The friendly, well sometimes friendly, rivalry between Michigan and Ohio goes way back. Being born and raised a Michigander, I have seen and heard a lot of knocks against Ohio, as well as vice versa. From the time I can remember, my grandmother (Nana) would always say that the best things about Ohio are the state lines. It was ironic that she said that because her very best friend in the world, Aunt Jean, lived in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. Aunt Jean, her husband, Uncle Vee, and their three children moved from Royal Oak, Michigan, to Ohio when my Nana, my grandfather (Papa), and their four children moved from Royal Oak to Garden City.
Even though they were no longer neighbors in Royal Oak and had miles between them, they remained close friends until they passed on. In fact, I like to think those two ladies are “up there,” yucking it up and playing practical jokes on the angels. They were a couple of silly ladies while here on earth. I learned how to be a real, true friend by watching these two interact with each other.
We took many trips down to Cuyahoga Falls to see Aunt Jean. Ohio wasn’t too bad in my mind then, and we were quickly able to adjust to Ohio’s way of life when we were there. For example, it was very hilly in Aunt Jean’s town, so we would always bring our bikes. My same-aged cousin and I were always together on family trips, and when we went to Aunt Jean’s, our bikes came with us because it was so fun to fly downhill. One time, we were going down one of those huge hills, and we had to jump over the ditch at the end of it! We loved the show Dukes of Hazzard, and it felt like we were driving The General Lee when we were jumping that ditch!
Speaking of speed, let’s not forget how, as Michigan drivers, we must be cautious about driving within the speed limit as Ohio State Troopers are known to pull over Michigan drivers “just because.” I have to say that I do not blame the Troopers because Michigan drivers are known to speed. In fact, every single time I visit family in North Carolina or South Carolina on my way home, once I cross the Michigan state line, my foot just naturally presses down on the gas pedal to speed and keep up with the flow of traffic going 80 mph!
According to Athlon Sports in an article discussing sports rivalries, “The hatred of this rivalry was fueled by both Michigan and Ohio’s claim of the Toledo Strip, a 468-square mile region of land at the states’ borders. When Michigan tried to join the union in 1835, it tried to include the Toledo Strip in its borders and Ohio blocked its admittance,”.
Why Michigan and Ohio hate each other
Well, from my family’s experience, I’m not sure that is true because my Nana’s youngest daughter (my aunt) married a man who was born and bred and loved his Cleveland heritage. He was a true Buckeye, and so were his five brothers and one sister.
As a teenager, my friends and I would take random trips to Cedar Point all summer long. It was a short 90 miles, barely a two-hour drive – something a car full of teenagers could easily manage. So, I’d say that for many Michiganders like me, the rivalry is often more about playful banter and less about genuine hatred.
It’s all really only good-natured teasing, especially when football season rolls around. My uncle, the proud Buckeye, my brother-in-law, a Spartan, and myself, a proud Wolverine alumni, make the Ohio State vs. Michigan game an annual spectacle for our family. I think, ultimately, what might be seen as ‘hate’ is really a deep-rooted, spirited sense of pride in where we come from.
Then there’s the intense rivalry between Michigan and Michigan State. However, when either of us plays Ohio, we root for each other to beat those Buckeyes! Yes, it is that deep.
And it gives Michigan and Michigan State fans two days out of the season to come together!
Is the state of Michigan a good place to work?
Glass Door reports that the, “State of Michigan has an employee rating of 3.7 out of 5 stars, based on 1,249 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have a good working experience there,”.
In recent years, there has been significant growth and excitement around the revitalization of the City of Detroit, with the support of the State of Michigan, investors, volunteers, and Fortune 500 companies. While the news likes to report all the crime in major cities, they neglect to point out how much Detroit has changed since the 80’s.
However, it did not matter what the news said for my family as we have always enjoyed downtown for all its culture, food, entertainment, and sporting events – things like going to the Detroit Opera House to see The Nutcracker Ballet (Tchaikovsky 1892) or going to several ball games at Tiger Stadium or hockey games at The Joe.
A lot is going on in The D these days! Ford Motor Company is expanding its already existing property into something really fabulous. Per Ford Motor Co’s official website, they stated that over the next few years, they will transform, modernize, and consolidate its sprawling 7.5-million-square-foot engineering and headquarters facilities into a high-tech Silicon Valley-style property that will span across two campuses. The renovated campus will bring over 30,000 employees–who now work in 70 disparate buildings–together into two locations.
Michigan Economic Development Corporation shares that “The Detroit area is becoming a center of competence for user experience technology and many of the suppliers that exist in Silicon Valley now have representation in Michigan,” Vince Gallante, Stellantis vice president of global user experience design. “We’re supporting all 14 of Stellantis’ brands with hires from Apple, Disney and Microsoft,”.
Is it better to live in Michigan or Ohio?
Ultimately, whether Michigan or Ohio is better to live in depends on individual preferences; both states offer unique charms and opportunities.
