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Happy Birthday Michigan

By January 25, 2018Michigan

This Friday, January 26th, 2018, the good ole’ gal that we call home turns 181 years young!  We love her for her four seasons, beautiful scenery, abundance of lakes and rivers, and the ability to enjoy city life and the country life.

181 years is unimaginable to me (I’m having a hard-enough time with 45 this year).  And it got me thinking, “What do I know about Michigan?”  I have lived here my entire life, (we have already established how long that is!)  Now I am sure we covered this in school, and most likely had to do a project that encompassed some facts about the mitten state, but I can’t find it in my scrapbook (thanks Mom and Dad) and I do not remember much about my elementary years.

So, I took advantage of the situation and did some research.  These are some of the most interesting facts I found.

  • In 1830 Michigan’s population was 31,639 – currently our population is about 9,991,177
  • Michigan covers 96,713 square miles
  • The Great Lakes contain more than 80 percent of North America’s surface fresh water supply.
  • Michigan derived its name from the Indian Word “Ojibwa” which means “large lake.”
  • The Michigan No-Fault Insurance system was adopted in 1973 (I feel obligated to include this )
  • The Detroit Baseball Company was the first professional baseball team in Detroit in 1881.
  • Colon, Michigan is home to the world’s largest manufacture of magic supplies.
  • Michigan ranks first in state boat registrations.
  • The city of Novi was named from its designation as Stagecoach Stop #6 or No.VI.
  • The painted turtle is Michigan’s state reptile. (I didn’t even know we had a state reptile.)
  • The Detroit Zoo was the first zoo in America to feature cage less, open-exhibits that allowed the animals more freedom to roam.
  • Michigan is the only place in the world with a floating post office.
  • Standing anywhere in the state a person is within in 85 miles of one of the Great Lakes.
  • Four flags have flown over Michigan – French, Spanish, English and United States.
  • The Upper Michigan Copper Country is the largest commercial deposit of native copper in the world.
  • We officially became known as Michigander’s in 2017 (whew, glad that is settled)

All of us at Harbor/Brenn Insurance Agencies consider ourselves lucky to live in the great state of Michigan.  And we all have our favorite spots to visit.  In honor of Michigan’s birthday, below is a list of places we feel you should put on your to do list.  Take time to check them out – we promise you will not be disappointed.  And if you know of any other spots we did not include that are a “must see”, please comment on our blog and we will add them to our to do list.

The list could go on and on!

Hopefully you have learned some things about our home state, I know I have.  (I will never look at a painted turtle the same again) And perhaps come up with some ideas for quick weekend getaways this summer with the family.

I think the singer Mike Ridley said it best, “I am, I am a Michigan man, ask where I’m from and I’ll show you my hands, Lord above I love this land, I am a Michigan man.  (For PC purposes – replace man with fan!)

Happy Birthday Michigan!

Robyn Rakoniewski, Director of First Impressions – Harbor/Brenn Insurance Agencies

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