Central Michigan
43°34′54.5″N 84°46′32.5″W / 43.581806°N 84.775694°W
Mid-Michigan
Central Michigan | |
---|---|
Country | United States |
State | Michigan |
Central Michigan, also called Mid Michigan, is a region in the Lower Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. As its name implies, it is the middle area of the Lower Peninsula. Lower Michigan is said to resemble a mitten, and Mid Michigan corresponds roughly to the thumb and palm, stretching from Michigan's eastern shoreline along Lake Huron into the fertile rolling plains of the Michigan Basin.[1] The region contains cities of moderate size, including Flint, Saginaw, and the state capital of Lansing. Generally Central, or "Mid", Michigan is defined by governmental organizations as an area North of Jackson,[2] and South of Clare.[3]
Definitions
For the most part, Central Michigan and Mid Michigan are synonymous with each other, representing generally the same geographic area of Michigan. However, some definitions of Central Michigan and Mid Michigan can vary significantly, depending on one's point of reference.
- The Greater Lansing area, sometimes called the Capitol Region, includes the area surrounding the state capitol of Lansing and nearby East Lansing.
- The Mt. Pleasantas well.
- The Flint area is included in Mid Michigan, and can also be considered a part of Metro Detroit.
- The Thumb is a peninsula that surrounded by Lake Huron in the east-central area of the state.[4] This area is sometimes dubbed the Blue Water Area.[5]
Other definitions
Central or Mid Michigan can also include areas that are referred to as Southern Michigan. This is loosely defined and can refer to a region in the south-central portion of the state characterized by the Irish Hills. The region includes the Adrian, Jackson, and Hillsdale areas which are also considered a part of Southeast Michigan.
Portions of Central or Mid Michigan can overlap with portions of
Also, some areas may overlap with what is known as Northern Michigan. These areas, such as Clare, Gladwin, and Arenac County are along the border of the two regions and can be considered parts of both, depending on your frame of reference.
Portions of Metro Detroit can overlap with Central Michigan, especially the counties of Genesee, Lapeer, Livingston and St. Clair are statistically included in Metro Detroit however geographically lie in Mid Michigan.
Geography
The region includes many rivers including the Grand River, Red Cedar River, Saginaw River, Tittabawassee River, Shiawassee River and Flint River. A drainage divide occurs in Central Michigan, causing the Grand River to flow west into Lake Michigan and the Saginaw River to empty into the Saginaw Bay. The terrain has rolling hills and plains with fertile soil. Agriculture dominates in the rural areas, where corn, soybeans, sugar beets, and hay are grown. The region has mostly small towns with a few cities of notable size. Most of the area is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lansing or Roman Catholic Diocese of Saginaw.[6]
Principal cities
Central Michigan has several cities of regional and geographic importance:
- Lansing-East Lansing metropolitan areais the third largest metro area in Michigan.
- Flint is the sixth largest city in the state and an important center for Michigan's automotive industry.
- The Tri-Cities area includes Midland, Bay City, and Saginaw. The Saginaw, Midland, and Bay City metropolitan area is the fifth largest metro area in Michigan.
Counties included
Lansing area
The Thumb area
Flint and Tri-Cities area
History and culture
Central Michigan has a rich and varied culture, including European farmers who settled in rural areas to work the land and ethnic minorities populating the area's urban centers to make a living in the automobile industry.
The Mid-Michigan area was predominately
Michigan became a state in 1837, with the State Capitol in
Persons of
The state's economy underwent a transformation at the turn of the 20th century. Many individuals, including
Beginning in the late 1960s, urban areas including Flint, Saginaw, and Lansing experienced a large amount of
Michigan remains a leading auto-producing state in the U.S., with the industry primarily located throughout the
Economy
Central Michigan's economy is primarily
Agriculture
Major crops grown in this region include
Livestock and dairy farms also make up the agricultural landscape of Central Michigan. Koegel Meat Company is headquartered in Flint and is a major producer of sausages and processed meats. Lansing based Quality Dairy Company is a major producer of milk and ice cream in the region.
Financial
The largest financial institution in the region is Detroit- headquartered
Government
Since Lansing is the State Capitol, the number one employer in the
The Michigan State Police is headquartered in Lansing, and formerly called East Lansing Home. MSP also has regional posts in Mt. Pleasant, Bay City, Caro, Flint, and Lapeer.
Healthcare
McLaren Health Care Corporation is a major employer in the region, as a non-profit operating nine hospitals in the state. McLaren is headquartered in Flint and has hospitals in Flint, Lansing, Lapeer, Bay City, Mt. Pleasant, and Port Huron.
Other major healthcare corporations include
Insurance
Central Michigan, specifically the Greater Lansing area, is home to many statewide and national insurance companies. Auto-Owners Insurance is headquartered in Delta Township and is the largest such company headquartered in the state. In downtown Lansing, workers compensation insurance company Accident Fund has its headquarters. Founded in Jackson but having headquarters in Lansing, Jackson National Life is a life insurance company serving 49 states. Smaller insurer Frankenmuth insurance has its headquarters in Frankenmuth.
Manufacturing
General Motors operates the
The world headquarters of Nexteer Automotive, a car parts supplier, is located in Saginaw. S.C. Johnson and Son has a manufacturing facility in Bay City making Ziploc products. The Dow Chemical Company and Dow Corning have their world headquarters in Midland.
Power generation
The Lansing Board of Water & Light has several of its own generating plants in the Greater Lansing area, and the Midland Cogeneration Venture is a partnership in Midland.
Renewable energies, specifically
International trade corridor
The I-69 International Trade Corridor is a strategic commercial gateway between the
Constituent counties of the trade corridor are: Shiawassee, Genesee, Lapeer, and St. Clair Counties.[22]
Colleges and universities
Major educational institutions in Central Michigan include:
- Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant
- Michigan State University in East Lansing
- Michigan State University College of Law in East Lansing
- Lansing Community College in Lansing
- Mid Michigan Community College in Harrison and Mt. Pleasant
- Mott Community College in Flint
- Northwood University in Midland
- St. Clair County Community College in Port Huron
- Alma College in Alma
- Olivet Collegein Olivet
- Saginaw Valley State University in University Center
- Thomas M. Cooley Law School (the nation's largest) is headquartered in Lansing.
- University of Michigan–Flint
- Delta College in University Center
- Kettering University in Flint
- Baker College (throughout different areas of Michigan)
- Davenport University (throughout different areas of Michigan)
Media
Newspapers
The
The Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News are available throughout the area.
Radio
The region is served by multiple radio stations. For a complete listing of stations, see one of the following markets:
- Lansing Area
- Flint Area
- Greater Tri-Cities including Saginaw, Bay City, and Midland.
- Thumb Area including Port Huron, Sandusky, and Lapeer.
- South Central Michigan including Jackson, Adrian, and Hillsdale.
- North Central Michigan including Mt. Pleasant, Caddilac, and Alma.
Broadcast television
Television in the Central Michigan area varies from market to market. Availability of stations depends on the reception of aerial signals, as well as availability of cable and satellite in a particular area. In some areas of the region, broadcasts from all three markets can be received over the air.
Transportation
Airports
Scheduled airline service is offered from Lansing Capital Region International Airport.[27] Airline service is also available from MBS International Airport[28] near Midland, Michigan and Flint Bishop International Airport.[29] Other portions are proximate to Gerald R. Ford International Airport, east of Grand Rapids, Michigan,[30] and Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport near Kalamazoo, Michigan.[31]
Railroads
Passenger rail is provided by Amtrak and has stations in East Lansing, Durand, Flint, Lapeer, and Port Huron on its Blue Water line.
- The Great Lakes Central Railroad is a regional railroad operating from Petoskey to Ann Arbor.
- CSXowns a major line between Detroit and Grand Rapids, passing through Lansing. It also owns a line from Toledo to Flint, and another south of Port Huron.
- Canadian Nationalsystem has a busy line between Port Huron and Chicago, passing through Flint, Durand, and Lansing.
- Mid-Michigan Railroad, owned by Genesee & Wyoming and operating in the Alma area.
- The Huron and Eastern Railway is also owned by Genesee and Wyoming and has lines north of Durand branching into the Thumb.
- Lake State Railway serves each of the Tri Cities and stretches into Northern Michigan.
Transit
- Bay Metropolitan Transportation Authority
- Blue Water Area Transit
- Capital Area Transportation Authority
- Flint Mass Transportation Authority
- Indian Trails
- Saginaw Transit Authority Regional Services
Major highways
Major trunkline routes throughout the Mid-Michigan area:
- I-69 from Port Huron to Fort Wayne, Indiana, connecting Flint and Lansing.
- I-75 is a major artery connecting the Tri-Cities with Flint and Detroit.
- I-475 business route to downtown Flint.
- I-675 business route to downtown Saginaw.
- I-94 from Port Huron to Chicago via Detroit, Jackson, and Battle Creek.
- I-96 from Grand Rapids to Detroit via Lansing.
- I-496 (R.E. Olds Freeway) in the Lansing area.
- US 10 an east–west route between Ludington and Bay City, connecting multiple communities in between.
- US 23 co-signed with I-75 through much of the region.
- US 127 comes from the south, through Lansing, and ends its 758-mile-long (1,220 km) journey at Grayling. It directly connects Northern Michigan (and the Mackinac Bridge via I-75) to Lansing, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee (all the way down to Chattanooga US 127 is the direct link between the state capital in Lansing and the Ingham County seat in Mason.
- M-13 runs roughly the same route as I-75 in the Genesee County/Shiawassee County border, the Saginaw County/Genesee County border then into Bay County
- M-15 runs north and south through Genesee County and Tuscola County and terminates in Bay City.
- Mt. Pleasant with Midland
- M-21 runs east and west, roughly the same route as I-69 in Genesee County and is a direct east–west route connecting St. Johns and Owosso.
- M-24 runs north and south in Lapeer County and Tuscola County.
- M-25 is a highway of an arc-like shape closely following the outline of the Thumb along the Lake Huron/Saginaw Bay shoreline between Port Huron and Bay City.[32] It is generally a scenic drive.
- M-43 is a highway in southwestern and central Michigan from South Haven to Webberville. is east–west surface route nearly bisects the Lower Peninsula of Michigan latitudinally.
- M-46— a cross peninsular road, running across the entire mitten including the thumb—from Port Sanilac on the Lake Huron shore; through Saginaw near Saginaw Bay; and then on to Muskegon on the Lake Michigan shore. This east-west surface route nearly bisects the Lower Peninsula of Michigan latitudinally.
- M-52 is a north–south highway connecting Webberville, Perry, Owosso and St. Charles.
- M-53 (Van Dyke Road) is a gateway route to the Thumb of Michigan, carrying vacationers to the resorts and cottages on Saginaw Bay and Lake Huron in the vicinity of Caseville and Port Austin. It goes up the middle of the Thumb, and directly connects in Macomb County, Michigan to the M-53 expressway.
- M-54 Dort Highway, a main road leading into Flint running roughly the same route as I-475, then follows I-75 to Birch Run
Notable people
More comprehensive lists are available at individual cities, villages, etc.
Lansing
- Jim Cash - Screenwriter Top Gun and other successful films
- Thom Hartmann - radio talk-show host & author
- NHLhockey player
- John Hughes - film director
- Magic Johnson - NBA basketball star
- Lisa Kron - theatre actress & playwright
- NFLfootball star
- Ransom E. Olds - Automobile Manufacturer; founded Olds Motor Vehicle Company
- Larry Page - co-founder of Google.com
- Greg Raymer - 2004 World Series of Poker champion
- Burt Reynolds - actor
- Steven Seagal - actor
- MLB star and 1996 Cy Young Awardwinner
- Jim "Soni" Sonefeld - drummer & Hootie & The Blowfish
- Ingham County
- Stevie Wonder - singer, attended the Michigan School for the Blind in Lansing (Born and raised in Saginaw, MI)
- Malcolm X - human rights activist
Tri-Cities and Flint
- Michael Moore - filmmaker, screenwriter, author, journalist, actor, and left-wing political activist from Davison.
- Bob Allman – Chicago Bears player (1936) (Bay City Central HS)
- Forty-Eighterand US politician
- King Kong
- Rolf Armstrong (1889–1960) – painter and pin-up artist
- Edmund Arnold – father of modern news design
- Avis Rent A Car
- Howie Auer — Philadelphia Eagles player (1933)
- state senator.
- Gary Bautell – military radio broadcaster with the American Forces Network
- James G. Birney (1792–1857) - presidential candidate 1844 and 1848 Liberty Party, a founder of Bay City
- Ruth Born (1925–) - All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player
- state senator
- Betsy Brandt - actress, Breaking Bad, The Michael J. Fox Show
- Madonna – singer, actress, member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Grammy and Golden Globe award winner, was born in Bay City; she grew up in Rochester Hills, Michigan[33]
- Spoke Emery – Major League Baseball player
- Super Heavyweight Championboxer, kickboxer, and martial artist
- Troy Evans (b.1977) – NFL linebacker, Houston Texans, New Orleans Saints
- John Garrels – silver and bronze Olympic medal winner
- Sanford M. Green, Michigan jurist and politician
- Ernie Gust – Major League Baseball player
- Harriet Hammond (1899–1991) - silent-film actress
- Phil-Pitt Steagles, Pro Football Hall of Fame
- short track speed skating
- Edward Jablonski (1923–2004) - author, music archivist and aviation-aerial warfare historian
- Jim Kanicki – Cleveland Browns, and New York Giants 1960–62 (Bay City Central HS)
- Thomas G. Kavanagh - Michigan Supreme Court justice
- Bruce LaFrance – Tantric musician
- John List – mass murderer[34]
- Jason "The Michigan Kid" Lynch – professional billiards trick-shot artist[35]
- George Kid Lavigne – boxer, world lightweight champion 1896, and inductee of International Boxing Hall of Fame (1998)
- Terry McDermott – 500m speed skating gold medalist in Innsbruck 1964 Winter Olympics
- John McGraw – businessman, co-founder of Wenona, Michigan, now part of Bay City, Cornell University philanthropist
- Tyler McVey (1912–2003) - actor
Thumb area
- Thomas Edison - Inventor and entrepreneur settled in Port Huron from 1854 to 1863.
- Brewster H. Shaw - retired United States Air Force colonel and former NASA astronaut from Cass City.
- United States Supreme Courtborn in Harbor Beach.
- Newbery Awardwinner
- Terry Knight, singer, DJ, manager, Terry Knight and the Pack, Grand Funk Railroad
- Jake Long, offensive lineman, Miami Dolphins
- Terry Nichols, accomplice in the Oklahoma City bombing
- Jim Slater, hockey player Atlanta Thrashers
- Obadiah Gardner - US Senator for Maine
- Terry McMillan - Award-winning author of Waiting to Exhale, and How Stella Got Her Groove Back
- Gabriel Rheaume - Writer - The Shores We Walk, from Deckerville.
See also
References
- ^ "East Central Michigan". 14 October 2016.
- ^ "Michigan Association of Regions Home". www.miregions.com.
- ^ Clare County EMCOG
- ^ "State of Michigan Prosperity Regions" (PDF). michigan.gov. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
- ^ "Blue Water Area: Michigan's Thumbcoast Shoreline". 3 January 2017.
- ^ Archdiocese of Lansing home page and history Archived September 17, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, dioceseoflansing.org
- ^ a b "Lansing and Its Yesterdays", published by the State Journal Company, Published January 1, 1930
- ^ Rae, John B. (1983). "Why Michigan". In Lewis, David L.; Goldstein, Laurence (eds.). The Automobile and American Culture. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press. pp. 2–9.
- ^ "Global GM Corporate Web Sites | General Motors". www.gm.com. Archived from the original on 10 June 2011.
- ^ "Hall of Fame Inventor Profile". National Inventors Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on 2007-04-21. Retrieved 2006-06-24.
- ^ Singer, Audrey; Wilson, Jill (September 2006). "From 'There' to 'Here': Refugee Resettlement in Metropolitan America" (PDF). Metropolitan Policy Program: 11. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-10-05. Retrieved 23 October 2013.
- ^ Staff (February 2008). "Facts about Michigan Manufacturing". National Association of Manufacturers. Archived from the original on 2008-10-23. Retrieved January 11, 2009.
- ^ Staff (2009). "Michigan Advantage". Michigan Economic Development Corporation. Archived from the original on March 21, 2009. Retrieved June 23, 2009.
- ^ Staff (2001). "R&D Spending is Highly Concentrated in a Small Number of States". National Science Foundation. 01-320. Archived from the original on 2017-10-13.
- ^ "University Research Corridor". Urcmich.org. Retrieved July 25, 2010.
- ^ Bruns, Adam (January 2009). "How Are You Helping Companies Grow?". Site Selection Magazine. Archived from the original on April 12, 2009. Retrieved December 27, 2009.
- ^ "Top Public Schools | National Universities | US News Best Colleges". colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2016-01-27.
- ^ "Michigan Sugar". www.michigansugar.com. Archived from the original on 17 December 2015. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
- ^ "Statistics for Federally Insured Credit Unions". www.ncua.gov. Archived from the original on 23 May 2009. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
- ^ "Solar panel fields to be operational by May - March 12, 2017 - thecountypress.mihomepaper.com - The County Press". mihomepaper.com. Archived from the original on 19 January 2018. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
- ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20130415123601/http://i-69internationaltradecorridor.com/nmdc/ Next Michigan Development Corporation
- ^ http://i-69internationaltradecorridor.com/about/ International Trade Corridor
- ^ "Flint, Michigan Local News, Breaking News, Sports & Weather - MLive.com". Retrieved 31 May 2023.
- ^ "Bay City, Michigan Local News, Breaking News, Sports & Weather - MLive.com". Archived from the original on 2018-05-03.
- ^ "Saginaw, Michigan Local News, Breaking News, Sports & Weather - MLive.com". Archived from the original on 2018-05-05.
- ^ "About The Morning Sun". The Morning Sun. Archived from the original on 2008-07-04.
- ^ Lansing Capital Region International Airport Archived 2016-02-06 at the Wayback Machine, flylansing.com
- ^ MBS International Airport Archived 2003-08-01 at the Wayback Machine, mbsairport.com
- ^ Flint Bishop International Airport, bishopairport.org
- ^ Gerald R. Ford International Airport Archived December 15, 2009, at the Wayback Machine, grr.org
- ^ Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport (AZO), azoairport.com
- ^ "State Ends | Récits de voyage". State Ends. Archived from the original on July 16, 2012.
- ^ "Singer of the Week: Madonna". AskMen.com. IGN Entertainment, Inc. Archived from the original on June 13, 2006. Retrieved June 1, 2006.
- ^ Halverson, Kathy (May 5, 2001). "The List Murders Stun Westfield In 1971". The Westfield Leader (archived at goleader.com). Archived from the original on March 21, 2006. Retrieved June 1, 2006.
- ^ Kohut, Alex (November 11, 2010). "Renowned Trick Shot Pool Player Headlining Saturday Bay County Toys for Tots Fundraiser". Bay City Times. Archived from the original on February 5, 2016.
External links
- Archdiocese of Lansing home page and history
- Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University, Bibliography on Michigan (arranged by counties and regions)
- Michigan Geology -- Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University.
- Michigan Department of Natural Resources website, harbors, hunting, resources and more.
- Info Michigan, detailed information on 630 cities
- Michigan's Official Economic Development and Travel Site, including interactive map, information on attractions, museums, etc.
- Michigan Historic Markers
- Michigan's Official Economic Development and Travel Site.