Travel Log – 9/03/2007
Today we left our beautiful “home” in Wisconsin to trek to Lansing, Michigan. We left later than we “typically” do with a 6:30am departure. It was beautiful as we drove through the rolling corn and soy bean fields until we saw Chicago in the horizon. It was quite a challenge driving through the city, with road construction, many toll booths (switching from lane to lane) with a 40′ 5th wheel and a dually truck! Rick wins an award for his expert driving skills and patience. Good thing it was a holiday so traffic was light. We did see several sites including the magnificent skyline and the U.S. Cellular Field, home of the Chicago White Sox.
From Chicago it was all smooth sailing through Indiana to Michigan. We arrived in Lansing and were settled in early enough for a good night’s sleep.
-Lisa and Rick
Lansing, Michigan
Lansing Facts
Lansing is the capital city of the U.S. state of Michigan, and the state’s sixth largest city. it is located mostly in Ingham County, although small portions of the city extend into Clinton County and Eaton County. As of the 2000 census, it has a population of 119,128, an Urbanized Area (UA) population of 300,032, and as of July 1, 2006 a Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) population of 454,044. The even larger Combined Statistical Area (CSA) population, which includes Shiawassee County, is estimated at 526,956.
The Lansing metropolitan area, colloquially referred to as “Mid-Michigan”, is an important center for educational, cultural, governmental, business, and high-tech manufacturing institutions, including three medical schools (two human medicine and one veterinary), two nursing schools, two law schools, a Big Ten Conference university (Michigan State), the state capitol, the state Supreme Court, an appellate court, 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 46 located in counties) that is not also a county seat. The county seat of Ingham County is Mason, Michigan.
Famous Lansing Individuals
- Stevie Wonder – singer, attended the Michigan School for the Blind in Lansing (born and raised in Saginaw, MI)
- Joel Bakan – Canadian law professor and documentary filmmaker
- Timothy Busfield – actor/director
- Jim Cash – screenwriter of Top Gun and many other commercially successful films
- Ed Emshwiller – visual artist and founder of CalArt Computer Animation Lab
- David Fairchild – botanist
- Thom Hartman – radio talk-show host and author
- Andy Hilbert – NHL hockey player
- John Hughes – film director
- Magic Johnson – NBA basketball star
- Matthew Lillard – actor
- Suzanne Malveaux – CNN television news reporter
- Ryan Miller – NHL hockey player
- Muhsin Muhammad – NFL football star
- Ransom E. Olds – automobile manufacturer; founded Olds Motor Vehicle Company
- Larry Page – co-founder of google.com
- Greg Raymer – 2004 World Series of Poker champion
- Burt Reynolds – actor
- Steven Seagal – actor
- John Smoltz – MLB star and 1996 Cy Young Award winner
- Jim “Soni” Sonefeld – drummer and percussionist for Hootie and the Blowfish
- Debbie Stabenow – U.S. Senator, began political career in Ingham County
- Malcolm X – human rights activist