Michigan Facts Courtesy of our Sheriff Lynn Orfgen
Michigan's State Facts
Did you know that:
- The name Michigan is derived from the Indian words "Michi-gama" meaning large lake.
- The State Nickname is the "Great Lake State." Others include "Wolverine State" or "Water Winter Wonderland."
- The State motto is "Si quaeris peninsulam amoenam circumspice."
(If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you.) - Michigan was admitted to the Union in 1837, the 26th state.
- The state bird is the robin
- The state mammal is the white tailed deer.
- The state reptile is the painted turtle.
- The state flower is the apple blossomThe state tree is the white pine
- Michigan includes:
- 57,022 sq. mi. of land area (16,439 sq. mi. in the U.P.) making it the 11th largest state in the union
- 1,194 sq. mi. of inland waters
- 38,575 sq. mi. of Great Lake water area
- 3,126 miles of Great Lakes shoreline (more fresh water coastline than any other state)
- The population is 9,883,640 (2010 Census) making it the 8th largest state based on population.
- The largest city is Detroit followed by Grand Rapids then Warren.
- Michigan has about 150 lighthouses, more than any other state in the union.
- The highest point in the state is Mount Arvon, elevation 1979 feet located NW of Marquette in the Huron Mountains range
- Michigan is the only state that touches four of the five Great Lakes.
- 40 of Michigan's 83 counties touch at least one of the Great Lakes.
- Michigan has more than 11,000 inland lakes and more than 36,000 miles of streams.
- You are never more than six miles from one of them.
- Anywhere in Michigan, you are within 85 miles of one of the Great Lakes.
- Detroit Metro Airport is the 10th busiest in the nation and the 24 busiest in the world