"Michigan may be known as the Great Lakes state, but most of its residents have a river to thank for their hometown’s existence.

“Just looking at settlement patterns in Michigan tells us a lot about how important our rivers are,” said Lisa Dechano-Cook, a Western Michigan University geographer who co-wrote the book “ Kalamazoo River.”

“You wanted to be near water, especially running water, so that you could get from place to place.”

When combined, Michigan’s 76,000 miles of rivers, creeks and streams have a shoreline 46 times the length of Michigan’s Great Lakes coast. That means in most of the state, the nearest water body is more likely a river than one of those big lakes."

Kelly House reports for Bridge Michigan May 26, 2026. [2]