Lansing, Michigan

The City of Lansing was created expressly to be the state capital. The site was chosen in Lansing Township in Ingham County in part because of its location near the center of the state. At first, it was to be designated "Michigan, Michigan" but (whew) the name Lansing was eventually selected according to the wishes of the site's early settlers, who had emigrated from Lansing, New York. The settlers wished to honor the American jurist and political leader, John Lansing.

Michigan is based on the Chippewa Indian word "meicigama", meaning "great water", and refers to the Great Lakes.