Superior is the name of a longstanding 51st state proposal involving the secession of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan from the rest of the state of Michigan, due to cultural differences, as well as the feeling that the capital in Lansing ignores the problems of the Upper Peninsula. Named for Lake Superior, the idea has gained serious attention at times, though it is quite unlikely to ever come to fruition due to the large amount of funding that the area receives from the lower part of the state, and the strong connections that were cemented by the completion of the Mackinac Bridge, which gave the peninsula a direct highway connection to the rest of the state.
Several prominent legislators including local politician Dominic Jacobetti formally attempted this legislation in the 1970s, with no success.[1] As a state, it would have the smallest population; its 320,000 residents would represent only 60% of Wyoming's population, and less than 50% of Alaska's. It would rank 40th in land area, larger than Maryland.
Any proposed capital is disputed, although Marquette (the Upper Peninsula's largest city) is a common choice, both for its centralized location and for its economic activity.
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History
Efforts to secede and form a new state date back to 1858, when a convention was held in Ontonagon for the purpose of forming a new state combining the upper peninsula of Michigan, northern Wisconsin, and northeast Minnesota.[2] The new state was to be called either Superior or Ontonagon. The New York Times editorialized:
- "Unless Congress should interpose objections, which cannot reasonably be apprehended, we see no cause why the new "State of Ontonagon" should not speedily take her place as an independent member of the union."[3]
In 1897 another proposal for a State of Superior included the Upper Peninsula (U.P.) and portions of Wisconsin.[4]
Sometime in the 1960s, there was talk of the U.P. seceding to become part of Wisconsin. In preparation for this move, the U.P. asked for, and received, its own area code: 906, as no area code in the U.S. is allowed to cross state lines.[5]
In 1962, an Upper Peninsula Independence Association was founded to advocate for the formation of State of Superior. A secession bill was submitted to the Michigan Legislature, and 20,000 petition signatures were collected—36,000 short of the number needed—for a ballot referendum on separation.[6]
Efforts continued into the mid-1970s, with residents of the Upper Peninsula and northern Wisconsin, each resentful of tax drains and other perceived slights from their downstate cousins, joining together to pursue the desired legislation.[7]
References
- ^ The Dominic J. Jacobetti Collection, accessed November 6, 2006
- ^ "New state convention," Superior (WI) Chronicle, 3 August 1858, p.3.
- ^ "A new state - Ontonagon," N.Y. Times, 6 April 1858, p.4.
- ^ The State of Superior, The Washington Post, October 3, 1897
- ^ See, Implementation of the Local Competition of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, Second Report and Order and Memorandum Opinion and Order, 11 FCC Rcd 19392, 19512-16 (1996).
- ^ "Upper Peninsula Journal; Yes, They're Yoopers, and Proud of It", David Binder.The New York Times, September 14, 1995. pg. A.16
- ^ NBC Evening News for Friday, Aug 08, 1975, accessed November 6, 2006
Further readings
- Carter, James L. (1980). Superior: A State for the North Country. Marquette, Michigan: Pilot Press. ISBN 99947-59-02-7.
- Cox, Bruce K. (2009). Ted & Superior: Ted Albert & the 51st State of Superior. Wakefield, Michigan: Agogeebic Press, LLC. ISBN 978-0-9822390-0-1.
- 1975 NBC newscast from Vanderbilt University archives
External links
- Support U.P. Secession weblog
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