Lansing Region's History
Transportation has always been a primary theme throughout the Lansing region. From the area’s first inhabitants who navigated the many waterways snaking across mid-Michigan to the most recent electric vehicle advancements, the Lansing region has played an important role in shaping the way people move and connect within the state of Michigan.
Railways connected mid-Michigan cities in the late 19th Century. The city of Lansing, which was made the state capital in 1847, quickly introduced an electric trolley system which sought to connect the capitol building with the State Agricultural College (now Michigan State University). Amazingly, electric railways began running between many of the local towns. Hot on the trolley’s heels, came the automobile, a noisy but convenient addition. With improvements to regional roads, the car became the dominant choice of transportation.
This laid the foundation for an industry that would shape the region.
Ransom Eli Olds created Olds Motor Vehicle Company in 1897 becoming Michigan’s first automobile company. Ford popularized the assembly line, Durant organized General Motors by consolidating Buick, Oldsmobile, Cadillac, and Oakland (later Pontiac). During World War II Lansing plants made everything from cannons to airplane parts.
The postwar baby boom swelled the area's population past 300,000. Today the tri-county region — Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham counties — is home to more than 500,000 residents, making it the third-largest metropolitan area in Michigan.
But the Lansing region has never been a one-industry story. State government and Michigan State University have long served as twin anchors of economic stability, and the rise of major healthcare employers — University of Michigan Health–Sparrow and McLaren Health — has added another pillar to the regional economy.
More recently, the area has invested in supporting CreativeTech, InsurTech, MedTech, AgTech, and more. Michigan State University's innovation and entrepreneurship programs have become a powerful pipeline for this growth, generating startups that have collectively raised millions in funding and created thousands of jobs.
Today the Lansing region stands as a sought-after location for international companies seeking to create a U.S. presence, adding to the diversity of the population and economy.
