History of Greater Lansing, Michigan

The area that is now Lansing was originally surveyed in 1825 in what was then a dense forest. There would be no roads to this area for decades to come. But eventually, Michigan's capital city would become the home to a diverse population of forward-thinking innovators.

The Origins of Lansing: Biddle City

In the winter of 1835-1836, two brothers from New York plotted an area just south of downtown in the area now known as REO Town and named it Biddle City. 

There was one major problem. The land lay in a floodplain and was underwater most of the year. Despite this, the brothers traveled back to Lansing, New York, to sell plots for the town that did not exist. 

When a group of 16 buyers arrived later that year, they found they had been scammed. While many left disappointed, those who stayed decided to settle in the region and named it "Lansing Township" in honor of their home village in New York. 

How Lansing Became the State Capital

For nearly a decade, the small settlement of less than 20 people would remain dormant. That changed in the winter of 1847, when the state constitution required the capital to be moved from Detroit to a safer, more centralized location in the interior of the state. 

Detroit's close proximity to British-controlled Canada (which had captured the city during the War of 1812) and its overwhelming political influence made lawmakers desperate for a fresh start.

During a multi-day session to determine a new location for the state capital, many cities, including Ann Arbor, Marshall, and Jackson, lobbied for the title. Unable to publicly reach a consensus, the House of Representatives privately chose the Township of Lansing out of frustration. When announced, many laughed at the decision. However, two months later, Governor William L. Greenly signed the bill into law, officially establishing Lansing Township as Michigan's state 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". IN April 1848, the legislature then gave the settlement the name of "Lansing."

The Three Original Villages Along the Grand River

Shortly after the announcement, individual settlements sprouted up along three distinct points on the Grand River. 

Lower Village (Old Town)

The oldest of the three settlements, anchored by the first house built in Lansing in 1843 by pioneer James Seymour, and later accelerated by the 1847 Franklin Avenue covered bridge. 

Upper Village (REO Town)

Located at the confluence of the Grand River and the Red Cedar River, the Upper Village was formed. It began to take off in 1847 when the Main Street Bridge was constructed over the Grand River. The village's focal point was the Benton House, a 4-story hotel which opened in 1848. It was the first brick building in Lansing and was later razed in 1900. 

Middle Village (Downtown Lansing)

The Middle Village was the last of the three villages to be developed in 1848 with the completion of the Michigan Avenue bridge across the Grand River and the completion of the temporary State Capitol Building. 

The first Capitol sat where Cooley Law School stands today on Capitol Avenue between Allegan and Washtenaw streets.

By 1859, the combined villages reached a population of nearly 3,000 and were officiall incorporated as the City of Lansing. It encompassed about seven square miles. The boundaries of the original city were Douglas Avenue to the north, Wood and Regent Streets to the east, Mount Hope Avenue to the south, and Jenison Avenue to the west. These boundaries would remain unchanged until 1916.

Lansing began to grow steadily over the next two decades, with the completion of the railroads through the city, a plank road, and the completion of the current State Capitol in 1878.

Automotive Roots and Industrial Powerhouse

Most of what is known as Lansing today is the direct result of the city becoming an industrial powerhouse, which began with the founding of Olds Motor Vehicle Company in August, 1897. The company went through many changes, including a buyout, between its founding and 1905 when founder Ransom E. Olds started his REO Motor Car Company, which would last in Lansing for another 70 years. Olds would be joined by the less successful Clarkmobile around 1903. Over the next decades, the city would see itself transformed into a major American industrial center for the manufacturing of automobiles and automobile parts, among other industries. The city continued to grow in area. By 1956, the city had grown to 15 square miles (39 km²), and doubled in size over the next decade to its current size of roughly 33 square miles (85 km²).

Today, the city's economy is now diversified among government services, health care, manufacturing, insurance, banking and education.

*From Wikipedia