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Northern Michigan facts for kids

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This page is about the region. For the northernmost peninsula of Michigan, see Upper Peninsula of Michigan. For the university, see Northern Michigan University. For the university's athletic program, see Northern Michigan Wildcats.
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Northern Michigan

Northern Lower Michigan
Lower Peninsula of Michigan
Northern Michigan is highlighted in light green.
Northern Michigan is highlighted in light green.
Country United States
State Michigan
Population
 • Total 506,658
Time zone Eastern: UTC −5/−4

Northern Michigan, also called Northern Lower Michigan, is a beautiful region in the U.S. state of Michigan. Many people from southern Michigan and other states call it "up north." It's a popular place for tourists. You'll find small cities, huge forests, many lakes and rivers, and lots of Great Lakes shoreline here. The region has a large population of visitors, especially during summer. Northern Lower Michigan is different from the Upper Peninsula (the "U.P."), even though the U.P. is also in northern Michigan. About 506,658 people live in the 21 northernmost counties of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan.

Exploring Northern Michigan's Geography

Michigan Lower Peninsula Regions
Northern Michigan is at the northern tip of Michigan's Lower Peninsula.

Northern Michigan is known for its rolling hills, sandy coastal dunes along the Great Lakes, and many inland lakes and rivers. Large forests cover much of the land. The 45th parallel, which is halfway between the Equator and the North Pole, crosses this region. You can find signs marking this line in places like Traverse City and Gaylord.

Understanding the Boundaries

The exact southern edge of Northern Michigan isn't perfectly clear. Some people think it starts just north of cities like Flint and Grand Rapids. Others believe it begins further north, past Mount Pleasant, in the "fingers" of Michigan's mitten shape.

Northern Michigan vs. the Upper Peninsula

Even though the Upper Peninsula of Michigan is geographically north, it's usually seen as a separate region. People in Michigan often call it the "U.P." The two regions are connected by the amazing 5-mile long Mackinac Bridge.

Climate and Weather Patterns

Northern Michigan experiences all four seasons, sometimes with extreme temperatures. Summers can be warm and humid, while winters can be very cold with lots of snow. The region is famous for its stunning "fall colors" in autumn.

Heavy snow often falls in areas called "snow belts." This happens because of the "lake effect" from Lake Michigan. For example, Gaylord gets about 141 inches of snow each year, while Harrisville gets around 52 inches. The highest and lowest temperatures ever recorded in Michigan happened here. The record high was 112°F (44°C) in Mio in 1936. The record low was -51°F (-46°C) in Vanderbilt in 1934.

Population and Early Settlers

The northern 21 counties of Michigan's Lower Peninsula are home to over 500,000 people. Many different groups settled here over time. These included people from New England and immigrants from Ireland, Germany, and Poland. The Odawa nation also lives in this area, with Native American reservations at Mount Pleasant and on the Leelanau Peninsula.

Counties of Northern Michigan

MichiganCounties
21 counties in Northern Michigan.

Northern Michigan includes 21 counties. They are:

Cities and Towns in Northern Michigan

Here are some of the cities, villages, and communities you can find in Northern Michigan:

Fun Things to Do in Northern Michigan (Tourism)

Northern Michigan is a huge tourist spot, offering activities all year round!

Summer Adventures

In summer, people love to go boating, golfing, and camping. You can also enjoy sailing, kayaking, canoeing, bird watching, biking, and horseback riding. The region has many Michigan state parks and protected areas like the Huron National Forest, Manistee National Forest, and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

Many families from southern Michigan and Chicago have summer homes here. Popular tourist towns on the west side, along Lake Michigan, include Traverse City, Charlevoix, Petoskey, and Manistee. These towns have sandy beaches and warm bays. The area also has a growing wine district.

At the very top of the Lower Peninsula, you'll find Mackinaw City and Mackinac Island. The island is located between the Lower and Upper Peninsulas.

The northeastern side, along Lake Huron, is less crowded but still offers great vacation spots. These include Oscoda, Harrisville, and Alpena.

Inland, there are many cities and lakes to explore. Cities like Cadillac, Grayling, and Gaylord are popular summer destinations. Large inland lakes like Houghton Lake and Torch Lake are also great for vacations.

Winter Fun and Other Seasons

Northern Michigan is also a winter wonderland! You can go downhill skiing at resorts like Boyne Mountain and Crystal Mountain. Cross-country skiing is also very popular, especially near Frederic.

Snowmobiling is a huge winter activity, with hundreds of miles of groomed trails. Ice fishing is also popular. Houghton Lake hosts "Tip-up Town," a unique festival where a whole village is built on the frozen lake!

In the fall, visitors enjoy harvest festivals, special beer and wine events, and "fall color tours" to see the beautiful changing leaves. Hunting is also a big pastime in the fall.

Other Cool Places to Visit

Festivals and Events

Northern Michigan hosts many fun annual festivals:

Festival Name Festival Location Remarks
AlpenFest Gaylord A fun festival with a run/walk.
Au Sable River Canoe Marathon Grayling to Oscoda A challenging canoe race, one of the top in the U.S.
Michigan Brown Trout Festival Alpena A fishing festival for brown trout.
Cadillac Chestnut Harvest Festival Cadillac Celebrates the chestnut harvest every October.
Charlevoix Waterfront Art Fair Charlevoix An art fair by the water in August.
National Coho Salmon Festival Honor Celebrates the coho salmon.
Great Lakes Lighthouse Festival Alpena A unique festival celebrating lighthouses.
Mackinac Island Fudge Festival Mackinac Island A sweet festival celebrating fudge.
Mackinac Island Lilac Festival Mackinac Island Celebrates the beautiful lilac flowers.
National Cherry Festival Traverse City A famous festival celebrating cherries.
National Morel Mushroom Festival Boyne City Celebrates the tasty morel mushrooms.
National Trout Festival Kalkaska Held at the end of April, celebrating trout fishing.
Paul Bunyan Festival Oscoda Honors the legendary lumberjack, Paul Bunyan.
Posen Potato Festival Posen A festival celebrating potatoes.
Tip-Up Town Houghton Lake A big ice fishing and winter sports festival on the frozen lake.
Traverse City Film Festival Traverse City A popular film festival.
Venetian Festival Charlevoix A beautiful festival with boats and lights.

A Look at Northern Michigan's History

Northern Michigan has a rich history, from ancient Native American tribes to the rise of tourism.

Early Native American Life

For many years before Europeans arrived, Native American tribes lived in Northern Michigan. They moved with the seasons. The Odawa nation, for example, lived in Emmet County. The Anishinaabe people (including the Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Odawa), known as the "Council of Three Fires," were the main tribes in the area around the Straits of Mackinac.

French and British Influence (1600s-1700s)

French explorers and missionaries came to the Great Lakes region in the 1600s. They set up the North American fur trade with Native American tribes. Father Marquette started a mission in St. Ignace in 1671. He explored and mapped Lake Michigan. Later, the French built Fort Michilimackinac on the southern side of the Straits. This fort became a key trading post.

After the French and Indian War in the 1760s, the British took control of the Straits of Mackinac. However, Native Americans resisted, and many British soldiers at Fort Michilimackinac were killed in Pontiac's War. The British later built a stronger fort, Fort Mackinac, on Mackinac Island.

Becoming Part of the United States (Late 1700s - Early 1800s)

The United States officially gained control of the Straits area from Britain in 1783. But British forces didn't leave until 1796. Mackinac Island became a major center for the American fur trade.

In 1836, a treaty with Native American tribes opened up much of Northern Michigan for settlement. This led to more people moving to the area.

Growth and Industry (Mid-1800s)

As more people arrived, coastal towns like Manistee and Traverse City grew. The Homestead Act of 1862 encouraged many to settle here.

The lumber industry became huge in the late 1800s. Trees were cut down and floated down rivers to mills. Northern Michigan produced more lumber than any other state! Commercial fishing also boomed, especially around Beaver Island. However, overfishing led to a decline in fish populations.

Railroads arrived in the 1870s, connecting Northern Michigan to bigger cities in the south. This helped transport lumber and other goods. Sadly, the passenger pigeon, once common, was hunted to extinction during this time.

The Rise of Resorts (Late 1800s - 1900s)

As logging slowed down, Northern Michigan became known as a resort destination. Wealthy families built summer homes. Mackinac National Park was even created in 1875, becoming the second National Park in the U.S.

Sport fishing became popular, especially on the Au Sable River. The state even started stocking rivers with fish like trout to support the industry.

In the 1900s, many areas were turned into National Forests and State Parks to protect the land. Ski resorts also opened, like Hanson Hills in Grayling in 1929.

As cars became more common, passenger train travel declined. Local groups started promoting Northern Michigan with festivals and attractions, which still draw visitors today.

Getting Around Northern Michigan (Transportation)

You can travel in Northern Michigan by air, water, or land.

Travel by Air

Several airports serve the region, including Pellston Regional Airport, Traverse City Cherry Capital Airport, and Alpena County Regional Airport. These airports connect Northern Michigan to other parts of the country.

Travel by Water

Ferries are still an important way to travel here:

The biggest bridge in Northern Michigan is the Mackinac Bridge, connecting the Lower and Upper Peninsulas.

Travel by Land (Roads)

US Highway 131 map
US-131 (in red), US-23 (in orange), and I-75 (in blue) are three primary highways bringing downstate automobile traffic to Northern Michigan.

Most people travel by car in Northern Michigan. Major highways include:

Plants and Animals of Northern Michigan (Flora and Fauna)

Northern Michigan is home to a wide variety of plants and animals.

Common Plants and Trees

North Woods
The Laurentian Mixed Forest covers much of Northern Michigan.

The forests here have many types of trees, including maple, birch, oak, pine, and beech. You'll also find ferns, milkweed, and trillium flowers. Marram grass grows on the beaches.

Mammals You Might See

Common mammals include white-tailed deer, fox, raccoons, and rabbits. You might also spot black bears, elk, coyotes, and bobcats. While rare, some people report seeing mountain lions.

Birds of the Region

Many birds live in Northern Michigan, such as ducks, seagulls, wild turkey, great blue herons, northern cardinals, and blue jays. You might see Canada geese flying overhead. Unique birds found here include the spruce grouse and the Kirtland's warbler, an endangered species that lives in the Au Sable State Forest.

Insects and Reptiles

You'll find common insects like ladybugs, crickets, dragonflies, and mosquitoes. A very rare insect, the Hungerford's crawling water beetle, lives in only a few places in the world, and four of them are in Northern Michigan!

There are no fatally poisonous snakes in Northern Michigan. The Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake lives here but is not common. Its bite is not usually fatal but needs medical attention. Other snakes include the common garter snake and eastern milk snake. You'll also see frogs, toads, salamanders, and small turtles.

State Forests and Protected Areas

Michigan has the largest state forest system in the U.S., covering 3.9 million acres. Northern Michigan includes parts of:

Large parts of the Manistee National Forest and Huron National Forest are also here. The Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness is a special area with huge sand dunes along Lake Michigan. Eight islands in Lake Michigan and Lake Huron are part of the Michigan Islands National Wildlife Refuge.

Northern Michigan's Economy

The economy in Northern Michigan is smaller than in southern Michigan. It relies a lot on seasonal jobs and tourism.

Tourism and Real Estate

Tourism is a huge part of the economy. Many people buy real estate, like condos and summer homes, here. This means the economy can be affected by how well other industries, like the automobile industry, are doing in southern Michigan.

Farming and Industry

Farming is limited by the climate, but you'll find potato and dry bean farms in the east. In the west, near Grand Traverse Bay, the special microclimate helps grow wine grapes, vegetables, and cherries. This area is famous for its cherries!

There isn't a lot of heavy industry. However, there's a big cement plant in Alpena and a huge limestone quarry in Rogers City. Morton Salt also has a large salt plant in Manistee.

Northern Michigan also has significant natural gas reserves from the Antrim shale formation.

Military Presence

The military has a presence in Northern Michigan:

Learning in Northern Michigan (Education)

Northern Michigan has several places for learning:

  • Interlochen Center for the Arts: A famous arts school and summer camp near Traverse City.
  • Community colleges: North Central Michigan College, Alpena Community College, Kirtland Community College, West Shore Community College, and Northwestern Michigan College.
  • Great Lakes Maritime Academy: The only U.S. maritime academy on freshwater, located at Northwestern Michigan College.
  • Ferris State University: A four-year university in Big Rapids.
  • University Centers: Northwestern Michigan College partners with other universities like Michigan State and Central Michigan to offer bachelor's and master's degrees locally.

Images for kids

  • Traverse City Skyline

    Traverse City, the largest city in Northern Michigan

  • Alpena County Courthouse - Alpena Michigan

    Alpena County Courthouse in Alpena, the region's second largest city

  • Wexford County Courthouse (Cadillac)

    Wexford County Courthouse in Cadillac, the third largest city in Northern Michigan

  • Waterfront of downtown Manistee, Michigan

    The Manistee River in Manistee, the fourth-largest city in the region.

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