Why Do Michigan Residents Still Observe Two Different Time Zones?

Did you know that Michigan is one of 13 states that observe two different time zones? While most of us are part of the Eastern Time Zone, there are a few counties in our state that are an hour behind.

SEE ALSO:  Is Daylight Saving Time About to Get Canceled in Michigan?

Michigan Has Not Always Observed Eastern Time

As we approach the end of Daylight Saving Time this weekend (11/5), we should point out that Michigan hasn't always been in sync with New York.

Time Zones were introduced in the United States in 1883. It took a couple of years for Michigan to come on board with the idea, adopting the Central Time Zone in 1885 and remaining that way for about 30 years.

Michigan Eventually Changed to Eastern Time

In 1915, Detroit led the charge to move Michigan from Central to Eastern time. A group of Detroiters known as 'The More Daylight Club' started the movement because they wanted more daylight in the evening during the summer.

It took another 15 years for the rest of the state to make the switch to New York time, with cities like Flint, Grand Rapids, Lansing, Port Huron, and Battle Creek leading the charge.

In 1931, Michigan's legislature voted to adopt the Easter Time Zone as the state's time zone. But not everyone was on board.

Why Are Some Michigan Counties on Central Time?

While most of Michigan is in the Eastern Time Zone, there are four counties in the Upper Peninsula that are on Central time. Those counties are Gogebic, Iron, Dickinson, and Menominee Counties, and they're all in the western and southernmost parts of the UP.

But it's not just geography that defines which Michigan counties observe their respective time zones. There are five Michigan counties -  Ontonagon, Houghton, Keweenaw, Baraga, and Marquette Counties - which are located farther west than Menominee County that are part of the of Eastern Time Zone.

The four Michigan counties that are part of the Central Time Zone actually share a border with Wisconsin. Those communities which do a significant amount of business with their neighbors in to the west find it easier to align themselves with Wisconsin's time zone rather than Michigan's.