Abbreviated as MI on abbreviationfinder.org, Michigan is one of the states of the North American Confederation, the 22nd in descending order of surface (150,162 sq. Km.). Its territory results from two peninsulas without topographical continuity – the northernmost (Upper Peninsula), which is also the smallest, closed between Lake Superior and Lake Michigan; and the greater (Lower Peninsula), between the latter and Lake Erie – separated from each other by the Strait of Mackinac. Although both morphologically pertinent to the region of the great lakes, characterized by the traces of an intense glaciation (lakes, terraces, moraine systems), their appearance is quite different; the first is in fact made up of a series of hills (Copper Range, Huron M.) that fringe with steep sides the southern shore of Lake Superior (South Range, 442 m.), Pinus strobus); the second from a broad, slightly undulating plain, in which the rivers (Saginaw, Grand River, Kalamazoo, Muskegon), complex from the median part towards the opposite basins), and covered only in parts by woods (coniferous and deciduous trees usually mixed). Michigan is also home to the large Isle Royal in Lake Superior. Even the climatic conditions are different, due to the significant contrast that the extreme temperatures, especially winter, mark in the area between Huron and Erie compared to the much colder one in south del Lago Superiore which is without comparison the least suitable for crops. (Detroit; average annual temperature 8 °, 9; January −4 °, 2; July 22 °; average annual rainfall 900 mm; for Duluth the relative values are: 4 °, 1; −12 °, 0; 10 °, 8; and 760 mm.).
Agriculture forms one of the bases of the state economy: maize (1931: 17.420.000 hl.), Oats (12.360.000 hl.), Potatoes (10.905.000 hl.), Wheat (6.179.500 hl.) Are produced.), sugar beet and, among vegetables, especially beans, peas and salad. More than half of the state’s acreage is forested, whose annual yield is surpassed only by that of Wisconsin. Even more important is the herd which counts 1.4 mil. of head of cattle, 1.3 mil. of goats, 660 thousand pigs, and 380 thousand horses, and allowed an annual profit (1931) of 122 mil. dollars (double that of agricultural production), But the main wealth of Michigan is represented by the mines, most of which are located in the area near Lake Superior: copper in the district of Houghton, pounds in 1931), iron in those of Marquette, Menominee, Gogebic (7.6 million tons in 1931, over 20 in 1930, surpassed only by the nearby mines of Minnesota), oil (recently discovered; 3.8 mil. of barrels in 1930 versus 0.6 in 1929), chalk, salt, etc. The value of mining production rose in 1930 to 111 mil. dollars.
The ease that the waterways (lakes, canals, navigable rivers; the state has 2787 km. Of coastline) offer to communications and therefore to the transport of metal ores, has determined the rapid development of large industry, which counts in Michigan (1929) 6683 enterprises, with 528 thousand workers. Production is very varied, but the mechanical and wood industries by far dominate all of them. The engine factories alone employ just under half the workforce, and have some of the largest and most modern plants in the United States (Ford workshops in Detroit). Vehicles, wagons, locomotives and automobiles are widely used in exports, but the food industries have also undergone great development in recent years.
The trade on the great lakes is very active, favored by the channel of Sault Sainte Marie (the so-called Soo Canal), which turns the obstacle of the rapids between Lake Superior on one side and Lakes Huron and Michigan on the other; channel that records the most intense traffic in the world (83.4 million tons for 1131.7 million dollars on the United States side only; mostly iron, cereals, wood and coal). Michigan also has 13,360 km. of railways (as many in all of Czechoslovakia), of which 557 are electrified, and 130,000 km. of ordinary roads.
For the population, Michigan is 8th among the states of the Union, with 4,842,325 residents in 1931 (32 inhabitants per sq.km.; in 13th place for population density). The increase in the last thirty years has been the fastest: 30.5% from 1910 to 1920, 32% from 1920 to 1930. At the time of its constitution in the territory (1805), Michigan counted just over 10 thousand residents, it had 397,000 in 1850, 1,184,000 in 1870 and 2,420,982 in 1900. The Negroes now make up 3.5% of the total; the Indians, concentrated in the Isabella Reservation (800 ha.), are reduced to 1080. Of those born abroad (17.4% of the state’s population) the most numerous colonies are those of Canadians (24.1%), Poles (14.2%) and the Germans (9.7%). There were 43,087 Italians in 1930. The population lives for 68, 2% gathered in centers over 2500 inhabitants: the proportion was 39.3% in 1900, 47.2% in 1910 and 61.1% in 1920. The rapid industrialization of the state is also expressed by the relatively large number of centers over 50 thousand residents (11 in 1931), of which two (Grand Rapids and Flint) exceed 100,000 and one (Detroit), with 1,568,662 residents, Is the fourth largest city in the US by population. The state capital is Lansing (20,000 inhabitants in 1900, 78,397 in 1931) on the Grand River, also one of the industrial gangs of the Lower Peninsula. of which two (Grand Rapids and Flint) exceed 100,000 and one (Detroit), with 1,568,662 residents, is the fourth largest city in the US by population. The state capital is Lansing (20,000 inhabitants in 1900, 78,397 in 1931) on the Grand River, also one of the industrial gangs of the Lower Peninsula. of which two (Grand Rapids and Flint) exceed 100,000 and one (Detroit), with 1,568,662 residents, is the fourth largest city in the US by population. The state capital is Lansing (20,000 inhabitants in 1900, 78,397 in 1931) on the Grand River, also one of the industrial gangs of the Lower Peninsula.
History
French fur traders and missionaries – perhaps the first white men to visit Michigan – explored the current location of Detroit in 1610. But no permanent colony was founded in this region before 1668, when Father Marquette set up a mission at Sault Sainte Marie, which was soon followed by the construction of forts and permanent trading posts, New France’s interests being oriented towards the East.. When the rivalry between the English and the French in America ended in 1763, the Michigan region became part of the lands assigned to the English, from which, in 1783, it was ceded to the United States, although until the year 1796 the British troops were not removed from the most important forts, including Detroit.
Michigan was included in the northeast territory. in 1787 and only in 1805 it received its own territorial structure. Migration proceeded slowly in this region. Not until 1837 did the population, largely from New England and New York, reach proportions sufficient to ensure a state life. The Democratic Party remained powerful in the new state until the question of extending slavery to these territories arose. On this issue, the Democrats split, and Michigan residents had the honor of founding the Republican party in Jackson in 1854 to wage battle against the expansion of slavery. During the Civil War (1861-1865), this state enthusiastically supported the Lincoln government in its efforts to safeguard the union. In the 25 years that followed, the population of foreign origin had a large increase. The immigration of Germans, Scandinavians and French from Canada reached great proportions. The state remained loyal to the Republican party, abandoning it only in 1912, when the electoral vote was given to Theodore Roosevelt, a progressive. In recent years, the political power of the state shifted from the rural to the increasingly numerous residents of industrial centers.
Lansing
According to countryaah.com, Lansing is a city of the USA (113,968 inhabitants in 2008), capital of the state of Michigan. It is a notable center of the automotive industry, and also has electromechanical, chemical and wood industries. In 1851, the first agricultural university in the United States was established there.
