Why is lansing the capital

With plenty to do and see, make sure to check out Lansing the next time you find yourself in Michigan! Want to learn more about US capital cities?

Click here for more related posts. Pennsylvania was a free territory, while Maryland was slave-owning and […]. Is Russia Part of Europe or Asia? Why not […]. Facebook YouTube Twitter Instagram. The Latest. Last Updated On: August 27, Michigan is a large state with many prominent cities, the most well-known being Detroit. The Capital of Michigan From to , the original capital of Michigan the territory, then state was actually Detroit.

Why Is Lansing the Capital of Michigan? Lansing Today Lansing has continued to grow over the years, transforming from an underpopulated woodland to an established city. Comments comments. About Mark Heald Articles. A group of 16 men bought plots in the nonexistent city and, upon reaching the area later that year, found they had been scammed.

Many in the group too disappointed to stay ended up settling around what is now metropolitan Lansing. Those who stayed quickly renamed the area "Lansing Township" in honor of their home village in New York. The sleepy settlement of fewer than 20 people would remain dormant until the winter of , when the state constitution required that the capital be moved from Detroit to a more centralized and safer location in the interior of the state.

Many were concerned about Detroit's close proximity to British-controlled Canada, which had captured Detroit in the War of The United States had recaptured the city in , but these events led to the dire need to have the center of government relocated away from hostile British Territory. In addition, there was also concern with Detroit's strong influence over Michigan politics, being the largest city in the state as well as the capital city.

During the multi-day session to determine a new location for the state capital, many cities, including Ann Arbor, Marshall and Jackson, lobbied hard to win this designation. Unable to publicly reach a consensus due to constant political wrangling, the Michigan House of Representatives privately chose the Township of Lansing out of frustration. When announced, many present openly laughed that such an insignificant settlement was now the capital city of Michigan. Two months later, Governor William L.

Greenly signed into law the act of the legislature, officially making Lansing Township the state capital. With the announcement that Lansing Township had been made the capital, the small village quickly transformed into the seat of state government.

The legislature gave the settlement the temporary name of the "Town of Michigan. It was home to the first house built in Lansing in by pioneer James Seymour and his family. This village's focal point was the Benton House, a 4-story hotel which opened in It was the first brick building in Lansing and was later razed in The post office was relocated to the village in This area would grow to become larger than the other two villages up and down river.

For a brief time, the combined villages were referred to as "Michigan" but was officially named Lansing in It became our state capital years ago this month. For more, including what the Lansing area was like at the time and what its original name was , listen above. This segment is produced in partnership with the Michigan History Center.

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