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Michigan

Michigan is located in the western half of the United States. The state derived its name from Lake Michigan, originated from the French version of the Ojibwe word "Mishigama" implying large lake or large water.

The state ranks eight amongst the most densely inhabited state in the United States. Michigan is surrounded by four amongst the five "Great Lakes" together with the Lake Saint Clair. Michigan acquired the third position in the year 2005 after California as well as Florida in matters of having the largest numbers of registered recreational boats. On an average the state serves as a home to 64,980 inland lakes. This implies that an individual in Michigan is at max six miles away from a lake…that seems too fascinating!

Michigan can be considered as the sole state that is home to two peninsulas. The Lower Peninsula divides the Upper Peninsula (U.P.) by the Straits of Mackinac, a wide channel joining the Lake Huron with the Lake Michigan. In fact, the Upper Peninsula is believed to be a hot tourist spot. On the flip side, the Lower Peninsula is more commonly referred to as 'the mittens" by its natives. It is called so due to its shape.

Prior to the colonization by the Europeans, the state served as a home to different Native Americans. Algonquian people particularly the Anishnabe and Ottawa were the preliminary residents of this state followed by the European explorers. The Anishnabe not only occupied the northern region of the Lower Peninsula as well as the Upper Peninsula but also inhabited southern Manitoba, northern Wisconsin, northern Ontario and north central and northern Minnesota. On the flip side, the Ottawa were primarily based on the southern half of the Straits of Mackinac in western and northern Michigan whereas the Potawatomi were chiefly based in the southwest. In the seventeenth century, the French explorers explored as well as settled in this state.

The economy of this state passed through a massive change during the twentieth century. With the advent of the automotive industry together with the first plant of Henry Ford in Highland Park, Michigan stepped into new epoch in transportation. Similar to the railroad and steamship, this too was considered to be a great discovery. It turned out to be a supreme industry of Michigan and brought about a transformation in the socio economic life as well.

Michigan's second largest city, Grand Rapids is believed to be the focal point of manufacturing. Since the year 1838, the city has been noted for its flourishing furniture industry as well. Michigan hosted the first United States presidential primary election in the year 1910. Some of the eminent skyscrapers of this state include Guardian building, Cadillac Place and Fisher Building. These skyscrapers are believed to be the historic landmarks of Michigan.

Michigan has emerged as a booming auto producing state in the United States of America. To sum up it can be said that, having an overall population of ten million or more the state is famous as an influential and large state.
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Michigan Area Codes

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