History of Michigan in Timeline
Michigan, a peninsular state in the Great Lakes region of the US, shares borders with several states and Canada. Its population of over 10 million makes it the 10th largest state. Lansing is the capital, while Detroit is the most populous city, driving a significant metropolitan economy. Other key areas include Grand Rapids, Flint, Ann Arbor, Kalamazoo, the Tri-Cities, and Muskegon.
1903: Professional Hockey Starts in Houghton
In 1903, professional hockey got its start in Houghton, when the Portage Lakers were formed.
November 4, 1907: Faygo Founded
On November 4, 1907, Faygo, the soft drink company, was founded in Detroit.
1908: Michigan Constitution of 1908
In 1908, Michigan adopted a new constitution.
1910: First Presidential Primary Election
In 1910, Michigan held its first United States presidential primary election.
1912: Detroit Tigers Play 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 was the fourth-largest city in the U.S. due to the growth of the auto industry and the influx of immigrants and migrants.
1920: WWJ (AM) First Commercial Broadcast
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, the coldest recorded temperature in Michigan 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 commemorative 3-cent stamp celebrating the 100th anniversary of Michigan statehood.
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 4.6 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 to grant additional powers.
1959: Detroit Dragway Hosts NHRA's U.S. Nationals
From 1959 to 1961, Detroit Dragway hosted the NHRA's U.S. Nationals.
1960: Increased Automation and Suburban Growth
Since 1960, advances in the auto industry have led to increased automation, high-tech industry, and 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: Michigan's Current Constitution
In 1963, Michigan adopted its current constitution, featuring a preamble, 11 articles, and a schedule.
July 1967: Twelfth Street Riot
Longstanding tensions in Detroit culminated in the Twelfth Street riot in July 1967.
1974: Detroit Lions Leave Tiger Stadium
In 1974, the Detroit Lions played at Tiger Stadium in Detroit.
1975: Detroit Lions Move to Pontiac Silverdome
In 1975, the Detroit Lions moved to the Pontiac Silverdome.
1979: Red Wings Move to Joe Louis Arena
In 1979, the Red Wings moved to Joe Louis Arena.
1988: Pistons Move to Pontiac Silverdome
In 1988, the Pistons moved into the Pontiac Silverdome.
1994: Governor from Opposite Party of President
From 1994 until 2022, the governor-elect had always come from the party opposite the presidency.
1997: Major 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
In 1997, the Big Rock Point Nuclear Power Plant, Michigan's first nuclear power plant, was decommissioned.
1999: Hmong population
In 1999 the presence of Hmong in Michigan was half of what it was in 2007.
1999: Detroit Tigers Play 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: Number of charter townships in Michigan
As of April 2001, there were 127 charter townships in Michigan.
2001: Manufacturing Growth
From 2001, manufacturing in Michigan grew 6.6%.
2002: High-Tech Employment Ranking
As of 2002, Michigan ranked fourth in the U.S. in high-tech employment with 568,000 high-tech workers.
2002: Detroit Lions Move to Ford Field
In 2002, the Detroit Lions moved to Ford Field in Detroit.
February 2004: First Wolverine Sighting in 200 Years
In February 2004, a wolverine was sighted near Ubly, marking 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
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
As of 2007, about 300,000 people in Southeastern Michigan trace their descent from the Middle East and Asia. Also, almost 8,000 Hmong people lived in the state of Michigan.
2007: 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 Investment in Michigan
In 2007, Bank of America announced that it would commit $25 billion to community development in Michigan after acquiring LaSalle Bank in Troy.
2007: Michigan Christmas Tree Farming
In 2007, Michigan ranked as the third-largest grower of Christmas trees, utilizing 60,520 acres for Christmas tree farming.
2008: Site Selection Survey Ranking
In 2008, Michigan placed third in a site selection survey among the states for luring new business.
2008: Public Act 295
In 2008, Public Act 295 mandated 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: Hmong community portrayed in "Gran Torino"
The Hmong community had a prominent portrayal in the 2008 film Gran Torino, which was set in Detroit.
August 2009: Federal Grants to Auto Industry
In August 2009, Michigan and Detroit's auto industry received $1.36 billion in grants from the U.S. Department of Energy for electric vehicle technologies.
2009: Private School Closures
From 2009 to 2019, over 200 private schools in Michigan closed.
2009: GM and Chrysler Restructuring
In 2009, GM and Chrysler emerged from Chapter 11 restructurings with financing from the U.S. and Canadian governments.
2010: Detroit Metropolitan Airport Ranked 16th Busiest
In 2010, Detroit Metropolitan Airport was ranked as the 16th busiest airfield in North America based on passenger traffic.
2010: Value of Agricultural Products Sold
In 2010, Michigan farms sold $6.49 billion worth of products.
2010: Michigan Population and Auto Production
In 2010, Michigan had almost ten million residents and was the leading auto-producing state in the U.S.
2010: Job Creation Improvement
In 2010, Michigan led the nation in job creation improvement.
2010: Jewish and Muslim Adherents
In 2010, a survey estimated 44,382 Jewish adherents and 120,351 Muslims resided in Michigan.
2010: Language Spoken at Home
In 2010, about 91.11% of Michigan residents age five and older spoke only English at home.
2010: Automaker Profits and GM IPO
In 2010, the Big Three domestic automakers reported significant profits, indicating the beginning of a rebound, and GM began its initial public offering (IPO) of stock.
2010: Largest Protestant Denomination
In 2010, the largest Protestant denomination in Michigan was the United Methodist Church with 228,521 adherents.
2010: 2010 Census
The 2010 census recorded 9,883,635 residents in Michigan.
2011: Tourism Spending
As of 2011, tourists spent $17.2 billion per year in Michigan, supporting 193,000 tourism jobs.
2011: Japanese Residents Employed
In 2011 the amount of employed Japanese residents increased. 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 1 October 2012, than in 2011.
2011: Jordyn Wieber World Champion
In 2011, Jordyn Wieber from DeWitt was named World Champion for Women's Artistic Gymnastics.
2011: Corporate Income Tax Replacement
In 2011, Michigan repealed its business tax and replaced it with a 6% corporate income tax.
2012: Jordyn Wieber 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 Population in Novi
As of April 2013, the largest Japanese national population is in Novi, with 2,666 Japanese residents.
May 2, 2015: Magnitude 4.2 Earthquake
On May 2, 2015, a 4.2-magnitude earthquake occurred near Galesburg, Michigan.
2015: Concentration of Japanese Population
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 and Japanese populations in Detroit decline
By 2015, the number of Hmong in the Detroit city limits had significantly declined. Also in 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: Renewable Energy Requirement
By 2015, utility companies in Michigan were required to generate at least 10% of their energy from renewable sources.
2016: Donald Trump Wins Michigan
In 2016, Donald Trump won the state of Michigan.
2016: 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 year 2021.
2017: Pistons and Red Wings Move to Little Caesars Arena
In 2017, the Pistons and 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.
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 had a renewable energy target of at least 12.5%.
2019: Private School Closures
From 2009 to 2019, over 200 private schools in Michigan closed.
2020: 2020 Census
At the 2020 United States census, Michigan's population was 10,077,331, an increase of 2.03% since 2010.
2020: Projected Employment in Electric Vehicle Technologies
By 2020, it was projected that 40,000 people would be employed in Michigan's electric vehicle technology sector.
2020: Largest Protestant Group
By the 2020 study, non- and inter-denominational Protestant churches formed the largest Protestant group in Michigan, numbering 508,904.
2020: Biden Wins Michigan
In 2020, Joe Biden won Michigan by a slim margin.
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: Coal Power Production
In 2020, coal power produced roughly half of Michigan's electricity supply, or 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: Michigan Ranked 13th Easiest State to Vote In
In a 2020 study, Michigan was ranked as the 13th easiest state for citizens to vote in.
2021: Renewable Energy Target
By the end of 2021, Michigan had a renewable energy target of 15%.
2021: Religious self-identification
Religious self-identification, per Public Religion Research Institute's 2021 American Values Survey
2021: Primary languages 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 was still the largest city in Michigan with a majority black population, it was no longer the largest black-majority city in the U.S.
May 2022: Palisades Nuclear Power Plant Closed
In May 2022, the Palisades Nuclear Power Plant, south of South Haven, closed.
2022: Homeless Population
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: End of Governor Opposite Party Trend
From 1994 until 2022, the governor-elect had always come from the party opposite the presidency.
2022: Michigan Employment Statistics
In 2022, Michigan had 3,939,076 people employed across 227,870 establishments, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
2022: Amendment Passed Recognizing Abortion Rights
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.
2023: DTE to Retire Coal Power
By 2023, DTE plans to retire 2100MW of coal power.
2023: Repeal of Right-to-Work Law
In 2023, Michigan repealed its right-to-work law.
2023: Potential Cancellation of Post-Labor Day School Requirement
In 2023, a bill was introduced that would cancel the post-Labor Day school start requirement.
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 among the 50 states, and the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was estimated at 4.8%.
2024: Donald Trump Wins Michigan Again
In 2024, Donald Trump won Michigan again. Control of the Michigan Legislature is split, with the Democratic Party having a slim majority in the Senate while the Republican Party holds a majority in the House.
2024: Michigan's Gross State Product
In Q3 2024, Michigan's gross state product was $711.481 billion, ranking 14th among the 50 states.
2024: Gordie Howe International Bridge Completion
The Gordie Howe International Bridge, a second international bridge between Detroit and Windsor, is expected to be completed in 2024.
2025: Republicans Have a 7-6 Majority
As of 2025 Republicans have a 7-6 majority.
2025: Consumer Energy to Close Coal Plants
By 2025, Consumer Energy plans to close all of its remaining coal plants.
2026: Projected Renewable Generating Capacity
By the end of 2026, Michigan was projected to have at least 8 GW of renewable generating capacity.
