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Origin of "Michigan"

Michigan State Name Origin

Michigan geology and topography map from USGS: A Tapestry of Time and Terrain.

What does "Michigan" mean?

The name Michigan is based on a native American (Chippewa) word; "meicigama" (meaning "great water," a word referring to Lake Superior). Thirty-two counties in Michigan also have names drawn from native American languages (as do many other state names). All State Name Origins

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