Michigan Almanac: Facts and Figures

Quick Facts and Figures on the State

Michigan Almanac furnishes quick facts and figures on the state, its geography, climate and weather, elevation, land area, bordering states, electoral votes, number of senators and representatives to the US Congress, and other statistical data. Use this almanac of Michigan for information on local issues, politics, events, celebrations, people and business pertaining to the state of Michigan that can be found online.

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Michigan, one of the East North Central states of the US Michigan consisting mainly of two large peninsulas: the Lower Peninsula and the smaller Upper Peninsula.

Michigan economy, dominated in the 19th century by fur trapping, farming, lumbering, and mining, became highly industrialized after 1900 as the state developed into the major center of the US automobile industry. In the 1990s service industries (including tourism), agriculture, and mining also were important economic activities.

Michigan Almanac
Official Name	Michigan
Capital	Lansing
Nick Name	Wolverine State
Motto	Si Quaeris Peninsulam Amoenam Circumsice (If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you)
Location & Region	42.70910 N, 084.55399 W			Midwest
Constitution Ratified	April 1,1963
Statehood	January 26, 1837			26th state
Population	9,938,444	174.94 sq mi.		8th
Largest City (by population)	Detroit, Grand Rapids, Warren, Flint, Sterling Heights, Lansing
Bordering States	North and East: Ontario South: Ohio and Indiana West: Wisconsin (Most boundaries are formed by four of the Great Lakes: Superior, Huron, Erie, and Michigan)
Number of Counties	83 Counties in Michigan
Largest County (by population)	Wayne County	2,061,162		614 sq mi.
Electoral Votes	17 (as of the 2004 Presidential Election)
US Congress	2 Senators; 16 Representatives (15 Representatives as of the 2002 election)
Time Zone	Eastern Standard Time
Michigan Climate and Weather
Michigan has four distinct seasons with activities and attractions suited to each. Though it has heavy snowfall in places, the Great Lakes tend to moderate the temperatures of the surrounding land, cooling the summers and warming the winters. This results in a milder climate in portions of the basin compared to other locations of similar latitude. The lakes also act as a giant humidifier, increasing the moisture content of the air throughout the year. In the winter, this moisture condenses as snow when it reaches the land, creating heavy snowfall in some areas, known as "snow belts" on the downwind shores of the lakes. The shores of Lake Superior are prone to this "lake effect" snow and have recorded up to 350 inches of snow in a single year. During the winter, the temperature of the lakes continues to drop. Ice frequently covers Lake Erie but seldom fully covers the other lakes. The lake breezes also make the shore areas (along Lake Michigan, in particular) several degrees cooler in summer. In most years, winter-sports enthusiasts will find plenty of snow in the Upper Peninsula and northern Lower Peninsula from mid November through March. Accumulations of 120-170 in/305-432 cm are common. Temperatures usually drop below 0 F/-18 C once or twice each winter, but the average January temperature ranges 6 to 32 F/-15 to 0 C. In spring, expect temperatures from the mid 30s to the mid 60s F/2-17 C. Summer offers temperatures on the average 47-83 F/8-27 C. Humidity is occasionally uncomfortable, but the moderate temperatures usually keep things from getting too extreme. Mid September to late October offers temperatures running 41-62 F/5-16 C.
Highest Temperature	112 degrees July 13, 1936 - Mio
Lowest Temperature	-51 degrees February 4, 1934 - Vanderbilt
Avg Temp: High - Low	83.1 degrees		14.0 degrees
Michigan Highest, Lowest, and Mean Elevations (Feet)
Mean Elevation	900
Highest Point	Mt. Arvon			1,979
Lowest Point	Lake Erie			572
Michigan Land Area (Square Miles)
Geographic Center
Total Area	96,716.11			11th
Land Area	56,803.82
Water Area	39,912.28			41.26%
Forested Land Area			53.2%
Dimensions (Length - Width)	490 miles		240 miles
Source:(US Census, April 1, 2000)

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Almanac: Facts and Figures

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