History of Michigan in Timeline

Michigan is a state in the Great Lakes region of the U.S., bordering several other states and the Canadian province of Ontario. It's the 10th-largest state by population and 11th-largest by area, being the largest state east of the Mississippi River by total area. Lansing is the capital, while Detroit is the most populous city. The Detroit metropolitan area is a major economic hub. Other significant metropolitan areas include Grand Rapids, Flint, Ann Arbor, Kalamazoo, the Tri-Cities, and Muskegon.

1903: Professional hockey begins

In 1903, professional hockey got its start in Houghton, Michigan, when the Portage Lakers were formed.

November 4, 1907: Faygo Founded in Detroit

On November 4, 1907, Faygo, a beverage company, 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

From 1912 to 1999, the Detroit Tigers played at Tiger Stadium, formerly known as Navin Field and Briggs Stadium.

1920: Detroit Becomes Fourth-Largest City

By 1920, Detroit became the fourth-largest city in the U.S., due to the growth of the auto industry which attracted immigrants and migrants. Residential housing was in short supply.

1920: WWJ (AM) First Commercial Radio Broadcasts

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 took place in Clinton County, resulting in the deaths of 38 schoolchildren and constituting the deadliest mass murder in a school in U.S. history.

February 9, 1934: Coldest Recorded Temperature

On February 9, 1934, Michigan's coldest recorded temperature was −51 °F (−46 °C) 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 celebrating the 100th anniversary of Michigan statehood, even though official statehood was established in 1837.

July 13, 1936: Highest Recorded Temperature

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

August 1947: 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 Michigan Legislature to grant additional powers and stream-lined administration to provide greater protection against annexation by a city.

1959: Detroit Dragway hosts NHRA's 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.

1961: Detroit Dragway hosts NHRA's U.S. Nationals

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

1963: Current Michigan Constitution

The current constitution of Michigan dates from 1963.

July 1967: Twelfth Street Riot

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

1974: Lions move to the Pontiac Silverdome

In 1974, the Detroit Lions moved from Tiger Stadium in Detroit to the Pontiac Silverdome

1975: Lions play at the Pontiac Silverdome

In 1975, the Detroit Lions played at the Pontiac Silverdome

1978: Constitutional Revision Provision

Beginning in the general election held in 1978, a provision was added to the Michigan constitution to consider general revision every 16 years.

1978: Pistons Move to Pontiac Silverdome

In 1978, the Detroit Pistons moved from Detroit's Cobo Arena to the Pontiac Silverdome.

1979: Red Wings move to Joe Louis Arena

In 1979, the Detroit Red Wings moved to Joe Louis Arena from Olympia Stadium

1988: Pistons move to Palace of Auburn Hills

In 1988, the Detroit Pistons moved into The Palace of Auburn Hills

1994: Governor-Elect Party

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

1997: Big Rock Point Nuclear Power Plant Decommissioned

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

1999: Hmong population in Michigan

As of 1999, Almost 4,000 Hmong people lived in the state of Michigan.

1999: Tigers last year at Tiger Stadium

From 1912 to 1999, the Detroit Tigers played at Tiger Stadium, formerly known as Navin Field and Briggs Stadium.

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. They have many of the same powers as a city but without the same level of obligations.

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: Lions move to Ford Field in Detroit

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: Corporate Facilities and Expansions Ranking

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

2006: Grand Rapids Metro Area Growth

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

2006: Post-Labor Day School Law Mandate

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

2007: Middle Eastern and Asian Descent Population in Southeastern Michigan

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: Corporate Facilities and Expansions

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 Christmas Tree Farming

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

2008: New Business Luring Survey

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 mandated that utility companies generate at least 10% of their energy from renewable sources by 2015.

2008: "Gran Torino" film released

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

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2008: Private School Enrollment

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

August 2009: Grants for Electric Vehicle Technologies

In August 2009, Michigan and Detroit's auto industry received $1.36 B in grants from the U.S. Department of Energy for the manufacture of electric vehicle technologies.

2009: Private School Closures

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, GM and Chrysler emerged from Chapter 11 restructurings with financing provided in part 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: Michigan Population and Ranking

In 2010, Michigan had almost ten million residents, ranking tenth in population among the fifty states.

2010: Value of Agricultural Products Sold

In 2010, Michigan's 54,800 farms sold $6.49 billion worth of agricultural products.

2010: Religious Adherents Survey

In 2010, a survey estimated the number of Jewish adherents in Michigan to be 44,382 and Muslims to be 120,351.

2010: Language Spoken at Home

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

2010: Wolverine Found Dead

In 2010, another wolverine was found dead in Michigan.

2010: Religious Denominations in Michigan

In 2010, the Association of Religion Data Archives reported the United Methodist Church as the largest Protestant denomination in Michigan, followed by the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

2010: Automakers Report Profits

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

2010: Job Creation Improvement Ranking

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

2010: Michigan Census

The 2010 census recorded 9,883,635 residents in Michigan.

2011: Tourism Revenue in Michigan

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

2011: Jordyn Wieber wins World Championship

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

2011: Business Tax Repeal

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

2011: Japanese Resident Employment in Michigan

The Japanese Direct Investment Survey stated that the Japanese residents were employed in the State of Michigan as of 2011.

October 2012: Japanese Resident Employment Increase

The Japanese Direct Investment Survey stated that 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 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 is in Novi, with 2,666 Japanese residents.

May 2, 2015: Earthquake in Central Michigan

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

2015: Michigan's Job Creation Ranking

A 2015 release of the Gallup Job Creation Index also placed Michigan toward the top of the 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 in the Detroit and Ann Arbor areas.

2015: Hmong population decline in Detroit

By 2015, the number of Hmong 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: Renewable Energy Mandate Set

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

2016: Donald Trump Wins Michigan

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

2017: Pistons and Red Wings Move to Little Caesars Arena

In 2017, both 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 effectively 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, with the majority coming from Mexico, India, Iraq, China, and Canada, primarily working in technology, agriculture, and healthcare.

2019: Renewable Energy Target Achieved

By 2019, Michigan had a mandate to reach at least 12.5% renewable energy.

2019: Private School Closures

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

2020: United States Census

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

2020: Rise of Non-Denominational Protestant Churches

By the 2020 study, non- and inter-denominational Protestant churches formed the largest Protestant group in Michigan, with the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod becoming the second-largest single Christian denomination and United Methodists declining to third-largest.

2020: Joe Biden Wins Michigan

Democrat Joe Biden won Michigan by a slim 2.8% in 2020.

2020: Michigan 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: Roman Catholicism Adherents

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

2020: Voting Ranking and Amendments

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

2020: Job Creation in Electric Vehicle Sector

The grants received in 2009 by Michigan and Detroit's auto industry were expected to employ 40,000 in the electric vehicle sector by 2020.

2021: Renewable Energy Target Achieved

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

2021: Language Spoken at Home

Since 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: Census Estimates and Black Population

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.

2021: Freedom Ranking

The Cato Institute ranked 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 Closure

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

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: Renewable Generating Capacity

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

2022: Governor-Elect Party

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

2022: Constitutional Amendment

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

2022: Michigan High Schools Ranked Nationally

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, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, 3,939,076 people in Michigan were employed at 227,870 establishments.

2023: DTE Coal Power Retirement

DTE plans to retire 2100MW of coal power by 2023.

2023: Repeal of Right-to-Work Law

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

2023: Bill to Cancel Post-Labor Day School Law

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

2023: Freedom Ranking

The Cato Institute ranked 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.