Michigan is a place in the U.S.
Michigan [ ˈmɪʃᵻgən ] is a state in the Great Lakes and Midwestern regions of the United States . Michigan is the tenth most populous of the 50 United States , with the 11th most extensive total area ( the largest state by total area east of the Mississippi River ) . Michigan is the only state to consist of two peninsulas . As a result , it is one of the leading U.S. states for recreational boating . Though Michigan has come to develop a diverse economy , it is widely known as the center of the U.S. automotive industry , being home to the country 's three major automobile companies ( whose headquarters are all within the Detroit metropolitan area ) .