Lansing Living

Lansing is the capital city of the U.S. state of Michigan, and the state's sixth largest city. It is located mostly in Ingham County, though a small portion of the city extends into Eaton County. As of the 2000 census, it has a population of 119,128, an Urbanized Area (UA) population of 300,032, and, as of July 1, 2006, a Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) population of 454,044.

 The Lansing metropolitan area, colloquially referred to as "Mid-Michigan", is an important center for…..

…..educational, cultural, governmental, business, and high-tech manufacturing institutions, including three medical schools (two human medicine and one veterinary), two nursing schools, two law schools, a Big Ten Conference university (Michigan State), the state capitol, the state Supreme Court, an appellate court, a federal court, the Library of Michigan and Historical Center, and headquarters of four national insurance companies.

Lansing is the only U.S. state capital (among the 46 located in counties) that is not also a county seat. The county seat of Ingham County is Mason, Michigan.

The city's downtown is dominated by state government buildings, especially the State Capitol; but downtown has also...

.....experienced recent growth in new restaurants, retail stores and residential developments. Downtown Lansing has a historic city market that is one of the oldest continuously operating farmers' markets in the United States. Upriver and north of downtown is historic Old Town Lansing with many architecturally significant buildings dating to the mid-1800s. Directly south of downtown on the other side of I-496 along Washington Avenue lies "REO Town," the birthplace of the automobile in the United States, is where Ransom Eli Olds built factories along Washington Avenue. Ransom Eli Olds' home, which once overlooked the factories along Washington Ave., was displaced by I-496.

Lansing is generally divided into four sections: Eastside, Westside, Northwest side, and the Southside. Each section contains a diverse array of neighborhoods. The Eastside, located east of the Grand River and north of the Red Cedar River, is the most ethnically diverse side of Lansing, with foreign-born citizens making up more of its population than any other side in the city. The Eastside's commercial districts are located mainly along Michigan Avenue, and to a lesser extent along Kalamazoo Street. It is anchored by Frandor Shopping Center on the very eastern edge of the eastside.

The Westside, roughly located north, west, and south of the Grand River as it curves through the city, is sometimes regarded the city's most socio-economically diverse section. This side also contains Lansing's downtown area, though this neighborhood is often included as an area all its own. Outside downtown, this side is largely a collection of residential neighborhoods and is served by only one other commercial area along Saginaw Street. However, it also includes a small part of the Old Town Commercial Association.

The Northwest side, generally located north of the Grand River, with the city limits defining its north and western borders, is physically the smallest side of the city. This part of the city includes suburban areas and some more rural areas. North of Grand River Avenue, the main street of the side, lie warehouses and light industrial areas served by a major rail line that runs through Lansing. The most notable landmark of this side is Lansing's airport: Capital City Airport.

The Southside, usually described as the neighborhoods located south of the Grand and Red Cedar rivers and the I-496 freeway, is physically the largest and most populous side of the city, and contains some of the city's most healthy neighborhoods. The area is largely suburban in nature (south of Mount Hope Road near the northern edge), and is served by numerous commercial strips along Cedar Street, Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, Pennsylvania Avenue, and Waverly Road, which run north/south. The large Edgewood District is located in the southernmost part of the Southside and is sometimes referred to as South Lansing. Though it is the largest area of the city by both physical size and population, it has often been regarded by Southside citizens as Lansing's most overlooked and forgotten area, as most of Lansing's attention in recent decades has been put into the revitalization of the city's historic core located mostly on small parts of both the East and West sides.

The Lansing metropolitan area's major industries are government, education, insurance, healthcare, and automobile manufacturing. Being the state capital, many state government workers reside in the area.

Michigan State University, Thomas M. Cooley Law School, and Lansing Community College are significant employers in the region.

The Lansing area is headquarters to four major national insurance companies: Auto-Owners Insurance Company, Jackson National Life, the Accident Fund, and Michigan Millers Insurance Company. The Lansing area is also home to rapidly growing financial companies such as Siena Capital Management and Capitol Bancorp Limited.

Lansing has a number of technology companies in the fields of information technology and Biotechnology. The recent decline of the auto industry in the region has increased the region's awareness of the importance of engaging a strategy to grow the high-technology sector. An initiative called Prima Civitas, created by Michigan State University, in cooperation with the cities of Lansing and East Lansing, under the direction of former Lansing mayor David Hollister, is spearheading focused economic development in the technology sector in the region.

Early availability of high-speed Internet in 1996, as well as the MSU, Cooley Law School, and LCC student population, fostered an intellectual environment for information technology companies to incubate.

Several urban renewal projects by private developers are adding higher end apartments and condominiums to the Lansing market. The Arbaugh, a former department store across from Cooley Law School was converted into apartments in 2005. Motor Wheel Lofts, an industrial site will be converted into loft-style living spaces in mid 2006 . The Stadium District, a combination retail and residential complex that will be adjacent to the Oldsmobile Park baseball stadium, is planned. In May, 2006, the historically significant Mutual Building located on Capitol Avenue was purchased by The Christman Company to be renovated back to its original grandeur and used as the company's headquarters. Additional downtown developments include the renovation of the historic Hollister Building, and the expansion of the former Abrams Aerial Building.

Michigan’s dynamic urban amenities and spectacular, year-round scenic beauty produce an appealing yet affordable standard of living. A four-season state, you can experience some of the Midwest’s best winter powder by snow skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, ice fishing or dogsledding through Michigan’s backcountry. The remaining seasons offer no shortage of activities either, with over 3,200 miles of shoreline and 11,000 inland lakes to enjoy. Its large metropolitan areas feature professional sports teams and events, shopping opportunities, casino gaming and fabulous dining experiences.

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