Lansing, Michigan
Encyclopedia
Lansing is the capital of the U.S. state of Michigan
. It is located mostly in Ingham County
, although small portions of the city extend into Eaton County
. The 2010 Census places the city's population at 114,297, making it the fifth largest city in Michigan. The population of its Metropolitan Statistical Area
(MSA) was 464,036, while the even larger Combined Statistical Area
(CSA) population, which includes Shiawassee County
, was 534,684.
The Lansing Metropolitan Area
, colloquially referred to as "Mid-Michigan", is an important center for educational, cultural, governmental, business, and high-tech manufacturing, including two medical school
s, one veterinary school, two nursing school
s, two law school
s, including the nation's largest law school (Thomas M. Cooley Law School
), a Big Ten Conference
university (Michigan State
), the state capital, the state Supreme Court
and Court of Appeals
, a federal court
, the Library of Michigan
and Historical Center, and headquarters of four national insurance
companies.
Lansing is the only U.S. state capital (among the 44 located in counties) that is not also a county seat
. The county seat of Ingham County is Mason
, but the county maintains some offices in Lansing.
In the winter of 1835 and early 1836, two brothers from New York plotted the area now known as REO Town
just south of downtown Lansing and named it "Biddle City." All of this land lay in a floodplain and was underwater during the majority of the year. Regardless, the brothers went back to New York, specifically Lansing, New York
, to sell plots for the town that did not exist. They told the residents of Lansing, New York that this new "city" had an area of 65 blocks, contained a church and also a public and academic square. A group of 16 men bought plots in the nonexistent city and upon reaching the area later that year found they had been scammed. Many in the group too disappointed to stay ended up settling around what is now Metropolitan Lansing. Those who stayed quickly renamed the area "Lansing Township" in honor of their home village in New York.
The sleepy settlement of fewer than 20 people would remain dormant until the winter of 1847 when the state constitution required that the capital be moved from Detroit to a more centralized and safer location in the interior of the state since many were concerned about Detroit's proximity to British-controlled Canada, which had captured Detroit in the War of 1812
. The United States had recaptured the city in 1813, but these events led to the dire need to have the center of government relocated away from hostile British territory
. In addition, there was also concern with Detroit's strong influence over Michigan politics, being the largest city in the state as well as the capital city.
During the multi-day session to determine a new location for the state capital, many cities, including Ann Arbor
, Marshall
, and Jackson
, lobbied hard to win this designation. Unable to publicly reach a consensus because of constant political wrangling, the Michigan House of Representatives
privately chose the Township of Lansing out of frustration. When announced, many present openly laughed that such an insignificant settlement was now the capital city of Michigan. Two months later, the governor William L. Greenly
signed into law the act of the legislature officially making Lansing Township
the state capital.
With the announcement that Lansing Township had been made the capital, the small village quickly transformed into the seat of state government. The legislature gave the settlement the temporary name of the "Town of Michigan". In April 1848, the legislature then gave the settlement the name of "Lansing". Within months after it became the capital city, individual settlements began to develop along three key points along the Grand River
in the township:
In 1859, the settlement having grown to nearly 3,000 and encompassing about 7 square miles (18 km²) in area was incorporated as a city. The boundaries of the original city were Douglas Avenue to the north, Wood and Regent Streets to the east, Mount Hope Avenue to the south, and Jenison Avenue to the west. These boundaries would remain unchanged until 1916. Lansing began to grow steadily over the next two decades with the completion of the railroads through the city, a plank road
, and the completion of the current capitol building in 1878.
Most of what is known as Lansing today is the direct result of the city becoming an industrial powerhouse which began with the founding of Olds Motor Vehicle Company in August 1897. The company went through many changes, including a buyout, between its founding to 1905 when founder Ransom E. Olds
started his new company REO Motor Car Company
, which would last in Lansing for another 70 years. Olds would be joined by the less successful Clarkmobile
around 1903. Over the next decades, the city would see itself transformed into a major American industrial center for the manufacturing of automobiles and automobile parts
among other industries. The city continued to grow in area too. By 1956, the city had grown to 15 square miles (39 km²), and doubled in size over the next decade to its current size of roughly 33 square miles (85 km²).
Today, the city's economy is now diversified among government service, healthcare, manufacturing, insurance, banking, and education.
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 36.6 square miles (94.8 km²), of which 36 square miles (93.2 km²) of it is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²) (1.66%) of it is water. This figure includes two 425 Agreements with Alaiedon Township
and Meridian Township, and the four 425 Agreements with Delta Township since 2000.
Under Michigan law, 425 Agreement
s are only temporary land sharing agreements, and do not count as official annexations. The Census Bureau, however, for statistical purposes, does count these as annexations. Not counting the temporary 425 Agreements, Lansing administers 34.1 square miles (88.3 km²) total.
Lansing is located in the south central part of the lower peninsula where the Grand River
meets the Red Cedar River
. The city occupies most of what had formerly been part of Lansing Charter Township. It has also annexed adjacent tracts of land in Delta Charter Township and Windsor Township in Eaton County to the west and Delhi Charter Township
in Ingham County to the south. The city also controls three non-contiguous tracts of land through 425 Agreements (conditional land transfer agreements) with Meridian Charter Township, Delta Charter Township, and Alaiedon Township in Ingham County to the southeast.
Lansing elevation ranges between 890 feet (271 m) above sea level
on the far south side of Lansing along Northrup Street near the Cedar Street intersection, to 833 feet (254 m) to 805.5 feet (246 m) above sea level
along the Grand River because of the two dams along the river.
The Grand River, the largest river in Michigan, flows through downtown Lansing; and the Red Cedar River, a tributary of the Grand River, flows through the campus at Michigan State University. There are two lakes in the area, Park Lake and Lake Lansing
, both northeast of the city. Lake Lansing is approximately 500 acres (2 km²) in size and is a summer favorite for swimmers, boaters, and fishermen. Michigan State University Sailing Club and the Lansing Sailing Club are located on Lake Lansing, where sailing regattas are hosted throughout the summer.
The city of Lansing operates a total of 3.6 square miles (9.3 km²) of parkland, of which 2.8 square miles (7.3 km²) is parkland, 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²) are golflands, and 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²) are cemetery lands. This figure includes the Waverly Hills Golf Course
and adjacent Michigan Avenue Park, which are part of Lansing Township, but operated by the City of Lansing. The figure, however, does not include the Ingham County parklands within the borders of Lansing.
seasonal climate (Köppen
Dfb) that is influenced by the Great Lakes
. Winters are cold with moderate to heavy snowfall, while summers are very warm and humid. The monthly daily average temperature in July is 70.3 °F (21.3 °C), while the same figure for January is 21.6 °F (-5.8 °C); the year averages out at 46.8 °F (8.2 °C). Summer temperatures can exceed 90 °F (32 °C), doing so on 9 days, and winter temperatures can drop well below 0 °F (-18 °C), doing so on 13 nights. Precipitation is generally greatest during summer but still frequent and significant in winter. Snowfall, which normally occurs from November to April, averages 54 inches (137 cm) per season. The highest recorded temperature was 102 °F (39 °C), occurring as recently as July 1934, and the lowest recorded temperature was −37 °F in February 1868.
The city's downtown is dominated by state government buildings, especially the State Capitol; but downtown has also experienced recent growth in new restaurants, retail stores and residential developments. Downtown Lansing has a historic city market that is one of the oldest continuously operating farmers' markets in the United States. Upriver and north of downtown is historic Old Town Lansing
with many architecturally significant buildings dating to the mid-19th century. Directly south of downtown on the other side of I-496
along Washington Avenue lies "REO Town
", the birthplace of the automobile in the United States, is where Ransom Eli Olds built factories along Washington Avenue. Ransom Eli Olds' home, which once overlooked the factories along Washington Avenue, was displaced by I-496.
Lansing is generally divided into four sections: Eastside, Westside, Northwestside, and the Southside. Each section contains a diverse array of neighborhoods. The Eastside, located east of the Grand River
and north of the Red Cedar River, is the most ethnically diverse side of Lansing, with foreign-born citizens making up more of its population than any other side in the city. The Eastside's commercial districts are located mainly along Michigan Avenue, and to a lesser extent along Kalamazoo Street. It is anchored by Frandor Shopping Center
on the very eastern edge of the eastside.
The Westside, roughly located north, west, and south of the Grand River as it curves through the city, is sometimes regarded the city's most socio-economically diverse section. This side also contains Lansing's downtown area, though this neighborhood is often included as an area all its own. Outside downtown, this side is largely a collection of residential neighborhoods and is served by only one other commercial area along Saginaw Street. However, it also includes a small part of the Old Town Commercial Association.
The Northwestside, generally located north of the Grand River, with the city limits
defining its north and western borders, is physically the smallest side of the city. This part of the city includes suburban areas and some more rural areas. North of Grand River Avenue, the main street of the side, lie warehouses and light industrial areas served by a major rail line that runs through Lansing. The most notable landmark of this side is Lansing's airport: Capital Region International Airport.
The Southside, usually described as the neighborhoods located south of the Grand and Red Cedar rivers and the I-496 freeway, is physically the largest and most populous side of the city. The area is largely suburban in nature (south of Mount Hope Road near the northern edge), and is served by numerous commercial strips along Cedar Street, Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard
, Pennsylvania Avenue, and Waverly Road, which run north/south. The large Edgewood District is located in the southernmost part of the Southside and is sometimes referred to as South Lansing. Though it is the largest area of the city by both physical size and population, it has often been regarded by Southside citizens as Lansing's most overlooked and forgotten area, as most of Lansing's attention in recent decades has been put into the revitalization of the city's historic core located mostly on small parts of both the East and Westsides.
As of the census of 2010, there were 114,297 people, 48,450 households, and 26,234 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,174.9 per square mile (1,226.3/km2). There were 54,181 housing units at an average density of 1,505.0 per square mile (581.3/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 61.2% White (55.5% non-Hispanic White), 23.7% African American, 0.8% Native American, 3.7% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 4.3% from other races
, and 6.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 12.5% of the population. The foreign-born population sat at 8.3%.
As of 2000, the city's population rose by 32,293 (27%) to 151,421 during the day because of the influx of workers.
As of 2000, there were 49,505 households out of which 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.8% were married couples living together, 17.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.7% were non-families. 33.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 3.08.
In the city the age distribution of the population shows 26.8% under the age of 18, 11.4% from 18 to 24, 32.7% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 9.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 92.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.9 males.
The median income
for a household in the city was $34,833, and the median income for a family was $41,283. Males had a median income of $32,648 versus $27,051 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $17,924. About 13.2% of families and 16.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.2% of those under age 18 and 9.0% of those age 65 or over.
, more specifically a "strong mayor" setup in which the mayor holds most of the city's administrative powers, such as appointment of department heads and drafting and administering a city budget, though the council must approve his/her actions. The mayor is elected at-large every four years. The city clerk is also elected every four years. The city council consists of eight members, and includes four members elected from the city's four wards, as well as four "at-large" members elected citywide.
, which has been represented by Republican congressman Mike Rogers since 2001. The small portion of the city that extends into Eaton County
is located in Michigan's 7th congressional district
, which has been represented by Republican
congressman Tim Walberg
since 2011
.
At the state
level, Lansing is located in the 23rd district of the Michigan Senate
, which has been represented by Democratic state senator Gretchen Whitmer
since January 1, 2007. The small portion of the city that extends into Eaton County is located in the 24th district of the Michigan Senate, which is currently represented by Republican state senator Rick Jones
. The city lies in the 67th, 68th, and 71st districts of the Michigan State House of Representatives
, represented by state representatives Barb Byrum (D-67), Joan Bauer
(D-68), and Deb Shaughnessy (R) (R-71).
Despite Lansing not being a designated county seat
, many county offices and courts are still located within downtown Lansing, including the Ingham County Department of Human Services and the county circuit court.
, education
, insurance
, healthcare, and automobile
manufacturing. Being the state capital, many state government workers reside in the area.
Michigan State University
, Thomas M. Cooley Law School
, and Lansing Community College
are significant employers in the region.
General Motors has offices and a hi-tech manufacturing facility
in Lansing and several manufacturing facilities immediately outside the city, as well, in nearby Lansing and Delta townships. The Lansing area is headquarters to four major national insurance companies: Auto-Owners Insurance
Company, Jackson National Life
, the Accident Fund, and Michigan Millers Insurance Company.
The recent decline of the auto industry
in the region has increased the region's awareness of the importance of a strategy to foster the high-technology
sector.
Lansing has a number of technology companies in the fields of information technology
and biotechnology
.
is a 740 bed hospital
and is affiliated with Michigan State University and its College of Human Medicine
and College of Osteopathic Medicine
. In February 2009 it was announced that Sparrow and MSU formalized their partnership to increase research and faculty recruitment. Sparrow Hospital is the Regional Center for pediatrics, cancer care, including radiation therapy, trauma care, neurological care, high-risk obstetrics and neonatal intensive care. The Sparrow Tower was finished January 2008 and includes but is not limited to: a dedicated pediatric emergency room (the only one in the region), the largest adult emergency room in the region, state-of-the-art operating rooms, a rooftop helipad, oncology center, heart and vascular center and orthopedic department. In addition, 4,500 deliveries are performed at Sparrow Hospital annually, rehabilitation, and emergency treatment is more than any other hospital in mid-Michigan. The Sparrow Health System Laboratory performs over 3 million tests per year, at various laboratory sites, which include four remote testing facilities and thirteen patient service centers. Sparrow Hospital
is certified as a Level I Trauma Center by the American College of Surgeons
. In May 2009 Sparrow announced that it now has its own helicopter service based at its downtown Lansing hospital's new $2.5 million helipad. The addition is expected to increase helicopter patient transport to the hospital from four a month to 400 a year.
Ingham Regional Medical Center
is also a university affiliated teaching hospital. Ingham enjoys a special affiliation in radiation oncology with the University of Michigan and Michigan State University; Ingham is part of the Great Lakes Cancer Institute (GLCI). Ingham received five-star ratings for: Coronary bypass surgery; Cardiac interventions; Treatment of heart attacks; Total knee replacement; Total hip replacement; Back and neck surgery; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease care; Community-Acquired pneumonia care.
projects by private developers are adding higher end apartments and condominiums to the Lansing market. The Arbaugh, a former department store
across from Cooley Law School, was converted into apartments in 2005. Motor Wheel Lofts, a former industrial site, was converted into loft-style living spaces in mid-2006. A combination retail and residential complex immediately south of Cooley Law School Stadium (formerly Oldsmobile Park) called "The Stadium District", was completed in 2007. The Stadium District, was redeveloped using a grant from the Cool Cities Initiative
.
In May 2006 the historically significant Mutual Building located on Capitol Avenue was purchased by The Christman Company to be renovated back to its original grandeur and used as the company's headquarters. Additional downtown developments include the renovation of the historic Hollister Building, and the expansion of the former Abrams Aerial Building. As of August 2008, an 18-story condominium high-rise called Capitol Club Tower is in the design phase with the adjacent parking structure already having been approved by city council and purchased by the developer. The city market, in existence since 1909, was approved to be sold for a multi-building mixed-use development called MarketPlace, right next to the current market on the adjacent riverfront. The MarketPlace project was redeveloped along with BallPark North, another mixed-use development that will be immediately north of Oldsmobile Stadium. The new city market will be across the river from where the Accident Fund Insurance Company is renovating the former (art deco) Ottawa Street Powerplant into their new headquarters, as well as the addition of modern buildings to the north that will be connected by an atrium. In 2009, the restaurant Troppo began construction on a new 2-story building that will have an open air patio on the roof facing the Capitol building. Developer Eyde Co. announced plans on April 6, 2010, to renovate the historical and prominent Knapp's building in downtown Lansing for first floor retail, office space and apartments/condos on the top floor (5th) in a $22–24 million project.
The Greater Lansing CVB formed in 2004 with the commitment to sustaining the environment and encourages “green” practices, both internally and throughout the hospitality community. The Bureau strives to serve as a resource for event planners to help them reduce their carbon footprint while they host their meeting in Greater Lansing. Cool Cities Initiative
.
, a member of the Big Ten Conference, is known as "the pioneer land grant college", located in neighboring East Lansing
. MSU has the largest land campus in the United States and is home to several nationally and internationally recognized academic and research oriented programs. Michigan State offers over 200 programs of study and is home to fourteen different degree-granting schools and colleges including three medical schools, a law school, and numerous PhD programs. It is the only university in the nation with three medical schools. MSU is consistently one of the top three programs in the United States for study abroad
programs. The MSU College of Education is also consistently rated as the top education program in the nation. Michigan State University is the oldest agricultural college in the United States. The MSU School of Criminal Justice is the oldest continuous degree granting criminal justice program in the nation. In 2008, the Department of Energy announced MSU won the contest for a $550 million Facility for Rare Isotope Beams that will attract top researchers from around the world to conduct experiments in nuclear science, astrophysics and applications of isotopes to other fields.
The Thomas M. Cooley Law School
is the largest law school in the nation and is located in downtown Lansing. Cooley is fully accredited by the American Bar Association
. A majority of Cooley students are from out-of-state.
Lansing Community College
offers more than 500 areas of study to over 18,000 students at its main facilities in Lansing, and another 5,000 students at twenty-nine extension centers and a site in Otsu, Japan
. LCC's new, state-of-the-art University Center enables students to take courses with the goal of eventually earning an undergraduate or graduate degree from other Michigan institutions. The University Center stands on the former site of "Old Central", Lansing's first public high school, which was established in 1875 as Lansing High School. (In the 1920s it was renamed as Central High School, and in 1957 became the first building on the LCC campus.)
Other institutions of higher education
include Western Michigan University
(branch campus in Delta Township), Davenport University
in Downtown Lansing, Central Michigan University
(branch campus), and Great Lakes Christian College
(campus in Delta Township).
s throughout the city in the summer months. These markets include the Allen Street Farmer's Market on the city's eastside, the Old Town Farmer's Market, and the year-round historic Lansing City Market located near downtown. The Lansing City Market has built a brand new $1.6 million facility on the riverfront in downtown Lansing where it will continue its year round operations providing specialty items in addition to regular groceries from over 30 vendors.
and Historical Center is a highly regarded state library and research center. The library is one of the top five genealogical research facilities in the United States. The Capital Area District Library
has 13 branches within Ingham County, some of these include: The Main library downtown, the Foster Library on the east side, and the South Lansing Library on the south side.
completed a 24,000 sq/ft, $18.5 million expansion and renovation, having already spent over $1.3 million in 2008. Many Broadway shows come to The Wharton Center before traveling to theaters in larger places such as Chicago. The Kresge Art Museum, the MSU Museum, and the Abrams Planetarium are highly acclaimed cultural destinations located on the campus of Michigan State University
in East Lansing. In June 2007 MSU announced the plans to build a new art museum after a $26 million gift from Eli and Edythe Broad. Internationally known Pritzker Prize winning architect Zaha Hadid of London won the design competition for the museum that will be built in East Lansing.
cable system in Lansing.
WILX maintains WSYM's News programming. Both affiliates broadcast their newscasts at the News 10 studios in Lansing. Often the same reporters are used on both broadcasts.
Note: If the station has no city listed before the format, it is licensed to Lansing.
Radio stations from Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Saginaw, and Flint can also be heard in the Lansing area.
are a Class A Midwest League
, Minor League Baseball
team, currently affiliated with the Toronto Blue Jays
. The team plays its home games at Cooley Law School Stadium, which was built at a cost of $12.7 million and opened in 1996 in downtown Lansing. It was partially renovated in 2006. Cooley Law School Stadium has a seating capacity
of 11,215 fans, and was built to accommodate additional expansion. The team has won two Midwest League championships, their first in 1997 and their second in 2003. Previously known as Oldsmobile Park, the facility was renamed Thomas M. Cooley Law School Stadium in April 2010, in reference to the park's new sponsor.
The Summit at the Capital Centre
is a hockey arena and convention center
located in the suburb
of Dimondale
that hosts youth and high school hockey.
The Lansing Capitals
began play in the International Basketball League
in 2006.
Michigan State University sponsors both men's and women's sports, usually competing as a member of the Big Ten Conference
. The Spartans have won National Titles in Men's Basketball, Football, Men's Boxing, Men's Cross Country, Men's Gymnastics, Men's Ice Hockey
, Men's Soccer, and Men's Wrestling.
On November 27, 2011 MSU beat Northwestern in their Big Ten Football
finale to secure the top Big Ten record at 7-1 in conference play, and set up their entrance to the first Big Ten Football Championship Game
to be held December 3rd, 2011 at Lucas Stadium
in Indianapolis, Indiana
against the Wisconsin Badgers
.
Lansing Community College
also sponsors many sports, competing as members of the Michigan Community College Athletic Association
. The Stars have won NJCAA titles in the following sports: Women's Softball, Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball, Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country, Women's Marathon and Men's Marathon.
The Lansing area is also known for its many golf courses, with two courses owned by Michigan State University, four municipal courses, and many additional public and private courses in the area. Walnut Hills Country Club
in nearby East Lansing formerly hosted the LPGA
's Oldsmobile Classic from 1992–2000. The Michigan PGA recently relocated from the Detroit area to Bath, Michigan
, which is on the northern edge of Lansing.
In the 1980s and 1990s Lansing was a major player in semi-pro football. The Lansing Crusaders won MFL/MCFL championships in 1982, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, and 1990. The team finished second in 1984, 1986, and 1991.
Other past sports teams include:
maintains routes to Detroit
and Minneapolis/St. Paul
. United Airlines
maintains routes to Chicago O'Hare
. Sun Country Airlines
and Apple Vacations offer non-stop flights to Washington, D.C.
and Minneapolis/St. Paul, and seasonal flights to Cancún, Mexico
; Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
; Montego Bay, Jamaica; Fort Myers
and Orlando, Florida
; and Las Vegas, Nevada
. UPS
has a freight hub at Capital Region International Airport making up part of the 42 million pounds of annual cargo moving through the airport. In 2008 the airport received a port of entry
designation – known as Port Lansing
– and now has a permanent customs facility, thus changing its name to reflect the port of entry status. The same year a 500 feet (152.4 m) extension to the largest of the three runway
s – now 8506 feet (2,592.6 m) – was completed to allow for larger aircraft to use the airport.
The Michigan Flyer provides bus service between Lansing and Detroit Metro Airport
eight times daily.
. In 2008 the Lansing BWL constructed Michigan's largest solar array towards the goal of increasing renewable energy in the energy grid.
Natural gas is provided by Consumers Energy
.
, Ghana Guadalajara
, Mexico Ōtsu
, Japan Saint Petersburg
, Russia Saltillo
, Mexico Sanming
, Fujian, China
Lansing has three "friendship cities": Cosenza
, Italy Lanzhou
, China Sakaide, Japan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. It is located mostly in Ingham County
Ingham County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 279,320 people, 108,593 households, and 63,744 families residing in the county. The population density was 500 people per square mile . There were 115,056 housing units at an average density of 206 per square mile...
, although small portions of the city extend into Eaton County
Eaton County, Michigan
Eaton County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the population was 107,759. The county seat is Charlotte. Eaton County was named for John Eaton, who was Secretary of War under U.S. President Andrew Jackson, making it one of Michigan's Cabinet counties...
. The 2010 Census places the city's population at 114,297, making it the fifth largest city in Michigan. The population of its Metropolitan Statistical Area
United States metropolitan area
In the United States a metropolitan statistical area is a geographical region with a relatively high population density at its core and close economic ties throughout the area. Such regions are not legally incorporated as a city or town would be, nor are they legal administrative divisions like...
(MSA) was 464,036, while the even larger Combined Statistical Area
Combined Statistical Area
The United States Office of Management and Budget defines micropolitan and metropolitan statistical areas. Metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas consist of one or more counties...
(CSA) population, which includes Shiawassee County
Shiawassee County, Michigan
-Transportation:-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 71,687 people, 26,896 households, and 19,849 families residing in the county. The population density was 133 people per square mile . There were 29,087 housing units at an average density of 54 per square mile...
, was 534,684.
The Lansing Metropolitan Area
Lansing-East Lansing Metropolitan Statistical Area
The Lansing-East Lansing Metropolitan Statistical Area is a three-county metropolitan area located in Central Michigan defined by the Office of Management and Budget, and encompassing the counties of Eaton, Clinton, and Ingham. The region is colloquially referred to as "Mid-Michigan", and less...
, colloquially referred to as "Mid-Michigan", is an important center for educational, cultural, governmental, business, and high-tech manufacturing, including two medical school
Medical school
A medical school is a tertiary educational institution—or part of such an institution—that teaches medicine. Degree programs offered at medical schools often include Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Bachelor/Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Philosophy, master's degree, or other post-secondary...
s, one veterinary school, two nursing school
Nursing school
A nursing school is a type of educational institution, or part thereof, providing education and training to become a fully qualified nurse. The nature of nursing education and nursing qualifications varies considerably across the world.-United Kingdom:...
s, two law school
Law school
A law school is an institution specializing in legal education.- Law degrees :- Canada :...
s, including the nation's largest law school (Thomas M. Cooley Law School
Thomas M. Cooley Law School
Thomas M. Cooley Law School is an American Bar Association accredited law school in the United States. Located in Michigan, its main campus is in Lansing, and its satellite campuses are in Ann Arbor, Auburn Hills, and Grand Rapids. Cooley plans on opening another satellite campus in Tampa Bay,...
), a Big Ten Conference
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
university (Michigan State
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
), the state capital, the state Supreme Court
Michigan Supreme Court
The Michigan Supreme Court is the highest court in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is known as Michigan's "court of last resort" and consists of seven justices who are elected to eight-year terms. Candidates are nominated by political parties and are elected on a nonpartisan ballot...
and Court of Appeals
Michigan Court of Appeals
The Michigan Court of Appeals is the intermediate-level appellate court of the state of Michigan. It was created by the Michigan Constitution of 1963, and commenced operations in 1965...
, a federal court
United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan
The United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan is the Federal district court with jurisdiction over of the western portion of the state of Michigan, including the entire Upper Peninsula....
, the Library of Michigan
Library of Michigan
The Library of Michigan and Historical Center is a state-run library and historical center located in Lansing, Michigan. The current building opened in 1989....
and Historical Center, and headquarters of four national insurance
Insurance
In law and economics, insurance is a form of risk management primarily used to hedge against the risk of a contingent, uncertain loss. Insurance is defined as the equitable transfer of the risk of a loss, from one entity to another, in exchange for payment. An insurer is a company selling the...
companies.
Lansing is the only U.S. state capital (among the 44 located in counties) that is not also a county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
. The county seat of Ingham County is Mason
Mason, Michigan
Mason is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is named after the state's first governor, Stevens T. Mason. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 8,252. It is the county seat of Ingham County. Mason is the only city in the U.S. that serves as a county seat ahead of a state capital,...
, but the county maintains some offices in Lansing.
History
The area that is now Lansing was originally spotted by explorer Hugh Howard in 1790 while canoeing the Grand River. The land that was to become Lansing was surveyed as "Township 4 North Range 2 West" in February 1827 in what was then dense forest. It was the last of the county's townships to be surveyed, and the land not offered for sale until October 1830. There would be no roads to this area for decades to come.In the winter of 1835 and early 1836, two brothers from New York plotted the area now known as REO Town
REO Town
REO Town is a district in Lansing, Michigan, located south of downtown. Considered the birthplace of the automobile in the United States, REO Town is named after Ransom Eli Olds, an automobile pioneer, for whom both the Oldsmobile and REO brands were named.Lansing, Michigan, wikipedia.com,...
just south of downtown Lansing and named it "Biddle City." All of this land lay in a floodplain and was underwater during the majority of the year. Regardless, the brothers went back to New York, specifically Lansing, New York
Lansing (town), New York
Lansing is a town in Tompkins County, New York, United States. The population was 10,521 at the 2000 census. The town is named after John Lansing. Settlers from Lansing were early residents of the then-township of Lansing, Michigan and named it after their hometown; it would later become a city...
, to sell plots for the town that did not exist. They told the residents of Lansing, New York that this new "city" had an area of 65 blocks, contained a church and also a public and academic square. A group of 16 men bought plots in the nonexistent city and upon reaching the area later that year found they had been scammed. Many in the group too disappointed to stay ended up settling around what is now Metropolitan Lansing. Those who stayed quickly renamed the area "Lansing Township" in honor of their home village in New York.
The sleepy settlement of fewer than 20 people would remain dormant until the winter of 1847 when the state constitution required that the capital be moved from Detroit to a more centralized and safer location in the interior of the state since many were concerned about Detroit's proximity to British-controlled Canada, which had captured Detroit in the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
. The United States had recaptured the city in 1813, but these events led to the dire need to have the center of government relocated away from hostile British territory
British America
For American people of British descent, see British American.British America is the anachronistic term used to refer to the territories under the control of the Crown or Parliament in present day North America , Central America, the Caribbean, and Guyana...
. In addition, there was also concern with Detroit's strong influence over Michigan politics, being the largest city in the state as well as the capital city.
During the multi-day session to determine a new location for the state capital, many cities, including Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2010 census places the population at 113,934, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan. The Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 344,791 as of 2010...
, Marshall
Marshall, Michigan
Marshall is a city located in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is part of the Battle Creek, Michigan Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 7,459. It is the county seat of Calhoun County...
, and Jackson
Jackson, Michigan
Jackson is a city located along Interstate 94 in the south central area of the U.S. state of Michigan, about west of Ann Arbor and south of Lansing. It is the county seat of Jackson County. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 33,534...
, lobbied hard to win this designation. Unable to publicly reach a consensus because of constant political wrangling, the Michigan House of Representatives
Michigan State House of Representatives
The Michigan House of Representatives is the lower house of the Michigan Legislature. There are 110 members, each of whom is elected from constituencies having approximately 77,000 to 91,000 residents, based on population figures from the 2000 federal U.S. Census.Members are elected in...
privately chose the Township of Lansing out of frustration. When announced, many present openly laughed that such an insignificant settlement was now the capital city of Michigan. Two months later, the governor William L. Greenly
William L. Greenly
William L. Greenly was a politician from the U.S. state of Michigan serving as the sixth Governor of Michigan.-Early life in New York:Greenly was born in Hamilton, New York...
signed into law the act of the legislature officially making Lansing Township
Lansing Charter Township, Michigan
-Township description:The cities of Lansing and East Lansing have incorporated much of the land that formerly constituted the township reducing the township from its original to its current ....
the state capital.
With the announcement that Lansing Township had been made the capital, the small village quickly transformed into the seat of state government. The legislature gave the settlement the temporary name of the "Town of Michigan". In April 1848, the legislature then gave the settlement the name of "Lansing". Within months after it became the capital city, individual settlements began to develop along three key points along the Grand River
Grand River (Michigan)
The Grand River is the longest river in the U.S. state of Michigan. It runs through the cities of Jackson, Eaton Rapids, Lansing, Grand Rapids, and Grand Haven.-Description:...
in the township:
- "Lower Village/Town", where present-day Old Town stands, was the oldest of the three villages. It was home to the first house built in Lansing in 1843 by pioneer James Seymour and his family. Lower Town began to develop in 1847 with the completion of the Franklin Avenue (now Grand River AvenueGrand River AvenueUS Highway 16 , also called Grand River Avenue for much of its length, is one of the principal pre-Interstate roads in the state of Michigan. Before the creation of the United States Numbered Highway System in 1926, the highway had been designated M-16...
) covered bridge over the Grand River. - "Upper Village/Town", where present-day REO Town stands at the confluence of the Grand River and the Red Cedar RiverRed Cedar River (Michigan)The Red Cedar River is a westward-flowing tributary of the Grand River in Michigan. Its source is Cedar Lake which is located in Marion Township in the southeastern corner of Livingston County, and it runs about through Okemos, East Lansing, including the campus of Michigan State University, and...
. It began to take off in 1847 when the Main Street Bridge was constructed over the Grand River. This village's focal point was the Benton House, a 4-story hotel which opened in 1848. It was the first brick building in Lansing and was later razed in 1900. - "Middle Village/Town", where downtown Lansing now stands, was the last of the three villages to develop in 1848 with the completion of the Michigan Avenue bridge across the Grand River and the completion of the temporary capitol building which sat where Cooley Law School stands today on Capitol Avenue in between Allegan and Washtenaw Streets, and finally the relocation of the post office to the village in 1851. This area would grow to become larger than the other two villages up and down river. For a brief time the combined villages were referred to as "Michigan" but was officially named Lansing in 1848.
In 1859, the settlement having grown to nearly 3,000 and encompassing about 7 square miles (18 km²) in area was incorporated as a city. The boundaries of the original city were Douglas Avenue to the north, Wood and Regent Streets to the east, Mount Hope Avenue to the south, and Jenison Avenue to the west. These boundaries would remain unchanged until 1916. Lansing began to grow steadily over the next two decades with the completion of the railroads through the city, a plank road
Plank road
A plank road or puncheon is a dirt path or road covered with a series of planks, similar to the wooden sidewalks one would see in a Western movie. Plank roads were very popular in Ontario, the U.S. Northeast and U.S. Midwest in the first half of the 19th century...
, and the completion of the current capitol building in 1878.
Most of what is known as Lansing today is the direct result of the city becoming an industrial powerhouse which began with the founding of Olds Motor Vehicle Company in August 1897. The company went through many changes, including a buyout, between its founding to 1905 when founder Ransom E. Olds
Ransom E. Olds
Ransom Eli Olds was a pioneer of the American automotive industry, for whom both the Oldsmobile and REO brands were named. He claimed to have built his first steam car as early as 1894, and his first gasoline powered car in 1896...
started his new company REO Motor Car Company
REO Motor Car Company
The REO Motor Car Company was a Lansing, Michigan based company that produced automobiles and trucks from 1905 to 1975. At one point the company also manufactured buses on its truck platforms.REO was initiated by Ransom E. Olds during August 1904...
, which would last in Lansing for another 70 years. Olds would be joined by the less successful Clarkmobile
Clarkmobile (automobile company)
Clarkmobile was an automobile first built in 1902 by Frank Clark of Clark & Company in Lansing, Michigan. The first model became available in 1903. A newspaper article referred to the auto as the 'Unbreakable Clarkmobile' and showed it surviving an accident....
around 1903. Over the next decades, the city would see itself transformed into a major American industrial center for the manufacturing of automobiles and automobile parts
Auto part
This is a list of auto parts, which are manufactured components of automobiles:-Body and exterior:Body components, including windows and trim:-Engine cooling system:* Air blower* Coolant hose* Cooling fan* Fan blade* Fan clutch* Radiator...
among other industries. The city continued to grow in area too. By 1956, the city had grown to 15 square miles (39 km²), and doubled in size over the next decade to its current size of roughly 33 square miles (85 km²).
Today, the city's economy is now diversified among government service, healthcare, manufacturing, insurance, banking, and education.
Timeline
- 1825 – Lansing Township surveyed.
- 1836 – A pair of New York speculators plot and market a non-existent city known as "Biddle City." The New Yorkers that bought into the idea arrive in Lansing to discover that the plots they had bought are located in a marsh, and are underwater. Some of the pioneers stay, but develop a village in what is now Old Town Lansing a mile north of the non-existent "Biddle City."
- 1847 – The state capital moved from DetroitDetroit, MichiganDetroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
to Lansing Township. - 1855 – Michigan State UniversityMichigan State UniversityMichigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
is founded as the Agricultural College of the State of Michigan. - 1859 – The city of Lansing officially incorporated with about 3,000 citizens inside of 7.5 square miles (19.4 km²).
- 1879 – New State CapitolMichigan State CapitolThe Michigan State Capitol is the building housing the legislative and executive branches of the government of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located in the state capital of Lansing in Ingham County...
dedicated. The structure cost $1,510,130. - 1881 – Michigan Millers Insurance CompanyInsuranceIn law and economics, insurance is a form of risk management primarily used to hedge against the risk of a contingent, uncertain loss. Insurance is defined as the equitable transfer of the risk of a loss, from one entity to another, in exchange for payment. An insurer is a company selling the...
founded. - 1897 – Ransom E. OldsRansom E. OldsRansom Eli Olds was a pioneer of the American automotive industry, for whom both the Oldsmobile and REO brands were named. He claimed to have built his first steam car as early as 1894, and his first gasoline powered car in 1896...
drives his first car down a Lansing street. Later that year he founded the Olds Motor Vehicle Company, which became the OldsmobileOldsmobileOldsmobile was a brand of American automobile produced for most of its existence by General Motors. It was founded by Ransom E. Olds in 1897. In its 107-year history, it produced 35.2 million cars, including at least 14 million built at its Lansing, Michigan factory...
division of General Motors in 1908, and he was also the founder of the REO Motor Car CompanyREO Motor Car CompanyThe REO Motor Car Company was a Lansing, Michigan based company that produced automobiles and trucks from 1905 to 1975. At one point the company also manufactured buses on its truck platforms.REO was initiated by Ransom E. Olds during August 1904...
in 1904, both headquartered in Lansing. - 1904 – The "most extensive flood in 135 years of local history" causes the Grand RiverGrand River (Michigan)The Grand River is the longest river in the U.S. state of Michigan. It runs through the cities of Jackson, Eaton Rapids, Lansing, Grand Rapids, and Grand Haven.-Description:...
to overflow its banks on March 24–27, leading to major damage and one death. Bridges at Logan Street, Kalamazoo Street, Cedar Street and Mt. Hope Road are all washed away. The Kalamazoo St. bridge lodges against the Michigan Avenue bridge; it is later salvaged and re-erected at Kalamazoo Street. - 1910 – The population of the city nearly doubles from the 1900 census to 31,229.
- 1912 – The Accident Fund Insurance Company of America founded.
- 1916 – Auto-Owners Insurance CompanyAuto-Owners InsuranceAuto-Owners Insurance is a Fortune 500 Company, and has been every year since 2002. The company was founded in 1916 by Vernon Moulton in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. Today, it is headquartered in Delta Township, Michigan and has over 65 full service and claims branches nationwide...
founded. - 1929 – The Lansing Symphony OrchestraLansing Symphony OrchestraThe Lansing Symphony Orchestra is an American symphony orchestra headquartered in Lansing, Michigan. It was founded in 1929 under the leadership of its first Music Director, Izler Solomon. Since 2006, the orchestra has been headed by Music Director Timothy Muffitt.The LSO presents a wide variety...
founded. - 1940 – Lansing's population stagnates, only rising by 356 over the decade to 78,753.
- 1954 – Frandor Mall opens – first in the area, and second in the state.
- 1956 – The city reaches 15 square miles (39 km²) in size.
- 1957 – Lansing Community CollegeLansing Community CollegeLansing Community College is a two-year public college founded in 1957. The college's main campus is located on an urban, 42-acre site in downtown Lansing, Michigan spanning seven city blocks approximately two blocks from the state capital...
founded. - 1960 – The city's population finally breaks the 100,000 mark at 107,807.
- 1961 – Jackson National Life Insurance CompanyJackson National LifeJackson National Life Insurance is a U.S. company that offers life insurance and annuities. It is a subsidiary of the British insurer, Prudential Plc, who bought the company for $608 million in 1986. Founded in 1961, Jackson is headquartered in Lansing, Michigan...
founded. - 1965 – The city reaches 33.3 square miles (86.2 km²) in size.
- 1970 – Lansing reaches its peak population of 131,546.
- 1972 – The Thomas M. Cooley Law SchoolThomas M. Cooley Law SchoolThomas M. Cooley Law School is an American Bar Association accredited law school in the United States. Located in Michigan, its main campus is in Lansing, and its satellite campuses are in Ann Arbor, Auburn Hills, and Grand Rapids. Cooley plans on opening another satellite campus in Tampa Bay,...
founded. - 1980 – Lansing's population declines for the first time losing 989 to hit 130,414.
- 1987 – The Sesquicentennial is celebrated in Lansing
- 1989 – The Library of MichiganLibrary of MichiganThe Library of Michigan and Historical Center is a state-run library and historical center located in Lansing, Michigan. The current building opened in 1989....
and Historical Center near the Capitol Complex dedicated. - 1992 – The Michigan State Capitol completes an extensive renovation to restore it to its original grandeur.
- 1998 – Mayor David HollisterDavid HollisterDavid Hollister served as the mayor of Lansing, Michigan from 1993 to 2003, until he resigned to be the director of the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth under Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm's administration...
signs a 425 Agreement425 AgreementThe legislature of the State of Michigan enacted Public Act 425 of 1984 which is also known by the title Intergovernmental Conditional Transfer Of Property By Contract Act. It became effective March 29, 1985 and was subsequently amended in 1998...
with Alaiedon Township in September to facilitate the development of the headquarters of Jackson National Life Insurance Company. - 1999 – Mayor David Hollister signs a 425 Agreement with Meridian TownshipMeridian Charter Township, MichiganMeridian Charter Township is a charter township of Ingham County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census the township had a population of 39,688. Meridian Township is the local government unit that includes the unincorporated communities and census-designated places of Okemos and...
in November to facilitate the development of the Governor's Collection/College Fields upscale housing developmentSubdivision (land)Subdivision is the act of dividing land into pieces that are easier to sell or otherwise develop, usually via a plat. The former single piece as a whole is then known in the United States as a subdivision...
and golf course. - 2000 – Lansing's population experiences its greatest drop in its history, falling over 6% over the preceding decade to 119,128.
- 2001 – GM opens new assembly plant, Lansing Grand River AssemblyLansing Grand RiverLansing Grand River Assembly is a modern automobile factory in Lansing, Michigan. Opened in 2001 by General Motors, the plant produces vehicles on the company's Sigma platform. It is the main plant for Cadillac...
. Builds the CadillacCadillacCadillac is an American luxury vehicle marque owned by General Motors . Cadillac vehicles are sold in over 50 countries and territories, but mostly in North America. Cadillac is currently the second oldest American automobile manufacturer behind fellow GM marque Buick and is among the oldest...
CTSCadillac CTSThe Cadillac CTS is a mid-size car manufactured by the Cadillac marque of General Motors currently available in three body styles: Sedan, Coupe, and Sport Wagon. It was introduced in 2002 as a sports sedan, replacing the Cadillac Catera. The CTS and the supercharged CTS-V variant have been named...
, STSCadillac STSThe STS is a mid-size luxury sports sedan / executive car manufactured and sold by Cadillac. It is equipped with a six-speed automatic transmission with performance algorithm shifting and driver shift control.- Origins :...
, SRXCadillac SRXEngine options include the High-Feature V6 and the 4.6 L Northstar V8. It is based on the GM Sigma platform and comes with a five or six-speed automatic transmission; rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive are available....
and V-Series. The architecture of the assembly plant resembles a high-tech research facility instead of a traditional factory. - 2002 – The Hall of JusticeHall of JusticeA Hall of Justice is an occasional term for a city's police headquarters, and exists in cities across the United States. In some cases, the facility may also house courts as well as jails...
(Michigan Supreme CourtMichigan Supreme CourtThe Michigan Supreme Court is the highest court in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is known as Michigan's "court of last resort" and consists of seven justices who are elected to eight-year terms. Candidates are nominated by political parties and are elected on a nonpartisan ballot...
building) at the West-end of the Capitol Complex is dedicated. - 2004 – Last OldsmobileOldsmobileOldsmobile was a brand of American automobile produced for most of its existence by General Motors. It was founded by Ransom E. Olds in 1897. In its 107-year history, it produced 35.2 million cars, including at least 14 million built at its Lansing, Michigan factory...
rolls off the assembly line at Lansing Car AssemblyLansing Car AssemblyLansing Car Assembly was a General Motors automobile factory in Lansing, Michigan. It contained two elements, a 1901 automobile plant in downtown Lansing, and the 1920 Durant Motors factory on Lansing's Far Westside....
on April 29. This same year the Thomas M. Cooley Law School becomes the largest law school in the nation. - 2005 – Mayor Tony Benavides signs a series of three 425 Agreements with Delta TownshipDelta Charter Township, MichiganDelta Charter Township, officially known as the Charter Township of Delta and commonly known as simply Delta Township, is a charter township of Eaton County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 32,408. Delta Township is currently the fourth largest...
and General Motors facilitating the development General Motors' Lansing Delta Township AssemblyLansing Delta Township AssemblyLansing Delta Township Assembly is a General Motors automobile assembly factory in Delta Township, Michigan on land that is shared by both the nearby city of Lansing, and the township. It manufactures Chevrolet, Buick, and GMC vehicles....
Plant. - 2006 – GM opens state-of-the-art facility in nearby Delta Charter Township. As with the 2001 assembly plant built in Lansing, the Delta plant resembles a high-tech research facility and not a traditional factory.
- 2008 – Accident Fund Insurance Company of AmericaAccident FundAccident Fund Insurance Company of America is a workers' compensation insurance company headquartered in Lansing, Michigan licensed to offer their services in 49 states plus the District of Columbia. The company is an operating unit of Accident Fund Holdings, the 10th largest writer of workers...
announces the renovation of the Ottawa Street Power StationOttawa Street Power StationOttawa Street Power Station is a former municipal electric and steam utility generating station for the Lansing Board of Water and Light in Lansing, Michigan, located on the Grand River in the city's central business district currently being redeveloped as corporate headquarters for the Accident...
and addition of modern buildings connected by an atrium for their new headquarters. - 2009 – Construction begins on the new Lansing City Market along the Grand River and the river trail in downtown Lansing.
- 2009 – Auto-Owners Insurance Co. announces it will invest $105.3 million into expanding its Lansing headquarters and adding 800 new jobs.
- 2010 – The Eyde Development Company announced they will be spending $22–$24 million to renovate the landmark Knapp's Building in downtown Lansing.
- 2010 – Kiplinger names Lansing one of the "10 Great Cities for Young Adults."
Geography
Lansing is the centerpiece of a region of Michigan known as Mid-Michigan or Central MichiganCentral Michigan
Central Michigan, often called Mid Michigan, is a region in the Lower Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. Southern Michigan can be considered as a subregion of Central Michigan. As its name implies, it is the central area of the Lower Peninsula. Lower Michigan is said to resemble a mitten, and...
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 36.6 square miles (94.8 km²), of which 36 square miles (93.2 km²) of it is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²) (1.66%) of it is water. This figure includes two 425 Agreements with Alaiedon Township
Alaiedon Township, Michigan
Alaiedon Township is a civil township of Ingham County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the township population was 2,894.-Communities:...
and Meridian Township, and the four 425 Agreements with Delta Township since 2000.
Under Michigan law, 425 Agreement
425 Agreement
The legislature of the State of Michigan enacted Public Act 425 of 1984 which is also known by the title Intergovernmental Conditional Transfer Of Property By Contract Act. It became effective March 29, 1985 and was subsequently amended in 1998...
s are only temporary land sharing agreements, and do not count as official annexations. The Census Bureau, however, for statistical purposes, does count these as annexations. Not counting the temporary 425 Agreements, Lansing administers 34.1 square miles (88.3 km²) total.
Lansing is located in the south central part of the lower peninsula where the Grand River
Grand River (Michigan)
The Grand River is the longest river in the U.S. state of Michigan. It runs through the cities of Jackson, Eaton Rapids, Lansing, Grand Rapids, and Grand Haven.-Description:...
meets the Red Cedar River
Red Cedar River (Michigan)
The Red Cedar River is a westward-flowing tributary of the Grand River in Michigan. Its source is Cedar Lake which is located in Marion Township in the southeastern corner of Livingston County, and it runs about through Okemos, East Lansing, including the campus of Michigan State University, and...
. The city occupies most of what had formerly been part of Lansing Charter Township. It has also annexed adjacent tracts of land in Delta Charter Township and Windsor Township in Eaton County to the west and Delhi Charter Township
Delhi Charter Township, Michigan
Delhi Charter Township is a charter township of Ingham County in the U.S. state of Michigan, located directly south of the state's capital city, Lansing. The population was 25,877 at the 2010 census an increase from 22,569 in 2000...
in Ingham County to the south. The city also controls three non-contiguous tracts of land through 425 Agreements (conditional land transfer agreements) with Meridian Charter Township, Delta Charter Township, and Alaiedon Township in Ingham County to the southeast.
Above mean sea level
The term above mean sea level refers to the elevation or altitude of any object, relative to the average sea level datum. AMSL is used extensively in radio by engineers to determine the coverage area a station will be able to reach...
on the far south side of Lansing along Northrup Street near the Cedar Street intersection, to 833 feet (254 m) to 805.5 feet (246 m) above sea level
Above mean sea level
The term above mean sea level refers to the elevation or altitude of any object, relative to the average sea level datum. AMSL is used extensively in radio by engineers to determine the coverage area a station will be able to reach...
along the Grand River because of the two dams along the river.
The Grand River, the largest river in Michigan, flows through downtown Lansing; and the Red Cedar River, a tributary of the Grand River, flows through the campus at Michigan State University. There are two lakes in the area, Park Lake and Lake Lansing
Lake Lansing
Lake Lansing is a lake in Haslett, Michigan just a few miles northeast of the state's capital city of Lansing.-Overview:Lake Lansing was originally known as Pine Lake, and was a highly popular recreation site in the early 1900s. The name was changed to Lake Lansing in 1927...
, both northeast of the city. Lake Lansing is approximately 500 acres (2 km²) in size and is a summer favorite for swimmers, boaters, and fishermen. Michigan State University Sailing Club and the Lansing Sailing Club are located on Lake Lansing, where sailing regattas are hosted throughout the summer.
The city of Lansing operates a total of 3.6 square miles (9.3 km²) of parkland, of which 2.8 square miles (7.3 km²) is parkland, 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²) are golflands, and 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²) are cemetery lands. This figure includes the Waverly Hills Golf Course
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
and adjacent Michigan Avenue Park, which are part of Lansing Township, but operated by the City of Lansing. The figure, however, does not include the Ingham County parklands within the borders of Lansing.
Climate
Lansing has a typically Midwestern humid continentalHumid continental climate
A humid continental climate is a climatic region typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot summers and cold winters....
seasonal climate (Köppen
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
Dfb) that is influenced by the Great Lakes
Great Lakes
The Great Lakes are a collection of freshwater lakes located in northeastern North America, on the Canada – United States border. Consisting of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, they form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by total surface, coming in second by volume...
. Winters are cold with moderate to heavy snowfall, while summers are very warm and humid. The monthly daily average temperature in July is 70.3 °F (21.3 °C), while the same figure for January is 21.6 °F (-5.8 °C); the year averages out at 46.8 °F (8.2 °C). Summer temperatures can exceed 90 °F (32 °C), doing so on 9 days, and winter temperatures can drop well below 0 °F (-18 °C), doing so on 13 nights. Precipitation is generally greatest during summer but still frequent and significant in winter. Snowfall, which normally occurs from November to April, averages 54 inches (137 cm) per season. The highest recorded temperature was 102 °F (39 °C), occurring as recently as July 1934, and the lowest recorded temperature was −37 °F in February 1868.
Neighborhoods
Old Town (Lansing, Michigan)
Located in the northern end of Lansing, Michigan, Old Town overlooks the Grand River and a winding bike trail. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the district was established in the mid-19th century and it is the oldest of the three original villages of what is now present day...
with many architecturally significant buildings dating to the mid-19th century. Directly south of downtown on the other side of I-496
Interstate 496
Interstate 496 is an Interstate Highway that passes through downtown Lansing, Michigan and is a "child" of Interstate 96. It is ceremonially designated the R.E. Olds Freeway along the portion that cuts through the city of Lansing...
along Washington Avenue lies "REO Town
REO Town
REO Town is a district in Lansing, Michigan, located south of downtown. Considered the birthplace of the automobile in the United States, REO Town is named after Ransom Eli Olds, an automobile pioneer, for whom both the Oldsmobile and REO brands were named.Lansing, Michigan, wikipedia.com,...
", the birthplace of the automobile in the United States, is where Ransom Eli Olds built factories along Washington Avenue. Ransom Eli Olds' home, which once overlooked the factories along Washington Avenue, was displaced by I-496.
Lansing is generally divided into four sections: Eastside, Westside, Northwestside, and the Southside. Each section contains a diverse array of neighborhoods. The Eastside, located east of the Grand River
Grand River (Michigan)
The Grand River is the longest river in the U.S. state of Michigan. It runs through the cities of Jackson, Eaton Rapids, Lansing, Grand Rapids, and Grand Haven.-Description:...
and north of the Red Cedar River, is the most ethnically diverse side of Lansing, with foreign-born citizens making up more of its population than any other side in the city. The Eastside's commercial districts are located mainly along Michigan Avenue, and to a lesser extent along Kalamazoo Street. It is anchored by Frandor Shopping Center
Shopping mall
A shopping mall, shopping centre, shopping arcade, shopping precinct or simply mall is one or more buildings forming a complex of shops representing merchandisers, with interconnecting walkways enabling visitors to easily walk from unit to unit, along with a parking area — a modern, indoor version...
on the very eastern edge of the eastside.
The Westside, roughly located north, west, and south of the Grand River as it curves through the city, is sometimes regarded the city's most socio-economically diverse section. This side also contains Lansing's downtown area, though this neighborhood is often included as an area all its own. Outside downtown, this side is largely a collection of residential neighborhoods and is served by only one other commercial area along Saginaw Street. However, it also includes a small part of the Old Town Commercial Association.
The Northwestside, generally located north of the Grand River, with the city limits
City limits
The terms city limits and city boundary refer to the defined boundary or border of a city. The area within the city limits is sometimes called the city proper. The terms town limits/boundary and village limits/boundary mean the same as city limits/boundary, but apply to towns and villages...
defining its north and western borders, is physically the smallest side of the city. This part of the city includes suburban areas and some more rural areas. North of Grand River Avenue, the main street of the side, lie warehouses and light industrial areas served by a major rail line that runs through Lansing. The most notable landmark of this side is Lansing's airport: Capital Region International Airport.
The Southside, usually described as the neighborhoods located south of the Grand and Red Cedar rivers and the I-496 freeway, is physically the largest and most populous side of the city. The area is largely suburban in nature (south of Mount Hope Road near the northern edge), and is served by numerous commercial strips along Cedar Street, Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard
Streets named after Martin Luther King, Jr.
Streets named after Martin Luther King, Jr. can be found in many cities of the United States and in nearly every major metropolis in America. There are also a number of other countries that have honored King, including no fewer than ten cities in Italy...
, Pennsylvania Avenue, and Waverly Road, which run north/south. The large Edgewood District is located in the southernmost part of the Southside and is sometimes referred to as South Lansing. Though it is the largest area of the city by both physical size and population, it has often been regarded by Southside citizens as Lansing's most overlooked and forgotten area, as most of Lansing's attention in recent decades has been put into the revitalization of the city's historic core located mostly on small parts of both the East and Westsides.
Districts
- Allen Street
- Cherry Hill
- Churchill Downs
- Colonial VillageColonial Village (Lansing, Michigan)Colonial Village is a neighborhood in Lansing, Michigan. It is located southwest of REO Town in the southside of Lansing. The neighborhood is bordered by Mount Hope Avenue to the north, Martin Luther King Blvd to the east, West Holmes Road to the south, and Pleasant Grove Road to the...
- Eastside
- Edgewood
- Genesee
- Gier Park
- Hosmer
- Museum District
- Old TownOld Town (Lansing, Michigan)Located in the northern end of Lansing, Michigan, Old Town overlooks the Grand River and a winding bike trail. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the district was established in the mid-19th century and it is the oldest of the three original villages of what is now present day...
- REO TownREO TownREO Town is a district in Lansing, Michigan, located south of downtown. Considered the birthplace of the automobile in the United States, REO Town is named after Ransom Eli Olds, an automobile pioneer, for whom both the Oldsmobile and REO brands were named.Lansing, Michigan, wikipedia.com,...
- Stadium District
- Walnut
- Washington Square
- Westside
Demographics
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 6.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 12.5% of the population. The foreign-born population sat at 8.3%.
As of 2000, the city's population rose by 32,293 (27%) to 151,421 during the day because of the influx of workers.
As of 2000, there were 49,505 households out of which 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.8% were married couples living together, 17.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.7% were non-families. 33.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 3.08.
In the city the age distribution of the population shows 26.8% under the age of 18, 11.4% from 18 to 24, 32.7% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 9.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 92.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.9 males.
The median income
Median household income
The median household income is commonly used to generate data about geographic areas and divides households into two equal segments with the first half of households earning less than the median household income and the other half earning more...
for a household in the city was $34,833, and the median income for a family was $41,283. Males had a median income of $32,648 versus $27,051 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $17,924. About 13.2% of families and 16.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.2% of those under age 18 and 9.0% of those age 65 or over.
Municipal government
Lansing is administered under a mayor-council governmentMayor-council government
The mayor–council government system, sometimes called the mayor–commission government system, is one of the two most common forms of local government for municipalities...
, more specifically a "strong mayor" setup in which the mayor holds most of the city's administrative powers, such as appointment of department heads and drafting and administering a city budget, though the council must approve his/her actions. The mayor is elected at-large every four years. The city clerk is also elected every four years. The city council consists of eight members, and includes four members elected from the city's four wards, as well as four "at-large" members elected citywide.
Politics
The city finds itself wedged between the conservative politics of West Michigan, and the more liberal politics of Southeastern Michigan. The city has not had a Republican mayor in office for more than a decade, and the last two mayoral elections have hosted all Democratic candidates.State and federal representation
Lansing currently lies mostly within the boundaries of Michigan's 8th congressional districtMichigan's 8th congressional district
Michigan's 8th congressional district is a United States congressional district in Southern Michigan and Southeast Michigan. It consists of all of Clinton, Ingham, and Livingston counties, and includes the southern portion of Shiawassee and the northern portion of Oakland counties.The district was...
, which has been represented by Republican congressman Mike Rogers since 2001. The small portion of the city that extends into Eaton County
Eaton County, Michigan
Eaton County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the population was 107,759. The county seat is Charlotte. Eaton County was named for John Eaton, who was Secretary of War under U.S. President Andrew Jackson, making it one of Michigan's Cabinet counties...
is located in Michigan's 7th congressional district
Michigan's 7th congressional district
Michigan's 7th congressional district is a United States congressional district in Southern Michigan. It consists of all of Branch, Eaton, Hillsdale, Jackson, and Lenawee counties, and includes most of Calhoun and a large portion of western and northern Washtenaw counties.In the November 2, 2010...
, which has been represented by Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
congressman Tim Walberg
Tim Walberg
Timothy Lee "Tim" Walberg is the current U.S. Representative for , and was also the former Congressman for the district from 2007 to 2009.-Early life, education, and religious career:...
since 2011
United States elections, 2010
The 2010 United States elections were held on Tuesday, November 2, 2010. During this midterm election year, all 435 seats in the United States House of Representatives and 37 of the 100 seats in the United States Senate were contested in this election along with 38 state and territorial...
.
At the state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
level, Lansing is located in the 23rd district of the Michigan Senate
Michigan Senate
The Michigan Senate is the upper house of the Michigan Legislature. The Senate consists of 38 members, who are elected from constituencies having approximately 212,400 to 263,500 residents....
, which has been represented by Democratic state senator Gretchen Whitmer
Gretchen Whitmer
Gretchen Whitmer is a Democratic member of the Michigan Senate and Senate Democratic Leader. Whitmer has represented the 23rd District since a special election in March 2006 to replace Virg Bernero, who was elected Mayor of Lansing the previous November. Previously, Whitmer was a member of the...
since January 1, 2007. The small portion of the city that extends into Eaton County is located in the 24th district of the Michigan Senate, which is currently represented by Republican state senator Rick Jones
Rick Jones
Rick Jones may refer to:*Rick Jones , fictional character from the Marvel Universe*Rick Jones , BBC children's programme presenter *Rick Jones , MLB pitcher...
. The city lies in the 67th, 68th, and 71st districts of the Michigan State House of Representatives
Michigan State House of Representatives
The Michigan House of Representatives is the lower house of the Michigan Legislature. There are 110 members, each of whom is elected from constituencies having approximately 77,000 to 91,000 residents, based on population figures from the 2000 federal U.S. Census.Members are elected in...
, represented by state representatives Barb Byrum (D-67), Joan Bauer
Joan Bauer (Michigan politician)
Joan Bauer is a Democratic Party politician from Michigan. She is the current member of the Michigan House of Representatives from the 68th District, which is in Ingham County in the northern portion of the city of Lansing.-Early life:...
(D-68), and Deb Shaughnessy (R) (R-71).
Despite Lansing not being a designated county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
, many county offices and courts are still located within downtown Lansing, including the Ingham County Department of Human Services and the county circuit court.
Economy
The Lansing metropolitan area's major industries are governmentGovernment
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
, education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
, insurance
Insurance
In law and economics, insurance is a form of risk management primarily used to hedge against the risk of a contingent, uncertain loss. Insurance is defined as the equitable transfer of the risk of a loss, from one entity to another, in exchange for payment. An insurer is a company selling the...
, healthcare, and automobile
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
manufacturing. Being the state capital, many state government workers reside in the area.
Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
, Thomas M. Cooley Law School
Thomas M. Cooley Law School
Thomas M. Cooley Law School is an American Bar Association accredited law school in the United States. Located in Michigan, its main campus is in Lansing, and its satellite campuses are in Ann Arbor, Auburn Hills, and Grand Rapids. Cooley plans on opening another satellite campus in Tampa Bay,...
, and Lansing Community College
Lansing Community College
Lansing Community College is a two-year public college founded in 1957. The college's main campus is located on an urban, 42-acre site in downtown Lansing, Michigan spanning seven city blocks approximately two blocks from the state capital...
are significant employers in the region.
General Motors has offices and a hi-tech manufacturing facility
Factory
A factory or manufacturing plant is an industrial building where laborers manufacture goods or supervise machines processing one product into another. Most modern factories have large warehouses or warehouse-like facilities that contain heavy equipment used for assembly line production...
in Lansing and several manufacturing facilities immediately outside the city, as well, in nearby Lansing and Delta townships. The Lansing area is headquarters to four major national insurance companies: Auto-Owners Insurance
Auto-Owners Insurance
Auto-Owners Insurance is a Fortune 500 Company, and has been every year since 2002. The company was founded in 1916 by Vernon Moulton in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. Today, it is headquartered in Delta Township, Michigan and has over 65 full service and claims branches nationwide...
Company, Jackson National Life
Jackson National Life
Jackson National Life Insurance is a U.S. company that offers life insurance and annuities. It is a subsidiary of the British insurer, Prudential Plc, who bought the company for $608 million in 1986. Founded in 1961, Jackson is headquartered in Lansing, Michigan...
, the Accident Fund, and Michigan Millers Insurance Company.
The recent decline of the auto industry
Automaker
The automotive industry designs, develops, manufactures, markets, and sells motor vehicles, and is one of the world's most important economic sectors by revenue....
in the region has increased the region's awareness of the importance of a strategy to foster the high-technology
High tech
High tech is technology that is at the cutting edge: the most advanced technology currently available. It is often used in reference to micro-electronics, rather than other technologies. The adjective form is hyphenated: high-tech or high-technology...
sector.
- Early availability of high-speed InternetBroadband Internet accessBroadband Internet access, often shortened to just "broadband", is a high data rate, low-latency connection to the Internet— typically contrasted with dial-up access using a 56 kbit/s modem or satellite Internet with inherently high latency....
in 1996, as well as the MSU, Cooley Law School, and Lansing Community College student body population, fostered an intellectual environment for information technology companies to incubate.
Lansing has a number of technology companies in the fields of information technology
Information technology
Information technology is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based combination of computing and telecommunications...
and biotechnology
Biotechnology
Biotechnology is a field of applied biology that involves the use of living organisms and bioprocesses in engineering, technology, medicine and other fields requiring bioproducts. Biotechnology also utilizes these products for manufacturing purpose...
.
- Emergent BioSolutions is an international biopharmaceutical company that maintains significant operations in Lansing. Emergent BioSolutions is developing an array of biodefense and commercial products and currently manufactures the only FDA approved anthrax vaccine at its Lansing operations. In March 2009 Emergent announced another $10.9 million investment in its Lansing facility and is adding 93 new employees.
- Neogen is an international food and animal safety and diagnostics company headquartered in Lansing.
- IBMIBMInternational Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
announced in January 2009 that it was opening its first U.S. programming center in the former MSU Federal Credit UnionMichigan State University Federal Credit UnionMichigan State University Federal Credit Union or MSUFCU, headquartered in East Lansing, Michigan, is the largest university-based credit union in the world in membership and asset size. MSUFCU is a federal credit union chartered and regulated under the authority of the National Credit Union...
headquarters in East Lansing for application software for governments, universities, etc. - Liquid WebLiquid WebLiquid Web, Inc. is a provider of web hosting services based in Lansing, Michigan, United States.Liquid Web currently employs around 150 technicians .- History :...
, the largest web hosting company in Michigan, moved into its new $80 million Lansing headquarters (third facility in Lansing) in November 2009 and announced that it would hire 600 new employees over the next 3–4 years. - Prime Time Printing, the first pad printing personalization company to open in the state, has seen business triple since moving to their South Washington facility in February of 2010.
- Michigan State UniversityMichigan State UniversityMichigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
, the 9th largest campus in the U.S., hires an average of 11,000 employees per year.
Healthcare
Sparrow HospitalSparrow Hospital
Sparrow Hospital, located in Lansing, Michigan, is a 733 bed hospital that provides care for the greater Mid-Michigan region. The hospital is a subsidiary of Sparrow Health System, and is affiliated with the Colleges of Human Medicine and Osteopathic Medicine at nearby Michigan State University...
is a 740 bed hospital
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
and is affiliated with Michigan State University and its College of Human Medicine
Michigan State University College of Human Medicine
The Michigan State University College of Human Medicine is an academic division of Michigan State University , and grants the Doctor of Medicine degree. CHM was founded in 1964 as the first community-integrated medical school, and has a program that emphasizes patient-centered care and a...
and College of Osteopathic Medicine
Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine
The Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine is an academic division of Michigan State University , and grants the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree. The college also offers the DO/PhD combined degree for students interested in the Medical Scientist Training Program...
. In February 2009 it was announced that Sparrow and MSU formalized their partnership to increase research and faculty recruitment. Sparrow Hospital is the Regional Center for pediatrics, cancer care, including radiation therapy, trauma care, neurological care, high-risk obstetrics and neonatal intensive care. The Sparrow Tower was finished January 2008 and includes but is not limited to: a dedicated pediatric emergency room (the only one in the region), the largest adult emergency room in the region, state-of-the-art operating rooms, a rooftop helipad, oncology center, heart and vascular center and orthopedic department. In addition, 4,500 deliveries are performed at Sparrow Hospital annually, rehabilitation, and emergency treatment is more than any other hospital in mid-Michigan. The Sparrow Health System Laboratory performs over 3 million tests per year, at various laboratory sites, which include four remote testing facilities and thirteen patient service centers. Sparrow Hospital
Sparrow Hospital
Sparrow Hospital, located in Lansing, Michigan, is a 733 bed hospital that provides care for the greater Mid-Michigan region. The hospital is a subsidiary of Sparrow Health System, and is affiliated with the Colleges of Human Medicine and Osteopathic Medicine at nearby Michigan State University...
is certified as a Level I Trauma Center by the American College of Surgeons
American College of Surgeons
The American College of Surgeons is an educational association of surgeons created in 1913 to improve the quality of care for the surgical patient by setting high standards for surgical education and practice.-Membership:...
. In May 2009 Sparrow announced that it now has its own helicopter service based at its downtown Lansing hospital's new $2.5 million helipad. The addition is expected to increase helicopter patient transport to the hospital from four a month to 400 a year.
Ingham Regional Medical Center
Ingham Regional Medical Center
Ingham Regional Medical Center is a hospital in Lansing, Michigan. IRMC is a subsidiary of the McLaren Health Care Corporation, which is an integrated managed care health care organization operating in Michigan...
is also a university affiliated teaching hospital. Ingham enjoys a special affiliation in radiation oncology with the University of Michigan and Michigan State University; Ingham is part of the Great Lakes Cancer Institute (GLCI). Ingham received five-star ratings for: Coronary bypass surgery; Cardiac interventions; Treatment of heart attacks; Total knee replacement; Total hip replacement; Back and neck surgery; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease care; Community-Acquired pneumonia care.
Urban renewal and downtown redevelopment
Several urban renewalUrban renewal
Urban renewal is a program of land redevelopment in areas of moderate to high density urban land use. Renewal has had both successes and failures. Its modern incarnation began in the late 19th century in developed nations and experienced an intense phase in the late 1940s – under the rubric of...
projects by private developers are adding higher end apartments and condominiums to the Lansing market. The Arbaugh, a former department store
Department store
A department store is a retail establishment which satisfies a wide range of the consumer's personal and residential durable goods product needs; and at the same time offering the consumer a choice of multiple merchandise lines, at variable price points, in all product categories...
across from Cooley Law School, was converted into apartments in 2005. Motor Wheel Lofts, a former industrial site, was converted into loft-style living spaces in mid-2006. A combination retail and residential complex immediately south of Cooley Law School Stadium (formerly Oldsmobile Park) called "The Stadium District", was completed in 2007. The Stadium District, was redeveloped using a grant from the Cool Cities Initiative
Cool Cities Initiative
Cool Cities Initiative is an initiative started by Governor Jennifer Granholm to spur growth and investment in Michigan during a period of economic decline. The Initiative was proposed in 2003 in response to students attending college in Michigan and then seeking employment out of state...
.
In May 2006 the historically significant Mutual Building located on Capitol Avenue was purchased by The Christman Company to be renovated back to its original grandeur and used as the company's headquarters. Additional downtown developments include the renovation of the historic Hollister Building, and the expansion of the former Abrams Aerial Building. As of August 2008, an 18-story condominium high-rise called Capitol Club Tower is in the design phase with the adjacent parking structure already having been approved by city council and purchased by the developer. The city market, in existence since 1909, was approved to be sold for a multi-building mixed-use development called MarketPlace, right next to the current market on the adjacent riverfront. The MarketPlace project was redeveloped along with BallPark North, another mixed-use development that will be immediately north of Oldsmobile Stadium. The new city market will be across the river from where the Accident Fund Insurance Company is renovating the former (art deco) Ottawa Street Powerplant into their new headquarters, as well as the addition of modern buildings to the north that will be connected by an atrium. In 2009, the restaurant Troppo began construction on a new 2-story building that will have an open air patio on the roof facing the Capitol building. Developer Eyde Co. announced plans on April 6, 2010, to renovate the historical and prominent Knapp's building in downtown Lansing for first floor retail, office space and apartments/condos on the top floor (5th) in a $22–24 million project.
The Greater Lansing CVB formed in 2004 with the commitment to sustaining the environment and encourages “green” practices, both internally and throughout the hospitality community. The Bureau strives to serve as a resource for event planners to help them reduce their carbon footprint while they host their meeting in Greater Lansing. Cool Cities Initiative
Cool Cities Initiative
Cool Cities Initiative is an initiative started by Governor Jennifer Granholm to spur growth and investment in Michigan during a period of economic decline. The Initiative was proposed in 2003 in response to students attending college in Michigan and then seeking employment out of state...
.
List of largest metropolitan Lansing employers – 2009
Source: Lansing Chamber of Commerce – Lansing Region's Largest Employers – 2009| Company/Organization | Sector | Local Full-time Employment |
|---|---|---|
| State of Michigan Michigan Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake".... |
Government Government Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized... |
14,355 |
| Michigan State University Michigan State University Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,... |
Higher Education Higher education Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology... |
11,218 |
| Sparrow Health System Sparrow Health System Sparrow Health System is a comprehensive, integrated health care organization located in Central Michigan. More than 900 physicians are affiliated with Sparrow Health System.... |
Healthcare | 7,400 |
| General Motors Company | Automobile Manufacturing Automaker The automotive industry designs, develops, manufactures, markets, and sells motor vehicles, and is one of the world's most important economic sectors by revenue.... |
6,000 |
| Lansing Community College Lansing Community College Lansing Community College is a two-year public college founded in 1957. The college's main campus is located on an urban, 42-acre site in downtown Lansing, Michigan spanning seven city blocks approximately two blocks from the state capital... |
Higher Education Higher education Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology... |
3,180 |
| Ingham Regional Medical Center Ingham Regional Medical Center Ingham Regional Medical Center is a hospital in Lansing, Michigan. IRMC is a subsidiary of the McLaren Health Care Corporation, which is an integrated managed care health care organization operating in Michigan... |
Healthcare | 2,500 |
| Lansing School District Lansing School District The Lansing School District is a school district headquartered in Lansing, Michigan, United States.In the 2000s many larger city urban school districts have struggled academically, Lansing included... |
Primary Primary education in the United States Primary education in the United States typically refers to the first six years of formal education in most jurisdictions. Primary education may also be referred to as elementary education and most schools offering these programs are referred to as elementary schools... , Secondary Education Secondary education in the United States In most jurisdictions, secondary education in the United States refers to the last six or seven years of statutory formal education. Secondary education is generally split between junior high school or middle school, usually beginning with sixth or seventh grade , and high school, beginning with... |
2,106 |
| Meijer Meijer Meijer, Inc. is a regional American hypermarket chain based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Founded in 1934 as a supermarket chain, Meijer is credited with pioneering the modern supercenter concept in 1962. About half of the company's 196 stores are located in Michigan, with additional locations in... |
Warehousing, Retailer, Grocer Grocer A grocer is a bulk seller of food. Beginning as early as the 14th century, a grocer was a dealer in comestible dry goods such as spices, pepper, sugar, and cocoa, tea and coffee... |
2,000 |
| Auto-Owners Insurance Auto-Owners Insurance Auto-Owners Insurance is a Fortune 500 Company, and has been every year since 2002. The company was founded in 1916 by Vernon Moulton in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. Today, it is headquartered in Delta Township, Michigan and has over 65 full service and claims branches nationwide... |
Insurance Insurance In law and economics, insurance is a form of risk management primarily used to hedge against the risk of a contingent, uncertain loss. Insurance is defined as the equitable transfer of the risk of a loss, from one entity to another, in exchange for payment. An insurer is a company selling the... |
1,500 |
| Peckham, Inc. | Manufacturing Manufacturing Manufacturing is the use of machines, tools and labor to produce goods for use or sale. The term may refer to a range of human activity, from handicraft to high tech, but is most commonly applied to industrial production, in which raw materials are transformed into finished goods on a large scale... |
1,400 |
| Jackson National Life Jackson National Life Jackson National Life Insurance is a U.S. company that offers life insurance and annuities. It is a subsidiary of the British insurer, Prudential Plc, who bought the company for $608 million in 1986. Founded in 1961, Jackson is headquartered in Lansing, Michigan... |
Insurance Insurance In law and economics, insurance is a form of risk management primarily used to hedge against the risk of a contingent, uncertain loss. Insurance is defined as the equitable transfer of the risk of a loss, from one entity to another, in exchange for payment. An insurer is a company selling the... |
1,393 |
| Ingham County | Government Government Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized... |
1,258 |
| City of Lansing | Government Government Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized... |
1,240 |
| United States Postal Service United States Postal Service The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States... |
Government Government Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized... |
1,200 |
| Wal-Mart Wal-Mart Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. , branded as Walmart since 2008 and Wal-Mart before then, is an American public multinational corporation that runs chains of large discount department stores and warehouse stores. The company is the world's 18th largest public corporation, according to the Forbes Global 2000... |
Retailer | 1,185 |
| Dart Container Dart Container Dart Container Corporation of Mason, Michigan, United States is the world's largest manufacturer of foam cups and containers, producing about as many as all competitors combined.-Company history:... |
Container Food storage Food storage is both a traditional domestic skill and is important industrially. Food is stored by almost every human society and by many animals... Manufacturer |
1,144 |
| Community Mental Health | Mental Health Services Community mental health service Community mental health services , also known as Community Mental Health Teams in the United Kingdom, support or treat people with mental disorders in a domiciliary setting, instead of a psychiatric hospital . The array of community mental health services vary depending on the country in which... |
863 |
| John Henry Company | Printing Printing Printing is a process for reproducing text and image, typically with ink on paper using a printing press. It is often carried out as a large-scale industrial process, and is an essential part of publishing and transaction printing.... |
750 |
| Quality Dairy Quality Dairy Quality Dairy is a chain of convenience stores in Mid-Michigan that specialize in selling products made within the state. With headquarters in Lansing, Michigan, Quality Dairy currently oversees 31 stores — all but two locations have beer and wine and 15 of the locations have liquor... |
Food Food Food is any substance consumed to provide nutritional support for the body. It is usually of plant or animal origin, and contains essential nutrients, such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, or minerals... Goods |
730 |
| Lansing Board of Water & Light Lansing Board of Water & Light The Lansing Board of Water and Light is a publicly owned, municipal utility that provides electricity and water to the residents of the cities of Lansing and East Lansing, Michigan and the surrounding townships of Delta, Delhi, Meridian and DeWitt... |
Utility Utility In economics, utility is a measure of customer satisfaction, referring to the total satisfaction received by a consumer from consuming a good or service.... |
712 |
| Electronic Data Systems Corp. (EDS) | Data Processing Data processing Computer data processing is any process that a computer program does to enter data and summarise, analyse or otherwise convert data into usable information. The process may be automated and run on a computer. It involves recording, analysing, sorting, summarising, calculating, disseminating and... |
660 |
| Michigan Farm Bureau Michigan Farm Bureau The Michigan Farm Bureau was founded on the campus of Michigan State University in 1919. The organization's primary goal is to promote and represent the interests of its agricultural members within the state of Michigan.... |
Insurance Insurance In law and economics, insurance is a form of risk management primarily used to hedge against the risk of a contingent, uncertain loss. Insurance is defined as the equitable transfer of the risk of a loss, from one entity to another, in exchange for payment. An insurer is a company selling the... |
650 |
| SBC Ameritech Ameritech AT&T Teleholdings, Inc., formerly known as Ameritech Corporation , was a U.S. telecommunications company that arose out of the 1984 AT&T divestiture. Ameritech was one of the seven Regional Bell Operating Companies that was created following the breakup of the Bell System... |
Utility Utility In economics, utility is a measure of customer satisfaction, referring to the total satisfaction received by a consumer from consuming a good or service.... |
650 |
| Accident Fund of Michigan Accident Fund Accident Fund Insurance Company of America is a workers' compensation insurance company headquartered in Lansing, Michigan licensed to offer their services in 49 states plus the District of Columbia. The company is an operating unit of Accident Fund Holdings, the 10th largest writer of workers... |
Insurance Insurance In law and economics, insurance is a form of risk management primarily used to hedge against the risk of a contingent, uncertain loss. Insurance is defined as the equitable transfer of the risk of a loss, from one entity to another, in exchange for payment. An insurer is a company selling the... |
549 |
| Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Michigan Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association is a federation of 39 separate health insurance organizations and companies in the United States. Combined, they directly or indirectly provide health insurance to over 100 million Americans. The history of Blue Cross dates back to 1929, while the history of... |
Insurance Insurance In law and economics, insurance is a form of risk management primarily used to hedge against the risk of a contingent, uncertain loss. Insurance is defined as the equitable transfer of the risk of a loss, from one entity to another, in exchange for payment. An insurer is a company selling the... |
525 |
| Consumers Energy Consumers Energy Consumers Energy is a public utility that provides natural gas and electricity to more than 6 million of Michigan's 10 million residents. It serves customers in all 68 of the state’s Lower Peninsula counties. It is a division of CMS Energy. Its headquarters is in Jackson.-History:The company was... |
Utility Utility In economics, utility is a measure of customer satisfaction, referring to the total satisfaction received by a consumer from consuming a good or service.... |
520 |
| United Parcel Service United Parcel Service United Parcel Service, Inc. , typically referred to by the acronym UPS, is a package delivery company. Headquartered in Sandy Springs, Georgia, United States, UPS delivers more than 15 million packages a day to 6.1 million customers in more than 220 countries and territories around the... |
Package Delivery Service Package delivery Package delivery or parcel delivery is the shipping of packages or high value mail as single shipments. While the service is provided by most postal systems, private package delivery services have also existed in competition with and in place of public postal services.-Package delivery in the... |
518 |
Education
Michigan State UniversityMichigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
, a member of the Big Ten Conference, is known as "the pioneer land grant college", located in neighboring East Lansing
East Lansing, Michigan
East Lansing is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located directly east of Lansing, Michigan, the state's capital. Most of the city is within Ingham County, though a small portion lies in Clinton County. The population was 48,579 at the time of the 2010 census, an increase from...
. MSU has the largest land campus in the United States and is home to several nationally and internationally recognized academic and research oriented programs. Michigan State offers over 200 programs of study and is home to fourteen different degree-granting schools and colleges including three medical schools, a law school, and numerous PhD programs. It is the only university in the nation with three medical schools. MSU is consistently one of the top three programs in the United States for study abroad
Study abroad
Studying abroad is the act of a student pursuing educational opportunities in a country other than one's own. This can include primary, secondary and post-secondary students...
programs. The MSU College of Education is also consistently rated as the top education program in the nation. Michigan State University is the oldest agricultural college in the United States. The MSU School of Criminal Justice is the oldest continuous degree granting criminal justice program in the nation. In 2008, the Department of Energy announced MSU won the contest for a $550 million Facility for Rare Isotope Beams that will attract top researchers from around the world to conduct experiments in nuclear science, astrophysics and applications of isotopes to other fields.
The Thomas M. Cooley Law School
Thomas M. Cooley Law School
Thomas M. Cooley Law School is an American Bar Association accredited law school in the United States. Located in Michigan, its main campus is in Lansing, and its satellite campuses are in Ann Arbor, Auburn Hills, and Grand Rapids. Cooley plans on opening another satellite campus in Tampa Bay,...
is the largest law school in the nation and is located in downtown Lansing. Cooley is fully accredited by the American Bar Association
American Bar Association
The American Bar Association , founded August 21, 1878, is a voluntary bar association of lawyers and law students, which is not specific to any jurisdiction in the United States. The ABA's most important stated activities are the setting of academic standards for law schools, and the formulation...
. A majority of Cooley students are from out-of-state.
Lansing Community College
Lansing Community College
Lansing Community College is a two-year public college founded in 1957. The college's main campus is located on an urban, 42-acre site in downtown Lansing, Michigan spanning seven city blocks approximately two blocks from the state capital...
offers more than 500 areas of study to over 18,000 students at its main facilities in Lansing, and another 5,000 students at twenty-nine extension centers and a site in Otsu, Japan
Otsu, Shiga
is the capital city of Shiga, Japan. The city was founded on October 1, 1898. As of October 1, 2010, the city has an estimated population of 338,629 with an average age of 40.7 years and a population density of 905.28 persons per km²...
. LCC's new, state-of-the-art University Center enables students to take courses with the goal of eventually earning an undergraduate or graduate degree from other Michigan institutions. The University Center stands on the former site of "Old Central", Lansing's first public high school, which was established in 1875 as Lansing High School. (In the 1920s it was renamed as Central High School, and in 1957 became the first building on the LCC campus.)
Other institutions of higher education
Higher education
Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology...
include Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University is a public university located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States. The university was established in 1903 by Dwight B. Waldo, and as of the Fall 2010 semester, its enrollment is 25,045....
(branch campus in Delta Township), Davenport University
Davenport University
Davenport University is a private, non-profit, multi-location university located at 14 campuses throughout Michigan and online. It was founded in 1866 by Conrad Swensburg and currently offers Master's Degrees, Bachelor's Degrees, Associate's Degrees, diplomas, and post-grad certification programs...
in Downtown Lansing, Central Michigan University
Central Michigan University
Central Michigan University is a public research university located in Mount Pleasant in the U.S. state of Michigan...
(branch campus), and Great Lakes Christian College
Great Lakes Christian College
Great Lakes Christian College is a four-year Christian college in Delta Township, Michigan near the state capital of Lansing. It is supported by Independent Christian Churches and Churches of Christ and currently has 260 enrolled students...
(campus in Delta Township).
Public and private primary schools
- Lansing School DistrictLansing School DistrictThe Lansing School District is a school district headquartered in Lansing, Michigan, United States.In the 2000s many larger city urban school districts have struggled academically, Lansing included...
- Lansing Public Schools: (Lansing EverettEverett High School (Michigan)Everett High School is a public high school located on the south side of Lansing, Michigan. It is currently the music and performing arts magnet school for the Lansing School District....
, JW Sexton High SchoolJw sexton high schoolJ. W. Sexton High School is a public school located on the western edge of Lansing, Michigan, United States, in the Lansing School District. The principal is currently Dr. Reginald Bates. The Sexton Big Reds are members of the Capital Area Activities Conference. The school has a fierce rivalry...
, and Lansing EasternEastern High School (Michigan)Eastern High School is a public high school in Lansing, Michigan as part of the Lansing School District.Eastern International Baccalaureate Magnet High School is the only high school in mid-Michigan authorized to offer students the opportunity to earn a prestigious International Baccalaureate...
)
- Lansing Public Schools: (Lansing Everett
- Ingham Intermediate School District
- Ingham Academy High SchoolIngham Academy High School (Michigan)Ingham Academy High School is an alternative high school located in Lansing, Michigan. It is run with a partnership between Ingham Intermediate School District, Highfields, and the Ingham County Circuit Court...
- Ingham Academy High School
- New Covenant Christian School
- Lansing Christian Schools
- Lansing Catholic Central
- Waverly School District
- Mid-Michigan Public School Academy
- El-Hajj Malik Shabazz Academy (named after Malcolm XMalcolm XMalcolm X , born Malcolm Little and also known as El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz , was an African American Muslim minister and human rights activist. To his admirers he was a courageous advocate for the rights of African Americans, a man who indicted white America in the harshest terms for its...
) - Gada Masif Johnson School for the Arts
- Our Savior Lutheran School
- Grand Ledge Public Schools
Parades
- Each year in June, the Michigan Pride festival includes a gay pride parade from Riverfront Park to the capitol.
- The Capital City African American Cultural Association hosts an African American Parade and Heritage Festival every year for almost a decade. The chair of the CCAACA is the Rev. Dr. Michael C. Murphy, who is pastor of St. Stephen's Community Church, a former State Representative and a long-time community leader. The parade highlights African American culture, its influence in Michigan, and recognizes prominent African American individuals in the community and their contributions to Lansing as the grand marshal of each parade. The festival immediately following the parade consists of live entertainment, soul foodSoul foodSoul food cuisine consists of a selection of foods traditional in the cuisine of African Americans. It is closely related to the cuisine of the Southern United States...
and lots of fun for adults and children. It is held every year on the first Saturday in August and begins at 11:00 a.m. in downtown Lansing, Michigan. The festival is held at Ferris Park in downtown Lansing. In 2009 they celebrated 10 years.
- The 24th Annual Silver Bells in the City Parade proceeded through the streets of downtown Lansing on November 21, 2008. The 2007 parade attracted over 120,000 for the Electric Light Parade followed by the lighting of Michigan's official Christmas tree in front of the State Capitol and a firework show (weather permitting) over the State Capitol.
Music
- The Lansing Symphony OrchestraLansing Symphony OrchestraThe Lansing Symphony Orchestra is an American symphony orchestra headquartered in Lansing, Michigan. It was founded in 1929 under the leadership of its first Music Director, Izler Solomon. Since 2006, the orchestra has been headed by Music Director Timothy Muffitt.The LSO presents a wide variety...
has been entertaining generations of Lansing area residents since 1929. The current music directorMusic directorA music director may be the director of an orchestra, the director of music for a film, the director of music at a radio station, the head of the music department in a school, the co-ordinator of the musical ensembles in a university or college , the head bandmaster of a military band, the head...
is Timothy Muffett. - There are many bars and clubs in downtown Lansing let alone in the neighborhoods surrounding downtown. Bars and clubs in downtown include: Brannigan Brothers, Kelly's, The Firm, Tavern on the Square, 621, Excel, The Exchange, Macs Bar, Harem's, Rum Runners (dueling piano bar), Moriarty's, Nuthouse, Art's and The Green Door to name just a few. Many of these bars and clubs have live bands; The Green Door is a blues bar that has live bands 7-nights a week.
- The Lansing JazzFestLansing JazzFestThe Lansing JazzFest is a free music festival that takes place each year in the summer in Lansing, Michigan. It showcases nationally, regionally, and locally known jazz artists such as Marcus Belgrave, the Professors of Jazz at MSU , Eric Reed, Michael Kaeshammer, Straight Ahead, Don Phillips,...
and the Old Town BluesFestOld Town BluesFestThe Old Town BluesFest is a free music festival that takes place each year in the early autumn in Lansing, Michigan. It showcases nationally, regionally, and locally known blues artists such as W. C. Clark, Grana' Louise, Byther Smith, Eddie Shaw and the Wolf Gang, A.C...
host leading musicians, and are two of the larger music festivalMusic festivalA music festival is a festival oriented towards music that is sometimes presented with a theme such as musical genre, nationality or locality of musicians, or holiday. They are commonly held outdoors, and are often inclusive of other attractions such as food and merchandise vending machines,...
s held each year in the state. - Old Town's Festival of the Moon and Sun is a two day festival full of food and live music.
- Old Town Oktoberfest is a two-day event drawing hundreds to the Old Town neighborhood for live polka music, authentic German food and of course world renowned German-style beer.
- It was announced in May 2007 that the city would host a Thursday night, summertime blues concerts along Washington Square in downtown Lansing named "Blues on the Square" that will feature national acts during the summer June–August. In 2008 the event regularly drew crowds over 500 to downtown.
- The Common Ground Festival is a musical event held over a week every July at the Adado Riverfront Park in downtown Lansing pulling in crowds over 90,000 for the week. It began in 2000 and replaced the Michigan Festival that was held in nearby East Lansing. It has wide range of musical acts. In 2008 acts included StaindStaindStaind is an American rock band that was formed in 1995 in Springfield, Massachusetts. For 16 years, the band consisted of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Aaron Lewis, lead guitarist Mike Mushok, bassist Johnny April, and drummer Jon Wysocki...
, Drowning PoolDrowning PoolDrowning Pool is a four-piece alternative metal band from Dallas, Texas.-Early days :Drowning Pool rose to fame while playing along with Ozzy Osbourne during an Ozzfest tour. Their 2001 debut album, Sinner was certified platinum within six weeks...
, Sammy HagarSammy HagarSam Roy "Sammy" Hagar , also known as The Red Rocker, is an American rock singer, guitarist, and songwriter. Also sings Country Music....
, The Hard LessonsThe Hard LessonsThe Hard Lessons are a rock band from Detroit, Michigan, known for their high-energy live appearances and innovative sound. The band has toured extensively in the United States and Europe...
, Snoop DoggSnoop DoggCalvin Cordozar Broadus, Jr. , better known by his stage name Snoop Dogg, is an American rapper, record producer, and actor. Snoop is best known as a rapper in the West Coast hip hop scene, and for being one of Dr. Dre's most notable protégés. Snoop Dogg was a Crip gang member while in high school...
, REO SpeedwagonREO SpeedwagonREO Speedwagon is an American rock band. Formed in 1967, the band grew in popularity during the 1970s and peaked in the early 1980s. Hi Infidelity is the group's most commercially successful album, selling over ten million copies and charting four Top 40 hits in the US...
, Kellie PicklerKellie PicklerKellie Dawn Pickler is an American country music artist and television personality. She gained fame as a contestant on the fifth season of the Fox reality show American Idol, eventually finishing in sixth place. In 2006, she signed to 19 Recordings and BNA Records as a recording artist, releasing...
, SeetherSeetherSeether is a post-grunge/alternative metal band from Pretoria, South Africa, formed in 1999. The band is currently signed to Wind-up Records...
and Trace AdkinsTrace AdkinsTracy Darrell "Trace" Adkins is an American country music artist. He made his debut in 1996 with the album Dreamin' Out Loud, released on Capitol Records Nashville. Since then, Adkins has released seven more studio albums and two Greatest Hits compilations...
. - Every year the City Pulse names the top original Act in the Top of the Town Awards. The 2010 winner was Eastside neighborhood native indie rock band Loune.
Theatre
- The Riverwalk Theatre, (formerly the Okemos Barn Theatre), the Lansing Civic Players, and the BoarsHead Theater are all located in downtown.
- Peppermint Creek Theatre CompanyPeppermint Creek Theatre CompanyPeppermint Creek Theatre Company was established in Mason, Michigan. It is a fast growing, award winning theater company out of East Lansing, Michigan. The owner and president is Chad Badgero....
is a well established "new" award winning theater company. - The Greater Lansing Ballet CompanyBallet companyA ballet company is a group of dancers who perform ballet, plus managerial and support staff. Most major ballet companies employ dancers on a year-round basis, except in the United States, where contracts for part of the year are the norm...
is an award-winning balletBalletBallet is a type of performance dance, that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century, and which was further developed in France and Russia as a concert dance form. The early portions preceded the invention of the proscenium stage and were presented in large chambers with...
and dance companyDance companyA dance troupe or dance company is a group of dancers and associated personnel who work together to perform dances as a spectacle or entertainment.-Members:*Artistic Director*Choreographers*Dancers*Board of Directors*Education administrator...
. - The Creole Gallery brings in various musicians and hosts the Icarus Falling Theater group.
Museums
Lansing is home to a number of small, specialized museums such as:- The Impression 5 Science CenterImpression 5 Science CenterThe Impression 5 Science Center, is a children's museum located in downtown Lansing, Michigan. Formerly known as the Impression 5 Museum, the center is located in a historic wagon works factory on the Grand River. The name, Impression 5, refers to the five senses...
, a children's museum located in a historic wagon works factory on the Grand River. - The Michigan Museum of Surveying, the only museum in North America solely dedicated to surveying and mapping. It is located in a former steam plant constructed in 1923.
- The R.E. Olds Transportation Museum, a museum dedicated to the education of Lansing's role in the development of transportation, particularly the automobile.
- The Michigan Women's Hall of FameMichigan Women's Hall of FameThe Michigan Women's Hall of Fame honors distinguished women, both historical and contemporary, who have been associated with the U.S. state of Michigan. It is housed in the Michigan Women's Historical Center and Hall of Fame building, located at 213 W. Malcolm X St. in downtown Lansing, Michigan...
, a museum dedicated to the historical accomplishments and achievements of Michigan women. The house is located directly south of downtown in the 1903-built Cooley-Haze House. The museum is surrounded by Cooley Gardens. - The Turner-Dodge House, a museum dedicated to Lansing's early pioneers. The museum sits in the Classical Revival-styled Turner-Dodge Mansion, built in 1858 for James and Marion Turner, and later by their daughter and her husband. It is on the National Register of Historic PlacesNational Register of Historic PlacesThe National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. - The Michigan Library and Historical CenterLibrary of MichiganThe Library of Michigan and Historical Center is a state-run library and historical center located in Lansing, Michigan. The current building opened in 1989....
contains one of the 10 largest genealogy collections in the nation, has a museum dedicated to Michigan's history among other attractions.
Farmers' markets
Lansing has several farmers' marketFarmers' market
A farmers' market consists of individual vendors—mostly farmers—who set up booths, tables or stands, outdoors or indoors, to sell produce, meat products, fruits and sometimes prepared foods and beverages...
s throughout the city in the summer months. These markets include the Allen Street Farmer's Market on the city's eastside, the Old Town Farmer's Market, and the year-round historic Lansing City Market located near downtown. The Lansing City Market has built a brand new $1.6 million facility on the riverfront in downtown Lansing where it will continue its year round operations providing specialty items in addition to regular groceries from over 30 vendors.
Potter Park Zoo
The historic Potter Park Zoo, located along the Red Cedar River in Lansing, has more than 500 animals and numerous programs and events for children and families. With annual attendance increasing every year since 2006 (167,000 in 2009, compared to 137,236 in 2008 and 110,167 in 2006) there are $667,100 in capital improvements planned for 2009 including a giant walk-in aviary and a new female tiger. In 2009 the zoo began a $1.4 million renovation to its rhinoceros exhibit. This is in addition to $1.3 million spent on capital improvements in 2008.Libraries
The Library of MichiganLibrary of Michigan
The Library of Michigan and Historical Center is a state-run library and historical center located in Lansing, Michigan. The current building opened in 1989....
and Historical Center is a highly regarded state library and research center. The library is one of the top five genealogical research facilities in the United States. The Capital Area District Library
Capital Area District Library
The Capital Area District Library is a system of libraries in Ingham County, Michigan, United States. It was formed in 1998 by an agreement between Ingham County and the City of Lansing. It consists of thirteen libraries and a bookmobile. CADL is governed by a seven-member board, five of which are...
has 13 branches within Ingham County, some of these include: The Main library downtown, the Foster Library on the east side, and the South Lansing Library on the south side.
Other area destinations
In October 2009 the Wharton Center for Performing ArtsWharton Center for Performing Arts
The Wharton Center for Performing Arts is located in East Lansing, Michigan, USA, on the campus of Michigan State University. It is the home of the Lansing Symphony Orchestra, which performs 17 concerts annually...
completed a 24,000 sq/ft, $18.5 million expansion and renovation, having already spent over $1.3 million in 2008. Many Broadway shows come to The Wharton Center before traveling to theaters in larger places such as Chicago. The Kresge Art Museum, the MSU Museum, and the Abrams Planetarium are highly acclaimed cultural destinations located on the campus of Michigan State University
Campus of Michigan State University
The campus of Michigan State University is located in East Lansing on the banks of the Red Cedar River, and comprises a contiguous area of , of which are developed. Built amid virgin forest, the campus opened in 1855 with three buildings, none of which remain...
in East Lansing. In June 2007 MSU announced the plans to build a new art museum after a $26 million gift from Eli and Edythe Broad. Internationally known Pritzker Prize winning architect Zaha Hadid of London won the design competition for the museum that will be built in East Lansing.
Newspapers and Magazines
- Lansing State JournalLansing State JournalThe Lansing State Journal is a daily newspaper published in Lansing, Michigan owned by Gannett.-Overview:The Lansing State Journal is the sole daily newspaper published in metropolitan Lansing...
- City Pulse
- REVUE Mid MichiganREVUE Mid MichiganREVUE Mid-Michigan is a monthly entertainment and arts magazine covering Lansing, Mount Pleasant and other Mid-Michigan cities.-Coverage:REVUE Mid-Michigan publishes 15,000 copies once a month and is distributed in 300 locations...
- The New Citizens Press
- Capital Gains Media
- Capital Area Women's Lifestyle Magazine
- The Greater Lansing Business Monthly
- Greater Lansing Woman Magazine
- The Hub
- MIRS News-Michigan Information & Research Service
- The State NewsThe State NewsThe State News is the student newspaper of Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan. It is supported by a combination of advertising revenue and a $5 refundable tax that students pay at each semester's matriculation. Though The State News is supported by a student tax, the faculty and...
- Gongwer News Service
- The Michigan Bulletin
- Patient In Charge Magazine
Television
Cable slots listed reflect the ComcastComcast
Comcast Corporation is the largest cable operator, home Internet service provider, and fourth largest home telephone service provider in the United States, providing cable television, broadband Internet, and telephone service to both residential and commercial customers in 39 states and the...
cable system in Lansing.
- WLNSWLNS-TVWLNS-TV is the CBS-affiliated television station for Central Michigan licensed to Lansing. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 36 from a transmitter on Van Atta Road in Meridian. The station can also be seen on Comcast channel 6 and Broadstripe channel 13...
6 (CBSCBSCBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
) (Cable 9) - WILXWILX-TVWILX-TV is the NBC-affiliated television station for Central Michigan. Licensed to the nearby town of Onondaga, it broadcasts a high definition digital signal on VHF channel 10. The station can also be seen on Comcast channel 4 in Lansing, and Comcast channel 10 in East Lansing and Jackson. It can...
10 (NBCNBCThe National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
) (Cable 4) - WHTVWHTVWHTV is the MyNetworkTV-affiliated television station for Central Michigan that is licensed to Jackson, Michigan. It broadcasts a standard definition digital signal on UHF channel 18 from a transmitter in Okemos. Owned by Venture Technologies Group, the station is operated through a joint sales...
18 (My Network TV) (Cable 8) - WKARWKAR-TVWKAR-TV is a PBS-member station serving the Lansing, Michigan area. It is owned by Michigan State University. The station broadcasts on digital channel 40, which redirects to its former analog channel 23 via PSIP). Its studios are located on MSU's campus in East Lansing, its city of license...
23 (PBSPublic Broadcasting ServiceThe Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
) (Cable 13) - WSYMWSYM-TVWSYM-TV is the Fox-affiliated television station for Central Michigan licensed to Lansing. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 38 from a transmitter along M-50/M-99 in Eaton Rapids. The station can also be seen on Comcast channel 7 and in high definition on digital...
47 (FoxFox Broadcasting CompanyFox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
) (Cable 7) - WLAJWLAJWLAJ is the ABC-affiliated television station for Central Michigan that is licensed to Lansing. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 51 from a transmitter northeast of Tompkins Township on the Jackson and Ingham County line. Owned by Freedom Communications, the station has...
53 (ABCAmerican Broadcasting CompanyThe American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
) (Cable 3) / DT2 (CWThe CW Television NetworkThe CW Television Network is a television network in the United States launched at the beginning of the 2006–2007 television season. It is a joint venture between CBS Corporation, the former owners of United Paramount Network , and Time Warner's Warner Bros., former majority owner of The WB...
) (Cable 5)
WILX maintains WSYM's News programming. Both affiliates broadcast their newscasts at the News 10 studios in Lansing. Often the same reporters are used on both broadcasts.
Radio
Lansing's radio dial has quite a few stations.Note: If the station has no city listed before the format, it is licensed to Lansing.
- 88.1 WLGHWLGHWLGH is a non-commercial, contemporary Christian FM radio station located in Lansing, Michigan. The station, which broadcasts on 88.1 MHz FM, is owned by Superior Communications which is in turn owned by Jennifer and Edward Czelada.The station is officially licensed to operate in Leroy Township,...
– (Leroy TownshipLeroy Township, Ingham County, MichiganLeroy Township is a civil township of Ingham County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,653 at the 2000 census.-Communities:...
, contemporary Christian) "Smile FM" - 88.5 WJOMWLGHWLGH is a non-commercial, contemporary Christian FM radio station located in Lansing, Michigan. The station, which broadcasts on 88.1 MHz FM, is owned by Superior Communications which is in turn owned by Jennifer and Edward Czelada.The station is officially licensed to operate in Leroy Township,...
– (Eagle, contemporary Christian) "Smile FM" - 88.9 WDBMWDBMWDBM , East Lansing, Michigan, is a 2,000 watt, Class A, student-run college radio station at Michigan State University that broadcasts to listeners in the Lansing, Michigan, metropolitan area. The station is the successor to the Michigan State Network, which in the 1970s was the nation's largest...
– (East LansingEast Lansing, MichiganEast Lansing is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located directly east of Lansing, Michigan, the state's capital. Most of the city is within Ingham County, though a small portion lies in Clinton County. The population was 48,579 at the time of the 2010 census, an increase from...
, collegeCollegeA college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
/Michigan State UniversityMichigan State UniversityMichigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
) "The Impact" - 89.7 WLNZWLNZWLNZ is a non-commercial FM radio station located in Lansing, Michigan. The station, which broadcasts on 89.7 FM, is owned by Lansing Community College....
– (public radio/Lansing Community CollegeLansing Community CollegeLansing Community College is a two-year public college founded in 1957. The college's main campus is located on an urban, 42-acre site in downtown Lansing, Michigan spanning seven city blocks approximately two blocks from the state capital...
) - 90.5 WKARWKAR-FMWKAR-FM is a public radio station in East Lansing, Michigan; broadcasting on the FM dial at 90.5 MHz. It is owned by Michigan State University, and is sister station to the AM radio and television stations with the same call letters....
– (East LansingEast Lansing, MichiganEast Lansing is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located directly east of Lansing, Michigan, the state's capital. Most of the city is within Ingham County, though a small portion lies in Clinton County. The population was 48,579 at the time of the 2010 census, an increase from...
, public radio/Michigan State UniversityMichigan State UniversityMichigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
)- Note: WKAR runs with 86,000 watts
- 91.3 WOESWOESWOES is a non-commercial educational high school radio station that broadcasts from Ovid-Elsie High School. It is known as "The Polka Palace."...
– (OvidOvid, MichiganOvid is a village in Clinton and Shiawassee counties in the U.S. state of Michigan. Nearly all of the village is located within Ovid Township in Clinton County. The population was 1,514 at the 2000 census.The village is on M-21, about east of St...
, polkaPolkaThe polka is a Central European dance and also a genre of dance music familiar throughout Europe and the Americas. It originated in the middle of the 19th century in Bohemia...
/Ovid-Elsie High School) - 92.1 WQTXWQTXWQTX is a radio station broadcasting a country music radio format to Lansing, Michigan. Licensed to St. Johns, Michigan, it first began broadcasting in 1972 and has been through a number of different calls and formats during its history....
– (St. JohnsSt. Johns, MichiganAs of the census of 2000, there were 7,485 people, 2,994 households, and 1,999 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,909.1 per square mile . There were 3,148 housing units at an average density of 802.9 per square mile...
, countryCountry musicCountry music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
) "Big Country" - 92.9 WLMIWLMIWVTT is an FM radio station licensed to Portville, New York. The station, broadcasting at 96.7 MHz, is owned by Colonial Radio Group and broadcasts a talk radio format.Prior to October 2011, WVTT was licensed to Kane, Pennsylvania at 103.9 MHz...
– (Grand LedgeGrand Ledge, MichiganGrand Ledge is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city lies mostly within Eaton County, though a small portion extends into Clinton County, and sits above the Grand River 12.7 miles directly west of downtown Lansing. The population was 7,813 at the 2000 census...
, classic hitsClassic hitsClassic hits is a radio format which generally includes rock and pop music from 1964 to 1989. The term is sometimes erroneously used as a synonym for the adult hits format, but is more accurately characterized as a contemporary style of the oldies format...
) - 93.7 WBCT-FM – (Grand RapidsGrand Rapids, MichiganGrand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...
, country) "B93"- Note: WBCT runs with 320,000 watts
- 94.1 WVICWVICWVIC is a radio station broadcasting a modern rock format. Licensed to Jackson, Michigan, it first began broadcasting on July 14, 1958 as WMKZ-FM simulcasting WIBM-AM. The station broadcasts from a tower near Springport, Michigan. The station can be heard from Kalamazoo to Ypsilanti, and from...
– (JacksonJackson, MichiganJackson is a city located along Interstate 94 in the south central area of the U.S. state of Michigan, about west of Ann Arbor and south of Lansing. It is the county seat of Jackson County. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 33,534...
, modern rockModern rockModern rock is a rock format commonly found on commercial radio; the format consists primarily of the alternative rock genre...
) "94.1 the Edge" - 94.9 WMMQWMMQWMMQ is an American Classic rock radio station at 94.9 FM, licensed to East Lansing, Michigan. The station is owned by Cumulus Media.The original WMMQ began life as WCER-FM in Charlotte, Michigan, in 1963. The station was co-owned with WCER-AM 1390...
– (East LansingEast Lansing, MichiganEast Lansing is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located directly east of Lansing, Michigan, the state's capital. Most of the city is within Ingham County, though a small portion lies in Clinton County. The population was 48,579 at the time of the 2010 census, an increase from...
, classic rockClassic rockClassic rock is a radio format which developed from the album-oriented rock format in the early 1980s. In the United States, the classic rock format features music ranging generally from the late 1960s to the late 1980s, primarily focusing on the hard rock genre that peaked in popularity in the...
) - 96.5 WQHHWQHHWQHH is a commercial FM radio station located in DeWitt, a suburb of Lansing, Michigan. The station broadcasts on 96.5 MHz with 6,000 watts. The station plays hip hop as well as rhythm & blues music.WQHH began broadcasting on May 26, 1991 with 3,000 watts...
– (DeWittDeWitt, MichiganDeWitt is a city in Clinton County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 4,507 at the 2010 census.-History:DeWitt was named after DeWitt Clinton, Governor of New York during the 1830s. It was first settled by Captain David Scott, who moved there from Ann Arbor in 1833, and platted the...
, urbanMainstream UrbanMainstream Urban is a term used to describe a radio format similar to an Urban Contemporary format. The format differentiates itself due to two factors: playlist composition and target demographic...
) "Power 96.5" - 97.5 WJIMWJIM-FMWJIM-FM is a radio station in Lansing, Michigan, broadcasting a Top 40 format.The station has had the WJIM-FM calls continuously since it signed on in 1960. For over three decades, WJIM-FM broadcast an easy listening/beautiful music format, which evolved during the early 1990s into a soft adult...
– (CHRContemporary hit radioContemporary hit radio is a radio format that is common in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top 40 music charts...
) "97-5 Now-FM" - 99.1 WFMKWFMKWFMK is an adult contemporary radio station licensed to East Lansing, Michigan. It is owned by Cumulus Media.WFMK is one of the United States' oldest adult contemporary stations, having programmed the format for almost four decades. The station signed on in 1959 as WSWM, and offered a MOR...
– (East LansingEast Lansing, MichiganEast Lansing is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located directly east of Lansing, Michigan, the state's capital. Most of the city is within Ingham County, though a small portion lies in Clinton County. The population was 48,579 at the time of the 2010 census, an increase from...
, adult contemporary) - 100.7 WITL-FMWITL-FMWITL-FM is a radio station broadcasting a country music format. Licensed to Lansing, Michigan, and serving Ingham, Easton and Clinton Counties in Michigan. It first began broadcasting in 1961 . The station took the WITL-FM call sign in 1966, and adopted a full-time country music format in 1967...
– (countryCountry musicCountry music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
) "Whittle" - 101.7 WHZZWHZZWHZZ is a radio station licensed to Lansing, Michigan. It first began broadcasting in 1967 as WILS-FM. Prior to the adoption of the current format in September 2005, WHZZ had programmed a CHR/top 40 format for over a decade as "Z101.7." After WHZZ's change to "Mike FM", the CHR format was picked...
– (adult hitsAdult hitsAdult hits is a radio format, popular in the early 2000s, that does not adhere to a specific music genre, but instead draws from a wider playlist...
) "Mike-FM" - 105.7 WOODWOOD-FMWSRW-FM , Grand Rapids, Michigan, is an adult contemporary music formatted radio station on the frequency of 105.7 FM. It signal can be heard as far east as South Lyon, Michigan, far south as Topeka, Indiana, and as far north as Paris, Michigan.-History:The station signed on for the first time as...
– (Grand RapidsGrand Rapids, MichiganGrand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...
, adult contemporary) "Star 105.7" - 106.1 WJXQWJXQWJXQ is a radio station broadcasting a mainstream rock format. Licensed to Charlotte, Michigan, it first began broadcasting under the WKHM-FM call sign. Its studios are located on Cedar St...
– (CharlotteCharlotte, MichiganCharlotte is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 9,074. It is the county seat of Eaton County....
, active rockActive rockActive rock is a radio format used by many commercial radio stations across the United States and Canada. Active rock plays contemporary rock artists with a mix of songs common in the classic rock radio format.-Format background:...
) "Q106" - 107.3 WBBL-FMWBBL-FMWBBL-FM is a radio station broadcasting an all-sports format in Grand Rapids, Michigan. WBBL is sometimes received on the east side of the state during certain atmospheric conditions and during the Spring and Summer months, the signal tends to trickle into East Michigan. It first began...
– (Greenville/Grand RapidsGrand Rapids, MichiganGrand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...
, Sports radioSports radioSports radio is a radio format devoted entirely to discussion and broadcasting of sporting events. A popular format with an almost exclusively male demographic in most areas, sports radio is characterized by an often-boisterous on-air style and extensive debate and analysis by both hosts and...
) - 730 AM WVFNWVFNWVFN is a radio station licensed to East Lansing, Michigan, broadcasting a sports radio format. It broadcasts on AM frequency 730 kHz and is under the ownership of Cumulus Media....
– (East Lansing, sports talk) "The Game" - 870 AM WKARWKAR (AM)WKAR is a National Public Radio member station in East Lansing, Michigan; broadcasting at 870 kHz. It is owned by Michigan State University, and carries news and talk shows from NPR. It is part of MSU's Broadcasting Services Division, and is a sister station to the FM radio and television...
– (East Lansing, NPR news/talk) - 1110 AM WUNN – (MasonMason, MichiganMason is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is named after the state's first governor, Stevens T. Mason. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 8,252. It is the county seat of Ingham County. Mason is the only city in the U.S. that serves as a county seat ahead of a state capital,...
, religious/southern gospel) - 1180 AM WXLAWXLAWXLA is a commercial AM radio station located in Dimondale, a suburb of Lansing, Michigan. The station broadcasts on 1180 kHz with 10,000 watts during most daytime hours. During the two hours after sunrise and two hours before sunset it cuts back to 2,000 watts...
– DimondaleDimondale, MichiganDimondale is a village in Eaton County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,342 at the 2000 census. The village is located within Windsor Charter Township. Dimondale is a suburb of Lansing, Michigan, which is northeast of the village in Ingham County, Michigan...
, (adult standardsAdult standardsAdult standards is a North American radio format heard primarily on AM or class A FM stations.Adult standards is aimed at "mature" adults, meaning mainly those persons over 50 years of age, but it is mostly targeted for senior citizens...
) "Timeless Classics 1180" - 1240 AM WJIMWJIM (AM)WJIM is a radio station licensed to Lansing, Michigan broadcasting a news-talk format. WJIM began broadcasting in 1934 on 1210 kHz with 250 watts daytime and 100 watts at night, under the ownership of Gross Telecasting...
– (news/talk) "Lansing's Big Talker" - 1320 AM WILSWILSWILS is a radio station located in Lansing, Michigan broadcasting a news-talk format.Until October 2006, WILS aired ABC Radio's satellite-delivered adult standards/MOR music package known as "Timeless Classics" . The station had had this format since the early 1990s and was quite successful in the...
– (news/talk) "More Compelling Talk" - 1390 AM WLCMWLCMWLCM is a commercial Christian AM radio station located in Charlotte, Michigan. WLCM operates on 1390 KHz from two locations. During the day it broadcasts with 5,000 watts from Charlotte. Beginning on December 29, 2008, WLCM began operating with its new 4,500 watt night-time transmitter located...
– (CharlotteCharlotte, MichiganCharlotte is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 9,074. It is the county seat of Eaton County....
, religious) - 1580 AM WWSJWWSJWWSJ is an AM radio station broadcasting from St. Johns, Michigan on 1580 kHz, featuring a Black Gospel format. The station transmits with 1,000 watts during the day using a directional antenna that sends the signal primarily to the north and south...
– (St. JohnsSt. Johns, MichiganAs of the census of 2000, there were 7,485 people, 2,994 households, and 1,999 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,909.1 per square mile . There were 3,148 housing units at an average density of 802.9 per square mile...
, urban contemporary gospelUrban contemporary gospelTraditional black gospel is music that is written to express either personal or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music...
) "Joy 1580" - 162.400 WXK81 – NOAA Weather Radio (OnondagaOnondaga, MichiganOnondaga is an unincorporated community in Onondaga Township in the southwestern corner of Ingham County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated on the Grand River at approximately 20 miles south of Lansing and approximately 15 mile northwest of Jackson....
, weather)
Radio stations from Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Saginaw, and Flint can also be heard in the Lansing area.
Sports
The Lansing LugnutsLansing Lugnuts
The Lansing Lugnuts are a Class A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Toronto Blue Jays, that plays in the Midwest League.The Midwest League came to Lansing, Michigan in 1996. The franchise began in Lafayette, Indiana, in 1955; after two seasons it moved to Waterloo, Iowa, where it...
are a Class A Midwest League
Midwest League
The Midwest League is a Class-A minor league baseball league which operates in the Midwestern United States.-History:Six teams – the Belleville Stags, the Centralia Cubs, the Marion Indians, the Mattoon Indians or East Frankfort White Sox, the Mount Vernon Braves, and the West Frankfort...
, Minor League Baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
team, currently affiliated with the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
. The team plays its home games at Cooley Law School Stadium, which was built at a cost of $12.7 million and opened in 1996 in downtown Lansing. It was partially renovated in 2006. Cooley Law School Stadium has a seating capacity
Seating capacity
Seating capacity refers to the number of people who can be seated in a specific space, both in terms of the physical space available, and in terms of limitations set by law. Seating capacity can be used in the description of anything ranging from an automobile that seats two to a stadium that seats...
of 11,215 fans, and was built to accommodate additional expansion. The team has won two Midwest League championships, their first in 1997 and their second in 2003. Previously known as Oldsmobile Park, the facility was renamed Thomas M. Cooley Law School Stadium in April 2010, in reference to the park's new sponsor.
The Summit at the Capital Centre
Summit at the Capital Centre
The Summit at the Capital Centre is a 1,000-seat hockey arena located in Dimondale, Michigan, a suburb of Lansing, Michigan. It is primarily used for high school and youth hockey....
is a hockey arena and convention center
Convention center
A convention center is a large building that is designed to hold a convention, where individuals and groups gather to promote and share common interests. Convention centers typically offer sufficient floor area to accommodate several thousand attendees...
located in the suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
of Dimondale
Dimondale, Michigan
Dimondale is a village in Eaton County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,342 at the 2000 census. The village is located within Windsor Charter Township. Dimondale is a suburb of Lansing, Michigan, which is northeast of the village in Ingham County, Michigan...
that hosts youth and high school hockey.
The Lansing Capitals
Lansing Capitals
The Lansing Capitals are a charter member of the Independent Basketball Association. Founded in 2006, the Capitals were originally members of the International Basketball League. They played a full season in 2006 and a partial season in 2007. They did not play again until 2010 when they returned...
began play in the International Basketball League
International Basketball League
The International Basketball League was a short lived professional basketball league in the United States. The IBL was headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland. The league started in 1999 and ended in 2001.-History:...
in 2006.
Michigan State University sponsors both men's and women's sports, usually competing as a member of the Big Ten Conference
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
. The Spartans have won National Titles in Men's Basketball, Football, Men's Boxing, Men's Cross Country, Men's Gymnastics, Men's Ice Hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
, Men's Soccer, and Men's Wrestling.
On November 27, 2011 MSU beat Northwestern in their Big Ten Football
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
finale to secure the top Big Ten record at 7-1 in conference play, and set up their entrance to the first Big Ten Football Championship Game
Big Ten Football Championship Game
The Big Ten Football Championship Game is a college football game that will be held by the Big Ten Conference each year to determine the conference's season champion. The inaugural game will be held on December 3, 2011. The games during the next two seasons will be held on December 1, 2012 and...
to be held December 3rd, 2011 at Lucas Stadium
Lucas Oil Stadium
Lucas Oil Stadium is a multi-purpose sports stadium in Downtown Indianapolis, Indiana. The stadium celebrated its grand opening on August 24, 2008, and its ribbon-cutting ceremony August 16, 2008. It replaced the RCA Dome as the home field of the NFL's Indianapolis Colts. The stadium was built to...
in Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
against the Wisconsin Badgers
Wisconsin Badgers football
The Wisconsin Badgers are a college football program that represents the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision and the Big Ten Conference. They play their home games at Camp Randall Stadium, the fourth-oldest stadium in college football...
.
Lansing Community College
Lansing Community College
Lansing Community College is a two-year public college founded in 1957. The college's main campus is located on an urban, 42-acre site in downtown Lansing, Michigan spanning seven city blocks approximately two blocks from the state capital...
also sponsors many sports, competing as members of the Michigan Community College Athletic Association
Michigan Community College Athletic Association
The Michigan Community College Athletic Association is an association of community college athletic departments throughout Michigan and northern Indiana....
. The Stars have won NJCAA titles in the following sports: Women's Softball, Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball, Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country, Women's Marathon and Men's Marathon.
The Lansing area is also known for its many golf courses, with two courses owned by Michigan State University, four municipal courses, and many additional public and private courses in the area. Walnut Hills Country Club
Country club
A country club is a private club, often with a closed membership, that typically offers a variety of recreational sports facilities and is located in city outskirts or rural areas. Activities may include, for example, any of golf, tennis, swimming or polo...
in nearby East Lansing formerly hosted the LPGA
LPGA
The LPGA, in full the Ladies Professional Golf Association, is an American organization for female professional golfers. The organization, whose headquarters is in Daytona Beach, Florida, is best known for running the LPGA Tour, a series of weekly golf tournaments for elite female golfers from...
's Oldsmobile Classic from 1992–2000. The Michigan PGA recently relocated from the Detroit area to Bath, Michigan
Bath, Michigan
Bath is an unincorporated community in Bath Township, Clinton County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated just north of exit 92 off Interstate 69, about north of East Lansing....
, which is on the northern edge of Lansing.
In the 1980s and 1990s Lansing was a major player in semi-pro football. The Lansing Crusaders won MFL/MCFL championships in 1982, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, and 1990. The team finished second in 1984, 1986, and 1991.
Other past sports teams include:
- Lansing – Michigan State LeagueMichigan State LeagueMichigan State League was the name of six American professional baseball leagues. Five of them operated only one or two baseball seasons and the other four seasons...
(baseball) – 1889 to 1890 - Lansing Senators – Michigan State League (baseball) – 1895 and 1902
- Southern Michigan LeagueSouthern Michigan LeagueThe Southern Michigan League was a Minor League Baseball circuit which operated between 1906 and 1912. It was classified as a Class D league from 1906 to 1910 and as a Class C league from 1911 to 1912...
– 1907 to 1914 - Central LeagueCentral LeagueThe or is one the two professional baseball leagues that constitute Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. The winner of the league championship plays against the winner of the Pacific League in the annual Japan Series. It currently consists of six teams from around the country,The Central League...
– 1921 to 1922 - renamed the Lansing Lancers – Michigan State League – 1940
- and then back as the Lansing Senators – Michigan State League – 1941
- Southern Michigan League
- Lansing Capitals – North American Basketball League – 1966–67 to 1967–68
- Lansing LancersLansing LancersThe Lansing Lancers were a professional ice hockey team playing in the International Hockey League. They were based in Lansing, Michigan and played their games at Metro Ice Arena. They were a member of the league during the 1974–1975 season, after moving from Toledo, Ohio, where it played as the...
– International Hockey League – 1974 to 1975 - Capital City Cardinals – Michigan Charity Football League – 1980
- Lansing Crusaders – Michigan Charity Football League – 1980 to 1988
- Michigan Football League – 1989 to 1994
- Capital City Cowboys – Michigan Football League – 1992
- Lansing Ice Nuts – International Independent Hockey LeagueInternational Independent Hockey LeagueThe International Independent Hockey League was an independent low-level professional hockey league that played in the Great Lakes Region of the US in late 2003 before falling apart in 2004...
– 2003 to 2004
Airports
Scheduled commercial airline service is offered from Capital Region International Airport (formerly known as Capital City Airport). Delta Air LinesDelta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines, Inc. is a major airline based in the United States and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The airline operates an extensive domestic and international network serving all continents except Antarctica. Delta and its subsidiaries operate over 4,000 flights every day...
maintains routes to Detroit
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport , usually called Detroit Metro Airport, Metro Airport locally, or simply DTW, is a major international airport covering in Romulus, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. It is Michigan's busiest airport....
and Minneapolis/St. Paul
Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport
Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport is the largest and busiest airport in the five-state upper Midwest region of Minnesota, Iowa, South Dakota, North Dakota, and Wisconsin.-Overview:...
. United Airlines
United Airlines
United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees (which includes the entire holding company United Continental...
maintains routes to Chicago O'Hare
O'Hare International Airport
Chicago O'Hare International Airport , also known as O'Hare Airport, O'Hare Field, Chicago Airport, Chicago International Airport, or simply O'Hare, is a major airport located in the northwestern-most corner of Chicago, Illinois, United States, northwest of the Chicago Loop...
. Sun Country Airlines
Sun Country Airlines
MN Airlines, LLC, operating as Sun Country Airlines, is an American low-cost airline headquartered in the Minneapolis-St. Paul suburb of Mendota Heights, Minnesota...
and Apple Vacations offer non-stop flights to Washington, D.C.
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is a public airport located south of downtown Washington, D.C., in Arlington County, Virginia. It is the commercial airport nearest to Washington, D.C. For many decades, it was called Washington National Airport, but this airport was renamed in 1998 to...
and Minneapolis/St. Paul, and seasonal flights to Cancún, Mexico
Cancún International Airport
Cancún International Airport is located in Cancún, Quintana Roo, on the Caribbean coast of Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula. It is Mexico's second busiest airport, after Mexico City International Airport in Mexico City, but the biggest in Mexico and Latin America for International passengers...
; Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
Punta Cana International Airport
Punta Cana International Airport is a privately owned commercial airport in Punta Cana, eastern Dominican Republic. The airport is built in a traditional Dominican style with open-air terminals with their roofs covered in palm fronds. built the Punta Cana International Airport in 1984. A number...
; Montego Bay, Jamaica; Fort Myers
Southwest Florida International Airport
-Statistics:-Accidents and incidents:* November 28, 2007 - A single-engine fixed wing aircraft crashed about 9:20 a.m. one mile west of Runway 6. The crash killed the pilot...
and Orlando, Florida
Orlando International Airport
Orlando International Airport is a major international airport located southeast of the central business district of Orlando. It is the second busiest airport in Florida, after Miami International Airport...
; and Las Vegas, Nevada
McCarran International Airport
McCarran International Airport is the principal commercial airport serving Las Vegas and Clark County, Nevada, United States. The airport is located five miles south of the central business district of Las Vegas, in the unincorporated area of Paradise in Clark County. It covers an area of and...
. UPS
UPS Airlines
UPS Airlines is an American cargo airline owned by United Parcel Service Inc. . The company is headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky. Its home airport is located at Louisville International Airport...
has a freight hub at Capital Region International Airport making up part of the 42 million pounds of annual cargo moving through the airport. In 2008 the airport received a port of entry
Port of entry
In general, a port of entry is a place where one may lawfully enter a country. It typically has a staff of people who check passports and visas and inspect luggage to assure that contraband is not imported. International airports are usually ports of entry, as are road and rail crossings on a...
designation – known as Port Lansing
Port Lansing
Port Lansing is a United States Port of Entry located at Capital Region International Airport, adjacent to Lansing, Michigan. The Port allows passengers and cargo to clear customs through a U.S. Customs and Border Protection Federal Inspection Station....
– and now has a permanent customs facility, thus changing its name to reflect the port of entry status. The same year a 500 feet (152.4 m) extension to the largest of the three runway
Runway
According to ICAO a runway is a "defined rectangular area on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and take-off of aircraft." Runways may be a man-made surface or a natural surface .- Orientation and dimensions :Runways are named by a number between 01 and 36, which is generally one tenth...
s – now 8506 feet (2,592.6 m) – was completed to allow for larger aircraft to use the airport.
The Michigan Flyer provides bus service between Lansing and Detroit Metro Airport
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport , usually called Detroit Metro Airport, Metro Airport locally, or simply DTW, is a major international airport covering in Romulus, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. It is Michigan's busiest airport....
eight times daily.
Interstate highways
-
I-69Interstate 69Interstate 69 is an Interstate Highway in the United States. It exists in two parts: a completed highway from Indianapolis, Indiana, northeast to the Canadian border in Port Huron, Michigan, and a mostly proposed extension southwest to the Mexican border in Texas...
runs from IndianapolisIndianapolis, IndianaIndianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
north to Lansing and east to FlintFlint, MichiganFlint is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and is located along the Flint River, northwest of Detroit. The U.S. Census Bureau reports the 2010 population to be placed at 102,434, making Flint the seventh largest city in Michigan. It is the county seat of Genesee County which lies in the...
and Port HuronPort Huron, MichiganPort Huron is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of St. Clair County. The population was 30,184 at the 2010 census. The city is adjacent to Port Huron Township but is administratively autonomous. It is joined by the Blue Water Bridge over the St. Clair River to Sarnia,...
, connecting to Canada. -
I-96Interstate 96Interstate 96 is an intrastate Interstate Highway that is entirely within the US state of Michigan. Its western terminus is at an interchange with US Highway 31 and Business US Highway 31 , on the western boundary of Norton Shores southeast of Muskegon. Its eastern terminus is at I-75 near the...
runs from MuskegonMuskegon, MichiganMuskegon is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 38,401. The city is the county seat of Muskegon County...
, past Grand RapidsGrand Rapids, MichiganGrand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...
and Lansing, to DetroitDetroit, MichiganDetroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
. -
I-496Interstate 496Interstate 496 is an Interstate Highway that passes through downtown Lansing, Michigan and is a "child" of Interstate 96. It is ceremonially designated the R.E. Olds Freeway along the portion that cuts through the city of Lansing...
, the Ransom E. Olds Freeway, loops through downtown Lansing, connecting with I-96 on either end. -
I-69 Business Loop or BL I-69 is a loop route running through Lansing and East LansingEast Lansing, MichiganEast Lansing is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located directly east of Lansing, Michigan, the state's capital. Most of the city is within Ingham County, though a small portion lies in Clinton County. The population was 48,579 at the time of the 2010 census, an increase from...
. -
I-96 Business Loop or BL I-96 is a loop route running through Lansing. - Capitol Loop a loop route off I-496 serving the state capitol and other downtown facilities.
US highways
-
US 127U.S. Route 127U.S. Route 127 is a long north–south United States highway in the eastern half of the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at U.S. Route 27 in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The northern terminus is at Interstate 75 near Grayling, Michigan...
is a north-south highway passing between the city and neighboring East Lansing, continuing northerly toward ClareClare, MichiganClare is a city in Clare and Isabella counties in the U.S. state of Michigan. Located primarily in Clare County, the city had a population of 3,173 at the 2000 census....
and GraylingGrayling, MichiganGrayling is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Crawford County. The population was 1,952 at the 2000 census. Grayling takes its name from the Grayling fish that was once prevalent in its lakes and streams....
and southerly toward Jackson, MichiganJackson, MichiganJackson is a city located along Interstate 94 in the south central area of the U.S. state of Michigan, about west of Ann Arbor and south of Lansing. It is the county seat of Jackson County. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 33,534...
and into OhioOhioOhio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
.
Michigan state trunklines
-
M-43M-43 (Michigan highway)M-43 is a state trunkline highway in southwestern and central parts of the US state of Michigan. The highway runs from South Haven to Webberville along an indirect path through both rural areas and larger cities...
(Saginaw Street/Grand River AvenueGrand River AvenueUS Highway 16 , also called Grand River Avenue for much of its length, is one of the principal pre-Interstate roads in the state of Michigan. Before the creation of the United States Numbered Highway System in 1926, the highway had been designated M-16...
) -
M-99M-99 (Michigan highway)M-99 is a state highway in the Lower Peninsula of the US state of Michigan. It runs from the Ohio state border, where it connects to SR 15, north to Lansing where it terminates at a junction with I-496...
(Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.)
Railways
- AmtrakAmtrakThe National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
provides intercity passenger rail service at a stop in nearby East LansingEast Lansing (Amtrak station)The East Lansing Amtrak Station, in East Lansing, Michigan, is served by the passenger train. It also serves as the intercity bus station for East Lansing, with a separate bus ticket counter and Greyhound and Indian Trails routes stopping at the station daily...
, on the Blue WaterMichigan ServicesMichigan Services is an umbrella term used by Amtrak to describe passenger rail service by three routes connecting Chicago, Illinois, with the Michigan cities of Grand Rapids, Port Huron, and Detroit, and other stations along the three lines...
line from ChicagoChicagoChicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
to Port HuronPort Huron, MichiganPort Huron is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of St. Clair County. The population was 30,184 at the 2010 census. The city is adjacent to Port Huron Township but is administratively autonomous. It is joined by the Blue Water Bridge over the St. Clair River to Sarnia,...
. - Four freight railroads serve Lansing including Canadian National Railways, CSX TransportationCSX TransportationCSX Transportation operates a Class I railroad in the United States known as the CSX Railroad. It is the main subsidiary of the CSX Corporation. The company is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, and owns approximately 21,000 route miles...
, Norfolk Southern RailwayNorfolk Southern RailwayThe Norfolk Southern Railway is a Class I railroad in the United States, owned by the Norfolk Southern Corporation. With headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia, the company operates 21,500 route miles in 22 eastern states, the District of Columbia and the province of Ontario, Canada...
, and Jackson & Lansing RailroadAdrian and Blissfield Rail RoadThe Adrian and Blissfield Rail Road Company is a Class III short line railroad which operates of railroad track between Adrian and Riga, in Lenawee County, Michigan. It was incorporated February 6, 1991, with company headquarters in Westland, Michigan...
.
Public transportation
- Capital Area Transportation Authority (CATA)Capital Area Transportation AuthorityThe Capital Area Transportation Authority provides mass transit bus service and paratransit within the metro Lansing, Michigan area including Michigan State University .- CATA system :...
provides public transit bus service to the Lansing-East Lansing Metropolitan area on 33 routes. CATA boasts the second highest ridership in the state of MichiganMichiganMichigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
after Detroit with 53,000 daily rides in September 2008 and 11,306,339 rides in fiscal year 2008. CATA also provides paratransit services through Spec-Tran and the "Night Owl." Also, the "Entertainment Express" (CATA route 4) runs Thursday through Saturday from 7pm-2am connecting downtown Lansing's and East Lansing's entertainment districts. CATA won APTA's America's Best Transit Award in the medium size category (4–30 million rides) in 2007. CATA has two transportation centers (CTC), one in downtown Lansing and one on the campus of Michigan State University. - Greyhound LinesGreyhound LinesGreyhound Lines, Inc., based in Dallas, Texas, is an intercity common carrier of passengers by bus serving over 3,700 destinations in the United States, Canada and Mexico, operating under the well-known logo of a leaping greyhound. It was founded in Hibbing, Minnesota, USA, in 1914 and...
provides inter-cityIntercity busAn intercity bus is a bus that carries passengers significant distances between different cities, towns, or other populated areas. Unlike a municipal bus, which has frequent stops throughout a city or town, an intercity bus generally has a single stop at a centralized location within the city, and...
busBusA bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
service. CATA and Greyhound are both located in the CATA Transportation Center (CTC) in downtown Lansing. - Several taxicabTaxicabA taxicab, also taxi or cab, is a type of vehicle for hire with a driver, used by a single passenger or small group of passengers, often for a non-shared ride. A taxicab conveys passengers between locations of their choice...
companies serve the area. In 2008 the Green Cab Company opened using Toyota Prius hybrid cars to provide "green" cabs to Lansing. - Michigan Flyer provides daily shuttle service between Lansing, Jackson, & Ann Arbor, to and from the Detroit Metro Airport. Daily The Michigan Flyer has eight shuttles east bound headed towards the airport, and also eight shuttles west bound headed back towards Ann Arbor, Jackson, & East Lansing. The Michigan Flyer luxury motor coach service is based out of East Lansing.
Bicycling
- The 13 miles (20.9 km), non-motorized Lansing River TrailLansing River TrailLansing River Trail is a multiple use, non-motorized trail approximately long. It runs along the Grand River and the Red Cedar River between Michigan State University and Dietrich Park in northern Lansing....
runs along the Grand River and the Red Cedar River, running as far east as Michigan State University, and passes Potter Park Zoo, the Capitol Loop, and several other destinations of interest, and as far west as Moores Park.
Utilities
Water supply, power and steam are municipally owned utilities which are provided by Lansing Board of Water & LightLansing Board of Water & Light
The Lansing Board of Water and Light is a publicly owned, municipal utility that provides electricity and water to the residents of the cities of Lansing and East Lansing, Michigan and the surrounding townships of Delta, Delhi, Meridian and DeWitt...
. In 2008 the Lansing BWL constructed Michigan's largest solar array towards the goal of increasing renewable energy in the energy grid.
Natural gas is provided by Consumers Energy
Consumers Energy
Consumers Energy is a public utility that provides natural gas and electricity to more than 6 million of Michigan's 10 million residents. It serves customers in all 68 of the state’s Lower Peninsula counties. It is a division of CMS Energy. Its headquarters is in Jackson.-History:The company was...
.
Notable residents
- Joel BakanJoel BakanJoel Conrad Bakan is a Canadian writer and Associate Professor at the University of British Columbia Faculty of Law.Born in Lansing, Michigan and raised for most of his childhood in East Lansing, Michigan where his parents, Paul and Rita Bakan, were both long-time professors in psychology at...
– Canadian lawLaw of CanadaThe Canadian legal system has its foundation in the British common law system, inherited from being a former colony of the United Kingdom and later a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. Quebec, however, still retains a civil system for issues of private law...
professor and documentary filmmaker - Martin Bertram – author of medieval novel Vanity of Vanities
- Terry Brunk – ex-WWE/ECW/TNATotal Nonstop Action WrestlingTotal Nonstop Action Wrestling is a privately held professional wrestling promotion founded by Jeff Jarrett and Jerry Jarrett. The company broadcasts its events on television and the Internet fifty two weeks a year with over a million weekly viewers on its primary television program, Impact...
/WCW professional wrestler known as "Sabu" - Timothy BusfieldTimothy BusfieldTimothy "Timmy B" Busfield is an American actor and director best known for his role as Eliot Weston on the television series Thirtysomething and his recurring role as Danny Concannon on the television series The West Wing...
– actor/director - Joel HigginsJoel HigginsJoel Franklin Higgins is an American actors and singer with a stage career spanning over 30 years.- Life and Career :...
- actor who graduated from Michigan State University. - Charles G. CallardCharles G. CallardCharles "Chuck" Gordon Callard was born in Lansing, Michigan. He was a pilot on an aircraft carrier while serving in the United States Navy during World War II and then earned his MBA at the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business in 1947...
– co-founder of Callard Madden & Associates and a pioneer developer of corporate valuation models - Jim CashJim CashJim Cash was a film writer, noted for writing such 1980s films such as Top Gun and The Secret of My Success. He was born in Boyne City, Michigan, and later lived in Grand Rapids. He received a B.A. in English from Michigan State University in 1970, followed by an M.A...
– screenwriter of Top GunTop GunTop Gun may refer to:* Top Gun is a 1986 film starring Tom Cruise.**Top Gun , soundtrack to the movie**Top Gun , a number of games based on the movie...
and many other commercially successful films - Carolyn CassadyCarolyn CassadyCarolyn Elizabeth Robinson Cassady is an American writer associated with the Beat Generation through her marriage to Neal Cassady and her friendships with Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, and other prominent Beat figures...
– writer, wife of beat generationBeat generationThe Beat Generation refers to a group of American post-WWII writers who came to prominence in the 1950s, as well as the cultural phenomena that they both documented and inspired...
icon Neal CassadyNeal CassadyNeal Leon Cassady was a major figure of the Beat Generation of the 1950s and the psychedelic movement of the 1960s. He served as the model for the character Dean Moriarty in Jack Kerouac's novel On the Road.... - The Chemist – Hip Hop production group, signed to DJ KhaledDJ KhaledKhaled bin Abdul Khaled , better known by his stage name DJ Khaled, is an American record producer, radio personality, DJ, and record label executive. He is a radio host for the Miami-based urban music radio station WEDR and the DJ for the hip hop group Terror Squad. In 2006, Khaled released his...
's We the Best Music GroupWe the Best Music GroupWe the Best Music Group is a record label founded by DJ Khaled. It is distributed through Def Jam Recordings, Interscope-Geffen-A&M and Universal Motown.-Artists:* DJ Khaled* Ace Hood* Cameo* Hollyhood Bay Bay* Cubic Z* Ice Berg* Jarvis* Red Rum...
. - Doc Corbin DartDoc Corbin DartDoc Corbin Dart is an alternative musician from the United States. He was lead singer, founder, and lyricist of the Lansing, Michigan 1980s punk rock band The Crucifucks...
– singer of punk band The Crucifucks - Tony EarlTony EarlAnthony Scully Earl is a United States politician and a member of the Democratic party and served as the 41st Governor of Wisconsin from 1983 until 1987. He graduated from Michigan State University and earned a J.D. from the University of Chicago...
– former Governor of WisconsinWisconsinWisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is... - Ed EmshwillerEd EmshwillerEd Emshwiller was a visual artist notable for illustrations of many science fiction magazine covers and for his pioneering experimental films...
– visual artistVisual artsThe visual arts are art forms that create works which are primarily visual in nature, such as ceramics, drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, design, crafts, and often modern visual arts and architecture...
& founder of CalArtsCalifornia Institute of the ArtsThe California Institute of the Arts, commonly referred to as CalArts, is located in Valencia, in Los Angeles County, California. It was incorporated in 1961 as the first degree-granting institution of higher learning in the United States created specifically for students of both the visual and the...
Computer AnimationComputer animationComputer animation is the process used for generating animated images by using computer graphics. The more general term computer generated imagery encompasses both static scenes and dynamic images, while computer animation only refers to moving images....
Lab - Rashad EvansRashad EvansRashad Anton Evans is an American mixed martial artist from Niagara Falls, New York, currently signed to the Ultimate Fighting Championship where he is a former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion. Evans won the heavyweight division of The Ultimate Fighter 2. Evans lost the UFC Light Heavyweight...
– UFC Fighter - David FairchildDavid FairchildDavid Grandison Fairchild was an American botanist and plant explorer. Fairchild was responsible for the introduction of more than 200,000 exotic plants and varieties of established crops into the United States, including soybeans, pistachios, mangos, nectarines, dates, bamboos, and flowering...
– botanist - Ed FarhatEd FarhatEdward George Farhat was an American professional wrestler best known as by his ring name The Sheik...
– professional wrestler known as "The Sheik" - Caril Ann FugateCaril Ann FugateCaril Ann Fugate was the adolescent girlfriend and accomplice of spree killer Charles Starkweather. She is the youngest female in United States history to have been tried for first-degree murder....
– adolescent girlfriend and accomplice to spree killerSpree killerA spree killer is someone who embarks on a murderous assault on two or more victims in a short time in multiple locations. The U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics defines a spree killing as "killings at two or more locations with almost no time break between murders."-Definition:According to the...
Charles StarkweatherCharles StarkweatherCharles Raymond Starkweather was an American teenaged spree killer who murdered eleven people in Nebraska and Wyoming during a two-month road trip with his 14-year-old girlfriend, Caril Ann Fugate. The couple was captured on January 29, 1958...
. - Chris HansenChris HansenChristopher Edward "Chris" Hansen is an American television infotainment personality. He is known for his work on Dateline NBC, in particular the former segment known as To Catch a Predator, which revolved around catching potential Internet sex predators using a sting operation.-Career:Hansen...
– Dateline NBCDateline NBCDateline NBC, or Dateline, is a U.S. weekly television newsmagazine broadcast by NBC. It previously was NBC's flagship news magazine, but now focuses on true crime stories. It airs Friday at 9 p.m. EST and after football season on Sunday at 7 p.m. EST.-History:Dateline is historically notable for...
correspondent - Thom HartmannThom HartmannThom Hartmann is an American radio host, author, former psychotherapist and entrepreneur, and progressive political commentator. His nationally-syndicated radio show, The Thom Hartmann Program, airs in the United States and has 2.75 million listeners a week...
– radio talk-showTalk radioTalk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
host & author - Ahney HerAhney HerWhitney Cua Her , better known by her stage name Ahney Her, is an American actress.-Early life and education:Ahney Her was born and raised in Lansing, Michigan, where she had completed high school at Sexton High School when cast for Gran Torino...
– actress Gran Torino - Andy HilbertAndy HilbertAndrew John Hilbert is a professional ice hockey forward who is currently in the New York Islanders organization.- Playing career :* Drafted by the Boston Bruins in the 2nd round in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft....
– NHLNational Hockey LeagueThe National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
hockeyHockeyHockey is a family of sports in which two teams play against each other by trying to maneuver a ball or a puck into the opponent's goal using a hockey stick.-Etymology:...
player - John Hughes – film directorFilm directorA film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
, born in Lansing - Seikichi IhaSeikichi Ihawas born in Nishihara City, Okinawa. Iha is an Okinawan martial artist who trains in the Shorin-ryū Shidō-kan style of Karate. Iha is currently the Director of the North American Beikoku Shido-kan Karate-do Association and the highest ranking Okinawan master in the United States.-Martial arts...
– Director of the North American Beikoku Shido-kan Karate-do Association and highest ranking Okinawan master in the US - DJ InfamousDJ InfamousMarco Rodriguez-Diaz, better known by his stage name Infamous, is a Grammy winning record producer and three-time world champion DJ.-Biography:Infamous is a Miami Based Music Producer most known for his work with rapper Lil Wayne...
– Hip Hop DJ - Magic JohnsonMagic JohnsonEarvin "Magic" Johnson Jr. is a retired American professional basketball player who played point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association . After winning championships in high school and college, Johnson was selected first overall in the 1979 NBA Draft by the Lakers...
– Michigan State UniversityMichigan State UniversityMichigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
and NBANational Basketball AssociationThe National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
basketball star - Jackie KelleyJackie KelleyJacqueline Kelley [née Savage] was an utility infielder/outfielder and pitcher who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 7", 140 lb., she batted and threw right handed....
– All-American Girls Professional Baseball LeagueAll-American Girls Professional Baseball LeagueThe All-American Girls Professional Baseball League was a women's professional baseball league founded by Philip K. Wrigley which existed from 1943 to 1954. During the league's history, over 600 women played ball.-History:...
player - Michael KimballMichael Kimball- Biography & Career :Michael Kimball was born February 1, 1967 in Lansing, Michigan and is the author of The Way the Family Got Away , How Much of Us There Was ; Us , and Dear Everybody . He has also published the book Words under the conceptual pseudonym Andy Devine...
– novelist - Lisa KronLisa KronElizabeth S. "Lisa" Kron is an American actress and playwright.-Biography:Kron was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She jokes in one of her plays that her life began on her parents’ trip to Europe: “I was conceived in Venice, you know...
– theatre actress & playwrightPlaywrightA playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder... - Matthew LillardMatthew LillardMatthew Lyn Lillard is an American actor and producer. He is best known for his roles as Stu Macher in Scream, Stevo in SLC Punk , and Shaggy Rogers in the Scooby-Doo film series and the Animated reboot series.-Early life:Lillard was born in Lansing, Michigan, and grew up in Tustin, California...
– actor - Jef MallettJef MallettJef Mallett is the creator and artist of the comic strip Frazz. He attended nursing school for a period of time before leaving to pursue his artistic interests. He has a longtime interest in the thrill and excitement of bicycling...
– creator and artist of the comic stripComic stripA comic strip is a sequence of drawings arranged in interrelated panels to display brief humor or form a narrative, often serialized, with text in balloons and captions....
FrazzFrazzFrazz is a syndicated comic strip by Jef Mallett that, on the surface, is about school custodian Edwin "Frazz" Frazier and the school where he works, but which, according to Mallett, is really about discovery. The strip debuted on 2 April 2001.... - Suzanne MalveauxSuzanne MalveauxSuzanne M. Malveaux , is an American television news reporter.She is currently the anchor of CNN Newsroom 11am to 1pm. Before that she was White House correspondent for CNN and primary substitute host on CNNs "The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer"...
– CNNCNNCable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
television news reporter - Kelly Miller – retired NHLNational Hockey LeagueThe National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
player, ranks third all-time for the Washington CapitalsWashington CapitalsThe Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Since their founding in 1974, "The Caps" have won one conference championship to reach the 1998 Stanley Cup...
in games played - Kip MillerKip MillerKip Charles Miller is a retired American ice hockey forward. He last played for the American Hockey League Grand Rapids Griffins in 2006–07. He was drafted by the Quebec Nordiques as their 4th-round pick in the 1987 NHL Entry Draft, 72nd overall.Miller played college hockey for the Michigan State...
– retired NHLNational Hockey LeagueThe National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
player, 1990 recipient of the Hobey Baker Memorial Award - Drew MillerDrew MillerAndrew Miller is an American professional ice hockey winger currently playing for the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League ....
– NHLNational Hockey LeagueThe National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
– hockey player - Ryan MillerRyan MillerRyan Miller is a professional ice hockey goaltender for the Buffalo Sabres.Other people named Ryan Miller:*Ryan Miller , video game designer and author*Ryan Miller , lead singer and guitar player for the band Guster...
– NHLNational Hockey LeagueThe National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
– hockey player - Muhsin MuhammadMuhsin MuhammadMuhsin Muhammad II is a retired American football wide receiver who played for the Carolina Panthers and Chicago Bears of the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the Panthers in the second round of the 1996 NFL Draft...
– NFLNational Football LeagueThe National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
football player - NeedlzNeedlzKhari Cain, better known by his stage name Needlz, is an American record producer, Grammy Award Winning, engineer and composer.-Life and career:...
– hip hop/rap producer - Ransom E. OldsRansom E. OldsRansom Eli Olds was a pioneer of the American automotive industry, for whom both the Oldsmobile and REO brands were named. He claimed to have built his first steam car as early as 1894, and his first gasoline powered car in 1896...
– Automobile Manufacturer; founded Olds Motor Vehicle CompanyOldsmobileOldsmobile was a brand of American automobile produced for most of its existence by General Motors. It was founded by Ransom E. Olds in 1897. In its 107-year history, it produced 35.2 million cars, including at least 14 million built at its Lansing, Michigan factory... - Larry PageLarry PageLawrence "Larry" Page is an American computer scientist and internet entrepreneur who, with Sergey Brin, is best known as the co-founder of Google. As of April 4, 2011, he is also the chief executive of Google, as announced on January 20, 2011...
– co-founder of GoogleGoogleGoogle Inc. is an American multinational public corporation invested in Internet search, cloud computing, and advertising technologies. Google hosts and develops a number of Internet-based services and products, and generates profit primarily from advertising through its AdWords program...
.com - Alice PollittAlice PollittAlice Pollitt [Deschaine] is a former infielder who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 3", 150 lb., she batted and threw right-handed....
– All-American Girls Professional Baseball LeagueAll-American Girls Professional Baseball LeagueThe All-American Girls Professional Baseball League was a women's professional baseball league founded by Philip K. Wrigley which existed from 1943 to 1954. During the league's history, over 600 women played ball.-History:...
player - Merv PregulmanMerv PregulmanMervin Pregulman is a former All-American football tackle and center who played for the University of Michigan Wolverines and in the NFL with the Green Bay Packers , Detroit Lions , and New York Bulldogs ....
– NFLNational Football LeagueThe National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
player for the Green Bay PackersGreen Bay PackersThe Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
, Detroit LionsDetroit LionsThe Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
, and the New York Bulldogs - Greg RaymerGreg RaymerGregory Raymer nicknamed "Fossilman," is a professional poker player. He is best known for winning the 2004 World Series of Poker Main Event.-Early life:...
– 2004 World Series of PokerWorld Series of PokerThe World Series of Poker is a world-renowned series of poker tournaments held annually in Las Vegas and, since 2005, sponsored by Harrah's Entertainment...
champion - Burt ReynoldsBurt ReynoldsBurton Leon "Burt" Reynolds, Jr. is an American actor. Some of his memorable roles include Bo 'Bandit' Darville in Smokey and the Bandit, Lewis Medlock in Deliverance, Bobby "Gator" McCluskey in White Lightning and sequel Gator, Paul Crewe and Coach Nate Scarborough in The Longest Yard and its...
– actor - Steven SeagalSteven SeagalSteven Frederic Seagal is an American action film star, producer, writer, martial artist, guitarist and reserve deputy sheriff. A 7th-dan black belt in Aikido, Seagal began his adult life as an Aikido instructor in Japan...
– actor - John SmoltzJohn SmoltzJohn Andrew Smoltz is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher and active sportscaster. He is best known for his prolific career of more than two decades with the Atlanta Braves, in which he garnered eight All-Star selections and received the Cy Young Award in 1996...
– MLB player and 1996 Cy Young AwardCy Young AwardThe Cy Young Award is an honor given annually in baseball to the best pitchers in Major League Baseball , one each for the American League and National League . The award was first introduced in 1956 by Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick in honor of Hall of Fame pitcher Cy Young, who died in 1955...
winner - Jim "Soni" SonefeldJim SonefeldJim "Soni" Sonefeld, full name James Sonefeld , is an American musician and one of the founding members of Hootie & the Blowfish. In September 2008 he went solo with his solo debut album Snowman Melting on Aquarian Nation Records / The Orchard record label...
– drummer & percussionist for Hootie & the BlowfishHootie & the BlowfishHootie & the Blowfish is an American rock band that enjoyed popularity in the second half of the 1990s. They were originally formed in 1986 at the University of South Carolina by Darius Rucker, Dean Felber, Jim Sonefeld, and Mark Bryan. The band has recorded five studio albums to date, and has... - Debbie StabenowDebbie StabenowDeborah Ann Greer "Debbie" Stabenow is the junior United States Senator from Michigan and a member of the Democratic Party. Before her election to the U.S. Senate, she was a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Michigan's 8th congressional district from 1997 to 2001...
– U.S. Senator - Marcus TaylorMarcus TaylorMarcus Taylor is an American professional basketball player.He was a Naismith All-American, McDonald's All-American, two-time Parade All-American and USA Today 1st-team All-American. He also went on to win Mr. Basketball of Michigan Award in 2000. He attended Michigan State University, where he...
- professional basketball player - George TeagueGeorge TeagueGeorge Theo Teague is a former American football player who played free safety in the National Football League with the Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers, and Miami Dolphins.-College:...
– NFL player for the Green Bay Packers, Dallas Cowboys, and the Miami Dolphins - Jay VincentJay VincentJay Fletcher Vincent is a retired American professional basketball player.A 6'7" forward, Vincent played at Michigan State University under coach, Jud Heathcote, where he teamed with Magic Johnson and Greg Kelser to win the 1979 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament...
– retired American professional basketball player - Sam VincentSam Vincent (basketball)James Samuel "Sam" Vincent is a retired American professional basketball player and the former head coach of the Charlotte Bobcats. In 2008 Sam was named the head coach of the Anaheim Arsenal of the NBA Developmental league.Vincent won the State of Michigan "Mr. Basketball" award in 1981, the...
– retired American professional basketball player - Malcolm XMalcolm XMalcolm X , born Malcolm Little and also known as El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz , was an African American Muslim minister and human rights activist. To his admirers he was a courageous advocate for the rights of African Americans, a man who indicted white America in the harshest terms for its...
– human rightsHuman rightsHuman rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
activist
Sister cities
Akuapim South DistrictAkuapim South District
The Akuapim South Municipal District is a district of Ghana in the Eastern Region. It was upgraded from an ordinary district to a municipality in February 2008. Akuapim South Municipality lies in the Southeastern part of the Eastern region. It borders Suhum-Kraboa Coaltar in the northwest, Ga West...
, Ghana Guadalajara
Guadalajara, Jalisco
Guadalajara is the capital of the Mexican state of Jalisco, and the seat of the municipality of Guadalajara. The city is located in the central region of Jalisco in the western-pacific area of Mexico. With a population of 1,564,514 it is Mexico's second most populous municipality...
, Mexico Ōtsu
Otsu, Shiga
is the capital city of Shiga, Japan. The city was founded on October 1, 1898. As of October 1, 2010, the city has an estimated population of 338,629 with an average age of 40.7 years and a population density of 905.28 persons per km²...
, Japan Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
, Russia Saltillo
Saltillo
Saltillo is the capital city of the northeastern Mexican state of Coahuila and the municipal seat of the municipality of the same name. The city is located about 400 km south of the U.S. state of Texas, and 90 km west of Monterrey, Nuevo León....
, Mexico Sanming
Sanming
Sanming ) is a prefecture-level city in western Fujian province, People's Republic of China. It borders Nanping City to the north, Fuzhou City to the east, Quanzhou City to the southeast, Longyan City to the south, and the province of Jiangxi to the west...
, Fujian, China
Lansing has three "friendship cities": Cosenza
Cosenza
Cosenza is a city in southern Italy, located at the confluence of two historic rivers: the Busento and the Crathis. The municipal population is of around 70,000; the urban area, however, counts over 260,000 inhabitants...
, Italy Lanzhou
Lanzhou
Lanzhou is the capital and largest city of Gansu Province in Northwest China. A prefecture-level city, it is a key regional transportation hub, allowing areas further west to maintain railroad connections to the eastern half of the country....
, China Sakaide, Japan