Do You Know Michigan’s Nicknames & How They Came to Be?

If you’ve spent a considerable amount of time in Michigan, then you know Michiganders have nicknames for a lot of things, especially cities:

• Detroit is often called The D, Motown, the Motor City, or even Hockeytown.
• Ann Arbor is known as A2.
• Grand Rapids is Beer City USA.
• Battle Creek is better known as Cereal City.
• Frankenmuth is affectionately known as Michigan’s Little Bavaria.

Michigan itself has four official nicknames (plus some unofficial ones) that serve as reminders of the state’s unique geography, rich history, distinct shape, and reputation as an all-seasons wonderland.

The Mitten State

One of Michigan’s most well-known nicknames is arguably one of the most obvious — the Mitten State, well… because the Lower Peninsula is shaped like a mitten, complete with a thumb.

Those who enjoy Michigan folklore may tell you that Michigan’s Lower Peninsula got its distinct shape from the legendary giant Paul Bunyan. It’s said that the massive lumberjack was so cold one winter after losing a glove that he took his axe and carved a mitten into the earth and a hat (the Upper Peninsula) to go with it.

Nonetheless, Michiganders young and old are proud of their state’s unique shape and have no problem holding up their hand to show you where they’re from.

A Fierce Mitten Debate Rages On

There’s some debate about whether Michigan is the true Mitten State (and Michiganders will definitely tell you that it is).

Michigan’s Lake Michigan neighbor Wisconsin also stakes a claim as the true Mitten State because it (vaguely?) resembles a mitten. More than a decade ago, a Wisconsin-shaped mitten appeared on TravelWisconsin.com, setting off a fierce debate. Recently retired Pure Michigan President Dave Lorenz chided Wisconsin for having “Mitten envy.”

DID YOU KNOW: A 1969 article from the Chicago Tribune refers to Wisconsin as the “mitten-shaped state?”

While Wisconsin may be known for its beer and cheese, Michiganders would kindly ask that the Badger State leave the mittens to Michigan.

One Mitten or Two?

There’s also the argument that the “Mitten State” moniker leaves out the Upper Peninsula. And while we have “Mitten” in our name, we’re partial to the hidden gem that is the Upper Peninsula, so we prefer to think of our beloved state as TWO mittens.

The Great Lakes State

Another of Michigan’s obvious nicknames — the Great Lakes State — comes from the fact that four Great Lakes — all but Lake Ontario — border the state.

This unique geographic feature makes it easy to locate Michigan on a map and reminds Michiganders of the importance of the lakes. Collectively, the five Great Lakes make up about 20% of the world’s surface freshwater, and roughly 18% of that freshwater touches Michigan directly.

DID YOU KNOW: No point in Michigan is more than 85 miles from one of the Great Lakes?

Lake Superior is the largest and deepest of the five Great Lakes, followed by Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, and Lake Erie in terms of size and depth.

The Wolverine State

For decades, Michigan has been known as The Wolverine State, and the University of Michigan proudly uses the wolverine as its mascot.

But have you ever wondered what association, if any, wolverines have with Michigan? While the wolverine is Michigan’s state animal, the animal isn’t native to Michigan. So, a wolverine sighting here is considered very rare.

DID YOU KNOW: A wolverine sighting near Ubly in 2004 was the first confirmed Michigan sighting in 200 years.

One well-known association is tied to the Civil War when Gen. George Armstrong Custer, who led the Michigan Brigade, called his many Detroit volunteers “wolverines.”

Still, the origins of Michigan’s wolverine association remain unclear. One theory is that it comes from busy fur traders who may have exchanged wolverine pelts in the 18th century.

Another idea can be traced back to the 1835 Toledo War when Michigan and Ohio struggled over ownership rights to the Toledo Strip. Wolverines have an ornery reputation, so it’s also thought that Ohioans may have referred to Michiganders as “wolverines.”

They may not be native to Michigan, but Michiganders can see breeding Eurasian wolverines at the Detroit Zoo — Yaroslawl and Janis. They arrived from Sweden in 2018.

It’s Great to Be a Michigan Wolverine

DID YOU KNOW: According to the University of Michigan, students and alumni of the school began to refer to themselves as “Wolverines” as far back as 1861.

Those who proudly back the Maize and Blue have offered their theories on Michigan’s moniker as the Wolverine State.

Legendary football coach Fielding Yost wrote about his theory in 1944, which involved the trading of wolverine pelts in Sault Ste. Marie. Due to the abundance of wolverine pelts, traders may have referred to them as “Michigan wolverines.”

Yost began a years-long quest to find wolverines for his team in 1923. In 1927, 10 wolverines were obtained from Alaska and brought to the Detroit Zoo. On big football days, two wolverines were brought into Michigan Stadium and carried around in cages.

The practice of bringing wolverines to the stadium stopped after the animals grew too big. But one — Biff — was put on display at the University of Michigan Zoo where he could be seen by everyone.

Another naming theory from 1952 suggested that the nickname came from the French settlers who came to Michigan in the 1700s. Their appetites were said to be gluttonous or “wolverine-like,” inspiring a nickname that stuck.

Water-Winter Wonderland

Michigan has had many slogans throughout its history of nearly 200 years as a state.

Before Pure Michigan became the basis for promoting tourism and travel, Michigan had slogans such as Playground of a Nation, Land of Hiawatha (Upper Peninsula), Tourist Empire of the Inland Seas, and Say Yes to Michigan.

Water Wonderland caught on as a slogan in the 1950s, and Water-Winter Wonderland was used in the 1960s. Both were heavily used in tourism campaigns and on license plates. A variation — White Winter Wonderland — was used in the 1980s.

Michigan first used a slogan with Water Wonderland on its license plates in 1954. In 1965, Water-Winter Wonderland replaced it. In 2021, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson announced the return of the Water-Winter Wonderland plate, an iconic plate that collectors and visitors have clamored for for years.

“I am proud to give Michiganders back a longtime favorite license plate that also marks a critical moment in the history of our nation’s democracy. In 1965, we worked together as a nation to protect and advance voting rights in pursuit of a more perfect union, just as today we must come together as a nonpartisan, pro-democracy coalition to protect and advance our elections.”

Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson

Other Lesser-Known Nicknames

Michigan has four well-known nicknames, but over time, other nicknames have been suggested (usually in a humorous or only semi-serious capacity). Some of these include:

• Pure Michigan
• America’s Left Hand
• The Fudge State
• Port City
• The Peninsula State
• The Automotive State/Auto State
• The Orange Barrel State
• The Stink Bug State
• The Wheat State
• The Land of Snow Machines and Bass Boats
• Lady of the Lake

Embrace Michigan (or Whatever You Call It)

However you refer to Michigan, there’s no denying that it’s a unique place that 10.1 million people are proud to call home.

Michiganders love holding up their hand to show where they’re from, University of Michigan students and alums love rooting on their Wolverines, and locals and visitors alike love spending time enjoying the Great Lakes and everything else Michigan has to offer.

Spend time in Michigan to see all of its wonders for yourself. If you’re not spending time on the shore of one of the Great Lakes, you can discover Michigan’s many towns with European names, or discover how Michigan cities got their unique nicknames. You can even learn about the interesting origins of Michigan’s county names.