January 11, 1805

President Thomas Jefferson signed an act establishing the Michigan Territory.

When Ohio became a state in 1803, the present-day state of Michigan became part of the Indiana Territory. Since the territorial capital was in Vincennes—a long distance from Michigan’s population center of Detroit—Michiganders lobbied for their own territory. The law creating the Michigan Territory took effect in July 1805. It included the Lower Peninsula and the tip of the eastern Peninsula. Over the next several years the territory was expanded to include parts of Wisconsin and Minnesota. Michigan’s first governor was William Hull, an American Revolution War veteran from Massachusetts. 

Thank you Michigan Start Pages for this glimpse into our past.  See more here.