A resident of Michigan is called a "Michiganian" or "Michigander." Residents of Michigan's Upper Peninsula ("the U.P.") is often called a "Yooper" (or U.P.'er); consequently those who belong to the Lower Peninsula, may be jokingly referred to as "trolls." As the Lower Peninsula is shaped like a mitten, residents have taken to using their left hand or right palm as a makeshift "map" to indicate certain parts of the state. The name of the state was taken from Lake Michigan.

Michigan has the longest freshwater shoreline in the continental United States. The state has kept up with the demand of tourism by mass producing more recreational boats than any other state in the union. Other tourist destinations that help augment the state income are locations with magnificent scenery – such as Traverse City, Mackinac Island, Saugatuck and the entire Upper Peninsula – which have been proven to bring in a continuous throng of vacationers, hunters and nature enthusiasts from across the United States and Canada year-round.

Hunting is an important element of Michigan's economic prosperity. The state ranks first in the nation in licensed hunters; over a million hunters throw in $2 billion into the economic pot annually – and over three-quarters of the million hunters participate in White-tailed deer season alone. The deer season has become so much of a local tradition that some K-12 school districts in rural areas of Michigan go so far as to cancel school on the opening day of rifle season to ensure the safety of the students.

• MLive.com - Everything Michigan