State abbreviation/Postal code: Mich./MI

U.S. Representatives: 15

Organized as territory: Jan. 11, 1805

Entered Union (rank): Jan. 26, 1837 (26)

Present constitution adopted: April 1, 1963, (effective Jan. 1, 1964)

Motto: Si quaeris peninsulam amoenam circumspice
(If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look around you)

State symbols: flower apple blossom (1897)

  Bird - Robin (1931)

Mammal - White-tailed deer (1997)

Fishes - Trout (1965), brook trout (1988)

Gem - Isle Royal Rreenstone (chlorastrolite) (1972)

Stone - Petoskey stone (1965)

Tree - White Pine (1955)

Soil - Kalkaska Soil Series (1990)

Reptile - Painted turtle (1995)

Flag - Blue charged with the arms of the state” (1911)

  Wildflower Dwarf Lake iris (1998)

Nickname: Wolverine State

Origin of name: From Indian word “Michigana” meaning “great or large lake”

10 largest cities - Detroit, 886,671, Grand Rapids, Warren, Sterling Heights, Flint, Lansing, Ann Arbor, Livonia, Dearborn, Westland

Land area: 56,804 sq mi. (147,122 sq km)

Geographic center: In Wexford Co., 5 mi. NNW of Cadillac

Number of counties: 83

Largest county by population - Wayne

Largest county by area - Marquette

State parks and recreation areas: 97

Residents: Michigander, Michiganian, Michiganite

2005 resident population est.: 10,120,860
Male: 4,873,095 (49.0%); Female: 5,065,349 (51.0%).
White: 7,966,053 (80.2%); Black: 1,412,742 (14.2%)
American Indian: 58,479 (0.6%); Asian: 176,510 (1.8%);
Other race: 129,552 (1.3%);
Two or more races: 192,416 (1.9%); Hispanic/Latino: 323,877 (3.3%).

2000 percent population 18 and over: 73.9; 65 and over: 12.3; median age: 35.5.