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Map of Michigan

Michigan is a first-level division of United States. Its largest mapped city is Detroit, with about 4.10 million people in the metropolitan area. The interactive map below is centred on Michigan, and the tables list its 22 mapped cities along with the lakes, ports nearest to them.

Cities Mapped
22
Largest City
Detroit
4.10 million
Country
United States
North America

Interactive Map of Michigan

5.4

About Michigan

Michigan ( MISH-ig-ən) is a peninsular state in the Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwestern United States. It shares water and land boundaries with Minnesota to the northwest, Wisconsin to the west, Indiana and Illinois to the southwest, Ohio to the southeast, and the Canadian province of Ontario to the east, northeast and north. With a population of 10.13 million and an area of 96,716 sq mi (250,490 km2), Michigan is the tenth-largest state by population, the 11th-largest by area, and the largest by total area east of the Mississippi River. The state capital is Lansing, while its most populous city is Detroit. The Metro Detroit region in Southeast Michigan is among the nation's most populous and largest metropolitan economies. Other important metropolitan areas include Grand Rapids, Flint, Ann Arbor, Kalamazoo, the Tri-Cities, and Muskegon.

Michigan consists of two peninsulas: the heavily forested Upper Peninsula (commonly called "the U.P."), which juts eastward from northern Wisconsin, and the more populated Lower Peninsula, stretching north from Ohio and Indiana. The peninsulas are separated by the Straits of Mackinac, which connects Lake Michigan and Lake Huron, and are linked by the 5-mile-long Mackinac Bridge along Interstate 75. Bordering four of the five Great Lakes and Lake St. Clair, Michigan has the longest freshwater coastline of any U.S. political subdivision, measuring 3,288 miles. The state ranks second behind Alaska in water coverage by square miles and first in percentage, with approximately 42%, and it also contains 64,980 inland lakes and ponds.

The Great Lakes region has largely been inhabited for thousands of years by Indigenous peoples such as the Ojibwe, Odawa, Potawatomi, and Wendat.

Some people contend that the region's name is derived from the Ojibwe word ᒥᓯᑲᒥ (mishigami), meaning "large water" or "large lake".

Summary adapted from Wikipedia: Michigan (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Michigan, United States
Image via Wikimedia Commons.

Michigan in Depth

History

When the first European explorers arrived, the most populous tribes in what is now Michigan were the Algonquian peoples, which include the Anishinaabe groups of Ojibwe, Odaawaa/Odawa (Ottawa), and the Boodewaadamii/Bodéwadmi (Potawatomi). The three nations coexisted peacefully as part of a loose confederation called the Council of Three Fires. The Ojibwe, whose numbers are estimated to have been at least 35,000, were the largest.

The Ojibwe (also known as Chippewa in the U.S.), an Anishinaabe tribe, were established in Michigan's Upper Peninsula and northern and central Michigan. Bands also inhabited Ontario and southern Manitoba, Canada; and northern Wisconsin, and northern and north-central Minnesota.

Geography

Michigan consists of two peninsulas separated by the Straits of Mackinac. The 45th parallel north runs through the state, marked by highway signs and the Polar-Equator Trail— along a line including Mission Point Light near Traverse City, the towns of Gaylord and Alpena in the Lower Peninsula and Menominee in the Upper Peninsula. With the exception of two tiny areas drained by the Mississippi River by way of the Wisconsin River in the Upper Peninsula and by way of the Kankakee-Illinois River in the Lower Peninsula, Michigan is drained by the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence watershed and is the only state with the majority of its land thus drained. No point in the state is more than six miles (9.7 km) from a natural water source or more than 85 miles (137 km) from a Great Lakes shoreline.

Economy

Michigan is among the wealthiest regions in the world. As of 2026, its gross state product (GSP) is $771.1 billion ($76,130 per capita), ranking 14th among the 50 U.S. states. Michigan's nominal GDP is larger than that of every nation in Africa and all but Brazil in South America. Its nominal per capita GDP exceeds all but two nations in the European Union. When adjusted for regional price parities, Michigan's per capita GDP is significantly higher than the European average, surpassing the figures of France, Italy, and the United Kingdom.

As of December 2025, the state recorded total non-farm employment of 4,543,300 across 315,965 employer establishments. Michigan is home to 15 Fortune 500 companies as of 2024, and in 2025 alone, 152,800 new businesses were formed.

Demographics

Since the 1800 U.S. census, Michigan has experienced relatively positive and stable population growth trends; beginning with a population of 3,757, the 2010 census recorded 9,883,635 residents. At the 2020 United States census, its population was 10,077,331, an increase of 2.03% since 2010's tabulation. According to the United States Census Bureau, it is the third-most populous state in the Midwest and its East North Central subregion, behind Ohio and Illinois.

Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Michigan (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Michigan: Key Facts

Key facts about Michigan
Population10,077,331 (2020)
Area250,493 km²
CapitalLansing
Head of governmentGretchen Whitmer
Highest pointMount Arvon
Established26 January 1837

Facts from Wikidata Q1166 (CC0).

History of Michigan: Empires and States

The atlas records 4 polities whose mapped territory included part of Michigan, from Haudenosaunee in 1670 CE to 2024 CE. They are listed in the order they first appear.

Polities that held Michigan, in chronological order
PolityPeriod here
Haudenosaunee1670–1701 CE
British Colonial Empire1769–1795 CE
The British Empire1769–1795 CE
United States of America1807–2024 CE

Historical Maps of Michigan

Michigan on the world map in each year one of these states held it:

Derived by testing mapped cities against dated territorial polygons. Dates are when the polygons cover this place, not the polity's whole lifespan, and polities absent from the source dataset are not listed.

Visiting Michigan

Michigan (pronounced "MISH-uh-gin") is an American state in the upper Midwest and the heart of the Great Lakes region. It has many attractions, famous landmarks, and scenic state and national parks and forests. In addition to the great ones, it has about 12,000 inland lakes, 38 deep-water ports, more miles of coastline than any state but Alaska, and more lighthouses than any other U.S. state. Its agriculture features tourist-friendly fare such as cherries, blueberries, peaches, apples, and wine. Its cities include a major metropolis, university towns, and countless rustic villages.

The state is geographically unique and consists of two major peninsulas which can be further divided into five distinct areas. They are the Upper Peninsula, (known to Michiganders as "The U.P."), Northern Michigan (“Up North” to locals), West Michigan (along the sandy coast of Lake Michigan), Central Michigan or "Mid-Michigan" and the Southeast or "Downstate".

Travel notes adapted from Wikivoyage: Michigan (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Largest Cities in Michigan

22 cities mapped. Ranked by metropolitan population. A port city's harbour is written up on the page of its sea.

Largest Cities in Michigan
#NamePopulation
1Detroit4.10 million
2Grand Rapids535,829
3Flint295,212
4Lansing279,952
5Ann Arbor265,976
6Kalamazoo183,381
7Saginaw121,379
8Muskegon101,177
9Sault Ste. Marie83,805
10Battle Creek70,820
11Bay City68,549
12Pontiac67,994
13Benton Harbor58,382
14Traverse City43,189
15Marquette26,591
16Alpena18,330
17Escanaba17,318
18Hancock16,355
19Iron Mountain16,183
20Cadillac14,097
21Petoskey12,667
22Ironwood7,064

Largest Lakes in Michigan

4 lakes mapped. Ranked by mapped surface area. A lake on a border is listed under each country it lies in, with the area of the whole lake. Assigned by the nearest mapped city, so features near the boundary may belong to a neighbouring division.

Largest Lakes in Michigan
#NameSurface Area
1Lake Huron64,004 km²
2Saginaw Bay2,858 km²
3Whitefish Bay1,959 km²
4St. Marys River202 km²

Ports in Michigan

57 ports mapped. Ranked by approach channel depth, the figure that limits which ships can call. Harbours link to their write-up on the page of the sea or coast they lie on. Assigned by the nearest mapped city, so features near the boundary may belong to a neighbouring division.

Ports in Michigan
#NameChannel Depth
1St Clair56.7 m
2Port Hope56.7 m
3Rogers City56.7 m
4White Lake56.7 m
5Saugatuck56.7 m
6Manistique56.7 m
7Bayfield56.7 m
8la Pointe56.7 m
9St. James Harbor53 m
10Leland53 m
The other 47 (channel depth, class, sea, max vessel)
  1. South Haven · 53 m · Very Small · Great Lakes & St. Lawrence Seaway · medium vessels
  2. Nahma · 53 m · Very Small · Great Lakes & St. Lawrence Seaway · medium vessels
  3. Grand Marais · 53 m · Very Small · Great Lakes & St. Lawrence Seaway · medium vessels
  4. Copper Harbor · 53 m · Very Small · Great Lakes & St. Lawrence Seaway · medium vessels
  5. Petoskey · 53 m · Very Small · Great Lakes & St. Lawrence Seaway · medium vessels
  6. Alabaster · 49.4 m · Very Small · Great Lakes & St. Lawrence Seaway · medium vessels
  7. Mackinaw City · 49.4 m · Very Small · Great Lakes & St. Lawrence Seaway · medium vessels
  8. Charlevoix · 49.4 m · Very Small · Great Lakes & St. Lawrence Seaway · medium vessels
  9. Grand Haven · 49.4 m · Small · Great Lakes & St. Lawrence Seaway · medium vessels
  10. Munising · 49.4 m · Very Small · Great Lakes & St. Lawrence Seaway · medium vessels
  11. L Anse · 49.4 m · Very Small · Great Lakes & St. Lawrence Seaway · medium vessels
  12. Baraga · 49.4 m · Very Small · Great Lakes & St. Lawrence Seaway · medium vessels
  13. Eagle Harbor · 49.4 m · Very Small · Great Lakes & St. Lawrence Seaway · medium vessels
  14. Ontonagon · 49.4 m · Very Small · Great Lakes & St. Lawrence Seaway · medium vessels
  15. Washington Harbor · 49.4 m · Very Small · Great Lakes & St. Lawrence Seaway · medium vessels
  16. Cheboygan · 45.7 m · Small · Great Lakes & St. Lawrence Seaway · medium vessels
  17. Wyandotte · 45.7 m · Small · Great Lakes & St. Lawrence Seaway · medium vessels
  18. Algonac · 45.7 m · Very Small · Great Lakes & St. Lawrence Seaway · medium vessels
  19. Harbor Beach · 45.7 m · Very Small · Great Lakes & St. Lawrence Seaway · medium vessels
  20. Rockport · 45.7 m · Very Small · Great Lakes & St. Lawrence Seaway · medium vessels
  21. Calcite · 45.7 m · Very Small · Great Lakes & St. Lawrence Seaway · large vessels
  22. St Ignace · 45.7 m · Very Small · Great Lakes & St. Lawrence Seaway · medium vessels
  23. Frankfort · 45.7 m · Small · Great Lakes & St. Lawrence Seaway · medium vessels
  24. Manistee · 45.7 m · Small · Great Lakes & St. Lawrence Seaway · medium vessels
  25. Holland · 45.7 m · Small · Great Lakes & St. Lawrence Seaway · medium vessels
  26. Gladstone · 45.7 m · Very Small · Great Lakes & St. Lawrence Seaway · medium vessels
  27. Ashland · 45.7 m · Small · Great Lakes & St. Lawrence Seaway · medium vessels
  28. Washburn · 45.7 m · Very Small · Great Lakes & St. Lawrence Seaway · medium vessels
  29. Rouge River · 45.7 m · Small · Great Lakes & St. Lawrence Seaway · medium vessels
  30. St Joseph · 45.7 m · Small · Great Lakes & St. Lawrence Seaway · medium vessels
  31. Traverse City · 45.7 m · Very Small · Great Lakes & St. Lawrence Seaway · medium vessels
  32. Alpena · 45.7 m · Small · Great Lakes & St. Lawrence Seaway · medium vessels
  33. Houghton · 45.7 m · Small · Great Lakes & St. Lawrence Seaway · medium vessels
  34. Trenton · 42.1 m · Very Small · Great Lakes & St. Lawrence Seaway · medium vessels
  35. Mackinac Island · 42.1 m · Very Small · Great Lakes & St. Lawrence Seaway · medium vessels
  36. Ludington · 42.1 m · Small · Great Lakes & St. Lawrence Seaway · point_of_interest
  37. Port Inland · 42.1 m · Very Small · Great Lakes & St. Lawrence Seaway · large vessels
  38. Saginaw · 42.1 m · Small · Great Lakes & St. Lawrence Seaway · medium vessels
  39. Muskegon · 42.1 m · Small · Great Lakes & St. Lawrence Seaway · medium vessels
  40. Sault Ste Marie · 42.1 m · Small · Great Lakes & St. Lawrence Seaway · medium vessels
  41. Bay City · 42.1 m · Small · Great Lakes & St. Lawrence Seaway · medium vessels
  42. Presque Isle · 42.1 m · Very Small · Great Lakes & St. Lawrence Seaway · medium vessels
  43. Escanaba · 42.1 m · Small · Great Lakes & St. Lawrence Seaway · large vessels
  44. Marine City · 38.4 m · Very Small · Great Lakes & St. Lawrence Seaway · large vessels
  45. Tawas City · Very Small · Great Lakes & St. Lawrence Seaway · medium vessels
  46. Au Sable · Very Small · Great Lakes & St. Lawrence Seaway · medium vessels
  47. Oscoda · Very Small · Great Lakes & St. Lawrence Seaway · medium vessels

Michigan: Quick Answers

Where is Michigan?
Michigan is a first-level division of United States, in North America. Its mapped cities centre on 44.1191° N, 85.4702° W.
What is the largest city in Michigan?
Detroit is the largest city mapped in Michigan, with a metropolitan population of about 4.10 million.
How many cities are in Michigan?
YearMaps maps 22 cities and towns in Michigan, with a combined metropolitan population of about 6.41 million. This counts mapped settlements, not every municipality.
What is the largest lake in Michigan?
The largest lake mapped in or beside Michigan is Lake Huron, at about 64,004 km².

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