Michigan . . . State 26
Michigan was admitted to the Union on January 26, 1837 as the 26th state. It is located in the East North Central United States. Michigan is very unique because it consists of two peninsulas completely separated by water and bordering on four of the five Great Lakes. The upper peninsula is sparsley populated and the much larger lower peninsula is home to most MI residents. Michigan is known as the "Great Lakes State" because of the shores on Great Lakes. The capital city is Lansing and Detroit, is its largest city and very well known world-wide as the center of the U.S. automobile industry. Michigan is the 11th largest of the U.S. states.
Michigan has a continental climate with four distinct seasons. Summers are moist and humid and warm while winters are snowy and cold. Near the coasts of the Great Lakes often experience heavy winds.
During the colonial period fur trapping and trading were the principal economic activities. As the area became more populated in the beginning of the 19th century settlers were occupied by farming and lumbering. Large mining operations were started. The metals allowed Michigan to develop a manufacturing economy by the beginning of the 20th century and Michigan became a center for producing motor vehicles and associated equipment.
The principal crops grown in Michigan are corn, soybeans, vegetables, sugar beets, wheat, and fruit. Greenhouse and nursery products are the other leading source of crop income. Michigan is the #1 producer of cucumbers and one of the top states in growing dry beans. Other important crops are celery, asparagus, snap beans, carrots, cauliflower, potatoes, tomatoes and onions. In fruits Michigan is first in the nation in the production of sour cherries and a leading producer of sweet cherries, apples, grapes, peaches, plums and strawberries.
Michigan has 83 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 -
St. Clair - St. Joseph -
Sanilac - Schoolcraft -
Shiawassee - Tuscola -
Van Buren - Washtenaw -
Wayne - Wexford
