History of Michigan in Timeline

Michigan is a state in the Great Lakes region of the U.S., bordering several states and the Canadian province of Ontario. It is the 10th most populous and 11th largest state, with Lansing as its capital and Detroit as its most populous city. The Metro Detroit area is a major economic hub. Other significant metropolitan areas include Grand Rapids, Flint, Ann Arbor, Kalamazoo, and Muskegon.

1903: Start of Professional Hockey in Michigan

In 1903, professional hockey got its start in Houghton, Michigan, with the formation of the Portage Lakers.

November 4, 1907: Faygo Founded in Detroit

On November 4, 1907, Faygo, a beverage company, was founded in Detroit.

1908: Michigan Constitution of 1908

Michigan had a constitution in 1908.

1910: Michigan's First Presidential Primary Election

In 1910, Michigan held its first United States presidential primary election. The state was also becoming an important center for industry-wide union organizing.

1912: Detroit Tigers at Tiger Stadium

From 1912 the Detroit Tigers played at Tiger Stadium (formerly known as Navin Field and Briggs Stadium).

1920: Detroit Becomes Fourth-Largest City in the U.S.

By 1920, Detroit had grown to become the fourth-largest city in the U.S., driven by the auto industry which attracted immigrants and migrants. This led to a housing shortage and a diverse urban culture, including the development of popular music trends.

1920: WWJ (AM) Became First Commercial Radio Station

In 1920, WWJ (AM) in Detroit became the first radio station in the United States to regularly broadcast commercial programs. During this decade, many skyscrapers were built in the city.

1927: Bath School Disaster

In 1927, the Bath School disaster in Clinton County resulted in the deaths of 38 schoolchildren, marking it as the deadliest mass murder in a school in U.S. history.

February 9, 1934: Coldest Recorded Temperature in Michigan on February 9, 1934

On February 9, 1934, Michigan recorded its coldest temperature of -51 °F (-46 °C) at Vanderbilt.

November 1, 1935: U.S. Post Office Issued Michigan Statehood Stamp

On November 1, 1935, the U.S. Post Office issued a 3-cent stamp to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Michigan's statehood.

July 13, 1936: Highest Recorded Temperature in Michigan on July 13, 1936

On July 13, 1936, Michigan recorded its highest temperature of 112 °F (44 °C) at Mio.

August 1947: Earthquake Struck Michigan in August 1947

In August 1947, a 4.6-magnitude earthquake struck Michigan.

1947: Creation of Charter Township Status in 1947

In 1947, the Legislature created charter township status, granting additional powers and streamlined administration for greater protection against annexation by a city.

1959: Detroit Dragway Hosts NHRA U.S. Nationals

From 1959 to 1961, Detroit Dragway hosted the NHRA's U.S. Nationals.

1960: Advances in Auto Industry and Suburban Growth

Since 1960, modern advances in the auto industry have led to increased automation, high-tech industry, and increased suburban growth in Michigan.

1961: Detroit Dragway Hosts NHRA U.S. Nationals

From 1959 to 1961, Detroit Dragway hosted the NHRA's U.S. Nationals.

1963: Current Michigan Constitution

Michigan's current constitution dates back to 1963.

July 1967: Twelfth Street Riot in Detroit

Longstanding tensions in Detroit culminated in the Twelfth Street riot in July 1967.

1974: Detroit Lions leave Tiger Stadium

In 1974, the Detroit Lions left Tiger Stadium in Detroit.

1975: Detroit Lions move to Pontiac Silverdome

In 1975, the Detroit Lions moved to the Pontiac Silverdome.

1978: Pistons Leave Cobo Arena

In 1978, the Detroit Pistons left Cobo Arena.

1979: Red Wings Move to Joe Louis Arena

In 1979, the Detroit Red Wings moved to Joe Louis Arena.

1988: Pistons Move to Pontiac Silverdome

In 1988, the Detroit Pistons moved to the Pontiac Silverdome.

1994: Governor-Elect Party Opposite Presidency

From 1994 until 2022, the governor-elect had always come from the party opposite the presidency.

1997: Michigan's Development Numbers

From 1997 to 2004, Michigan was the only state to top the 10,000 mark for the number of major new developments.

1997: Decommissioning of Big Rock Point Nuclear Power Plant

In 1997, the Big Rock Point Nuclear Power Plant, which was Michigan's first and the nation's fifth nuclear power plant, was decommissioned.

1999: Hmong Population in Michigan in 1999

As of 1999, around 4,000 Hmong people lived in the state of Michigan. This number had roughly doubled by 2007.

1999: Detroit Tigers at Tiger Stadium

Until 1999 the Detroit Tigers played at Tiger Stadium (formerly known as Navin Field and Briggs Stadium).

2000: Detroit Tigers Move to Comerica Park

In 2000, the Detroit Tigers moved to Comerica Park.

April 2001: Charter Townships in Michigan as of April 2001

As of April 2001, there were 127 charter townships in Michigan. Charter townships have many of the same powers as a city but without the same level of obligations.

2001: Manufacturing growth

From 2001 to 2006, Manufacturing in the state grew 6.6%.

2002: Michigan's High-Tech Employment Ranking

As of 2002, Michigan ranked fourth in the U.S. in high-tech employment with 568,000 high-tech workers, including 70,000 in the automotive industry.

2002: Detroit Lions Move to Ford Field

In 2002, the Detroit Lions moved to Ford Field in Detroit.

February 2004: Wolverine Sighting

In February 2004, a wolverine sighting near Ubly was the first confirmed sighting in Michigan in 200 years.

2004: Michigan's Corporate Facilities and Expansions Ranking

In 2004, Michigan was second in the U.S. for new corporate facilities and expansions.

2006: Grand Rapids Metropolitan Area Growth in 2006

As of 2006, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area in Western Michigan was the state's fastest-growing metro area, with over 1.3 million residents.

2006: Manufacturing growth

From 2001 to 2006, Manufacturing in the state grew 6.6%.

2006: Post-Labor Day School Law Mandate

In 2006, the Michigan State Board of Education mandated that all public schools in the state hold their first day of school after Labor Day, in accordance with the new post-Labor Day school law.

2007: Middle Eastern and Asian Population in Southeastern Michigan in 2007

As of 2007, about 300,000 people in Southeastern Michigan traced their descent from the Middle East and Asia. Also, almost 8,000 Hmong people lived in the state.

2007: Michigan's Corporate Facilities and Expansions Ranking

From 2007 to 2009, Michigan ranked 3rd in the U.S. for new corporate facilities and expansions.

2007: Bank of America's Community Development Commitment

In 2007, Bank of America announced it would commit $25 billion to community development in Michigan following its acquisition of LaSalle Bank in Troy.

2007: Michigan's Christmas Tree Industry

In 2007, Michigan was the third-largest grower of Christmas trees, dedicating 60,520 acres of land to Christmas tree farming.

2008: Michigan's Business Luring Rank

In 2008, Michigan placed third in a site selection survey among the states for luring new business, based on capital investment and new job creation per one million population.

2008: Public Act 295

In 2008, Public Act 295 was enacted, requiring utility companies to generate at least 10% of their energy from renewable sources by 2015.

2008: Economic Crisis Impact on Auto Industry

In 2008, the high speculative price of oil became a factor for the U.S. auto industry during the economic crisis, impacting industry revenues.

2008: Michigan Public School System Budget

In 2008, the public school system in Michigan had a $14.5 billion budget.

2008: Release of "Gran Torino" in 2008

The Hmong community had a prominent portrayal in the 2008 film "Gran Torino", which was set in Detroit.

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August 2009: Federal Grants for Electric Vehicle Technologies

In August 2009, Michigan and Detroit's auto industry received $1.36 billion in grants from the U.S. Department of Energy for the manufacture of electric vehicle technologies, expected to generate 6,800 immediate jobs and employ 40,000 in the state by 2020.

2009: Private School Closures in Michigan

From 2009 to 2019, over 200 private schools in Michigan closed, partly due to competition from charter schools.

2009: GM and Chrysler Restructuring

In 2009, General Motors (GM) and Chrysler emerged from Chapter 11 restructurings, with financing provided by the U.S. and Canadian governments.

2010: Detroit Metropolitan Airport Ranking

In 2010, Detroit Metropolitan Airport was the 16th busiest airfield in North America based on passenger traffic.

2010: GM's IPO and Automaker Profits

In 2010, General Motors began its initial public offering (IPO) of stock, and the Big Three domestic automakers reported significant profits, indicating the beginning of a rebound.

2010: Michigan Population and Auto Production in 2010

In 2010, Michigan had almost ten million residents, making it the tenth most populous state. It was also the leading auto-producing state in the U.S.

2010: Michigan's Agricultural Sales

In 2010, Michigan's 54,800 farms, utilizing 10,000,000 acres of land, sold $6.49 billion worth of agricultural products.

2010: Religious Adherents in Michigan

In 2010, a survey estimated that there were 44,382 Jewish adherents and 120,351 Muslims in the state of Michigan.

2010: Languages Spoken in Michigan in 2010

In 2010, about 91.11% of Michigan residents age five and older spoke only English at home, while 2.93% spoke Spanish, and various other languages were also spoken.

2010: Wolverine Found Dead

In 2010, another wolverine was found dead in Michigan.

2010: Michigan Job Creation Improvement

Michigan led the nation in job creation improvement in 2010.

2010: Michigan's Population in 2010

The 2010 census recorded 9,883,635 residents in Michigan, marking a relatively positive and stable population growth trend.

2011: Tourism Revenue in Michigan

As of 2011, tourists spent $17.2 billion per year in Michigan, supporting 193,000 tourism jobs.

2011: Jordyn Wieber is World Champion

In 2011, Jordyn Wieber, from DeWitt, won the World Champion for Women's Artistic Gymnastics.

2011: Repeal of Business Tax

In 2011, the state of Michigan repealed its business tax and replaced it with a 6% corporate income tax.

2011: Japanese Direct Investment Survey of the Consulate-General of Japan in 2011

The Japanese Direct Investment Survey of the Consulate-General of Japan in 2011 recorded the Japanese residents employed in the state of Michigan.

October 2012: Increase in Japanese Residents Employed in Michigan as of October 1, 2012

The Japanese Direct Investment Survey of the Consulate-General of Japan, Detroit stated more than 2,208 additional Japanese residents were employed in the State of Michigan as of October 1, 2012, than in 2011.

2012: Jordyn Wieber wins Gold at the London Olympics

In 2012, Jordyn Wieber was a member of the gold medal team at the London Olympics.

2012: Michigan Becomes a Right-to-Work State

In 2012, Michigan became the 24th right-to-work state in the U.S.

April 2013: Largest Japanese National Population in Novi as of April 2013

As of April 2013, the largest Japanese national population in Michigan was in Novi, with 2,666 Japanese residents.

May 2, 2015: Earthquake in Central Michigan on May 2, 2015

On Saturday, May 2, 2015, a 4.2-magnitude earthquake occurred about five miles south of Galesburg, Michigan, in central Michigan. No major damage or injuries were reported.

2015: Japanese Population Distribution in Michigan in 2015

As of 2015, 80% of Michigan's Japanese population lived in the counties of Macomb, Oakland, Washtenaw, and Wayne in the Detroit and Ann Arbor areas.

2015: Decline of Hmong Population in Detroit in 2015

By 2015, the number of Hmong in the Detroit city limits had significantly declined, with many moving to Pontiac and Warren.

2015: Renewable Energy Mandate

By 2015, utility companies in Michigan were required to generate at least 10% of their energy from renewable sources, as mandated by Public Act 295 of 2008.

2016: Legislature Sets Renewable Energy Mandate

In 2016, the Michigan legislature set another mandate to reach at least 12.5% renewable energy by 2019 and 15% by the end of the year 2021.

2016: Donald Trump Wins Michigan

Michigan, a Democratic-leaning state, transitioned into a swing state after Donald Trump's victory in 2016.

2017: Pistons and Red Wings Move to Little Caesars Arena

In 2017, the Detroit Pistons and the Detroit Red Wings moved to the newly built Little Caesars Arena in downtown Detroit.

December 20, 2019: Legalization of Online Gambling

On December 20, 2019, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed a package of bills into law legalizing online gambling activities in Michigan, allowing commercial and tribal casinos to apply for internet gaming licenses.

2019: Immigrant Population in Michigan in 2019

According to the American Immigration Council in 2019, an estimated 6.8% of Michiganders were immigrants, with the majority coming from Mexico, India, Iraq, China, and Canada. Their primary occupations included technology, agriculture, and healthcare.

2019: Renewable Energy Target Achieved

By 2019, Michigan utilities successfully met the renewable energy mandate set in 2016, reaching at least 12.5% renewable energy.

2019: Private School Closures in Michigan

From 2009 to 2019, over 200 private schools in Michigan closed, partly due to competition from charter schools.

2020: Michigan's Population in 2020

At the 2020 United States census, Michigan's population was 10,077,331, an increase of 2.03% since 2010.

2020: Protestant Church Growth

By the 2020 study, non- and inter-denominational Protestant churches formed the largest Protestant group in Michigan, numbering 508,904. The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod grew to become the second-largest single Christian denomination, and United Methodists declined to being the third-largest.

2020: Joe Biden Wins Michigan

In 2020, Joe Biden won Michigan by a slim 2.8%.

2020: Michigan's Electrical Energy Consumption and Production

In 2020, Michigan consumed 113,740 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of electrical energy and produced 116,700 (GWh) of electrical energy.

2020: Nuclear Power Statistics in Michigan

In 2020, nuclear power produced roughly one-quarter of Michigan's electrical power, which was equivalent to 28,000-gigawatt-hours of electrical energy, with a total capacity of 4.3 GW.

2020: Roman Catholic Adherents in Michigan in 2020

In 2020, there were 1,492,732 adherents of Roman Catholicism in Michigan. There was also an Independent Catholic presence in Metro Detroit.

2020: Michigan Ranked as Easiest State to Vote In

In a 2020 study, Michigan was ranked as the 13th easiest state for citizens to vote in.

2020: Electric Vehicle Technology Job Projections

The $1.36 B in grants awarded in August 2009 for manufacture of electric vehicle technologies was expected to employ 40,000 in the state by 2020.

2021: Languages Spoken in Michigan in 2021

In 2021, 90.1% of residents aged five and older spoke only English at home, and Spanish was the second-most spoken language with 2.9% of the population speaking it.

2021: Wind Energy Credits

In 2021, wind energy accounted for 59% of all Michigan energy credits.

2021: Detroit's Black Population in 2021

Since the 2021 census estimates, Detroit was still the largest city in Michigan with a majority black population but was no longer the largest black-majority city in the U.S.

May 2022: Palisades Nuclear Power Plant Closure

In May 2022, the Palisades Nuclear Power Plant, which was located south of South Haven, closed down.

2022: Homeless Population in Michigan in 2022

According to HUD's 2022 Annual Homeless Assessment Report, there were an estimated 8,206 homeless people in Michigan.

2022: Renewable Generating Capacity

By the end of 2022, Michigan had at least 6 GW of renewable generating capacity.

2022: Amendment Passed

In 2022, Michigan voters passed an amendment recognizing abortion and contraceptive rights within the state's constitution.

2022: Michigan High Schools Ranked Among Nation's Best

In 2022, U.S. News & World Report rated three Michigan high schools among the nation's 100 best: City High Middle School (18th), the International Academy of Macomb (21st), and the International Academy (52nd).

2022: Michigan Employment Statistics

In 2022, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that 3,939,076 people were employed at 227,870 establishments in Michigan.

2022: End of Governor-Elect Tradition

Until 2022, the governor-elect had always come from the party opposite the presidency since 1994.

2023: DTE's Coal Power Retirement Plan

DTE plans to retire 2100MW of coal power by 2023 due to the lower price of natural gas.

2023: Repeal of Right-to-Work Law

In 2023, Michigan repealed the right-to-work law that had been in place since 2012.

2023: Bill to Cancel Post-Labor Day School Requirement

In 2023, a bill was introduced that would cancel the requirement for Michigan public schools to start after Labor Day, allowing individual districts to decide when their school year should begin.

November 2024: Michigan's Gross State Product and Unemployment Rate

In November 2024, Michigan's gross state product was estimated at $711.481 billion, ranking 14th in the U.S., and the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was estimated at 4.8%.

2024: Michigan's Gross State Product in Q3 2024

As of Q3 2024, Michigan's gross state product was $711.481 billion, ranking 14th among the 50 states. The state is known for its automotive industry and is home to three major automobile companies.