Michigan Vacation Guide System

Michigan Fun Facts

Capital: Annapolis

State abbreviation/Postal code: Md./MD

Governor: Rick Snyder, R (to Jan. 2015)

Lieut. Governor: Brian Calley, R (to Jan. 2015)

Senators: Carl Levin, D (to Jan. 2015); Debbie A. Stabenow, D (to Jan. 2013)

U.S. Representatives: 15

Historical biographies of Congressional members

Secy. of State: Ruth Johnson, R (to Jan. 2015)

Atty. General: Bill Schuette, R (to Jan. 2015)

Treasurer: Andy Dillon (apptd. by governor)

Entered Union (rank): April 28, 1788 (7)

Present constitution adopted: 1867

Motto: Fatti maschii, parole femine (Manly deeds, womanly words)

State symbols:

bird	Baltimore oriole (1947)
boat	skipjack (1985)
crustacean	Maryland blue crab (1989)
dinosaur	Astrodon johnstoni (1998)
dog	Chesapeake Bay retriever (1964)
beverage	milk (1998)
flower	black-eyed susan (1918)
fish	rockfish (1965)
folk dance	square dance (1994)
fossil shell	ecphora gardnerae gardnerae (Wilson) (1994)
insect	Baltimore checkerspot butterfly (1973)
reptile	Diamondback terrapin (1994)
song	“Maryland! My Maryland!” (1939)
sport	jousting (1962)
team sport	lacrosse (2004)
tree	white oak (1941)

Nicknames: Free State; Old Line State

Origin of name: In honor of Henrietta Maria (queen of Charles I of England)

10 largest cities (2005 est.): Baltimore, 635,815; Frederick, 57,907; Gaithersburg, 57,698; Rockville, 57,402; Bowie, 53,878; Hagerstown, 38,326; Annapolis, 36,300; Salisbury, 26,295; College Park, 25,171; Greenbelt, 22,242

Land area: 9,774 sq mi. (25,315 sq km)

Geographic center: In Prince Georges Co., 4¹/2 mi. NW of Davidsonville

Number of counties: 23, and 1 independent city

Largest county by population and area: Montgomery, 927,583 (2005); Frederick, 663 sq mi.

State forests: 7 (136,907 ac.)

State parks: 40 (90,239 ac.)

Residents: Marylander

2005 resident population est.: 5,600,388

2000 resident census population (rank): 5,296,486 (19). Male: 2,557,794 (48.3%); Female: 2,738,692 (51.7%). White: 3,391,308 (64.0%); Black: 1,477,411 (27.9%); American Indian: 15,423 (0.3%); Asian: 210,929 (4.0%); Other race: 95,525 (1.8%); Two or more races: 103,587 (2.0%); Hispanic/Latino: 227,916 (4.3%). 2000 percent population 18 and over: 74.4; 65 and over: 11.3; median age: 36.0.

Trivia about Michigan:

• Windsor, Ontario is south of Detroit, Michigan, and is separated by the Detroit River. Windsor marks the only border crossing where entering the mainland United States from Canada involves traveling north.

• The Detroit-Windsor international border is the busiest border between the United States and Canada.

• Michigan is simultaneously known for its cities, supported by heavy industry, and its pristine wilderness, home to more than 11,000 lakes. The clang and clamor of Metro Detroit's crowded thoroughfares and busy factories stand in vivid counterpoint to the tranquility found in virtually every corner of the state.

• An individual from Michigan is called a "Michiganian" or "Michigander". Also at times, but rarely, a "Michiganite".
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• The canal and locks at Lake Huron were opened in 1855.

• A resident of Michigan's Upper Peninsula ("the U.P.") is often called a "Yooper" . In turn, residents of the lower peninsula are referred to as "trolls" — because they "live below the Mackinac Bridge".

• As the Lower Peninsula is famously shaped like a mitten, residents often use the palm of their right hand or the back of their left hand as a shorthand "map" to illustrate the part of the state from which they hail, or any other location to which they may be referring. This may also be done for the Upper Peninsula by using the palm of the opposite hand turned on its side.

• Its U.S. postal abbreviation is "MI" (traditional: "Mich."). The U.S. Navy's three ships called USS Michigan were named in honor of the state. Michigan is nicknamed the "Great Lakes State", and also the "Wolverine State", from a nickname earned during the Toledo War.
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• Michigan has over 130 lighthouses, the most of any U.S. state. The first lighthouses in Michigan were built between 1818 and 1822. They were built to project light at night and to serve as a landmark during the day to safely guide the passenger ships and freighters traveling the Great Lakes.
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• Michigan has the most registered boats (over 1 million) of any state in the Union.

• Michigan's 3250 miles of shoreline is second only to Alaska.

• Michigan is home to the Soo Locks, the world's busiest lock system, and the Mackinac and Ambassador Bridges, each formerly the world's longest suspension bridge.

• Michigan has six international crossings with Ontario, Canada.

• Michigan is home to more public golf courses than any other state.

• Michigan has two official Governor's Residences. One is in Lansing, the other is at Mackinac Island.

• The soda beverage Vernors was invented in Michigan

• Because of their high concentration of confectionery shops, Northern Michigan residents often refer to tourists as "Fudgies".

• Faygo was founded in Detroit on November 4, 1907.

• Ernest Hemingway spent his childhood summers in northern Michigan at Walloon Lake.





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