It’s National Michigan Day: The Great Lakes State in numbers
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Thursday marked National Michigan Day.
The Great Lakes State became part of the union in 1837, the 26th state to do so. As residents celebrate the beautiful state, here’s Michigan in numbers:
FOUR GREAT LAKES, 11,000 GOOD ONES
Four Great Lakes touch Michigan, with Lake Ontario being the only Great Lake not bordering the Mitten state. But they certainly aren’t the only lakes Michigan residents enjoy. According to the state, Michigan has 11,000 inland lakes, along with thousands of miles of both rivers and streams.
Notable inland lakes in West Michigan include Gun Lake, Muskegon Lake and Gull Lake.
10 MILLION RESIDENTS
The U.S. census estimates the state’s population is more than 10 million, down by .4% in July 2023 compared to April 2020. The state has around 4 million households, with an average of 2.45 people living in one household.
There’s a pretty even split of Michigan resident’s sex: around 50.3% of Michigan residents are female.
FIFTEEN PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES
The Great Lakes State has 15 public universities, according to Western Michigan University, including West Michigan’s Central Michigan University, Grand Valley State University and WMU.
Around 91% of the state’s population over the age of 25 have a high school degree or higher, while just over 31% of those 25 years or older have a bachelor’s degree or higher, the U.S. Census found.
250,000 BUSINESSES
In 2021, there were 224,676 employers in the state of Michigan, the U.S. Census says. According to the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, 17 companies on the 2021 Fortune 500 list are in the state, including Ford Motor Company, General Motors and Dow.
The company employing the most Michiganders is Corewell Health. The health system says it has 21 hospitals and employs more than 60,000 people.
TWO PENINSULAS, SEPARATED BY FIVE MILES
The Mackinac Bridge is the seventh-longest suspension bridge in the world, according to mackinacbridge.org, stretching out 26,372 Ft., or about five miles.
Michigan acquired the Upper Peninsula during the Toledo War of 1835, agreeing to give modern-day rivalry Ohio the Toledo Strip. Many would agree Michigan got the better end of the deal, as the Upper Peninsula now has everything from 3,000 miles of groomed snowmobiling trails, waterfalls and plenty of beautiful hiking, according to Pure Michigan.
1,500 SHIPWRECKS
Around 6,000 ships have gone down in the Great Lakes, the state says, and around 1,500 of those ships were in Michigan waters.
One of the most famous Great Lakes shipwreck is the SS Edmund Fitzgerald, which sank in 1975. The entire crew of 29 men died during the sinking. Their lives were immortalized by Gordon Lightfoot, who died in 2023, with his song “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.”
129 LIGHTHOUSES
Michigan has 129 lighthouses, according to the Michigan Lighthouse Guide. The tallest is the Rock of Ages Lighthouses off the coast of Isle Royale, which is either 117 feet tall or 130 feet tall, depending on who you ask. The oldest is the The Fort Gratiot Lighthouse, built in 1814.
One iconic lighthouse sits at Holland State Park, Big Red, the history of which dates back to 1870, according to Holland.org.
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