[quote=bob2007]
. . .
Surrounded by fresh water, although the quality varies ;). It seems that at some point the state/cities should realize they need to provide breaks to businesses to attract them.

. . . [/quote]

One of the biggest problems with Michigan, from my point of view, is the fact that it is a peninsula. This leads to an almost constant cloud cover (I have been told that Ann Arbor has more overcast days per year than Seattle) and weather that isn’t the most desirable. People used to live there because of the work opportunities and the tendency of families to stay in the same place – but those factors don’t really apply as much any more.

When Michigan first became a state, the city of Calumet (in the upper peninsula) was almost made the capital because the U.P. was the center of industry in the state (mining, etc.). When the mining industry collapsed and the auto industry took off, everyone moved to Detroit (including my relatives). As another poster mentioned, the UP is pretty much dead – business never regrew there, and I think that result is a distinct possibility for Detroit.