History

The first official Michigan State Fair was held in 1849, which is claimed by the 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"....

 to be the oldest state fair

State fair

A state fair is a competitive and recreational gathering of a U.S. state's population. It is a larger version of a county fair, often including only exhibits or competitors that have won in their categories at the more-local county fairs....

 in the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

. The first fair was held in Detroit, Michigan

Detroit, Michigan

Detroit 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...

. Subsequent fairs were held in other cities until it received its permanent home in 1905 at the Michigan State Fairgrounds in Detroit.

In 1904, Joseph L. Hudson, together with three of his associates, decided to give the State Fair its permanent home. They formed the State Fair Land Company, which acquired 135 acre (0.5463261 km²) between 7½ and 8 Mile Roads, east of Woodward Avenue. Because Hudson had no interest in running the fair, he sold the land to the Michigan State Agricultural Society for one dollar on April 18, 1905. The Agricultural Society accepted the land then purchased an additional 32 acres (129,499.5 m²), extending the fairgrounds to 167 acre (0.67582562 km²). Throughout the following years, additional land was purchased and sold. The present size of the fairgrounds is 164 acre (0.66368504 km²).

Michigan State Fairgrounds Coliseum

Michigan State Fairgrounds Coliseum

Michigan State Fairgrounds Coliseum is a 5,600-seat multi-purpose arena in Detroit, Michigan. It is home to the Wayne State University Warriors ice hockey team. The arena was also host to the 2006 men's and women's College Hockey America conference tournament...

, also known as the Hockeytown State Fair Coliseum, is a 5,600-seat multi-purpose arena located on the fairgrounds. Two NASCAR

NASCAR

The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...

 races were held at a one-mile track at the fairgrounds. Tommy Thompson won the 1951 event and Tim Flock

Tim Flock

Julius Timothy Flock was one of NASCAR's early pioneers, and a two time series champion. He was a brother to NASCAR's second female driver Ethel Mobley and NASCAR pioneers Bob Flock and Fonty Flock.- NASCAR career :...

 won in 1952

1952 in NASCAR

When the 1952 NASCAR season was concluded, driver Tim Flock was crowned the Grand National Champion after winning 8 of the 33 events that he competed in. This was the first year that NASCAR scheduled its events to avoid the conflicts of having two races, at two different tracks, on the same day...

.

On October 30, 2009, Governor of Michigan

Governor of Michigan

The Governor of Michigan is the chief executive of the U.S. State of Michigan. The current Governor is Rick Snyder, a member of the Republican Party.-Gubernatorial elections and term of office:...

 Jennifer Granholm

Jennifer Granholm

Jennifer Mulhern Granholm is a Canadian-born American politician, educator, and author who served as Attorney General and 47th Governor of the U.S. state of Michigan. A member of the Democratic Party, Granholm became Michigan's first female governor on January 1, 2003, when she succeeded Governor...

 cut all funding to the Michigan State fair. Attendance peaked at 1.2 million in 1966. In 2009 the fair attracted 217,000 visitors. The state fair was not held in 2010 & 2011.

See also

• Upper Peninsula State Fair
  Upper Peninsula State Fair
  The Upper Peninsula State Fair is a fair held annually in the Upper Peninsula in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is held in Escanaba and is one of two official state fairs in Michigan....
  
  
• Michigan State Fairgrounds Coliseum
  Michigan State Fairgrounds Coliseum
  Michigan State Fairgrounds Coliseum is a 5,600-seat multi-purpose arena in Detroit, Michigan. It is home to the Wayne State University Warriors ice hockey team. The arena was also host to the 2006 men's and women's College Hockey America conference tournament...