Michigan existed as a colonized territory from at least the 17th century and changed hands between French and British rule a number of times. In 1805, Michigan Territory was established and recognized as an entity separate from the Union. Michigan gained statehood in 1837 with Detroit serving as the first capitol city. Detroit was a natural choice for the capitol, as it was a hub for the booming industry of fur trade. Detroit had the benefits of being accessible by a number of waterways and served to connect the United States and Canada for trade purposes. Today, Detroit is the largest and most populous city in Michigan, but in 1847 the capitol was relocated to Lansing. The intent of moving the capitol was to encourage development of the western part of the state. The capitol building, completed in 1878, still houses the offices for the Michigan governor, Senate, and House.
As the capitol was moved to Lansing in 1847 and has since remained there, the capitol city of Michigan in 1963 was Lansing.
No comments:
Post a Comment