Moving to Michigan?
Michigan is known for its spectacular cities and pristine wilderness. It is a home to more than 11,000 lakes. Michigan gets its name from Lake Michigan of the Great Lakes. One can find tranquillity in every corner of every street among the busy factories and crowded thoroughfares. The state has around 150 lighthouses, the most out of any US state. The first lighthouses in Michigan were built in 1818 and 1822, and were used to project light at night and serve as a landmark for sailors.
The state is also a home for many interesting and famous people such as Henry Ford who was the inventor of Ford Automobiles, Thomas Alva Edison who invented the electric bulb, and Charles Lindbergh, who was the first person to cross the Atlantic Ocean alone in a plane.
If you are moving to Michigan, there are a lot of things you need to know, and luckily you have come to the right place.
Things to Know When Moving to Michigan
Michigan Climate
Michigan has a moderate temperature climate with well defined seasons. The warmest temperatures in the state are found in the southern part of the Lower Peninsula, which also boasts of having the longest frost-free period. The state has more cloudy days than most of the other states. The normal daily mean temperature in Detroit is 49F (9C) which has a range of 23F (-5C) in January to 72F (22C) in July. The greatest snowfall is found in the extreme northern areas. Annual relative humidity in Detroit is 81% at 7AM, which is more likely because of the condensation from the Great Lakes. Heavy storm activity occurs in the southern half of the Lower Peninsula. The tornado season is seen during late spring and early summer in the state.
Registering your Car
In order to register your vehicle in the state of Michigan, it is necessary that you have no-fault insurance papers with you. You cannot register your vehicle without these papers. You must also have proof of identification and must go to the Secretary of State (SOS) and follow the procedure for registering your vehicle. You can visit following link for further information about registering your vehicle in Michigan.
Obtaining a Michigan Driver’s License
Applying for a new driver’s license is easy, there are Secretary of State branch offices that are present across both peninsulas. The lines at smaller offices are much shorter.
Crime Rankings
As of 2011, Michigan was ranked 38th out of 50 states in violent crime, with a total of less than 40 violent crimes for every 100,000 people in the state.
Industries
In terms of revenue generated, the top agricultural products of Michigan are dairy products, greenhouse and nursery products, corn for grains, soybeans, cattle and calves. Michigan is also famous for manufacturing transportation equipment and production machinery. Michigan ranks second in the wholesale and retail sector, and third in finance, retail and insurance.
Employment Statistics
As of early 2012, the state of Michigan had an unemployment rate of 8.8 percent, which is close to the average rate when compared to the current state of employment in other regions around the country.
Average Income
The median household income in the state of Illinois is $44,667, while the average per capita income for the state is $22,168. In 2011, the personal income grew by 5.2 percent and it is the 16th fastest rate of growth among states.
Moving and Storage
If you are moving to Michigan, you can find many moving and storage companies that will help you with the relocation process. You must also make sure that the companies are registered and are providing their customers with the proper insurance.
Real Estate
The average listing price for homes in Michigan is $195,716, while the median sales price is just over $123,192. The Michigan Association of Realtors is the official real estate resource for the state of Michigan.
Major landmarks and attractions
The Heidelberg Project; Silvio's Italian American Historical Artistic Museum; Hamtramck Disneyland; United Memorial Gardens; World's Largest Cherry Pie Battle; Da Yoopers Tourist Trap; American Museum of Magic; Jackson Cascades; Dinosaur Gardens Prehistoric Zoo and Shrine of the Snowshoe Priest.
Largest Cities: Detroit, Grand Rapids, Lansing, Flint, Ann Arbor, Dearborn
Schools
Michigan has been a leader in public education and the legacy is still continuing as the board members are currently working to improve public education through recommendations and actions which also have resulted in key legislative changes throughout the schools systems in the state. There are also new interactive education platforms for students at the University of Michigan and University of Peninsula. Among the many diverse public educational institutions for children in elementary school through high school, Michigan is also home to a number of institutions of higher education such as the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, the University of Western Michigan, Detroit University, and many others.
National Parks
Father Marquette National Memorial
Hiawatha National Forest
Huron-Manistee National Forests
Isle Royale National Park
Keweenaw National Historical Park
North Country National Scenic Trail
Ottawa National Forest
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
State park System
Some of the most famous parks in Michigan are Algonac State Park, Aloha State Park, Bald Mountain, Baraga State Park, Bay City , Bewabic State Park, Brighton Recreation Area, Brimley State Park, Dodge #4 State Park. You can log onto the following link for more information.
Major Airports
Detroit Metropolitan International Airport
Coleman A. Young International Airport
Flint-Bishop International Airport
Grand Rapids-Kent County International Airport
Sawyer International Airport