State Abbreviation - MI
State Capital - Lansing
Largest City - Detroit
Area - 96,810 square miles [Michigan is the 11th biggest state in the USA]
Population - 9,938,444 (as of 2000) [Michigan is the eighth most populous state in the USA, after California, New York, Texas, Florida, Illinois, Pennsylvania and Ohio]
Name for Residents - Michiganders, Michiganians or Michiganites
Major Industries - car manufacturing, farming (corn, soybeans, wheat), timber, fishing

Major Rivers - Detroit River, Grand River, Kalamazoo River, St. Clair River, St. Marys River
Major Lakes - Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, Lake Huron, Lake Erie, Lake St. Clair
Highest Point - Mt. Arvon - 1,978 feet (604 m) above sea level
Bordering States - Wisconsin, Ohio, Indiana, Minnesota (across Lake Superior)
Bordering Country - Canada

Origin of the Name Michigan - Michigan is from an Algonquian Chippewa Indian word "meicigama" that means "big sea wate" (referring to the Great Lakes).
State Nickname - Wolverine State
State Motto - "Si quaeris peninsulam amoenam, circum spice" [If you are seeking a amenable (pleasant) peninsula, look around you]
State Song - Michigan, My Michigan