What time zone is Michigan in? It depends on where you are in the state, and here's why.

Eastern or Central time? Or both? Michigan straddles that time zone line, but barely.

Of the 83 counties in the state only four of them reside in Central time while the rest are firmly in the Eastern time zone. Michigan isn't the only state that is separated into different time zones.

Fourteen other U.S. states have more than one time zone (depending on the time of year) besides Michigan: Alaska, Arizona, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Tennessee and Texas.

Here's a look at where the time zone changes and which counties are in Central time.

What time is it in Michigan?

In Michigan, 79 counties reside in Eastern time the only counties that are in Central time are Dickinson, Gogebic, Iron and Menominee counties.

Where does the time zone change in Michigan?

The four counties that are in Central time are right on the border of Wisconsin in the Western Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

Why is Michigan in two time zones?

All of Michigan used to be on Central time but the shift to Eastern time, led by Detroit, occurred gradually over the 20th century. Now only four counties that border Wisconsin remain on Central time: Dickinson, Gogebic, Iron and Menominee.

A club called the More Daylight Club was organized in Detroit in 1907. At the time, Michigan was on Central time, but the sun was setting before 7 p.m. on summer evenings. And the club wanted to do something about it, according to nighttraintodetroit.com.

“The wonderful material progress of this great country has almost caused us to forget that there is something worth while besides work and riches,” wrote George Renaud, founder of the More Daylight Club, in a 1916 essay. “The average citizen will not only be healthier, but better satisfied with his lot in life if he can go home early during the pleasant months of the year and be able to take some advantage of daylight.”

It took some time, but eventually, the state moved into Eastern time in 1931 except the four counties.

Why is the Western Upper Peninsula in a different time zone?

According to multiple news sources, the four Michigan counties opted to be in that hour-earlier time zone to stay in sync with their Wisconsin neighbors.

Does Michigan observe daylight saving time?

Yes. Like many states, Michigan will soon "spring forward" as we approach the summer months. But some people have tried to end this practice too.

Over the last several years, Michigan lawmakers — along with multiple other states — have tried to do away with the practice of "springing forward" and "falling back" each year, but nothing has been passed, so the cycle continues.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: What time zone is Michigan in? Eastern and Central. Here's why