Welcome to the Great Lakes State, where the cars are made, the lakes are great, and the people are friendly. Michigan is a state with a rich history, diverse culture, and stunning natural beauty. From the birthplace of Motown music to the land of the cherry festival, there are plenty of interesting and quirky facts about Michigan that will leave you in awe. So, buckle up and get ready to explore 20 amazing Michigan facts that you probably never knew before!
1-5 Fun Facts About Michigan
1. Michigan is bigger than the United Kingdom.
2. It is home to around 10 million people, making it the 11th most populous state in the US.
3. The state motto is “si quaeris peninsulam amoenam circumspice”, which translates to “If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you”.
4. If you’re planning a trip to Mackinac Island, Michigan, leave your car behind! Cars have been banned from the island since 1898, making it a peaceful and pedestrian-friendly paradise.
5. The Big three car makers in the US—Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis—all have their roots in Michigan, where around 20% of all US-made vehicles, or 2 million cars, are still produced every year.
6-10 Creepy Facts About Michigan
6. Michigan has some strange, antiquated laws. For example, did you know that women can’t legally cut their hair without their husband’s permission? Yikes!
7. In Detroit, husbands who scowl at their wives can be charged with a crime, at least on paper.
8. It prohibits the buying or selling of cars on Sundays. And if you thought car salesmen in Michigan already had it tough, try convincing a potential customer to wait until Monday to buy a car. “Sorry sir, we can’t sell you that car today. It’s the Lord’s day, you know.”
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9. Flint, a city in Michigan, once passed a law that empowered the police to arrest anyone who showed off their underwear or backside by wearing sagging pants.
10. The Paternity Act of 1956 is a Michigan law that can hold men liable for child support even if the child isn’t biologically theirs. So guys, make sure you know what you’re getting into before you start dating in Michigan!
11-15 Interesting Facts About Michigan
11. Back in 1934, future US president Gerald Ford stood up for his teammate Willis Ward, who was black, when the University of Michigan refused to let him play against a team that wouldn’t share the field with a black player. Ford threatened to quit the team, but Ward convinced him to stay, and Michigan ended up winning the game.
12. From 1912 until the end of segregation, Idlewild, Michigan, was known as “The Black Eden.” It was one of the few places where black Americans could fish, hunt, vacation, party, and buy land in peace, without interference.
13. If you want to become an athletic trainer in Michigan, get ready for a long road ahead. The state requires a whopping 1,460 days of education and training for this profession. In contrast, becoming an emergency medical technician (EMT) only requires 26 days of training. So if you’re looking for a quick career change, EMT might be the way to go!
14. Michigan has a unique bottle deposit system where people get a refund of 10 cents instead of 5 cents for each bottle they recycle. This system has helped the state achieve an impressive 97% recycle-rate, compared to the national average of 33% for states without deposit laws.
15. An anonymous Group pays for the college education of every student in Kalamazoo, Michigan. It’s a generous gift that has helped many students pursue their dreams without worrying about the financial burden of student loans.
16-20 Surprising Facts About Michigan
16. If you’re in Michigan, you’re never far from a lake. No point within the state is more than 6 miles away from one. So whether you’re looking to swim, fish, or just enjoy the view, there’s always a lake nearby.
17. Switchblade knives are illegal to own in Michigan. However, this is an exception for one-armed people.
18. The police department in Michigan is not afraid to get creative when it comes to busting drug dealers. In one instance, they staged a fake wedding, complete with undercover cops acting as the bride and groom, and invited local drug dealers to attend. At the reception, they busted them all at once.
19. A man who was convicted of violating a century-old Michigan law against swearing near women and children decided to challenge it in court – and he won. The court eventually struck down the law.
20. If you’re a fan of gambling, be warned – Michigan takes its self-exclusion policies seriously. You can ban yourself from casinos for life, but if you break the ban and get caught, you might get arrested and all your winnings confiscated.
That’s it for this post guys, I hope you had fun while reading 20 Awesome Michigan Facts For Kids.
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