History of Michigan in Timeline

Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes region. It is the 10th-largest state by population and 11th-largest by area. It shares boundaries with Minnesota, Wisconsin, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, and the Canadian province of Ontario. Lansing is the state capital, while Detroit is its most populous city. Metro Detroit is a major metropolitan area and economic hub. Other significant metropolitan areas in Michigan include Grand Rapids, Flint, Ann Arbor, Kalamazoo, the Tri-Cities, and Muskegon.

1903: Formation of Portage Lakers

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

November 4, 1907: Faygo Founded

On November 4, 1907, Faygo was founded in Detroit.

1908: Michigan Constitution

In 1908, Michigan adopted a new constitution.

1910: First Presidential Primary Election

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

1912: Tigers Play at Tiger Stadium

The Detroit Tigers played at Tiger Stadium (formerly known as Navin Field and Briggs Stadium) from 1912 to 1999.

1920: Detroit Becomes Fourth-Largest City

By 1920, Detroit had grown to become the fourth-largest city in the U.S., attracting immigrants and migrants due to the booming auto industry.

1920: WWJ (AM) Begins Commercial Broadcasting

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.

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 celebrating the 100th anniversary of Michigan statehood.

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: 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 and grants additional powers and stream-lined administration in order to provide 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

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 U.S. Nationals

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

1963: Current Michigan Constitution

In 1963, Michigan adopted its current constitution, which includes a preamble, 11 articles, and a schedule of temporary provisions.

July 1967: Twelfth Street Riot in Detroit

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

1974: Lions Move from Tiger Stadium

The Detroit Lions played at Tiger Stadium in Detroit until 1974.

1975: Lions Move to Pontiac Silverdome

In 1975, the Detroit Lions moved to the Pontiac Silverdome where they played for 27 years.

1978: Pistons Move to Cobo Arena

The Pistons played at Detroit's Cobo Arena until 1978.

1979: Red Wings Move to Joe Louis Arena

The Red Wings moved to Joe Louis Arena in 1979 after playing at Olympia Stadium.

1988: Pistons Move to Pontiac Silverdome

In 1988, the Pistons moved into The Palace of Auburn Hills after playing at the Pontiac Silverdome.

1994: Governor-elect from opposite party of presidency

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

1997: Michigan 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: 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

As of 1999, Almost 8,000 Hmong people lived in the state of Michigan, which doubled their presence in the state.

1999: Tigers Play at Tiger Stadium

The Detroit Tigers played at Tiger Stadium (formerly known as Navin Field and Briggs Stadium) from 1912 to 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 the state grew 6.6% from 2001 to 2006.

2002: Michigan 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 after playing in the Pontiac Silverdome.

February 2004: Wolverine Sighting

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

2004: Michigan Corporate Facilities and Expansions

Michigan was second in the U.S. in 2004 for new corporate facilities and expansions. From 1997 to 2004, Michigan was the only state to top the 10,000 mark for the number of major new developments.

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

In 2006, the Michigan State Board of Education mandated 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.

2006: Manufacturing Growth

Manufacturing in the state grew 6.6% from 2001 to 2006.

2007: Middle Eastern and Asian Descent Population

As of 2007, about 300,000 people in Southeastern Michigan trace their descent from the Middle East and Asia.

2007: Michigan 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 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: Michigan Business Luring

In 2008, Michigan placed third in a site selection survey among the states for luring new business, measuring 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: Hmong Portrayal in Film

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

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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.

August 2009: Federal Grants for Electric Vehicle Technology

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, expected to generate 6,800 immediate jobs and employ 40,000 in the state by 2020.

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

Since 2009, GM, Ford and Chrysler have managed a significant reorganization of their benefit funds structure after a volatile stock market. 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 Agricultural Production

In 2010, Michigan had 54,800 farms utilizing 10,000,000 acres of land which sold $6.49 billion worth of products. The most valuable agricultural product is milk.

2010: Michigan's Population and Auto Production

In 2010, Michigan had almost ten million residents, ranking tenth in population among the fifty states and becoming the leading auto-producing state in the U.S..

2010: Language Spoken at Home

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

2010: Wolverine Found Dead

In 2010, another wolverine was found dead in Michigan.

2010: Religion Data Archives Report

In 2010, the Association of Religion Data Archives reported the United Methodist Church as the largest Protestant denomination with 228,521 adherents, followed by the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

2010: Big Three Automakers Report Profits

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

2010: Michigan Religious Adherents

In the 2010 survey, the number of Jewish adherents in the state of Michigan was estimated at 44,382, and Muslims at 120,351.

2010: Michigan Job Creation Improvement

Michigan led the nation in job creation improvement in 2010.

2010: Population Recorded

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

2011: Michigan Tourism Revenue

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

2011: Japanese Residents Employed

During 2011, less Japanese residents were employed in the State of Michigan, compared to 2012.

2011: Repeal of Business Tax

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

2011: Jordyn Wieber World Champion

The 2011 World Champion for Women's Artistic Gymnastics, Jordyn Wieber is from DeWitt.

October 2012: Japanese Residents Employed

During October 1 2012, more than 2,208 additional Japanese residents were employed in the State of Michigan than in 2011.

2012: Michigan Becomes Right-to-Work State

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

2012: Jordyn Wieber at London Olympics

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

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 Near Galesburg

On May 2, 2015, a 4.2-magnitude earthquake occurred near Galesburg, Michigan, with no major damage or injuries reported.

2015: Japanese Population 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

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

2016: Donald Trump Won Michigan

In 2016, Donald Trump won the state of Michigan.

2016: Legislature Set Renewable Energy Mandate

In 2016, the legislature set another 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 Pistons moved to the newly built Little Caesars Arena in downtown Detroit. The Red Wings also moved to Little Caesars Arena to join the Pistons as tenants.

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, which allowed commercial and tribal casinos to apply for internet gaming licenses.

2019: Immigrant Population in Michigan

According to the American Immigration Council, in 2019, approximately 6.8% of Michiganders were immigrants, with the majority coming from Mexico, India, Iraq, China, and Canada.

2019: Renewable Energy Target Achieved

By 2019, Michigan utilities successfully met the 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: Population Recorded

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

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 Won Michigan

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

2020: 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: Coal Power Production

In 2020, coal power produced roughly half of Michigan's electricity supply, accounting for 53,100 GWh of electrical energy.

2020: Adherents of Roman Catholicism

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

2020: Electric Vehicle Technology Job Projections

2020: Michigan Voting Ranking

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

2021: Renewable Energy Target Achieved and Wind Energy

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

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: 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.

May 2022: Palisades Nuclear Power Plant Closure

In May 2022, the Palisades Nuclear Power Plant, located south of South Haven, was 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: Abortion and Contraceptive Rights

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

2022: Top Michigan High Schools

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.

2022: End of Governor-elect from opposite party of presidency

In 2022, the trend that the governor-elect always came from the party opposite the presidency came to an end.

2023: Bill to Cancel Post-Labor Day School Law

A bill introduced in 2023 would cancel the requirement for schools to start after Labor Day, allowing individual districts to decide when their school year should begin.