Moving to Michigan
Michigan is a beautiful and unusual geographical state. It is surrounded by four of the five Great Lakes. The Lower Peninsula is shaped liked a mitten; the Upper Peninsula juts out from Wisconsin. Spanning five miles of lake between the two peninsulas, the Mackinac Bridge is one of the longest suspension bridges in the world. Michigan has 3,200 miles of shoreline, longer than any other state except Alaska.
Michigan boasts 99 parks, one of the largest park systems in the US. With 3.9 million acres of state forest land, 2.7 million acres of national forest, and over 250 campgrounds, Michigan is a family-friendly stunning canvas of year round beauty. Winter sports enthusiasts enjoy more than forty ski resorts and over 4,000 miles of snowmobile trails. Michigan became the 26th state in 1837. With 9.9 million residents, it ranks 8th in population and is the 11th largest state in land area in the US. The name is derived from an Indian word meaning "great lake." It is easy to see why Michigan is a great place to live.
Now that you are moving to The Wolverine State, impress friends and family with these Michigan facts:
State Capital is Lansing.
The largest city is Detroit.
State Motto: "Si quaeris peninsulam amoenam, circumspice." If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you."
Henry Ford, Founder of The Ford Motor Company, was born in 1863 in Greenfield Township.
Michigan is one of six states to celebrate the UK holiday of Boxing Day on December 26.
State Song is "Michigan, My Michigan."
State Bird is the Robin.
State Flower is the Apple Blossom.
James Vernor invented Ginger Ale in his Detroit pharmacy.
State Tree is the White Pine.
State Animal is the White-Tailed Deer.
State Fossil is the Mastodon. About 250 mastodon fossils have been found in southern Michigan.
Grand Rapids was the first city in the U.S. to put fluoride in their water.
In 1939, the Packard Motor Car Company in Detroit manufactured the first air-conditioned car.
The first people in the nation to receive assigned phone numbers lived in Detroit in 1879.
Singing sand can be found on the beaches of Grand Haven. The sand particles make a whistling sound as you walk upon them.
Michigan has 116 lighthouses and navigational lights.
The Great Lakes account for 1/5th of the world's surface freshwater supply.
Michigan has 11,037 inland lakes, 36,000 miles of rivers and streams, and more than 150 waterfalls.
More than 90 percent of the Upper Peninsula's land is forested.
Michigan is home to four professional sports teams, all based out of Detroit: Lions football; Pistons basketball; Tigers baseball; and Red Wings hockey.
Enjoy your new home Michigan!