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Midland, MI

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Midland, MI

Midland is a city in and the county seat of Midland County, Michigan, in the United States. The city's population was 42,547 as of the 2020 census. It is the principal city of the Midland Metropolitan Statistical Area, part of the larger Saginaw-Midland-Bay City Combined Statistical Area. 

By the late 1820s, Midland was established as a fur trading post of the American Fur Company supervised by the post at Saginaw. Here agents purchased furs from Ojibwe trappers. The Campau family of Detroit operated an independent trading post at this location in the late 1820s.

Dow Chemical Company was founded in Midland in 1897, and its world headquarters are still located there. Through the influence of a Dow Chemical plant opening in Handa, Aichi, Japan, Midland and Handa have become sister cities. Dow Corning was also headquartered in Midland.

In 1969, the city unilaterally defined a Midland Urban Growth Area (MUGA), a two-mile territory around the city limits, in an attempt to control urban sprawl. As the county's only capable drinking water supplier, the city would provide water services to communities outside the MUGA such as the nearby village of Sanford. The city would not provide water services within the MUGA without annexation to the city of Midland. This allowed the city to control most of the growth in the county. Since 1991, the policy has since been revised with a series of Urban Cooperation Act Agreements with surrounding townships. Case-by-case drawings of the MUGA line now allow Midland to sell water to the surrounding townships without annexation. 

The city lies within eastern Midland County, with a small portion extending east into Bay County. Most of the city's area is incorporated from Midland Township. The city is 24 miles (39 km) northwest of Saginaw and 19 miles (31 km) west of Bay City. It is part of the Flint/Tri-Cities region. 

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 36.3 square miles (94.02 km2), of which 34.4 square miles (89.10 km2) are land and 2.0 square miles (5.18 km2), or 5.41%, is water. The city is along the Tittabawassee River, a southeast-flowing tributary of the Saginaw River, leading to Saginaw Bay in Lake Huron. Midland has a humid continental climate (Dfb) with hot, rainy summers with cool nights and cold, snowy winters with average highs around freezing.

Midland places a strong emphasis on health and wellness for its residents. Element Salon and Day Spa provides a peaceful retreat with massages, facials, and holistic therapies designed to rejuvenate and relax. Greater Midland Community Center offers an extensive fitness facility, including a gym, swimming pool, and various fitness classes for all ages. The Yoga Place hosts yoga and pilates classes focusing on mindfulness, core strength, and flexibility. Dorais Family Chiropractic emphasizes spinal health, pain relief, and overall wellness through a range of chiropractic services. Planet Fitness promotes a judgment-free environment with a wide array of exercise equipment and group fitness classes. Body Language Fitness and Yoga Studio offers classes in yoga, Zumba, and strength training, catering to diverse fitness levels and interests. 

Top sites in Midland, MI are Dow Gardens, Chippewa Nature Center, and Emerson Park.

Population: 42,663 (2023). ZIP codes: 48623 (Freeland); 48640–48642, 48667, 48670, 48674, 48686. Area code: 989. Elevation: 636 ft (212 m). Area: 36.34 sq mi (94.12 km2).

FAQs

What is Midland, MI famous for?

Now the heart of Michigan's technology basin, Midland is the global headquarters of two Fortune 500 companies, Dow Chemical and Dow Corning Corporation, and home to the Midland Cogeneration Venture, the largest gas-fueled, steam recovery co-generation facility in North America. Midland has become a center for industrial innovation and is quickly becoming a hub for the solar energy industry, emerging technologies, and a variety of entrepreneurial pursuits.

Is Midland, MI expensive?

Based on our Midland cost of living calculator, Midland is 17% less expensive than the national average and 9% less expensive to live in than the average city in Michigan. This assumes a $72,000 annual salary and a 2-bedroom Apt. Food costs in Midland are more affordable than average in the United States. Transportation costs in Midland are as affordable as average in the United States. Housing costs in Midland are more affordable than average in the United States. Healthcare costs in Midland are more affordable than the US average.

Is Midland, MI a good place to live?

Midland is in Midland County and is one of the best places to live in Michigan. Living in Midland offers residents a dense suburban feel and most residents own their homes. In Midland there are a lot of parks. Many families and young professionals live in Midland and residents tend to lean conservative. The public schools in Midland are highly rated.

Sources

Wikipedia

City of Midland

Erieri

Niche

Dow Gardens

Chippewa Nature Center

Emerson Park

Element Salon and Day Spa

Greater Midland Community Center

The Yoga Place

Dorais Family Chiropractic

Planet Fitness

Body Language Fitness and Yoga Studio

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