Michigan Has Surprisingly Little Midwest Pride
Michiganders love to pride themselves on being good Midwesterners, but apparently, we don’t have much Midwestern pride. That’s according to a new study published by the Washington Post. When I…
Illustrated map of the state of Michigan.
Getty ImagesMichiganders love to pride themselves on being good Midwesterners, but apparently, we don't have much Midwestern pride. That's according to a new study published by the Washington Post.
When I think Midwestern, I like of states such as Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, Indiana and Illinois. But, this study factored in any Airbnbs that use the word "Midwestern" in their description.
According to the tally, Iowa is the most Midwestern state in the union, followed by Indiana and Wisconsin. The study also states that, "rural folks tended to be more likely to describe themselves as Midwestern than did their city-dwelling cousins, so states with large urban populations, such as Illinois, Michigan and Ohio, slipped farther down the rankings." They added that, "most mentions of Midwest outside the 12 core states are to the effect of 'I’m originally from the Midwest' or in reference to a local street or landmark with Midwest in the name."
So, how Midwestern is Michigan? We're at the bottom of the list, only behind Ohio. In fact, North Dakota is above Michigan, which makes no sense, because North Dakota isn't in the Midwest. No. 1 is Iowa, followed by Indiana, Wisconsin, North Dakota, Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, Illinois, Minnesota, Ohio, South Dakota, Oklahoma, Wyoming and New Mexico. Again, several of those states aren't even in the Midwest. What's cool is that the study also determined the "most Midwestern thing on Earth," which is the walleye, "a drab but delicious freshwater fish whose primeval bulging eyes and snaggled teeth would look at home in one of those Nebraska fossil beds." There's no denying that walleye is very Midwestern. Find the full study here.
Feeling safe is obviously important. I personally think Michigan is a pretty safe state, but there are always going to be areas in any state that are less safe than others, so you should know where to be extra cautious.
The staff at RoadSnacks.net has put together a list of the 10 most dangerous cities in the entire state of Michigan. They start the study with some humor, saying, "Michigan would like to think that the only things dangerous in their state is the Detroit lions' defensive line and driving over the Mackinac Bridge during a snowstorm; but sadly, that's not the case."
To compile the list, the study states that, "We looked at violent crimes and property crimes in cities with a population of 5,000. Folks, the cities that made our list have robberies happening in broad daylight, car jackings, and daily shootings." The study also says that even if your city makes this list, it's not all bad, adding, "We're not saying that there aren't little pockets of goodness in these cities. The neighborhoods and shopping centers in these Michigan cities are not ALL bad. We do recommend that you spend some time studying them before you make a move. And If do you choose one of these cities, you're going to have to be aware of your surroundings at all times."
So, don't take this list as a "bad cities" list. According to RoadSnacks.net, these are just the cities with higher rates of crime, so you have to be careful in certain areas when you're traveling or living there. Read on for the list of the 10 most dangerous cities in Michigan, according to RoadSnacks.net. By the way, Detroit is not at the top spot on this list, which might surprise you. Find the full study here.
10. Highland Park
The crime in Highland Park is why it's considered to be so dangerous. It's No. 10 on the list.
9. Three Rivers
I didn't expect to see this one, but Three Rivers is considered the No. 9 most dangerous city in Michigan.
8. Flint Township
Flint has dealt with crime issues a bunch. They're No. 8.
7. Albion
This one comes out of nowhere. Did not expect to see Albion at No. 7 on the list.
6. Lansing
Say what? I haven't never felt unsafe in Lansing. But, it's No. 6.
5. Muskegon Heights
Muskegon has always had crime issues. That's why it's No. 5.
4. Detroit
Of course Detroit would be in here. It's obviously the biggest city in Michigan, so it draws crime.
3. Benton Harbor
Benton Harbor has struggled with crime for decades. It's No. 3.
2. Kalamazoo
My uncle lived in Kalamazoo, and I never felt unsafe there. But, it's No. 2.
1. Benton Township
Benton Township is the most unsafe area in Michigan, according to this list.
The Most Dangerous Cities In Michigan For 2022
This list is via RoadSnacks.net.
