1946 in Michigan

Events from the year 1946 in Michigan.

Top stories

The Associated Press polled editors of its member newspapers in Michigan and ranked the state's top news stories of 1946 as follows:[1]

  1. Kim Sigler. Sigler's year began as special prosecutor pursuing government corruption. After 28 months in that position, he was fired in March 1946 and ran for Governor. A former Democrat, he won the Republican nomination for Governor in a close and bitter four-way contest. He then won the general election in November by a plurality of more than 350,000 votes, the largest margin for a Michigan Governor in a non-presidential year.
  2. The March 13 settlement of a 113-day strike by the CIO-UAW against General Motors.
  3. Numerous post-war problems in the automobile industry, including shortages, layoffs, and labor disputes.
  4. Tornadoes that struck Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, on June 17 and June 27, killing 15 and injuring scores.
  5. The July 20 indictment of 19 men for conspiring to block passage of Michigan's anti-branch bank bill.
  6. The inquiry and hearing leading to the firing of the warden of the Jackson State Prison following evidence of "high life, favoritism and immorality" at the prison.
  7. The trial and February 14 acquittal of former Republican national committeeman Frank McKay on charges of corrupting the state liquor control commission.
  8. The November 13 explosion of a water tank at a school in Baroda, killing one child and endangering 260.
  9. The February 18 elevation of Detroit Archbishop Edward Aloysius Mooney to the status of cardinal.
  10. A March 9 blizzard that sent 30 to 40 feet of ice floes ashore destroying 55 cottages near Bay City.

Other stories receiving votes but falling outside the top ten included the following:

  • The CIO-National Maritime Union Great Lakes shipping strike;
  • The death of Fielding H. Yost;
  • OPA exposure of a $3 million black market for cars based in Michigan;
  • The trial and conviction of Anthony Lobaido for the rape and slashing of a Detroit child;
  • Celebration of the automobile's golden jubilee;
  • The Detroit Tigers' second-place finish in the American League; and
  • The squabble between the University of Michigan and Michigan State University over football dates.

Office holders

State office holders

Mayors of major cities

Federal office holders

Population

In the 1940 United States Census, Michigan was recorded as having a population of 5,256,106, ranking as the seventh most populous state in the country. By 1950, Michigan's population had increased by 21.2% to 6,371,766.

Cities

The following is a list of cities in Michigan with a population of at least 20,000 based on 1940 U.S. Census data. Historic census data from 1930 and 1950 is included to reflect trends in population increases or decreases. Cities that are part of the Detroit metropolitan area are shaded in tan.

1940
Rank
City County 1930 Pop. 1940 Pop. 1950 Pop. Change 1940-50
1DetroitWayne1,568,6621,623,4521,849,56813.9%
2Grand RapidsKent168,592164,292176,5157.4%
3FlintGenesee156,492151,543163,1437.7%
4SaginawSaginaw80,71582,79492,91812.2%
5LansingIngham78,39778,75392,12917.0%
6PontiacOakland64,92866,62673,68110.6%
7DearbornWayne50,35863,58994,99449.4%
8KalamazooKalamazoo54,78654,09757,7046.7%
9Highland ParkWayne52,95950,81046,393−8.7%
10HamtramckWayne56,26849,83943,555−12.6%
11JacksonJackson55,18749,65651,0882.9%
12Bay CityBay47,35547,95652,5239.5%
13MuskegonMuskegon41,39047,69748,4291.5%
14Battle CreekCalhoun45,57343,45348,66612.0%
15Port HuronSt. Clair31,36132,75935,7259.1%
16WyandotteWayne28,36830,61836,84620.3%
17Ann ArborWashtenaw26,94429,81548,25161.8%
18Royal OakOakland22,90425,08746,89886.9%
19FerndaleOakland20,85522,52329,67531.8%

Counties

The following is a list of counties in Michigan with populations of at least 75,000 based on 1940 U.S. Census data. Historic census data from 1930 and 1950 are included to reflect trends in population increases or decreases.

1940
Rank
County Largest city 1930 Pop. 1940 Pop. 1950 Pop. Change 1940-50
1WayneDetroit1,888,9462,015,6232,435,23520.8%
2OaklandPontiac211,251254,068396,00155.9%
3KentGrand Rapids240,511246,338288,29217.0%
4GeneseeFlint211,641227,944270,96318.9%
5InghamLansing116,587130,616172,94132.4%
6SaginawSaginaw120,717130,468153,51517.7%
7MacombWarren77,146107,638184,96171.8%
8KalamazooKalamazoo91,368100,085126,70726.6%
9JacksonJackson92,30493,108108,16816.2%
10MuskegonMuskegon84,63094,501121,54528.6%
11CalhounBattle Creek87,04394,206120,81328.2%

Companies

The following is a list of major companies based in Michigan in 1946.

Company 1946 sales (millions) 1946 net earnings (millions) Headquarters Core business
General MotorsDetroitAutomobiles
Ford Motor Companynana[2]Automobiles
ChryslerAutomobiles
Studebaker Corp.Automobiles
Briggs Mfg. Co.DetroitAutomobile parts supplier
S. S. KresgeRetail
Hudson Motor Car Co.DetroitAutomobiles
Detroit EdisonElectric utility
Michigan BellTelephone utility
Kellogg'sBattle CreekBreakfast cereal
Parke-DavisDetroitPharmaceutical
REO Motor Car Co.LansingAutomobiles
Burroughs Adding MachineBusiness machines

Sports

Baseball

American football

Basketball

Ice hockey

Boat racing

Boxing

    Golfing

    Births

    Deaths

    • August 26 - Fielding H. Yost, University of Michigan football coach (1901–1926), at age 75 in Ann Arbor
    • October 4 - Barney Oldfield, automobile racer, at age 68 in Beverly Hills, California

    See also

    References

    1. "Sigler Tops News List". The Lansing State Journal. December 29, 1946. p. 2 via Newspapers.com.
    2. Ford was a privately held company until 1956. Accordingly, its financial results for 1946 were not made public.
    3. "2012 University of Michigan Baseball Record Book" (PDF). University of Michigan. 2012. pp. 22, 71. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
    4. 2012 Record Book, p. 13.
    5. "1946 Detroit Lions Statistics & Players". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 9, 2017.
    6. "1946 Football Team". Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan. Retrieved July 10, 2017.
    7. "1946 Michigan State Spartans Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 16, 2017.
    8. "1946 Detroit Mercy Titans Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 23, 2015.
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