History of Michigan in Timeline

Michigan is a peninsular state in the Great Lakes region of the U.S., bordering several states and Canada. With a population of over 10 million, it's the tenth-largest state by population and the 11th-largest by area. Lansing is the capital, while Detroit is the most populous city and a major metropolitan economic hub. Other significant metropolitan areas include Grand Rapids, Flint, Ann Arbor, Kalamazoo, and Muskegon.

1903: Professional Hockey Starts in Houghton

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 was founded in Detroit.

1908: Michigan Constitution

Michigan had a constitution from 1908.

1910: First Presidential Primary Election

In 1910, Michigan held its first United States presidential primary election.

1912: Tigers Play at Tiger Stadium

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

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

By 1920, Detroit became the fourth-largest city in the U.S. due to job growth in the auto industry attracting immigrants and migrants.

1920: WWJ Broadcasts Commercial Programs

In 1920, WWJ (AM) in Detroit became the first radio station in the United States to regularly broadcast commercial programs.

1927: Bath School Disaster

In 1927, the Bath School disaster occurred in Clinton County, resulting in the deaths of 38 schoolchildren.

February 9, 1934: Coldest Recorded Temperature

On February 9, 1934, Michigan's coldest recorded temperature of −51 °F (−46 °C) was recorded at Vanderbilt.

November 1, 1935: U.S. Post Office Commemorative Stamp

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

July 13, 1936: Highest Recorded Temperature

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

August 1947: 4.6-Magnitude Earthquake

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

1947: Charter Township Status Created

In 1947, charter township status was created by the Legislature in Michigan.

1959: Detroit Dragway Hosts NHRA U.S. Nationals

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

1960: Advances in the Auto Industry

Since 1960, advances in the auto industry led to increased automation, high-tech industry, and 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 from 1963.

July 1967: Twelfth Street Riot

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

1974: Lions Move from Tiger Stadium

In 1974, the Detroit Lions played their last game at Tiger Stadium in Detroit.

1975: Lions Move to Pontiac Silverdome

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

1978: Constitutional Provision

Beginning in the general election held in 1978, a constitutional provision was added requiring the question of a general revision of the constitution be submitted to the electors of the state every 16 years.

1978: Pistons Move from Cobo Arena

In 1978, the Detroit Pistons moved from Detroit's 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 into the Pontiac Silverdome.

1994: Governor-Elect Party

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

1997: Michigan Leads in New Developments

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

1997: Big Rock Point Nuclear Power Plant Decommissioned

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

1999: Hmong Presence in Michigan

In 1999 the Hmong population doubled in Michigan.

1999: Tigers Play at Tiger Stadium

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

2000: Tigers Move to Comerica Park

In 2000, the Detroit Tigers moved to Comerica Park.

April 2001: Charter Townships in Michigan

As of April 2001, there were 127 charter townships in Michigan.

2001: Manufacturing Growth

Manufacturing in Michigan grew 6.6% from 2001 to 2006

2002: Michigan's High-Tech Employment

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: 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

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

2006: Grand Rapids Metropolitan Area Growth

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

2006: Post-Labor Day School Law

In 2006, the Michigan State Board of Education mandated all public schools in the state hold their first day of school after Labor Day.

2006: Manufacturing Growth

Manufacturing in Michigan grew 6.6% from 2001 to 2006

2007: Middle Eastern and Asian Descent Population

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

2007: Michigan Ranked Third for New Corporate Facilities

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

2007: Bank of America Community Development Investment

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 Christmas Tree Farming

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

2008: Michigan Ranked Third for Luring New Business

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: 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 Students Attending Private School

In 2008-09, more than 124,000 students attend private schools in Michigan.

2008: Hmong Community Portrayal in Film

The Hmong community was prominently portrayed in the 2008 film "Gran Torino", which was set in Detroit.

Loading Video...

2008: Public Act 295

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

August 2009: 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 immediate jobs.

2009: Michigan Public School System Budget

In 2008-09, the Michigan public school system had a $14.5 billion budget.

2009: GM and Chrysler Restructuring

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

2010: Wolverine Found Dead

Another wolverine was found dead in Michigan in 2010.

2010: Detroit Metropolitan Airport Traffic

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

2010: GM's IPO and Automaker Profits

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

2010: Agricultural Products Sold in Michigan

In 2010, Michigan sold $6.49 billion worth of agricultural products.

2010: Michigan's Population and Influence

In 2010, Michigan, with almost ten million residents, ranked tenth in population among the fifty states and was the leading auto-producing state.

2010: Languages Spoken in Michigan Homes

In 2010, about 91.11% of Michigan residents age five and older spoke only English at home, while 2.93% spoke Spanish.

2010: Protestant Denominations in Michigan

In 2010, the Association of Religion Data Archives reported that the largest Protestant denomination in Michigan was the United Methodist Church with 228,521 adherents. The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod followed with 219,618, and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America with 120,598 adherents.

2010: Jewish and Muslim Adherents in Michigan

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

2010: Michigan Leads in Job Creation Improvement

Michigan was reported to have led the nation in job creation improvement in 2010 according to the Gallup Job Creation Index.

2011: Michigan Tourism Spending

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

2011: Employment Statistics

During 2011, more than 2,208 additional Japanese residents were employed in the State of Michigan.

2011: Jordyn Wieber

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

2011: Michigan Repealed Business Tax

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

October 2012: Increase in Japanese Residents Employed

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's Olympic Gold Medal

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

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

May 2, 2015: 4.2-Magnitude Earthquake

On May 2, 2015, a 4.2-magnitude earthquake occurred near Galesburg, Michigan.

2015: Michigan Placed Toward the Top of Job Creation Rankings

A 2015 release of the survey also placed Michigan toward the top of the job creation rankings.

2015: Japanese Population Distribution in Michigan

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

2015: Decline of Hmong Population in Detroit

By 2015, the number of Hmong people in the Detroit city limits had significantly declined.

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: Donald Trump Wins Michigan

After being a Democratic-leaning state, Michigan evolved into a swing state after Donald Trump won the state in 2016.

2016: Legislature Sets Renewable Energy Mandate

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

2017: Pistons and Red Wings Move to Little Caesars Arena

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

December 20, 2019: Online Gambling Legalization

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

According to the American Immigration Council, in 2019, an estimated 6.8% of Michiganders were immigrants.

2019: Renewable Energy Target

By 2019, Michigan reached at least 12.5% renewable energy, as mandated by the legislature in 2016.

2019: Private Schools Close in Michigan

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

2020: Projected Job Growth in Electric Vehicle Technologies

As a result of the 2009 grants, Michigan's electric vehicle technologies manufacture is projected to employ 40,000 in the state by 2020.

2020: Michigan's Population in 2020

At the 2020 United States census, Michigan's population was 10,077,331.

2020: Non-Denominational Protestant Churches Form Largest Group

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 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: Voting Ranking and Constitutional Amendments

In 2020, Michigan was ranked as the 13th easiest state for citizens to vote in. Amendments to the constitution in 2020 also provide for voting by mail, audits of statewide election results, and to vote free of harassment, threats, and intimidation.

2020: Nuclear Power Generation in Michigan

In 2020, nuclear power produced approximately one-quarter of Michigan's electrical power, totaling 28,000-gigawatt-hours (GWh) of electrical energy.

2020: Roman Catholic Adherents

In 2020, there were 1,492,732 adherents of Roman Catholicism in Michigan.

2021: Renewable Energy Target Achieved

In 2021, all utilities in Michigan subject to the law successfully met the mandate to reach at least 15% renewable energy. Also, Wind energy accounted for 59% of all Michigan energy credits in 2021.

2021: Languages Spoken in Michigan Homes

Since 2021, 90.1% of Michigan residents aged five and older spoke only English at home, with Spanish being the second-most spoken language.

2021: Detroit No Longer Largest Black-Majority City

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

2021: Freedom Ranking

The Cato Institute ranks Michigan 7th in its overall ranking for personal and economic freedom in the United States in the 2021 edition of its Freedom in the 50 States index.

May 2022: Palisades Nuclear Power Plant Closed

The Palisades Nuclear Power Plant, which was located south of South Haven, closed in May 2022.

2022: Homeless Population in Michigan

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

2022: Constitutional Amendments

Amendments to the constitution in 2022 provide for voting by mail, audits of statewide election results, and to vote free of harassment, threats, and intimidation. In 2022, Michigan voters also passed an amendment recognizing abortion and contraceptive rights within the state's constitution.

2022: Renewable Generating Capacity in Michigan

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

2022: Governor-Elect Party Rule Ends

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

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: Employment Statistics

In 2022, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, Michigan had 3,939,076 people employed at 227,870 establishments.

2023: DTE's Plan to Retire Coal Power

By 2023, DTE plans to retire 2100MW of coal power.

2023: Repeal of Right-to-Work Law

In 2023, Michigan's right-to-work law was repealed.

2023: Bill Introduced to Cancel Post-Labor Day Requirement

In 2023, a bill was introduced that would cancel the post-Labor Day start requirement, allowing individual districts to decide when their school year should begin.

2023: Freedom Ranking

The Cato Institute ranks Michigan 7th in its overall ranking for personal and economic freedom in the United States in the 2023 edition of its Freedom in the 50 States index.

November 2024: Michigan Unemployment Rate

As of November 2024, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated Michigan's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate at 4.8%.

2024: Michigan Education System Students

As of the 2024-25 school year, Michigan's education system serves nearly 1.4 million K-12 students in public schools.

2024: Donald Trump Wins Michigan Again

Donald Trump won Michigan again in 2024, after losing it in 2020.

2024: Gordie Howe International Bridge Completion

The Gordie Howe International Bridge between Detroit and Windsor is expected to be completed in 2024.

2025: Republican Majority

As of 2025, Republicans have a 7-6 majority in Michigan's congressional delegation.

2025: Consumer Energy's Plan to Close Coal Plants

By 2025, Consumer Energy is planning to close all of its remaining coal plants.

2025: Michigan's Gross State Product

In 2025, Michigan had a gross state product of $725.897 billion, ranking 14th among the 50 states.

November 2026: Constitutional Revision Consideration

In November 2026, the question of a general revision of the Michigan constitution will be submitted to the electors of the state.

2026: Projected Renewable Generating Capacity in Michigan

Michigan was projected to have at least 8 GW of renewable generating capacity by the end of 2026.

Mentioned in this timeline

Donald John Trump is an American politician media personality and...

Gretchen Whitmer is an American lawyer and politician who has...

Bank of America is a multinational investment bank and financial...

Joe Biden is an American politician who served as the...

Christmas is an annual festival celebrated on December th commemorating...

Japan is an East Asian island country in the Pacific...