e-RD Logo
Google
Custom Search
 
e-ReferenceDesk's College and 50 State Learning Resource Guide
 
 

Find Online Colleges

Find Campus Colleges

Michigan State...
Michigan Landscape
Michigan
  • Almanac
  • Economy
  • Geography
  • Facts
  • History
  • Motto
  • People
  • Timeline
  • Name
  • Counties
  • Symbols
Choose a County

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, Sanilac, Schoolcraft, Shiawassee, St. Clair, St. Joseph, Tuscola, Van Buren, Washtenaw, Wayne, Wexford

State Names & Nicknames
A list of US state slogans is available, as well as a list of US state State Name, origin of the state names,  and the state resident's names.
Find
  • Origin of State Name
  • State Resident's Names
  • Listing of State Mottos
  • State Slogans
Michigan Symbols
Michigan Greeting
Michigan Symbols
Bird, Fish, Flag, Flower, Fossil, Game Mammal, Gem, Historical Society, Motto, Nicknames, Reptile, Seal, Soil, Song, Stone, Tree, Unofficial Song, Wild Flower
  • e-RD |
  • State Resources |
  • 50 States |
  • State History |
  • State Symbols |
  • State Names

Michigan State Names

Michigan Name Etymology and State Nicknames

Midwest

  • Wolverine State
  • Great Lake State
  • The Peninsula State
  • Lake State
  • Lady of the Lake
  • Auto State
  • Mitten State
  • Water Wonderland

Origin of Michigan State Name

Derived from the Indian words "Michi-gama" meaning "large lake."

The word Michigan originally referred to a clearing on the lower peninsula and was derived from the Chippewa Indian word "majigan" which means clearing. Lake Michigan was named after this clearing by European explorers in the area in the 1670's. The state later took the name of the clearing as well.

The French first used the word for the Great Lake that Native Americans called the "Lake of the Illinois"--now Lake Michigan. It was first used officially to refer to this land area when Congress created the Territory of Michigan in 1805.

Nicknames

Wolverine State:

Michigan has long had an unofficial nickname: "The Wolverine State." However, evidence seems to show that if wolverines ever lived in Michigan, they would have been very rare. We don't know exactly how the state got the nickname, but two stories attempt to explain it.

Some people believe that Ohioans gave Michigan the nickname around 1835 during a dispute over the Toledo strip, a piece of land along the border between Ohio and Michigan. Rumors in Ohio at the time described Michiganians as being as vicious and bloodthirsty as wolverines. This dispute became known as the Toledo War.

Another reason given for the nickname is a story that has Native Americans, during the 1830s, comparing Michigan settlers to wolverines. Some native people, according to this story, disliked the way settlers were taking the land because it made them think of how the gluttonous wolverine went after its food.

Source: http://www.sos.state.mi.us/history/michinfo/michfaq/michfaq.html#wolver  

Great Lake State

Another nickname for Michigan is the "Great Lake State." Michigan's shores touch four of the five Great Lakes, and Michigan has more than 11,000 inland lakes. In Michigan, you are never more than 6 miles from an inland lake or more than 85 miles from a Great Lake. From 1969 to 1975 and from 1977 to 1983 Michigan's automobile license plates featured the legend, GREAT LAKE STATE.

But this name conflicts with the "Lake States", given to the states which border the Great Lakes. To avoid this conflict, some have turned it into the Lady of the Lake and the more remote Water Wonderland.

Lake State

Lake Michigan. Michigan is also known as the Lake State, (which appeared on the state license plates) for its proximity to Lake Michigan, but this name conflicts with the "Lake States", given to the states which border the Great Lakes. To avoid this conflict, some have turned it into the Lady of the Lake and the more remote Water Wonderland.

Lady of the Lake

Lake Michigan. Michigan is also known as the Lake State, or the Great Lakes State (which appeared on the state license plates) for its proximity to Lake Michigan, but this name conflicts with the "Lake States", given to the states which border the Great Lakes. To avoid this conflict, some have turned it into the Lady of the Lake and the more remote Water Wonderland.

Auto State

Detroit's automobile manufacturing industry.

The Peninsula State

Some references to Michigan during the early twentieth century also called the state "The Peninsula State."

Slogans

Great Lakes, Great Times; More To See.

(formerly Water/Winter Wonderland)

Michigan Postal Code

MI

Michigan Resident's Name

Michigander, Michiganite

State Names
State Names & Nicknames
The etymologies of some US state names are more obvious than others, derived from the Spanish or French tongue. Though, more than half of the US state names come from Native American tribal languages, with several still a mystery to scholars and historians.

name \ˈnām\
noun

Etymology:Middle English, from Old English nama; akin to Old High German namo name, Latin nomen, Greek onoma, onyma

Date: before 12th century

1
a: a word or phrase that constitutes the distinctive designation of a person or thing

b: a word or symbol used in logic to designate an entity
Select a Online School

We have even more ways to help you find the perfect school! Check these online colleges out.

  • University of Phoenix
  • DeVry University
  • Strayer University
  • AIU Online
  • Walden University
  • The Art Institute of Pittsburgh - Online Division
  • Kaplan University
  • Colorado Tech Online
  • Argosy University Online
  • ECPI College of Technology
  • Everest University Online
  • Grand Canyon University
  • Keiser University eCampus
  • Jones International University Online
  • Concordia University Portland - Online
Can't decide?
  • More Online Schools
  • A-Z College Search
Google
Custom Search
About Site Map Privacy Policy
Campus-based Colleges  Online Schools  College List
Top of Page

© Copyright 2004-2011, Web Marketing Services, Inc. LLC, a Clarksville, VA company. All rights reserved.