Lansing, Michigan

Lansing
Nickname(s): 
Capital City, L-Town, "The Heart of Michigan"
Interactive map of Lansing
Lansing
Location within the state of Michigan
Lansing
Location within the United States
Coordinates: 42°42′51″N 84°33′36″W / 42.71417°N 84.56000°W / 42.71417; -84.56000
CountryUnited States
StateMichigan
CountiesClinton, Eaton, and Ingham
Settled1835
Incorporated1859
Named afterLansing, New York
Government
  TypeStrong mayor–council
  MayorAndy Schor
  ClerkChris Swope
  City council
Members
  • Jeffrey Brown
    (At Large)
  • Peter Spadafore
    (At Large)
  • Tamara Carter
    (At Large)
  • Trini Pehlivanoglu
    (At Large)
  • Ryan Kost
    (1st Ward)
  • Jeremy Garza
    (2nd Ward)
  • Adam Hussain
    (3rd Ward)
  • Brian Jackson
    (4th Ward)
Area
  City
39.78 sq mi (103.03 km2)
  Land39.14 sq mi (101.38 km2)
  Water0.64 sq mi (1.65 km2)
  Urban
155.8 sq mi (354.4 km2)
  Metro
1,714.6 sq mi (4,440.8 km2)
Elevation
853 ft (260 m)
Population
 (2020)
  City
112,644
  Density2,877.68/sq mi (1,111.09/km2)
  Urban
318,300 (US: 128th)
  Urban density2,042.6/sq mi (788.7/km2)
  Metro
473,203 (US: 115th)
Demonym(s)Lansingite, Lanstronaut (informal)
Time zoneUTC−5 (EST)
  Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP Codes
48901, 48906, 48908–48913, 48915–48919, 48921, 48922, 48924, 48929, 48930, 48933, 48937, 48950, 48951, 48956
Area code517
FIPS code26-46000
GNIS feature ID1625035
Websitelansingmi.gov

Lansing (/ˈlænsɪŋ/) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Michigan. The most populous city in Ingham County, parts of the city extend into Eaton County and north into Clinton County. It is the sixth-most populous city in Michigan with a population of 112,644 at the 2020 census. The Lansing–East Lansing metropolitan area has an estimated 473,000 residents and is the third largest in the state after metropolitan Detroit and Grand Rapids. Lansing benefits from its central location within Mid-Michigan and serves as a regional hub for government, education, and commerce.

Founded in 1835 and designated as Michigan's state capital in 1847, Lansing was selected for its more central location after concerns about Detroit's vulnerability to British attack in the War of 1812. The city's history is closely tied to the rise of industry in Michigan. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Lansing became a prominent center in the automobile industry. Oldsmobile and REO Motor Car Company, both founded by Ransom E. Olds, were among its most prominent manufacturers.

Lansing's economy is diverse, driven by state government operations, higher education, health care, and insurance. Neighboring East Lansing is home to Michigan State University, one of the largest and most prominent research universities in the U.S. Major companies based in the city include Jackson National Life and Auto-Owners Insurance. Cultural attractions include the Michigan State Capitol building, the Impression 5 Science Center, and Library of Michigan. Lansing is the only U.S. state capital (among the 47 located in counties) that is not also a county seat. The seat of government of Ingham County is Mason, but the county maintains some offices in Lansing.