about 100 state-operated parks and more than a dozen state recreation areas, started in 1919.
Michigan Worksheets
This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about Michigan across 24 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about Michigan. One of the U.S. states in the East North Central region is Michigan. The state’s name is derived from the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, which means “big water” or “great lake” in French.
Download includes the following worksheets:
- Michigan Facts
- Michigan Summarized
- Michigan Mapping
- State Symbols
- Famous Citizens, MI
- Sports Teams
- Beauty in Pictures
- Greetings from Michigan
- Home of Automobile Industry
- A Great State to Live
- The Song of Michigan
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Michigan known for?
Michigan is known for several things, including being the birthplace of the automobile industry, the Great Lakes, Mackinac Island, the Upper Peninsula, cherries, and being the home of the University of Michigan.
What are some popular tourist attractions in Michigan?
Michigan has several popular tourist attractions, including Mackinac Island, the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, the Henry Ford Museum, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, and the Detroit Institute of Arts.
What are the largest cities in Michigan by population?
The largest cities in Michigan by population are Detroit, Grand Rapids, Warren, Sterling Heights, and Ann Arbor.
What are the major industries in Michigan?
Michigan’s major industries include the automobile industry, manufacturing, agriculture, and tourism.
What is the climate like in Michigan?
Michigan has a humid continental climate, which means it has four distinct seasons. Summers are warm and humid, while winters are cold with a lot of snowfall. The climate is moderated by the Great Lakes, which can help to keep temperatures milder in the coastal regions.
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Link will appear as Michigan Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, February 12, 2017
Use With Any Curriculum
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