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