It’s quite impossible to think about a world where the great Mitten State doesn’t exist. But sometimes we need a few reminders of the many contributions Michigan has to offer the United States and beyond.

Here are 10 absolutely undeniable reasons why the world would never be the same without Michigan.

1. Best beaches in the country.
spablab/Flickr
The coasts think they've got the beach thing on lock, but seriously, the beaches in Michigan are truly a hidden gem.
2. Jackson, Mich. is the birthplace of the Republican Party.
Daniel X. O'Neil/Flickr
Regardless of your political affiliation, you have to admit the influence of the Republican Party has been monumental in our nation's history.
3. Michigan has a sports team for every major professional league.
Mike Boening Photography/Flickr
You a sports fan? Michigan has you covered, as we've got a team to represent all the major professional leagues.
4. Michigan has the most lighthouses of any state.
George Thomas/Flickr
These lakeside structures have such a rich history. Go ahead, check them out and be awestruck by both the architecture and water views.
5. Michigan was home to one of the very first modern-day shopping malls.
By Nikolai Nolan - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0
As urban centers across the country began to experience sprawl, shopping malls like Northland Center in metro Detroit began popping up. In fact, Northland was one of the very first in the 1950s.
6. Michigan’s got some of the very best pizza.
Yelp Inc./Flickr
New York and Chicago have their reputations in the pizza game, but Michigan's square deep dish is truly one of those hidden foodie gems.
7. Motown, and all the sub-genres of American pop culture were established in Michigan.
karmacamilleeon/Flickr
Our nation has Michigan to thank for the Motown artists, who made it big in Detroit.
8. The Mitten State is the birthplace of the Arsenal of Democracy.
hashtagstreetphotography.com/Flickr
Starting from World War II, Michigan's manufacturing industry jumped onto the defense bandwagon. The result: lots of jobs for Americans and a bustling middle class America.
9. When most of the rest of the country is drying out from a drought, Michigan will be well-covered.
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center/Flickr
Many parts of the country have been dealing with drought conditions for years. If only they were surrounded by the Great Lakes.
10. Michigan is the birthplace of the modern assembly line.
JOHN LLOYD/Flickr
Thanks to the ingenuity of Henry Ford at the turn of the 20th century, American manufacturing on all levels is streamlined, safe, and provides for jobs for millions of people.

Truly, we ought to be thankful to have the Great Lakes State in all our lives. Tell us though, why do you think the world would never be the same without Michigan in it?

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