Michigan
Michigan is the only state split into two separate landmasses, connected by the five-mile Mackinac Bridge that spans the Straits of Mackinac. The Lower Peninsula holds more than 97 percent of the state's 10 million residents and most of the economic activity. The Upper Peninsula, accessible by the bridge or through Wisconsin, is largely forested and sparsely populated, with mining, timber, and tourism as the main industries. Michigan borders four of the five Great Lakes and has more freshwater shoreline than any other state.
Detroit defined Michigan's twentieth century. Henry Ford opened the Highland Park plant in 1910 and the River Rouge complex in 1928, and by mid-century the Detroit metro area employed hundreds of thousands in automotive assembly, stamping, and supply. General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler (now Stellantis) still headquarter in the region, and Michigan continues to produce more cars and light trucks than any other state. Population inside the Detroit city limits has fallen from a 1950 peak above 1.8 million to roughly 630,000 today, though the surrounding metro still holds 4.3 million people. Dearborn, Warren, Sterling Heights, and Troy form the inner suburban ring.
Grand Rapids on the western side of the Lower Peninsula has emerged as the state's second economic center, with office furniture (Steelcase, Herman Miller) and health care (Spectrum Health, now Corewell) as major employers. Ann Arbor, about 45 minutes west of Detroit, hosts the University of Michigan and its 52,000 students. Lansing is the capital and home to Michigan State University. The tart cherry orchards of the Traverse City region, the apple belt along Lake Michigan, and the dairy and sugar beet operations of the Thumb make agriculture the second largest sector after manufacturing.
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Michigan is the only state split into two separate landmasses, connected by the five-mile Mackinac Bridge that spans the Straits of Mackinac. The Lower Peninsula holds more than 97 percent of the state's 10 million residents and most of the economic activity. The Upper Peninsula, accessible by the bridge or through Wisconsin, is largely forested and sparsely populated, with mining, timber, and tourism as the main industries. Michigan borders four of the five Great Lakes and has more freshwater shoreline than any other state.
Detroit defined Michigan's twentieth century. Henry Ford opened the Highland Park plant in 1910 and the River Rouge complex in 1928, and by mid-century the Detroit metro area employed hundreds of thousands in automotive assembly, stamping, and supply. General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler (now Stellantis) still headquarter in the region, and Michigan continues to produce more cars and light trucks than any other state. Population inside the Detroit city limits has fallen from a 1950 peak above 1.8 million to roughly 630,000 today, though the surrounding metro still holds 4.3 million people. Dearborn, Warren, Sterling Heights, and Troy form the inner suburban ring.
Grand Rapids on the western side of the Lower Peninsula has emerged as the state's second economic center, with office furniture (Steelcase, Herman Miller) and health care (Spectrum Health, now Corewell) as major employers. Ann Arbor, about 45 minutes west of Detroit, hosts the University of Michigan and its 52,000 students. Lansing is the capital and home to Michigan State University. The tart cherry orchards of the Traverse City region, the apple belt along Lake Michigan, and the dairy and sugar beet operations of the Thumb make agriculture the second largest sector after manufacturing.
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