Battle Creek, Michigan
—  City  —
Official seal of Battle Creek, Michigan Seal
Nickname(s): The Cereal City
Location of Battle Creek within Michigan
Coordinates: 42°18′44″N 85°12′15″W / 42.31222°N 85.20417°W / 42.31222; -85.20417Coordinates: 42°18′44″N 85°12′15″W / 42.31222°N 85.20417°W / 42.31222; -85.20417
Country	United States
State	Michigan
County	Calhoun
Settled	1831
Incorporation	1859
Government
• Type	Council-Manager
• Mayor	Susan Baldwin[1]
• City Manager	Ken Tsuchiyama[2]
Area
• Total	43.7 sq mi (113.1 km2)
• Land	42.8 sq mi (110.9 km2)
• Water	0.8 sq mi (2. km2)
Elevation	840 ft (256 m)
Population (2010)
• Total	52,347 (city proper)
• Density	1,223.1/sq mi (472.0/km2)
Time zone	Eastern (UTC-5)
• Summer (DST)	Eastern (UTC-4)
ZIP codes	49014-49018; 49037
Area code(s)	269
FIPS code	26-05920[3]
GNIS feature ID	0620755[4]
Website	battlecreekmi.gov

Battle Creek is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan, in northwest Calhoun County, at the confluence of the Kalamazoo and Battle Creek Rivers. It is the principal city of the Battle Creek, Michigan Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), which encompasses all of Calhoun county. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 52,347, while the MSA population was 136,146.

Battle Creek, known as the "Cereal City", is the world headquarters of Kellogg Company, founded by Will Keith Kellogg in 1906, whose brother, Dr. John Harvey Kellogg, invented cold breakfast cereal as an alternative to the traditional meat-based breakfast. It is also the founding location of Post Cereals which is now Post Holdings, as well as the location of a Ralston Foods cereal factory owned by Ralcorp.^[5]

Dr. John Harvey Kellogg, director of the Battle Creek Sanitarium, was featured in the T.C. Boyle novel The Road to Wellville and the movie of the same name. The Battle Creek Sanitarium, which is now the Battle Creek Federal Center building, is still one of the tallest buildings in Battle Creek. This building is a historical marker to the city and the state of Michigan.

In 1982, voters approved merging Battle Creek Township with the city of Battle Creek, under pressure from Kellogg Company, which threatened to move its headquarters away from Battle Creek if the city and township did not merge.^[6][7] Battle Creek is currently the third-largest city in Michigan by area, after Detroit and Grand Rapids.

History and name origin[link]

The name "Battle Creek" had its origin in a skirmish between a government land survey party led by Colonel John Mullett and two Indians. According to various accounts, while Mullett and his group were surveying an area several miles from the present city in the winter of 1823-1824, the work of the survey party was interrupted by Native Americans. Two members of the party, who remained at the camp, were attacked by two Indians, reportedly attempting to steal the party's provisions. During the fight, shots were fired from a rifle, and the two white men subdued the Indians, inflicting a serious injury to one of them. The survey party promptly left the area and did not return until June 1824, after Governor Cass had settled the issue with the Indians. Due to this incident, the nearby stream was called the Battle Creek River.^{[8][9][10][11][12]} The river was formerly known by the Native American name of Waupakisco, to which some attribute a folk etymology for the name. By this account, the name Waupakisco or Waupokisco was a reference to an earlier battle fought between Native American tribes before the arrival of white settlers. However, Virgil J. Vogel establishes that this native term had "nothing to do with blood or battle".^[8][13]

The first permanent settlements in Battle Creek Township began to be made about 1831, with most choosing to locate on the Goguac prairie, which was fertile and easily cultivated. A post office was opened in Battle Creek in 1832 under Postmaster Pollodore Hudson.^[14] The first school was taught in a small log house about 1833 or 1834. Asa Langley built the first sawmill in 1837. A brick manufacturing plant, called the oldest enterprise in the township, was established in 1840 by Simon Carr, and operated until 1903. The township was established by act of the legislature in 1839.^[15]

Geography[link]

• According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 43.7 square miles (113.1 km²), of which 42.8 square miles (110.9 km²) is land and 0.8 square mile (2.2 km²) (1.92%) is water, making Battle Creek the third largest city in Michigan by area, and one of only three incorporated municipalities in the state over 40 sq mi (100 km²) in size.
• Approximately 60% of the city's land is developed. Of the remaining 40% of undeveloped land, 38% is zoned agricultural, 26% is zoned general industrial, 17.5% is zoned residential, 16% is the Fort Custer Army National Guard Base/Industrial Park, and 2.5% is zone commercial.^[16]
• After Battle Creek Township merged into the city of Battle Creek in 1983, the city's declining population rose by nearly 18,000 new residents, but the city continues to decline in population.
• Battle Creek is variously considered to be part of West Michigan or Southern Michigan.

Climate[link]

Other municipalities in the Battle Creek area[link]

• Bedford Charter Township
• Emmett Charter Township
• Pennfield Charter Township
• City of Springfield

Culture[link]

Print media[link]

• The local daily newspaper and newspaper of record is the Battle Creek Enquirer, owned and operated by Gannett Company.^[18][19]
• The Battle Creek Shopper News is a weekly publication that provides classified ads as well as community news.
• Scene Magazine is a monthly publication that provides community information.
• Senior Times is a monthly publication providing community information for seniors.

In 2011 the Battle Creek Enquirer relocated to the city's Commerce Pointe.

Radio and television[link]

Battle Creek is served by several radio and television stations, including:

• WBCK (930 AM), the city's heritage radio station, now playing country music
• WBCK-FM (95.3 FM), a news/talk outlet
• WBXX (104.9 FM), "Mix 104-9", playing adult contemporary music
• WBFN (1400 AM), featuring Christian programming and simulcasting WUFN-FM in nearby Albion
• WNWN-FM (98.5 FM), playing country music, licensed to nearby Coldwater and based in Battle Creek
• WFPM-LP (99.5 FM), a low power station featuring black gospel programming
• WKFR (103.3 FM), a top 40 music station licensed to Battle Creek with studios in Kalamazoo
• WWMT A CBS affiliate serving, Battle Creek, Kalamazoo and southwestern Michigan. Comcast Channel: 3 Virtual Channel 3.1 (HD 1080i)
• WOTV An ABC affiliate serving Battle Creek, Kalamazoo and southwestern Michigan. Comcast Channel: 4 Virtual Channel 41.1 (HD 1080i)
• WZPX (Channel 43), an ION affiliate serving all of western Michigan
• AccessVision Public-access television on Comcast Cable TV channel 16 & 17. AccessVision broadcasts to all municipalities within Battle Creek, and Newton Township.

WNWN-FM and WKFR are typically the top-rated radio stations in the market. The area can also receive radio and TV broadcasts from Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Lansing and other nearby cities.

Festivals[link]

2010 World's Longest Breakfast Table

• The World's Longest Breakfast Table
• The Battle Creek Field of Flight Entertainment Festival is an air show and balloon event held yearly in Battle Creek.
• International Festival of Lights

Music[link]

Battle Creek is home to The Music Center, which serves South Central Michigan.

The Music Center offers many musical opportunities, including the Battle Creek Girls Chorus, the Battle Creek Boychoir, Ars Voce, the Battle Creek Community Chorus, the Sojourner Truth Choir, as well as private lessons and classes for all ages through the Community Music School, which also has locations in Marshall and Hastings.

The Battle Creek Girls Chorus is directed by Meredith Bowen. It is made up of young women between the ages of seven and eighteen. These young women are placed into one of three ensembles, based on an audition. They tour all over the United States and abroad, including places like New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, London, and Paris.

The Battle Creek Boychoir is directed by Megan Boyd. Boys between the ages of seven and fourteen can join the Boychoir by audition. They will be placed in one of two ensembles. They travel around the United States and abroad, as well.

Ars Voce, meaning “Vocal Art”, is made up of twelve vocalists who perform a capella music from many different genres and is directed by Dr. Mark Wells.

Battle Creek Community Chorus is directed by Meredith Bowen. It is an adult choir for people who enjoy singing and music making.

Sojourner Truth Choir is a gospel choir, directed by Pauline Norris. The choir is made up of school aged children, seven and up.

Battle Creek is the home to The Battle Creek Symphony Orchestra, whose home is at the W.K. Kellogg Auditorium in downtown Battle Creek. The symphony is currently conducted by Anne Harrigan, and is Michigan's longest-running symphony orchestra.^{[citation needed]}

The Brass Band of Battle Creek is composed of 31 brass players and percussionists from around the United States and Europe. “Created in 1989 by brothers Jim and Bill Gray, podiatrists and amateur brass players from Battle Creek, MI, the BBBC has grown to cult status in Battle Creek, where BBBC concerts are regularly sold out and waiting lists are created weeks in advance.”^[20]

Leilapalooza - The Leila Arboretum Music Festival is a free summer music festival held at the Leila Arboretum. Proceeds benefit the Leila Arboretum Society and Kingman Museum. This festival has close ties to the BCMAMS Battle Creek Metropolitan Area Mustache Society.

Sports[link]

Each year, Battle Creek hosts the Sandy Koufax 13S World Series, for 13-year-old baseball players.

In August, 2010, Battle Creek was host to the eighth edition of the International H.K.D Games.

Sports teams[link]

The Battle Creek Knights are a minor league basketball team. They were a charter member of the International Basketball League (IBL) and went 21-0 during the league's first season in 2005, winning the championship. The team's home is Kellogg Arena. After announcing in July 2009 that they would sit out the 2009 season, in October the team announced that they would return to play in the International Basketball League.^[21]

The Battle Creek Bombers are a collegiate baseball team, a member of the Northwoods League, who began play in 2007. The team's home is C.O. Brown Stadium.

The Battle Creek Revolution are a member of the All American Hockey League and began play in 2008. The team's home is Revolution Arena.

The Battle Creek Blaze is a not-for-profit, semi-professional football team that plays traditional American football and is a member of the GLFL (Great Lakes Football League) and a former member of the USFA (United States Football Alliance)and IFL (Interstate Football League). The Battle Creek Blaze is a Domestic Nonprofit Corporation with Public Charity Status 170(b)(1)(A)(vi), as well as a 501(c)(3) Federal tax-exempt organization that raises funds and community awareness in the fight against cancer. They are in their fourth year of operation, and won the IFL North Division Championship in 2010.

The Battle Creek Cereal Killers roller derby team began in 2011.

Former sports teams[link]

The Michigan Battle Cats/Battle Creek Yankees/Southwest Michigan Devil Rays were a Class A minor league baseball team that played in the Midwest League from 1995 through 2006. The team's home was C.O. Brown Stadium.

The Battle Creek Crunch, were a member of the Great Lakes Indoor Football League (GLIFL), that began play in 2006. They played only one season in Battle Creek before ceasing operations due to financial trouble. The team's home was Kellogg Arena.

Demographics[link]

As of the census^[3] of 2000, there were 53,364 people, 21,348 households, and 13,363 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,246.0 per square mile (481.1/km²). There were 23,525 housing units at an average density of 549.3 per square mile (212.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 74.65% White, 17.80% black or African American, 1.94% Asian, 0.77% Native American, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 2.11% from other races, and 2.72% from two or more races. 4.64% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 21,348 households out of which 32.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.9% were married couples living together, 16.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.4% were non-families. 31.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the city the population was spread out with 27.2% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 29.5% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 91.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.2 males.

In 1982, at the insistence of the Kellogg Company, the city annexed Battle Creek Township, nearly doubling the city's population. Kellogg's even went so far as to threaten moving their headquarters if the annexation failed to occur. ^[22]

The median income for a household in the city was $35,491, and the median income for a family was $43,564. Males had a median income of $36,838 versus $26,429 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,424. About 10.7% of families and 14.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.5% of those under age 18 and 11.8% of those age 65 or over.

Government[link]

The City of Battle Creek has a commission/manager form of government. Cities that follow this plan of government have an elected commission (or council) that appoints a professionally trained and experienced manager to administer the day-to-day operations of the city and to make recommendations to the city commission. Battle Creek also appoints a City Attorney, who provides legal counsel to the City Manager and City Commission.

The City Commission makes all policy decisions, including review, revision and final approval of the annual budget, which is proposed annually by the City Manager. The City Manager serves as an "at-will" employee and he works under an employment contract with the commission. All other city employees, with the exception of the City Attorney’s staff, are under the supervision of the City Manager.

There are five ward commissioners. Residents cast votes for a ward representative, who must live within the area they are representing, as well as for four at-large commissioners. These candidates may live anywhere in the city. All commissioners serve two-year terms and all terms begin and end at the same election. The next commission election will be fall of 2011.

Each November, the commission holds a special meeting to decide which commissioners serve as Mayor and Vice Mayor for the next year. The Mayor presides over the commission meetings and appoints commissioners and residents to special committees. He may also form special committees to explore community challenges or potential policies. The Vice Mayor stands in if the Mayor is unavailable.^[23]

Largest Employers[link]

According to the City's 2011 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,^[24] the largest employers in the city are:

Education[link]

Colleges and universities[link]

• Kellogg Community College, a 2-year college founded in 1956.
• Robert B. Miller College, a 4-year institution which shares KCC's facilities
• Western Michigan University's Battle Creek Branch — The Kendall Center
• Western Michigan University's College of Aviation, located at W.K. Kellogg Airport
• Spring Arbor University Battle Creek Branch
• Davenport University Battle Creek Campus

Public school districts[link]

• [1] Battle Creek Public Schools
• Harper Creek Schools
• Lakeview School District
• Pennfield Schools^[25]

High schools (public)[link]

• Battle Creek Area Mathematics and Science Center
• Battle Creek Central High School
• Harper Creek High School
• Battle Creek Area Learning Center, better known as Calhoun Community High School
• Lakeview High School including Lakeview High School Library, an American Library Association award recipient in 2008.
• Michigan Youth Challenge Academy
• Pennfield Senior High School
• Bearcat Alternative Center

High schools (private)[link]

• Battle Creek Academy
• Bedford Bible Church School
• Calhoun Christian School
• St. Philip Catholic Central High School

Secondary schools[link]

• Battle Creek Area Mathematics and Science Center, an accelerated secondary school that focuses primarily on math and science education.
• Calhoun Area Career Center, provides career and technical education to primarily 11th and 12th grade students.

Points of interest[link]

Kellogg House

• Art Center of Battle Creek
• Bailey Park & C.O. Brown Stadium
• Battle Creek Sanitarium (now the Hart-Dole-Inouye Federal Center)
• Battle Creek Symphony Orchestra
• Binder Park Zoo
• Firekeepers Casino
• Fort Custer Recreational Area
• Full Blast Outdoor Water Park
• Freemason Building, one of the oldest lodges still active in Michigan.
• Kellogg Biological Station and W.K. Kellogg Manor House located in Hickory Corners, Michigan
• Kimball House Museum
• Historic Adventist Village
• Kingman Museum and Planetarium
• Lakeview Square Mall
• Leila Arboretum
• Linear Park
• Music Center of South Central Michigan
• The Rink (Ice Hockey/Ice Skating)
• Willard Beach And Park
• Willard Library
• W.K. Kellogg Regional Airport

Fort Custer Army National Guard Base[link]

Founded in 1917, Camp Custer, as it was then known, would over the next decades serve as a training ground from World War I until the present. Parts of the base were spun off to become the Battle Creek Veteran's Hospital, Fort Custer National Cemetery, Fort Custer Recreation Area and Fort Custer Industrial Park. This industrial Park contains more than 90 different companies.

The United States Government still owns the land, but it is now administered and managed by the state of Michigan. The base, which is still mostly undeveloped, wooded land takes up a sizable portion of Battle Creek's land area. The part of the base in Battle Creek that is now the industrial park measures 4.69 square miles (12.15 km²) in area, which is approximately 10.6% of the city's area. A much larger part of the base lies in Kalamazoo County. The adjoining W.K. Kellogg Airport is a joint civilian-Air National Guard facility.

Transportation[link]

Battle Creek is situated on I-94 midway between Detroit and Chicago.

Railroad and Bus Lines[link]

The Battle Creek Amtrak Station serves Amtrak trains on the south end of the station and Greyhound and Indian Trails bus lines on the north side of the station. The station is located downtown at 104 Capital Avenue SW, Battle Creek, MI 49017.

Battle Creek Visitor & Convention Bureau

Public Transportation[link]

The Battle Creek Transit provides public transit services to Battle Creek area residents. Regular route bus service is provided throughout the City of Battle Creek.

Major highways[link]

Interstates[link]

• I-94
• I-94 Business Loop
• I-194

Michigan State Trunklines[link]

• M-37
• M-66
• M-89
• M-96

Aviation[link]

Kalamazoo's Kalamazoo-Battle Creek International Airport serves Battle Creek. Locally, W. K. Kellogg Regional Airport serves the general aviation needs of the community. The airport is also home to Western Michigan University's College of Aviation, Duncan Aviation, WACO Classic Aircraft Corp. the world's only bi-plane manufacturer,^[26] and formerly, the Michigan Air National Guard's 110th Fighter Wing which flies the A-10 and O/A-10 aircraft.

Environment[link]

• Kalamazoo Watershed 04050003 The Kalamazoo River runs through Battle Creek.
• Battle Creek River Watershed The Battle Creek River merges with the Kalamazoo River close to downtown.
• Tree City USA Community
• Storm Ready Community

2011 Storm[link]

On May 29, 2011, all of southern Michigan was placed under a tornado watch in the early afternoon, with severe storms expected to hit within a few hours. Around 4:00 PM, a tornado warning was issued for Calhoun County, including Battle Creek. Tornado sirens sounded across the city minutes before a major supercell thunderstorm brought damage to over 1,100 structures and toppled hundreds of trees in the city and surrounding area. The winds of the storm were estimated by the National Weather Service to be between 75 and 100 miles per hour straight line winds. No serious injuries were reported due to the storm. Over 28,000 energy customers lost power, many of these for several days. Cleanup of the storm was estimated by the city to take up until July 1, 2011 at a cost in excess of $750,000.

Notable persons[link]

• People from Battle Creek, Michigan

Sister cities[link]

Battle Creek has sister cities relationships with the following cities:

• Santo André, Brazil
• Takasaki, Japan

Battle Creek's official Sister City is Takasaki, Japan, a relationship that is more than 25 years old. Takasaki later established Sister City relationships with Santo Andre, Brazil; Chengde, China; Pilsen, Czech Republic and, in 2006, Muntinlupa City, the Philippines. These cities take turns hosting an environmental conference each year to allow technical and administrative staff to share ideas and projects for addressing environmental concerns.

Battle Creek and Takasaki also organize junior high and high school student and teacher exchanges each summer.

References in popular culture[link]

When the TV show The Beverly Hillbillies was first aired in the 1960s, Kellogg's was a main sponsor, and the theme song continued longer than it does in reruns today. Jed pointed to a billboard ad of Kellogg's Corn Flakes, and the singer went on: "Now come along and visit with the Clampett family, as they learn the simple pleasures in the hills of Beverly. That includes the products of the sponsor of the week, the cereals of Kellogg's, Kellogg's of Battle Creek".^[27]

In the M*A*S*H* episode, "Tuttle", Hawkeye, Trapper and Radar are in Col. Blakes' office to create a personnel file for Capt. Tuttle. For a birthplace, Trapper suggests Battle Creek, MI.

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Battle Creek, Michigan

• Official Website
• Official Tourism Website
• Festivals Official Website
• Enquirer

	Grand Rapids	Hastings	Lansing
	Kalamazoo		Jackson
		Battle Creek    East
	Elkhart, Indiana	Coldwater	Fort Wayne, Indiana

v t e Municipalities and communities of Calhoun County, Michigan, United States County seat: Marshall Cities Albion Battle Creek Marshall Springfield Villages Athens Burlington Homer Tekonsha Union City‡ Charter townships Bedford Emmett Pennfield General law townships Albion Athens Burlington Clarence Clarendon Convis Eckford Fredonia Homer Lee Leroy Marengo Marshall Newton Sheridan Tekonsha Unincorporated communities Albion Landing Brownlee Park Ceresco East Leroy Level Park-Oak Park Footnotes ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

v t e  State of Michigan Lansing (capital) Topics Index Congressional delegation Geography Governors History Islands Legislature Lieutenant Governors Lighthouses Museums National Historic Landmarks National Register of Historic Places listings People State Historic Sites State parks Supreme Court Tallest buildings Timeline Topics Visitor attractions Regions Upper Peninsula Copper Country Keweenaw Peninsula Gogebic Range Lower Peninsula Central Michigan Southern Michigan Flint/Tri-Cities The Thumb The Greater Tri Cities Michiana Northern Michigan Southeast Michigan Metro Detroit West Michigan Largest Municipalities Alpena Ann Arbor Battle Creek Bay City Bloomfield Township Canton Township Chesterfield Township Clinton Township Commerce Township Dearborn Dearborn Heights Detroit East Lansing Eastpointe Farmington Hills Flint Flint Township Georgetown Township Grand Rapids Holland Jackson Kalamazoo Kentwood Lansing Lincoln Park Livonia Macomb Township Meridian Township Midland Muskegon Novi Pontiac Portage Redford Rochester Hills Roseville Royal Oak Saginaw Saginaw Township St. Clair Shores Shelby Township Southfield Sterling Heights Taylor Troy Warren Waterford Township West Bloomfield Westland Wyoming Ypsilanti Township Counties Alcona Alger Allegan Alpena Antrim Arenac Baraga Barry Bay Benzie Berrien Branch Calhoun Cass Charlevoix Cheboygan Chippewa Clare Clinton Crawford Delta Dickinson Eaton Emmet Genesee Gladwin Gogebic Grand Traverse Gratiot Hillsdale Houghton Huron Ingham Ionia Iosco Iron Isabella Jackson Kalamazoo Kalkaska Kent Keweenaw Lake Lapeer Leelanau Lenawee Livingston Luce Mackinac Macomb Manistee Marquette Mason Mecosta Menominee Midland Missaukee Monroe Montcalm Montmorency Muskegon Newaygo Oakland Oceana Ogemaw Ontonagon Osceola Oscoda Otsego Ottawa Presque Isle Roscommon Saginaw Sanilac Schoolcraft Shiawassee St. Clair St. Joseph Tuscola Van Buren Washtenaw Wayne Wexford

State of Michigan
Flag Seal
Nickname(s): The Great Lakes State, The Wolverine State, The Mitten State, Water (Winter) Wonderland
Motto(s): Si quaeris peninsulam amoenam circumspice (Latin: If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you)
Official language(s)	None (English, de-facto)
Demonym	Michigander, Michiganian or Yooper (in the Upper Peninsula)
Capital	Lansing
Largest city	Detroit
Largest metro area	Metro Detroit
Area	Ranked 11th in the U.S.
- Total	96,716 sq mi (250,493 km2)
- Width	386[1] miles (621 km)
- Length	456[1] miles (734 km)
- % water	41.5
- Latitude	41° 41' N to 48° 18' N
- Longitude	82° 7' W to 90° 25' W
Population	Ranked 8th in the U.S.
- Total	9,876,187 (2011 est)[2]
- Density	174/sq mi  (67.1/km2) Ranked 17th in the U.S.
- Median household income	$44,627 (21st)
Elevation
- Highest point	Mount Arvon[3][4] 1,979 ft (603 m)
- Mean	900 ft  (270 m)
- Lowest point	Lake Erie[3][4] 571 ft (174 m)
Before statehood	Michigan Territory
Admission to Union	January 26, 1837 (26th)
Governor	Rick Snyder (R)
Lieutenant Governor	Brian Calley (R)
Legislature	Michigan Legislature
- Upper house	Senate
- Lower house	House of Representatives
U.S. Senators	Carl Levin (D) Debbie Stabenow (D)
U.S. House delegation	9 Republicans 6 Democrats (list)
Time zones
- most of state	Eastern: UTC-5/-4
- 4 U.P. counties	Central: UTC-6/-5
Abbreviations	MI Mich. US-MI
Website	www.michigan.gov

Michigan State symbols
Animate insignia
Bird(s)	American Robin (Turdus migratorius)
Fish	Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis)
Flower(s)	Apple blossom (Malus domestica) Wildflower: Dwarf Lake Iris (Iris lacustris)
Mammal(s)	Unofficial:Wolverine (Gulo gulo luscus) Game animal: White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus)
Reptile	Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta)
Tree	Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus)
Inanimate insignia
Fossil	Mastodon (Mammut americanum)
Gemstone	Isle Royale greenstone or Chlorastrolite
Rock	Petoskey stone
Soil	Kalkaska Sand
Song(s)	My Michigan website
Route marker(s)
State Quarter
Released in 2004
Lists of United States state insignia

Michigan (ⁱ/ˈmɪʃɨɡən/) is a state located in the Great Lakes region of the Midwestern United States. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake".^[1][5] Michigan is the 8th most populous of the 50 United States, with the 11th most extensive total area. Its capital is Lansing, and the largest city is Detroit. Michigan was admitted into the Union on January 26, 1837 as the 26th state.

Michigan has the longest freshwater coastline of any political subdivision in the world, being bounded by four of the five Great Lakes, plus Lake Saint Clair.^[6] Michigan is one of the leading U.S. states for recreational boating.^[7] The state has 64,980 inland lakes and ponds.^[8] A person in the state is never more than six miles (9.7 km) from a natural water source or more than 85 miles (137 km) from a Great Lakes shoreline.^[9] It is the largest state by total area^[10] east of the Mississippi River.

Michigan is the only state to consist of two peninsulas. The Lower Peninsula, to which the name Michigan was originally applied, is often noted to be shaped like a mitten. The Upper Peninsula (often referred to as "the U.P.") is separated from the Lower Peninsula by the Straits of Mackinac, a five-mile (8 km) channel that joins Lake Huron to Lake Michigan. The two peninsulas are connected by the Mackinac Bridge. The Upper Peninsula is economically important due to its status as a tourist destination. There is also a variety of natural resources to be found there, including a sizable amount of iron ore.

History[link]

When the first European explorers arrived, the most populous tribes were Algonquian peoples, which include the Ottawa, the Ojibwe or Anishnabe (called Chippewa in French), and the Potawatomi. The Anishnabe, whose numbers are estimated to have been between 25,000 and 35,000, were the largest.

The Anishnabe were established in Michigan's Upper Peninsula and northern Michigan, and also inhabited northern Ontario, northern Wisconsin, southern Manitoba, and northern and north-central Minnesota. The Ottawa lived primarily south of the Straits of Mackinac in northern and western Michigan, while the Potawatomi were primarily in the southwest. The three nations co-existed peacefully as part of a loose confederation called the Council of Three Fires. Other tribes in Michigan, in the south and east, were the Mascouten, the Menominee, the Miami, and the Wyandot, who are better known by their French name, Huron.

17th century[link]

Père Marquette and the Indians (1869), Wilhelm Lamprecht

French voyageurs and coureurs des bois explored and settled in Michigan in the 17th century. The first Europeans to reach what later became Michigan were those of Étienne Brûlé's expedition in 1622. The first permanent European settlement was founded in 1668 on the site where Père Jacques Marquette established Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan as a base for Catholic missions.^[11] Missionaries in 1671–75 founded outlying stations at Saint Ignace and Marquette. Jesuit missionaries were well received by the Indian populations in the area, with relatively few difficulties or hostilities. In 1679, Robert Cavelier, Sieur de la Salle built Fort Miami at present-day St. Joseph.

18th century[link]

Approximate area of Michigan highlighted in Guillaume de L'Isle's 1718 map.

In 1701, French explorer and army officer Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac founded Fort Pontchartrain du Détroit or "Fort Pontchartrain on-the-Strait" on the strait, known as the Detroit River, between lakes Saint Clair and Erie. Cadillac had convinced King Louis XIV's chief minister, Louis Phélypeaux, Comte de Pontchartrain, that a permanent community there would strengthen French control over the upper Great Lakes and discourage British aspirations.

The hundred soldiers and workers who accompanied Cadillac built a fort enclosing one arpent^[12][13] (about 0.85 acres (3,400 m²), the equivalent of just under 200 feet (61 m) per side) and named it Fort Pontchartrain. Cadillac's wife, Marie Thérèse Guyon, soon moved to Detroit, becoming one of the first European women to settle in the Michigan wilderness. The town quickly became a major fur-trading and shipping post. The Église de Saint-Anne (Church of Saint Ann) was founded the same year. While the original building does not survive, the congregation of that name continues to be active today. Cadillac later departed to serve as the French governor of Louisiana from 1710 to 1716.

At the same time, the French strengthened Fort Michilimackinac at the Straits of Mackinac to better control their lucrative fur-trading empire. By the mid-18th century, the French also occupied forts at present-day Niles and Sault Ste. Marie, though most of the rest of the region remained unsettled by Europeans.

From 1660 to the end of French rule, Michigan was part of the Royal Province of New France.^[14] In 1759, following the Battle of the Plains of Abraham in the French and Indian War (1754–1763), Québec City fell to British forces. This marked Britain's victory in the Seven Years War. Under the 1763 Treaty of Paris, Michigan and the rest of New France east of the Mississippi River passed to Great Britain.^[15]

During the American Revolutionary War, Detroit was an important British supply center. Most of the inhabitants were French-Canadians or Native Americans, many of whom had been allied with the French. Because of imprecise cartography and unclear language defining the boundaries in the 1783 Treaty of Paris, the British retained control of Detroit and Michigan after the American Revolution. When Quebec split into Lower and Upper Canada in 1790, Michigan was part of Kent County, Upper Canada. It held its first democratic elections in August 1792 to send delegates to the new provincial parliament at Newark (now Niagara-on-the-Lake).^[16]

Under terms negotiated in the 1794 Jay Treaty, Britain withdrew from Detroit and Michilimackinac in 1796. Questions remained over the boundary for many years, and the United States did not have uncontested control of the Upper Peninsula and Drummond Island until 1818 and 1847, respectively.

19th century[link]

During the War of 1812, Michigan Territory (effectively consisting of Detroit and the surrounding area) was surrendered after a nearly bloodless siege in 1812. An attempt to retake Detroit resulted in a severe American defeat in the River Raisin Massacre. This battle is still the bloodiest ever fought in the state and had the highest number of American casualties of any battle in the war. Ultimately, Michigan was recaptured by Americans in 1813 after the Battle of Lake Erie. An invasion of Canada which culminated in the Battle of the Thames was then launched from Michigan. The more northern areas were held by the British until the peace treaty restored the old boundaries. A number of forts, including Fort Wayne were built in Michigan during the 19th century out of fears of renewed fighting with Britain.

Lumbering pines in the late 1800s

The population grew slowly until the opening in 1825 of the Erie Canal connecting the Great Lakes and the Hudson River and New York City. The new route brought a large influx of settlers, who became farmers and merchants and shipped out grain, lumber, and iron ore. By the 1830s, Michigan had 80,000 residents, more than enough to apply and qualify for statehood. In October 1835 the people approved the Constitution of 1835, thereby forming a state government, although Congressional recognition was delayed pending resolution of a boundary dispute with Ohio known as the Toledo War. Congress awarded the "Toledo Strip" to Ohio. Michigan received the western part of the Upper Peninsula as a concession and formally entered the Union on January 26, 1837. The Upper Peninsula proved to be a rich source of lumber, iron, and copper. Michigan led the nation in lumber production from the 1850s to the 1880s. Railroads became a major engine of growth from the 1850s onward, with Detroit the chief hub.

The first statewide meeting of the Republican Party took place July 6, 1854 in Jackson, Michigan, where the party adopted its platform. The state was heavily Republican until the 1930s. Michigan made a significant contribution to the Union in the American Civil War and sent more than forty regiments of volunteers to the federal armies.

Modernizers and boosters—especially Yankees set up systems for public education, including founding the University of Michigan (1817; moved to Ann Arbor in 1841), for a classical academic education; and Michigan State Normal School, (1849) now Eastern Michigan University, for the training of teachers. In 1899, it became the first normal college in the nation to offer a four-year curriculum. Michigan Agricultural College (1855), now Michigan State University in East Lansing, was founded as the pioneer land-grant college, a model for those authorized under the Morrill Act (1862). Many other private colleges were founded as well, and the smaller cities formed high schools late in the century.^[17]

20th and 21st centuries[link]

B-24s under construction at Ford's Willow Run line.

Michigan's economy underwent a transformation at the turn of the 20th century. Many individuals, including Ransom E. Olds, John and Horace Dodge, Henry Leland, David Dunbar Buick, Henry Joy, Charles King, and Henry Ford, provided the concentration of engineering know-how and technological enthusiasm to start the birth of the automotive industry.^[18] Ford's development of the moving assembly line in Highland Park marked the beginning of a new era in transportation. Like the steamship and railroad, it was a far-reaching development. More than the forms of public transportation, the automobile transformed private life. It became the major industry of Detroit and Michigan, and permanently altered the socio-economic life of the United States and much of the world.

With the growth, the auto industry created jobs in Detroit that attracted immigrants from Europe and migrants from across the U.S., including those from the South. By 1920, Detroit was the fourth largest city in the U.S. Residential housing was in short supply, and it took years for the market to catch up with the population boom. By the 1930s, so many immigrants had arrived that more than 30 languages were spoken in the public schools, and ethnic communities celebrated in annual heritage festivals. Over the years immigrants and migrants contributed greatly to Detroit's diverse urban culture, including popular music trends, such as the influential Motown Sound of the 1960s led by a variety of individual singers and groups.

Skyscrapers in downtown Detroit

Grand Rapids, the second-largest city in Michigan, is also an important center of manufacturing. Since 1838, the city has also been noted for its furniture industry and is home to five of the world's leading office furniture companies. Grand Rapids is home to a number of major companies including Steelcase, Amway, and Meijer. Grand Rapids is also an important center for GE Aviation Systems.

Michigan held its first United States presidential primary election in 1910. With its rapid growth in industry, it was an important center of union industry-wide organizing, such as the rise of the United Auto Workers.

In 1920 WWJ (AM) in Detroit became the first radio station in the United States to regularly broadcast commercial programs. Throughout that decade, some of the country's largest and most ornate skyscrapers were built in the city. Particularly noteworthy are the Fisher Building, Cadillac Place, and the Guardian Building, each of which is a National Historic Landmark (NHL).

Detroit continued to expand through the 1950s, at one point doubling its population in a decade. After World War II, housing was developed in suburban areas outside city cores; newly constructed U.S. Interstate Highways allowed commuters to navigate the region more easily. Modern advances in the auto industry have resulted in increased automation, high tech industry, and increased suburban growth since 1960.

Michigan is the leading auto-producing state in the U.S., with the industry primarily located throughout the Midwestern United States, Ontario, Canada, and the Southern United States.^[19] With almost ten million residents, Michigan is a large and influential state, ranking eighth in population among the fifty states. Detroit is the centrally located metropolitan area of the Great Lakes Megalopolis and the second largest metropolitan area in the U.S. linking the Great Lakes system.

Biomedical Science Research Building at the UM Medical School supports the Michigan Life Sciences Corridor.

The Metro Detroit area in Southeast Michigan is the largest metropolitan area in the state (roughly 50% of the population resides there) and the eleventh largest in the USA. The Grand Rapids metropolitan area in Western Michigan is the fastest-growing metro area in the state, with over 1.3 million residents as of 2006. Metro Detroit receives more than 15 million visitors each year. Michigan has many popular tourist destinations which include areas such as Traverse City on the Grand Traverse Bay in Northern Michigan. Tourists spend about $17 billion annually in Michigan supporting 193,000 jobs.^[20]

Michigan typically ranks third or fourth in overall Research & development (R&D) expenditures in the U.S.^[21][22] The state's leading research institutions include the University of Michigan, Michigan State University and Wayne State University which are important partners in the state's economy and the state's University Research Corridor.^[23] Michigan's public universities attract more than $1.5 B in research and development grants each year.^[24] Agriculture also serves a significant role making the state a leading grower of fruit in the U.S., including blueberries, cherries, apples, grapes, and peaches.^[25]

Government[link]

File:71msc 1.jpg

Michigan State Capitol in Lansing

Michigan Supreme Court at the Hall of Justice

State government[link]

Michigan is governed as a republic, with three branches of government: the executive branch consisting of the Governor of Michigan and the other independently elected constitutional officers; the legislative branch consisting of the House of Representatives and Senate; and the judicial branch consisting of the one court of justice. The state also allows direct participation of the electorate by initiative, referendum, recall, and ratification. Lansing is the state capital and is home to all three branches of state government.

The governor and the other state constitutional officers serve four-year terms and may be re-elected only once. The current governor is Rick Snyder. Michigan has two official Governor's Residences; one is in Lansing, and the other is at Mackinac Island. The other constitutionally elected executive officers are the lieutenant governor, who is elected on a joint ticket with the governor, the secretary of state, and the attorney general. The lieutenant governor presides over the Senate, but only voting when ties occur, and is also a member of the cabinet. The secretary of state is the chief elections officer and is charged with running many licensure programs including motor vehicles, all of which are done through the branch offices of the secretary of state.

The Michigan Legislature consists of a 38-member Senate and 110-member House of Representatives. Senators serve four-year terms and representatives two. The Michigan State Capitol was dedicated in 1879 and has hosted the state's executive and legislative branches ever since.

Law[link]

The Michigan Court System consists of two courts with primary jurisdiction (the Circuit Courts and the District Courts), one intermediate level appellate court (the Michigan Court of Appeals), and the Michigan Supreme Court. There are several administrative courts and specialized courts. The Michigan Constitution provides for voter initiative and referendum (Article II, § 9,^[26] defined as "the power to propose laws and to enact and reject laws, called the initiative, and the power to approve or reject laws enacted by the legislature, called the referendum. The power of initiative extends only to laws which the legislature may enact under this constitution").

In 1846 Michigan became the first state in the Union, as well as the first English-speaking government in the world,^[27][28] to abolish the death penalty. Historian David Chardavoyne has suggested that the movement to abolish capital punishment in Michigan grew as a result of enmity toward the state's neighbor, Canada. Under British rule, it made public executions a regular practice.

Politics[link]

Michigan Governor Rick Snyder (R) (2011–present)

Voters in the state elect candidates from both major parties. Economic issues are important in Michigan elections. The three-term Republican Governor John Engler (1991–2003) preceded the former two-term Democratic Governor Jennifer Granholm (2003–2011). The state has elected successive Republican attorneys general twice since 2003. The Republican Party has won a majority in both the House and Senate of the current Michigan Legislature (2011–present). Michigan supported the election of Republican Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. The current Governor Rick Snyder (2011–present) is a Republican.