About Michigan

"If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you,"

 State Moto: Si Quaeris Peninsulam Amoenam Circumspice

Depicted on the shield is a lake with a yellow sun rising over the blue waters. A man is standing on a peninsula with one hand raised in a greeting of friendship and the other hand holding a rifle. An Elk and a Moose support the shield between them and a Bald Eagle grasping an olive branch and arrows in its talons is shown above the shield.

Three mottos are shown on the coat of arms: E Pluribus Unum (From many, one), Tuebor (I will defend), and Si Quaeris Peninsulam Amoenam Circumspice (If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you). These mottos are reflected in the coat of arms pictorially. E Pluribus Unum, also our national motto, aligns with the depiction of the Bald Eagle. Tuebor is represented in the arrows clasped in the eagle's talons and the gun held in the man's left hand. Si Quaeris Peninsulam Amoenam Circumspice is supported by the warmth of the sun, the man's friendly greeting from the peninsula and the olive branches held by the Bald Eagle.

Michigan Facts

• The name Michigan is derived from the Indian words "Michi-gama" meaning large lake.
• The State Nickname is the "Great Lake State". Others include "Wolverine State" or "Water Winter Wonderland".
• Michigan was admitted to the Union in 1837, the 26th state.
• Michigan includes:
  - 57,022 sq. mi. of land area (16,439 sq. mi. in the U.P.)
  - 1,194 sq. mi. of inland waters
  - 38,575 sq. mi. of Great Lake water area
  - 3,126 miles of Great Lakes shoreline (more fresh water coastline than any other state)
  - 19,000,000 acres of forest cover
• The population is 9,328,784 (1990 Census). 9,488,000 est. 1/1/93 (98 per sq. mi.).
• The capitol is Lansing (1879).
• The largest city is Detroit.
• The State Trunkline System totals 9,607 miles. All are toll free.
• Michigan is the only state that touches four of the five Great Lakes.
• 40 of Michigan's 83 counties touch at least one of the Great Lakes.
• Michigan has more than 11,000 inland lakes and more than 36,000 miles of streams.
• You are never more than six miles from one of them.

Anywhere in Michigan, you are within 85 miles of one of the Great Lakes.