Community Profiles Now Include More Places to Explore

We've enhanced the "Places" section of our Community Profiles to make it easier for you to discover popular nearby places.

Michigan Gazetteer

Michigan - Basic Information

Became a State: January 26, 1837 - 26th State
Population: 9,883,640 (2010 Census) - Ranks 8th
Land Area: 56,538.9 square miles - Ranks 22nd
Population Density: 174.8 persons per square mile - Ranks 17th
Housing Units: 4,532,233 (2010 Census)
Housing Unit Density: 80.2 housing units per square mile
July 1, 2023 Estimates: Michigan Data and Demographics
State Capital: Lansing
State Website: Official State of Michigan Website
Michigan State Flag
Michigan state flag

Quick & Easy Ways to...

  1. Get Current Demographic Data for Cities, Towns, and ZIP Codes
  2. View Boundary Maps, for Cities, Towns, and ZIP Codes
  3. Locate Physical, Cultural, and Historical Features

Use HTL Address Research for a Michigan Address and get...

Boundary Maps, Demographic Data, School Zones Review maps and data for the neighborhood, city, county, ZIP Code, and school zone. July 1, 2023, data includes home values, household income, percentage of homes owned, rented or vacant, etc.


Michigan Neighborhood Explorer

NOTE: The BEST tool for researching a neighborhood is the HTL Address Research Tool (above). However, if you do not have an address, the Michigan Neighborhood Explorer is the SECOND-BEST-TOOL to research a neighborhood (it provides a subset of the information that the Address Research Tool provides), but you can get a report by simply marking a spot on a map.

The Michigan Neighborhood Explorer helps you to research any Michigan neighborhood (census block group) and get home values, average household income, owner/renter/ occupancy rates, projected growth rates, boundary maps, comparisons to other communities, and much more.

Simply mark a spot on a state map and you'll have your results within 3-seconds!

Michigan Neighborhood Explorer


Michigan History

Michigan State Flower
Michigan State Flower - Apple Blossom

The area of Michigan was part of the original territory of the United States, being part of lands ceded by four states to the United States and designated in 1787 as the "Territory northwest of the River Ohio." Michigan Territory was organized on June 30, 1805, from the northeastern part of Indiana Territory, and included all of the Lower Peninsula, the eastern part of the Upper Peninsula, a small strip of northern Indiana, and a portion of northwestern Ohio that was later contested. In 1818, when Illinois was admitted as a state, all of the remainder of Illinois Territory was added to Michigan Territory, including almost all of present-day Wisconsin, part of Minnesota, and the western part of the Upper Peninsula; at the same time, the central portion of the Upper Peninsula and eastern Wisconsin were added from the former Indiana Territory. In 1834, Michigan Territory was enlarged from part of Missouri Territory, including all of present-day Iowa, the remainder of Minnesota, and the eastern part of North Dakota and South Dakota. Michigan was reduced with the organization of Wisconsin Territory and the cession of the Toledo Strip to Ohio in 1836. As a compromise for the cession of territory to Ohio, Michigan Territory retained all of the Upper Peninsula when Wisconsin Territory was organized, resulting in a boundary generally the same as the present state.

Although not yet legally established as a separate territory, census data for Michigan are available beginning with the 1800 census. The 1800 census includes the population of a small area that is in present-day Ohio and excludes the population that was enumerated with Indiana of a small area of present-day Michigan. The 1800 population of the legally established Northwest Territory (of which Michigan was a part) was 45,916. The 1810, 1820, and 1830 census populations are for the entire area of Michigan Territory, including population in extensive areas not in the present state, and, in 1810, excluding again the population of a small area of present-day Michigan enumerated with Indiana. For an explanation of the revision to the 1800, 1820, and 1830 population of Michigan, see Richard L. Forstall, Population of States and Counties of the United States: 1790- 1990, Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1996, page 82.

Data for the legally established state of Michigan are available beginning with the 1840 census.

Michigan Geographical Areas

See: Geographic Terms & Concepts

Counties & County Equivalents

Interactive Map of Michigan Counties | Static Overview Map of Michigan Counties

There are 83 counties in Michigan.  All counties in Michigan are functioning governmental entities, each governed by a board of commissioners.


County Subdivisions

There are 1,573 county subdivisions in Michigan known as minor civil divisions (MCDs).  There are 1,123 townships and 117 charter townships which are all actively functioning governmental units.  Townships are the original units of government formed in the state. Typically, though not always, townships are 36 square miles in size.  Each township is governed by a board of trustees consisting of the township supervisor, township clerk, township treasurer, and two or four elected trustees. The entire state is covered by township governments except for areas within cities. 

The 275 cities in Michigan are independent of MCDs and serve as 293 county subdivisions.  Cities are incorporated places and governed by home rule.  When established, the geographic area of a city is removed from the township(s) of which it may have been a part. 

In addition, there are 40 undefined MCDs that are water area only.

Places (Incorporated Cities, Towns & Census Designated Places (CDPs))

Michigan State Bird
Michigan State Bird - Robin

Michigan has 692 places; 533 incorporated places and 159 census designated places (CDPs).  The incorporated places consist of 275 cities and 258 villages.  Incorporated villages are dependent within county subdivision.  Incorporated cities are independent of any township or charter township.

Alphabetical List of Cities, Towns, CDPs and Other Populated Places
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q, R | S | T | U, V | W, X, Y, Z

Michigan Civil Features

Michigan Civil Features: Political Subdivisions, Native Areas, Land Grants, etc. - sorted by Census Class Codes.

Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas

There are 15 Metropolitan and 17 Micropolitan Statistical Areas in Michigan. MI Metopolitan & Micropolitan Areas

Michigan ZIP Code Tabulation Areas

There are 989 ZIP Code tabulation areas (ZCTAs) in Michigan. View Michigan ZIP Codes and ZIP Code Maps.

School Districts

Michigan has 29 elementary school districts and 524 unified school districts. View Michigan Public and Private Schools.

Congressional Districts

Michigan has 15 congressional districts. An interactive map shows the contact information for each Representative as well as the boundaries for each Michigan district. View Map of Michigan Congressional Districts.

State Legislative Districts

There are 38 state senate districts and 110 state house districts in Michigan.

American Indian Areas

Michigan has 13 federally recognized American Indian reservations, 9 with off-reservation trust lands.

Other Information Of General Geographic Interest

Michigan is formed by two peninsulas; The Upper Peninsula and the Lower Peninsula.

Michigan has not gained a seat in the House of Representatives since reapportionment based on the 1960 Census and has lost at least one seat each decade since the reapportionment based on the 1980 Census.

Michigan Physical, Cultural and Historic Features

  1. Michigan Physical Features such as lakes, islands, streams, valleys, summits, etc.
  2. Michigan Cultural Features such as schools, churches, hospitals, parks, dams, reservoirs, etc.
  3. Michigan Historical Features and Michigan Historic Landmarks

Michigan Maps

  • To find a ZIP Code: input the address in the top-left search box of any ZIP Code Map.
  • To find the County: input the address in the top-left search box of the interactive MI map.
  • To find the School Attendance Zone: input the address in the top-left search box of any MI school map

Quick & Easy Ways to...

  1. Get Current Demographic Data for Cities, Towns, and ZIP Codes
  2. View Boundary Maps, for Cities, Towns, and ZIP Codes
  3. Locate Physical, Cultural, and Historical Features

Michigan Census Data Comparison Tool

Compare Michigan July 1, 2023 Data
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