History of Michigan in Timeline
Michigan, the 10th most populous US state, is situated in the Great Lakes region. Its name originates from an Ojibwe word meaning "large water." Covering 96,716 sq mi, it's the largest state east of the Mississippi River. Michigan shares its borders with Wisconsin, Indiana, and Ohio, and its extensive freshwater coastline connects it to Minnesota, Illinois, and Ontario, Canada. Lansing serves as the capital, while Detroit, known for its significant metropolitan economy, is the largest city.
1903: Formation of the Portage Lakers
Professional hockey in Michigan traces its roots back to 1903 with the establishment of the Portage Lakers in Houghton.
November 4, 1907: Faygo Founded in Detroit
Faygo, a popular beverage company, was founded in Detroit on November 4, 1907.
1908: Michigan's Second to Last Constitution
Michigan adopted a new constitution in 1908, its second to last before the current constitution.
1910: Michigan Holds First Presidential Primary
In 1910, Michigan held its first United States presidential primary election, reflecting its growing national importance.
1912: Tigers Begin Playing at Tiger Stadium
The Detroit Tigers began playing their home games at Tiger Stadium in 1912.
1920: Detroit Becomes Fourth-Largest U.S. City
By 1920, fueled by the auto industry, Detroit grew to become the fourth-largest city in the U.S., attracting immigrants and migrants and leading to a diverse urban culture.
1920: WWJ Detroit: Pioneering Commercial Radio Broadcasts
In 1920, WWJ (AM) in Detroit made history as the first U.S. radio station to broadcast regular commercial programs.
1927: Bath School Disaster: A Dark Day in Michigan's History
In 1927, the Bath School disaster, a school bombing, tragically claimed the lives of 38 schoolchildren, marking the deadliest school mass murder in U.S. history.
February 9, 1934: Michigan's Record Low Temperature
Michigan experienced its coldest temperature of -51°F (-46°C) in Vanderbilt on February 9, 1934.
November 1, 1935: U.S. Post Office Issues Commemorative Michigan Stamp
On November 1, 1935, the U.S. Post Office issued a 3-cent stamp to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Michigan's statehood campaign.
July 13, 1936: Michigan's Record High Temperature
Michigan recorded its highest temperature of 112°F (44°C) in Mio on July 13, 1936.
August 1947: Earthquake Strikes Michigan
In August 1947, a 4.6-magnitude earthquake occurred in Michigan.
1947: Charter Township Status Established in Michigan
The Michigan Legislature introduced the charter township status in 1947, providing townships with greater autonomy and protection from annexation.
1959: Detroit Dragway Hosts NHRA U.S. Nationals
Detroit Dragway served as the venue for the NHRA's U.S. Nationals from 1959 to 1961.
1960: Auto Industry Advances and Suburban Growth
From 1960 onwards, the auto industry's modern advances led to increased automation and suburban growth in Michigan.
1961: Detroit Dragway Hosts NHRA U.S. Nationals
Detroit Dragway served as the venue for the NHRA's U.S. Nationals from 1959 to 1961.
1963: Adoption of Michigan's Current Constitution
Michigan adopted its current constitution in 1963.
1974: Lions Move to the Pontiac Silverdome
The Detroit Lions moved from Tiger Stadium to the Pontiac Silverdome in 1974.
1975: Lions Begin Playing at the Pontiac Silverdome
The Detroit Lions commenced playing their home games at the Pontiac Silverdome in 1975.
1978: Pistons Move to the Pontiac Silverdome
The Pistons relocated from Cobo Arena to the Pontiac Silverdome in 1978.
1979: Red Wings Move to Joe Louis Arena
The Red Wings relocated to Joe Louis Arena from Olympia Stadium in 1979.
1988: Pistons Move to The Palace of Auburn Hills
In 1988, the Pistons moved from the Pontiac Silverdome to The Palace of Auburn Hills.
1994: Alternating Party Control of Michigan Governorship
From 1994 to 2022, the governor-elect of Michigan always came from the party opposite the presidency, indicating a trend of alternating party control.
1997: Decommissioning of Big Rock Point Nuclear Power Plant
The Big Rock Point Nuclear Power Plant, Michigan's first nuclear power plant and the nation's fifth, was decommissioned in 1997.
1997: Michigan's Dominance in New Developments
From 1997 to 2004, Michigan was the sole state to surpass 10,000 major new developments.
1999: Tigers' Final Season at Tiger Stadium
The Detroit Tigers concluded their tenure at Tiger Stadium in 1999.
1999: Hmong Population in Michigan Doubles Since 1999
By 2007, the Hmong population in Michigan had doubled since 1999, with most residing in northeastern Detroit but increasingly moving to Pontiac and Warren.
2000: Tigers Move to Comerica Park
The Detroit Tigers relocated to Comerica Park in 2000.
April 2001: Charter Townships in Michigan
By April 2001, Michigan had 127 charter townships, a status granting additional powers and streamlined administration.
2001: Growth in Michigan Manufacturing
Between 2001 and 2006, Michigan's manufacturing sector grew significantly, by 6.6%.
2002: Lions Move to Ford Field
After playing at the Pontiac Silverdome for 27 years, the Detroit Lions moved to Ford Field in Detroit in 2002.
2002: Michigan's High-Tech Employment Ranking
As of 2002, Michigan held the fourth position in the U.S. for high-tech employment, boasting a workforce of 568,000 in this sector.
February 2004: First Confirmed Wolverine Sighting in 200 Years
In February 2004, the first confirmed sighting of a wolverine in Michigan in 200 years occurred near Ubly.
2004: Michigan's Ranking in New Corporate Facilities
Michigan secured the second position in the U.S. for new corporate facilities and expansions in 2004.
2006: Grand Rapids: Michigan's Fastest-Growing Metro Area
In 2006, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area in Western Michigan emerged as the state's fastest-growing metro area.
2006: Growth in Michigan Manufacturing
Between 2001 and 2006, Michigan's manufacturing sector grew significantly, by 6.6%.
2006: Post-Labor Day School Start Mandate
The Michigan State Board of Education mandated in 2006 that all public schools begin their academic year after Labor Day.
2007: Growing Middle Eastern and Asian Communities in Michigan
By 2007, Southeastern Michigan had a significant population descended from the Middle East and Asia. Dearborn saw a large Arab American community, with many Assyrians/Chaldeans/Syriacs, and Lebanese who had immigrated for auto industry jobs in the 1920s, alongside more recent Yemenis and Iraqis. The state also had a growing Hmong population, mostly in northeastern Detroit, Pontiac, and Warren.
2007: Michigan's Christmas Tree Production
As of 2007, Michigan was the third-largest grower of Christmas trees in the U.S., with 60,520 acres dedicated to Christmas tree farming.
2007: Bank of America's Community Development Investment
Bank of America pledged $25 billion toward community development in Michigan in 2007, following its acquisition of LaSalle Bank in Troy.
2007: Michigan's Consistent Ranking in New Corporate Facilities
Between 2007 and 2009, Michigan consistently ranked third in the U.S. for new corporate facilities and expansions.
2008: Michigan's Business Attraction Ranking
In a 2008 site selection survey, Michigan ranked third among states for attracting new businesses, based on capital investment and new job creation relative to population.
2008: Michigan's Education Budget
In 2008, the public school system in Michigan had a budget of $14.5 billion.
2008: Impact of Economic Crisis on the Auto Industry
The high price of oil and the economic crisis of 2008 negatively impacted the U.S. auto industry's revenues.
2008: Hmong Community Featured in "Gran Torino"
The Hmong community was prominently portrayed in the 2008 film "Gran Torino," set in Detroit.
August 2009: Government Grants for Electric Vehicle Technology
In August 2009, Michigan and Detroit's auto industry received $1.36 billion in grants from the U.S. Department of Energy to support the manufacturing of electric vehicle technologies.
2009: Auto Industry Restructuring and Government Intervention
In 2009, the U.S. auto industry experienced significant restructuring. GM and Chrysler emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy with government assistance, and the Big Three automakers transferred health care and benefit fund liabilities to a VEBA.
2009: Decline of Private Schools in Michigan
Between 2009 and 2019, over 200 private schools in Michigan closed, partly due to competition from charter schools.
2010: Death of Wolverine Found in 2004
The wolverine sighted in Michigan in 2004 was found dead in 2010.
2010: Protestantism in Michigan
In 2010, Protestantism was the largest collective Christian group in Michigan. The largest denominations were the United Methodist Church, Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The Christian Reformed Church in North America had nearly 100,000 members, and the Reformed Church in America had 76,000 members.
2010: Auto Industry Shows Signs of Recovery
The Big Three domestic automakers reported significant profits in 2010, indicating the beginning of a rebound for the industry. GM also launched an initial public offering (IPO) of stock.
2010: Michigan's Population Reaches 9,883,635
The 2010 census reported Michigan's population at 9,883,635, marking continued growth for the state.
2010: Michigan Leads in Job Creation Improvement
Michigan took the lead nationally in job creation improvement in 2010.
2010: Languages Spoken in Michigan
In 2010, about 91.11% of Michigan residents aged five and older spoke only English at home. Spanish was the second most spoken language at 2.93%, followed by Arabic (1.04%), German (0.44%), Chinese (0.36%), French (0.31%), Polish (0.29%), and Syriac (0.25%).
2010: Michigan's Agricultural Output
In 2010, Michigan's 54,800 farms, spanning 10 million acres, generated $6.49 billion in product sales.
2010: Jewish and Muslim Populations in Michigan
In 2010, Michigan had an estimated 44,382 Jewish adherents and 120,351 Muslim adherents.
2010: Detroit Metropolitan Airport Ranked 16th Busiest in North America
In 2010, Detroit Metropolitan Airport, located in the western suburb of Romulus, was ranked the 16th busiest airfield in North America based on passenger traffic.
2010: Michigan: A Leading Auto-Producing State and Tenth Most Populous
By 2010, Michigan solidified its position as a leading auto-producing state and the tenth most populous in the U.S.
2011: Increase in Japanese Population During the 1990s
During the 1990s, Michigan saw a rise in its Japanese population, with many families moving to specific areas for proximity to Japanese grocery stores and high-performing schools.
2011: Jordyn Wieber Becomes World Champion
Jordyn Wieber, hailing from DeWitt, Michigan, clinched the title of World Champion for Women's Artistic Gymnastics in 2011.
2011: Business Tax Reform
Michigan implemented a significant tax reform in 2011, replacing its business tax with a 6% corporate income tax, leading to substantial tax reductions for businesses.
2011: Economic Impact of Tourism in Michigan
Tourists visiting Michigan spent $17.2 billion in 2011, contributing to the support of 193,000 jobs in the tourism sector.
October 2012: Increase in Japanese Residents Employed in Michigan
According to the Japanese Direct Investment Survey, there were over 2,208 more Japanese residents employed in Michigan as of October 1, 2012, compared to 2011.
2012: Jordyn Wieber Wins Olympic Gold
Jordyn Wieber was part of the gold medal-winning team at the 2012 London Olympics.
2012: Michigan Becomes Right-to-Work State
Michigan became the 24th right-to-work state in the U.S. in 2012.
April 2013: Largest Japanese Population in Novi, Michigan
As of April 2013, Novi had the largest Japanese national population in Michigan, with 2,666 residents. Other cities with significant Japanese populations included Ann Arbor, West Bloomfield Township, Farmington Hills, and Battle Creek.
May 2, 2015: Earthquake Strikes Galesburg, Michigan
On May 2, 2015, a 4.2-magnitude earthquake struck near Galesburg, Michigan, causing minimal damage.
2015: Concentration of Michigan's Japanese Population
As of 2015, 80% of Michigan's Japanese population resided in Macomb, Oakland, Washtenaw, and Wayne counties within the Detroit and Ann Arbor areas.
2015: Decline of Hmong Population in Detroit City Limits
By 2015, the number of Hmong residents within Detroit city limits had significantly decreased.
2016: Ecumenical Catholic Church of Christ in Michigan
As of 2016, a notable Independent Catholic jurisdiction, the Ecumenical Catholic Church of Christ established by Archbishop Karl Rodig, operates in a former Roman Catholic parish church.
2016: Donald Trump Wins Michigan
Donald Trump won Michigan in the 2016 presidential election, contributing to the state's shift from Democratic-leaning to a swing state.
2017: Pistons and Red Wings Move to Little Caesars Arena
The Detroit Pistons and the Detroit Red Wings both moved to the newly constructed Little Caesars Arena in downtown Detroit in 2017.
2017: Employment in Michigan
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 3,859,949 people were employed at 222,553 establishments in Michigan in 2017.
December 20, 2019: Legalization of Online Gambling
Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed a series of bills into law on December 20, 2019, legalizing online gambling in Michigan, which paved the way for commercial and tribal casinos to apply for internet gaming licenses.
2019: Decline of Private Schools in Michigan
Between 2009 and 2019, over 200 private schools in Michigan closed, partly due to competition from charter schools.
2019: Immigrant Population in Michigan
In 2019, immigrants made up an estimated 6.8% of Michigan's population, with the majority originating from Mexico, India, Iraq, China, and Canada.
2020: Nuclear Power in Michigan
Nuclear power was a significant source of electrical power in Michigan in 2020, producing roughly one-quarter of the state's supply or 28,000-gigawatt-hours (GWh) of electrical energy.
2020: Michigan Ranked High in Voter Ease
A 2020 study ranked Michigan as the 13th easiest state for citizens to vote in.
2020: Shifting Protestant Landscape in Michigan
By 2020, non- and inter-denominational Protestant churches became the largest Protestant group in Michigan. The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod rose to become the second-largest Christian denomination, while the United Methodists declined to third. Baptists, with a large Black Baptist constituency, numbered 321,581.
2020: Michigan's 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: Coal Power in Michigan
In 2020, coal power was Michigan's leading source of electricity, producing roughly half its supply or 53,100 GWh of electrical energy.
2020: Roman Catholicism in Michigan
In 2020, the Association of Religion Data Archives reported 1,492,732 adherents of Roman Catholicism in Michigan. There's also a significant Independent Catholic presence, notably the Ecumenical Catholic Church of Christ established by Archbishop Karl Rodig in Metro Detroit.
2020: Projected Job Growth from Electric Vehicle Technology Grants
The 2009 grants for electric vehicle technology manufacturing were projected to generate 6,800 immediate jobs and potentially employ 40,000 people in Michigan by 2020.
2020: Michigan's Population Increases to 10,077,331
The 2020 United States census reported a population of 10,077,331 for Michigan, a 2.03% increase from 2010.
2021: Public Religion Research Institute's American Values Survey
The Public Religion Research Institute conducted the American Values Survey in 2021, collecting data on religious self-identification.
2021: English Remains Dominant Language in Michigan
As of 2021, 90.1% of Michigan residents aged five and older spoke only English at home, with Spanish remaining the second most spoken language at 2.9%.
2021: Census Estimates Show Decline in Detroit's Black Population
In 2021, census estimates showed that Detroit was no longer the largest black-majority city in the U.S. This was attributed to factors like crime and higher-paying jobs being given to whites.
May 2022: Closure of Palisades Nuclear Power Plant
The Palisades Nuclear Power Plant, located south of South Haven, Michigan, was closed in May 2022.
2022: Alternating Party Control of Michigan Governorship
From 1994 to 2022, the governor-elect of Michigan always came from the party opposite the presidency, indicating a trend of alternating party control.
2022: Michigan High Schools Ranked Among Nation's Best
In 2022, U.S. News & World Report ranked 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). Washtenaw International High School ranked 107th.
2022: Homelessness in Michigan
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's 2022 report estimated 8,206 homeless individuals in Michigan.
August 2023: Michigan's Economy and Unemployment Rate
In the first quarter of 2023, Michigan's gross state product was estimated at $645.293 billion, ranking 14th in the U.S. The state's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was estimated at 3.7% as of August 2023.
2023: Proposed Change to School Start Date Mandate
A bill introduced in 2023 aimed to overturn the requirement for schools to start after Labor Day, granting individual districts the authority to determine their school year start date.
2023: DTE to Retire Coal Power
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
Michigan's right-to-work law, enacted in 2012, was repealed in 2023.
2024: Expected Completion of Gordie Howe International Bridge
The Gordie Howe International Bridge, a second international bridge between Detroit and Windsor, is expected to be completed in 2024.
2025: Consumer Energy to Close Coal Plants
Consumer Energy plans to close all of its remaining coal plants by 2025 due to the lower price of natural gas.