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Michigan: State Flag, Bird and Facts

Michigan's state bird is the American robin, and the apple blossom is the official state flower.

Capital
Lansing
Nickname
The Great Lakes State
State bird
American robin
State flower
Apple blossom
State tree
Eastern white pine
Admitted
January 26, 1837
Population
10,077,331 (2020 census)
Mottos and slogans
Pure Michigan; Si quaeris peninsulam amoenam circumspice
Region
Midwest
Area
250,493 km² (96,716 sq mi)
Highest point
Mount Arvon (1,979 ft)

About Michigan

Two peninsulas make up Michigan. The forested Upper Peninsula, or the U.P., stretches east from Wisconsin, while the more crowded Lower Peninsula reaches north from Ohio and Indiana. The 5-mile Mackinac Bridge links them across the Straits of Mackinac. Michigan borders every Great Lake except Ontario and has 3,288 miles of freshwater shoreline, the longest of any state. Lansing is the capital and Detroit the largest city.

Water covers about 42% of Michigan, a higher share than any other state, and there are 64,980 inland lakes and ponds. That explains old license plate slogans like Water Wonderland. The flag places the state coat of arms on a dark blue background. The current design, the third Michigan has used, dates to 1911. The governor flies a version with a white field instead.

Did you know?

  • Mount Arvon is the highest point in Michigan, at 1,979 feet.
  • Michigan has an official flag month that runs from June 14 to July 14.
  • Pure Michigan is listed among Michigan's official mottoes.

Questions about Michigan

What is Michigan's nickname?

The official nickname is The Great Lakes State. People also call it the Wolverine State and the Mitten State.

When did Michigan become a state?

Michigan was admitted on January 26, 1837.

Other Midwest states

Sources

Facts are compiled from these open sources and rewritten in our own words. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.

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