| Michigan
. . .
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, sugarbeets, 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
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state - Michigan