State Symbols of Michigan

By | Updated on January 21, 2023

Reviewed by Rittika

Michigan, a constituent state of the United States of America, is located in the Great Lakes region of the upper Midwestern United States. The name Michigan is derived from the Algonquin word “Mishigamaw,” which means “large lake” or “great water. Also supposed to be derived from “Michi,” which means “great,” and “Gama,” which means “water.”

The original nickname for Michigan is The Wolverine State. There are numerous theories as to how Michigan got this nickname. Today, Michigan is commonly referred to as The Great Lakes State. Michigan is also known as Water Wonderland since it is the only state that is connected to all five Great Lakes.

Lansing is Michigan’s state capital, while Detroit is its largest city.

The state of Michigan is divided into two major land segments; the Upper and Lower peninsulas. In the south, Ohio and Indiana border the Lower Peninsula, while Wisconsin borders the Upper Peninsula to the west.

Algonquian-speaking Indians were the first people to inhabit the area. Fur trading was the main activity of the French when they came in the 17th century, creating Sault Sainte Marie in 1668 and Detroit in 1701. It was claimed by French explorers as part of the New France colony. The area was ruled by Britain after France was defeated in the French and Indian War in 1762. Following Britain’s loss in the American Revolutionary War, the land was handed to the newly established United States in 1783. Despite giving up to the British during the War of 1812, American control was reestablished in 1813. Michigan was admitted to the Union as the 26th state on January 26, 1837.

With a total area of 96,713 sq mi (250,487 sq km), it is the eleventh largest by area. The total population of the state, according to the census 2020, is 10,077,331 making it the tenth-largest state by population.

In 1998, Michigan made “The Legend of Sleeping Bear” by Kathy-jo Wargin and illustrated by Gijsbert van Frankenhuyzen the official state children’s book, in the Symbols of Art and Culture section.

The fun fact is Michigan’s historical discovery of cornflakes. In 1898, Battle Creek was the “birthplace” of Corn Flakes. While attempting to make granola, the Kellogg brothers accidentally produced flakes.

Different animal species can be found in Michigan, including the common white-tailed deer. In 1997, Michigan made the white-tailed deer the official state animal. After an election conducted by the Michigan Audubon Society, Michigan adopted the Robin redbreast as the official state bird in 1931.

The state song is “My Michigan”, whereas the official state motto is “Si quaeris peninsulam amoenam, circumspice,” which translates to “If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look around you”. 

Michigan has no official language; however, English is the most widely spoken language (91.11%), followed by Spanish (2.93%) and Arabic (1.04%), with other languages accounting for the remaining 4.92%.

State Information

Official Language	None
State Rank	11
Demonym(s)	Michigander, Michiganian, Yooper (for residents of the Upper Peninsula)
Nickname	"The Great Lake(s) State", "The Wolverine State", "The Mitten State", "Water (Winter) Wonderland"
ISO	US-MI
Formation Date	January 26, 1837
Coordinates	Lat: 41°41′ N to 48°18′ N, Long: 82°7′ W to 90°25′ W
Area

State seal

Motto of Michigan

Si quaeris peninsulam amoenam circumspice-"If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you"

State symbols of Michigan 👇

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  State capital
  Lansing
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  State bird
  American robin
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  State flower
  Apple Blossom
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  State tree
  Eastern White Pine
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  State dance
  Square Dance
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  State reptile
  Painted turtle
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  State insect
  Monarch butterfly
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  State gemstone
  Chlorastrolite
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  State animal
  White-tailed deer
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  State fish
  Brook trout

State location

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