Portal:Michigan
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Culture · Geography · Health · History · Mathematics · Nature · Philosophy · Religion · Society · Technology  Michigan is a state in the Midwestern area of the United States of America. With an area of 253,793 km² (97,990 sq mi) and a population of 9,938,444 (2000 census), Michigan is the 11th largest state by area and 9th by population. The name is derived from the Chippewa Indian word mishi-gami, meaning "great water" which was originally applied to Lake Michigan.  Bounded by four of the Great Lakes, Michigan has the longest freshwater shoreline in the continental United States, the longest total shoreline of any state except Alaska (including island shorelines), and more recreational boats than any other U.S. state. No point in Michigan is ever more than 137 km (85 miles) from a Great Lake. Michigan is the only state composed of two separate peninsulas. The Lower Peninsula of Michigan is nicknamed "The Mitten" as it resembles the shape of a mitten. The Upper Peninsula of Michigan is nicknamed "The U.P."; the residents of the peninsula are called Yoopers (from U.P.-ers).  A Michigan left, sometimes known as a median U-turn or median U-turn crossover, is an automobile traffic maneuver in which a unidirectional U-turn and a right turn replace a prohibited left turn. The term comes from the fact that the arrangement is quite common along Michigan roads and highways, and extremely rare anywhere else in the United States. Michigan lefts occur at intersections where at least one road is a divided highway or boulevard. Left turns onto the divided highway are prohibited. Instead, drivers on roads that cross the highway are directed to turn right. Within a 1/4 mile (400 m), they queue into a designated U-turn lane in the median. When traffic clears they complete the U-turn and go back through the intersection. For additional safety purposes, the U-turn lane is designed so traffic only flows through it one-way. David Dunbar Buick (September 17, 1854 - March 5, 1929) was a Scottish-American inventor best known for founding the Buick Motor Company. He was born in Arbroath, Angus, Scotland but moved to Detroit, Michigan at the age of two when his parents emigrated to the United States. During the 1890s, Buick developed an interest in internal combustion engines and began to spend his time on experimenting with them. Buick set up a new company, the Buick Auto-Vim and Power Company, in 1899 to build engines. Due to monetary troubles, he set up a second company in 1902, the Buick Manufacturing Company, with the twin aims of marketing engines to other car companies and of manufacturing and selling its own cars. His concentration on development had also produced the revolutionary "Valve-in-Head" overhead valve engine. This method of engine construction produces a much more powerful engine than the rival side valve engine design which all other manufacturers used at the time. Overhead valve engines are now used by all car companies. The money had run out again by 1903 and Buick was forced to raise more money via a $5,000 loan from a friend and fellow car enthusiast, Benjamin Briscoe and form the Buick Motor Company which was to become the foundation stone of the General Motors empire. Thousands of immigrants march in Detroit (and various other cities around the country) to argue for immigration reform and against deportations. Read More State Representative George Cushingberry Jr goes on trial for violation of campaign finance laws. He faces up to $1,000 (USD) in fines and five years in prison. Read more.
 Credit:Mike Russell (User:Mikerussell) The Renaissance Center downtown on the International Riverfront.  Traverse City is the largest city in the 21-county Northern Michigan region. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 14,532. In 2005, the Traverse City Micropolitan Statistical Area was the 13th largest in the United States, with a population estimate of 141,011. It is the county seat of Grand Traverse County, although a small portion lies in Leelanau County. Despite its modest population, Traverse City, especially its downtown, functions as the major commercial center for a seven-county area totaling over 7,000 km² and, along with cross-peninsula counterpart Alpena, is one of Northern Lower Michigan's two anchor cities. Traverse City is the self-proclaimed Cherry Capital of the World, holding an annual week-long Cherry Festival the first full week in July to celebrate. Besides cherries, the surrounding countryside produces grapes, and is one of the centers of wine production in the Midwest. Tourism, both summer and winter, is another key industry. Freshwater beaches, a mild summer climate, upscale golf resorts, vineyards, a nearby National Lakeshore, nearby ski resorts and thousands of square miles of surrounding forests make Traverse City (based on AAA's 2005 TripTik® requests) the second most popular tourist city in the state behind Mackinaw City. 
The following is a list of symbols of the U.S. State of Michigan. State symbols
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