1956 in Michigan

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1956
in
Michigan
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Events from the year 1956 in Michigan.

The major stories of 1956 in Michigan included: (1) tornado outbreaks that struck western Michigan on April 2 and central and eastern Michigan on May 12; (2) the November 6 elections in which Republican President Dwight D. Eisenhower won Michigan's 20 electoral votes while Democrat G. Mennen Williams won re-election to a fifth term as Governor of Michigan; and (3) a slowdown in automobile production after reaching record levels in 1955.

Contents

Top stories

The Associated Press [1] and Detroit Free Press [2] each ranked Michigan's top news stories of 1956 as follows:

Office holders

State office holders

Gov. G. Mennen Williams G. Mennen Williams (Michigan Governor).jpg
Gov. G. Mennen Williams

Mayors of major cities

Patrick V. McNamara Patrick Vincent McNamara.jpg
Patrick V. McNamara
Martha Griffiths Martha Wright Griffiths.jpg
Martha Griffiths

Federal office holders

Population

In the 1950 United States census, Michigan was recorded as having a population of 6,421,000 persons, ranking as the seventh most populous state in the country. By 1960, the state's population had grown 22.8% to 7,823,194 persons.

Cities

The following is a list of cities in Michigan with a population of at least 40,000 based on 1950 U.S. Census data. Historic census data from 1940 and 1960 is included to reflect trends in population increases or decreases. Cities that are part of the Detroit metropolitan area are shaded in tan.

1950
Rank
CityCounty1940 Pop.1950 Pop.1960 Pop.Change 1950-60
1 Detroit Wayne 1,623,4521,849,5681,670,144−9.7%
2 Grand Rapids Kent 164,292176,515177,3130.5%
3 Flint Genesee 151,543163,143196,94020.7%
4 Dearborn Wayne63,58994,994112,00717.9%
5 Saginaw Saginaw 82,79492,91898,2655.8%
6 Lansing Ingham 78,75392,129107,80717.0%
7 Pontiac Oakland 66,62673,68182,23311.6%
8 Kalamazoo Kalamazoo 54,09757,70482,08942.4%
9 Bay City Bay 47,95652,52353,6042.1%
10 Jackson Jackson 49,65651,08850,720−0.7%
11 Battle Creek Calhoun 43,45348,66644,169−9.2%
12 Muskegon Muskegon 47,69748,42946,485−4.0%
13 Ann Arbor Washtenaw 29,81548,25167,34039.6%
14 Royal Oak Oakland 25,08746,89880,61271.9%
15 Warren Macomb 23,65842,65389,246109.2%

Counties

The following is a list of counties in Michigan with populations of at least 100,000 based on 1950 U.S. Census data. Historic census data from 1940 and 1960 are included to reflect trends in population increases or decreases. Counties that are part of the Detroit metropolitan area are shaded in tan.

1980
Rank
CountyLargest city1940 Pop.1950 Pop.1960 Pop.Change 1950-60
1 Wayne Detroit 2,015,6232,435,2352,666,2979.5%
2 Oakland Pontiac 254,068396,001690,25974.3%
3 Kent Grand Rapids 246,338288,292363,18726.0%
4 Genesee Flint 227,944270,963374,31338.1%
5 Macomb Warren 107,638184,961405,804119.4%
6 Ingham Lansing 130,616172,941211,29622.2%
7 Saginaw Saginaw 130,468153,515190,75224.3%
8 Washtenaw Ann Arbor 80,810134,606172,44028.1%
9 Kalamazoo Kalamazoo 100,085126,707169,71233.9%
10 Muskegon Muskegon 94,501121,545129,9436.9%
11 Calhoun Battle Creek 94,206120,813138,85814.9%
12 Berrien Benton Harbor 89,117115,702149,86529.5%
13 Jackson Jackson 93,108108,168131,99422.0%

Sports

Baseball

Harvey Kuenn Harvey Kuenn 1953.png
Harvey Kuenn

American football

Basketball

Ice hockey

1956 Olympics

Dick Hanley of the University of Michigan Dick Hanley.png
Dick Hanley of the University of Michigan

A contingent of 18 Michiganders competed for the United States in the 1956 Summer Olympics. [27] A total 11 athletes with ties to Michigan won medals as follows:

Boat racing

Golf

Chronology of events

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Births


Deaths

See also

Related Research Articles

Events from the year 1940 in Michigan.

Events from the year 1947 in Michigan.

Events from the year 1948 in Michigan.

Events from the year 1949 in Michigan.

Events from the year 1944 in Michigan.

Events from the year 1943 in Michigan.

Events from the year 1942 in Michigan.

Events from the year 1941 in Michigan.

Events from the year 1955 in Michigan

Events from the year 1957 in Michigan.

Events from the year 1939 in Michigan.

Events from the year 1960 in Michigan.

Events from the year 1961 in Michigan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1965 in Michigan</span> Calendar year

Events from the year 1965 in Michigan.

Events from the year 1968 in Michigan.

Events from the year 1969 in Michigan.

Events from the year 1989 in Michigan.

Events from the year 2018 in Michigan.

Events from the year 2019 in Michigan.

Events from the year 1923 in Michigan.

References

  1. "Death-Bearing Twister Top State News Story of 1956". The Lansing State Journal. January 1, 1957. p. 19 via Newspapers.com.
  2. "Top Stories". Detroit Free Press. December 30, 1956. p. 21 via Newspapers.com.
  3. "1956 Detroit Tigers Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
  4. "Harvey Kuenn". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
  5. "2012 University of Michigan Baseball Record Book" (PDF). University of Michigan. 2012. pp. 22, 71. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
  6. 2012 Record Book, p. 13.
  7. "1956 Detroit Lions Statistics & Players". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 17, 2017.
  8. "1956 Football Team". University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
  9. "1956 Michigan Wolverines Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 26, 2017.
  10. "1956 Michigan State Spartans Stats". Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
  11. "Central Michigan 2015 Football Media Guide" (PDF). Central Michigan University. 2015. pp. 100, 110. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 26, 2016. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
  12. 2015 Media Guide, p. 85.
  13. "2014 Digital Media Guide: Eastern Michigan University" (PDF). Eastern Michigan University Football. pp. 169, 176. Retrieved June 29, 2016.
  14. "Football Records: Annual Results". Western Michigan University. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
  15. "1956 Detroit Mercy Titans Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
  16. "1955-56 Michigan State Spartans Roster and Stats". SR/CBB. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
  17. "1955–56 Michigan Wolverines Schedule and Results". SR/CBB. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
  18. "University of Michigan Basketball Record Book" (PDF). University of Michigan. p. 31. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-10-26. Retrieved 2017-07-25.
  19. "1955–56 Western Michigan Broncos Schedule and Results". SR/CBB. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
  20. "1955–56 Detroit Titans Schedule and Results". SR/CBB. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
  21. "1955–56 Detroit Red Wings Roster and Statistics". Hockey-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
  22. "Ex-Wolverine Ikola Stars in Nets: Yank Sextet Stuns Canada, 4-1". Detroit Free Press. February 1, 1956. p. 23 via Newspapers.com.
  23. "Michigan Team History". College Hockey News. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
  24. "Another NCAA Championship: Hockey Team Wins Sixth National Crown In The Last Nine Years". The Michigan Alumnus. April 14, 1956. p. 304.
  25. "Michigan Tech Team History". College Hockey News. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
  26. "Michigan State Team History". College Hockey News. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
  27. "18 Michiganders Posed for Games". Detroit Free Press. November 22, 1956. pp. 33–34 via Newspapers.com.
  28. 1 2 3 "U.S. Sweep of Games Goes On". Detroit Free Press. November 28, 1956. p. 26 via Newspapers.com.
  29. "Murchison, Ex-Bronco, Wins Medal". Detroit Free Press. December 2, 1956. p. 15F via Newspapers.com.
  30. "Olympic Divers Save U. S. Lead". Detroit Free Press. December 5, 1956. p. 37 via Newspapers.com.
  31. "Only Local Yacht In Race To Mackinac Finishes Today". Port Huron Times Herald. July 17, 1956. p. 1 via Newspapers.com.
  32. "Nobody Wins Tear-Filled Gold Cup: 16-Man Board To Weigh Protests". Detroit Free Press. September 2, 1956. p. 23 via Newspapers.com.
  33. "Films Fail to Settle Dispute in Gold Cup". Detroit Free Press. September 3, 1956. p. 13 via Newspapers.com.
  34. "Protest Thrown Out; Thriftway Wins Cup". Detroit Free Press. October 26, 1956. p. 37.
  35. "State Open To Cooper". Lansing State Journal. July 2, 1956. p. 24 via Newspapers.com.
  36. "Rosburg Takes Motor City Open in Playoff". Detroit Free Press. September 3, 1956. p. 13 via Newspapers.com.
  37. "Spartans Nip UCLA In Last 7 Seconds". The Detroit Reporter. January 3, 1956. p. 1 via Newspapers.com.
  38. "Presses Rolling at 3 Papers". Detroit Free Press. January 17, 1956. p. 1 via Newspapers.com.
  39. "Missing State License Agent Found $75,000 Shy: Husband and Child Also Vanish". Detroit Free Press. March 8, 1956. p. 1 via Newspapers.com.
  40. "Mrs. Thorpe 'Explains' Her State Theft". Detroit Free Press. March 31, 1956. p. 1 via Newspapers.com.
  41. "Thorpes Seized By FBI". Detroit Free Press. June 5, 1957. pp. 1, 5 via Newspapers.com.
  42. "Thorpes' Theft Plea Is 'Guilty'". Detroit Free Press. August 6, 1957. p. 3 via Newspapers.com.
  43. "Thorpes Get 7 to 10 Years For Embezzling State Fees: Couple Stunned By Sentence". Detroit Free Press. October 1, 1957. p. 3 via Newspapers.com.
  44. "Thorpes Free, Start New Life". Detroit Free Press. December 22, 1961. p. 3 via Newspapers.com.
  45. "Alfred P. Sloan Retires As GM Board Chairman". Detroit Free Press. April 3, 1956. pp. 1, 18 via Newspapers.com.
  46. "Western Michigan Tornadoes Cut Wide Path of Destruction". Lansing State Journal. April 4, 1956. p. 1 via Newspapers.com.
  47. "Tornado Rips W. Mich.: Grand Rapids Area Hardest Hit". The News-Palladium (Benton Harbor, Michigan). April 4, 1956. p. 1 via Newspapers.com.
  48. 1 2 "Detroiters Say Goodby To Streetcars". Detroit Free Press. April 8, 1956. p. 3 via Newspapers.com.
  49. "Detroiters Bid Streetcars Goodby". Detroit Free Press. April 9, 1956. p. 3 via Newspapers.com.
  50. "Free Press Wins 4th Pulitzer Prize: Lee Hills Gets Writing Award; Executive Editor Cited For Reporting on GAW". Detroit Free Press. May 8, 1956. p. 1 via Newspapers.com.
  51. "Tornados Rake State: At Least 6 Die and 100 Jam Hospitals; 100 Homes Flattened; Flint Worst Off". Detroit Free Press. May 13, 1956. p. 1 via Newspapers.com.
  52. 1 2 "Jury Finds Mrs. Hermiz Insane: Hamilton Guilty in Slaying". Detroit Free Press. July 19, 1956. pp. 1, 4 via Newspapers.com.
  53. "Love Slaying Drama Opens". Detroit Free Press. June 7, 1956. p. 1 via Newspapers.com.
  54. "Outburst Ruffles Death Trial". Detroit Free Press. June 12, 1956. p. 1 via Newspapers.com.
  55. "Long Road Ends For Mrs. Hermiz: Ionia Gates Shut on Victoria; Hamilton Unlikely to Appeal". Detroit Free Press. July 21, 1956. p. 4 via Newspapers.com.
  56. "'Arabian Nights' Sequel: Victoria Now a Citizen". Detroit Free Press. October 20, 1964. p. 1 via Newspapers.com.
  57. "Hamilton Found Guilty Again: Slayer of Grocer Gets Life". Detroit Free Press. November 2, 1960. p. 1 via Newspapers.com.
  58. "Weird Iraq Slaying Case Near End". Detroit Free Press. December 13, 1967. p. 2 via Newspapers.com.
  59. "Lifer Freed, Then Sent To India". Detroit Free Press. December 20, 1967. p. 14 via Newspapers.com.
  60. "Voisine Smothers Ecorse Explosion". Detroit Free Press. July 25, 1956. p. 1 via Newspapers.com.
  61. "Ecorse Grand Jury Asked After Confession of Graft". Detroit Free Press. July 31, 1956. p. 1 via Newspapers.com.
  62. "25 Aides of Voisine Took Graft Payoffs". Detroit Free Press. August 1, 1956. p. 1 via Newspapers.com.
  63. "Grand Jury Asks Gambler About Ecorse Graft". Detroit Free Press. August 2, 1956. p. 1 via Newspapers.com.
  64. "Grand Jury Opens Probe of Ecorse Voting". Detroit Free Press. September 11, 1956. p. 1 via Newspapers.com.
  65. "Foes of Voisine Lost Their Vote". Detroit Free Press. September 18, 1956. p. 1 via Newspapers.com.
  66. "Even Dead Vote In Ecorse". Detroit Free Press. September 9, 1956. p. 1 via Newspapers.com.
  67. "Gambling Czar To Testify Against Voisine, Gillman at Trial". Detroit Free Press. September 29, 1956. p. 1 via Newspapers.com.
  68. "Wild Prop Rips Transport in Air: Woman Killed; 5 Injured". Detroit Free Press. July 10, 1956. p. 1 via Newspapers.com.
  69. "Tigers OK 5.5 Million Bid By Knorr Syndicate: Board Accepts Highest Offer". Detroit Free Press. July 17, 1956. p. 1 via Newspapers.com.
  70. "Details of S-P Deal Revealed". Detroit Free Press. August 5, 1956. p. 1 via Newspapers.com.
  71. 1 2 "Packard Motors Hits End of Road in Detroit". Detroit Free Press. August 16, 1956. p. 3 via Newspapers.com.
  72. "S-P Trims Losses to 14 Millions". Detroit Free Press. December 1, 1956. p. 1 via Newspapers.com.
  73. "GOP Nominates Cobo". Detroit Free Press. August 8, 1956. p. 1 via Newspapers.com.
  74. "Adlai Hits Job, Farm, Inflation Issues". Detroit Free Press. September 4, 1956. p. 1 via Newspapers.com.
  75. "Cascading Concrete Kills 10 in Building Collapse". Lansing State Journal. October 4, 1956. p. 1 via Newspapers.com.
  76. "Nation Watches City Dedicate Ford Auditorium". Detroit Free Press. October 15, 1956. p. 1 via Newspapers.com.
  77. "Chrysler Profits Dip Sharply". Detroit Free Press. November 3, 1956. p. 1 via Newspapers.com.
  78. "Wild Rocket Wrecks Home Near Selfridge". Detroit Free Press. November 6, 1956. p. 1 via Newspapers.com.
  79. "Jet Canopy Falls Into Trailer Park". Detroit Free Press. November 10, 1956. p. 1 via Newspapers.com.
  80. 1 2 "Ike, Williams Win: Governor Is Elected To Fifth Term; Adlai Is Buried By Landslide". Detroit Free Press. November 7, 1956. p. 1 via Newspapers.com.
  81. "Charm Pays Off for Ike, Williams". Detroit Free Press. November 8, 1956. p. 1 via Newspapers.com.
  82. "Cobo Is Bitter Over City Vote". Detroit Free Press. November 8, 1956. p. 3 via Newspapers.com.
  83. "Final Election Results". Detroit Free Press. November 8, 1956. p. 1 via Newspapers.com.
  84. "How Michiganders Voted for Congress". Detroit Free Press. November 8, 1956. p. 17 via Newspapers.com.
  85. "State GOP Gains Seat in Congress". Detroit Free Press. November 8, 1956. p. 17 via Newspapers.com.
  86. "Ad Circular Trips Bailiff In Slaying". Detroit Free Press. November 21, 1956. p. 3 via Newspapers.com.
  87. "Hunter Found Guilty In Slaying". Detroit Free Press. February 17, 1957. p. 1 via Newspapers.com.
  88. "Ex-Bailiff Gets 20 Yrs. In Slaying". Detroit Free Press. March 9, 1957. p. 1 via Newspapers.com.
  89. "Madman Slays Two Near Flint". Detroit Free Press. November 20, 1956. p. 1 via Newspapers.com.
  90. "'Edsel' Line to Add Jobs for 50,000". Detroit Free Press. November 20, 1956. p. 1 via Newspapers.com.
  91. "Five-Day Ordeal Ends in Rejoicing: Boy, 14, Cheats Death". Lansing State Journal. November 21, 1956. pp. 1–2 via Newspapers.com.
  92. "City Welcomes Refugees". Detroit Free Press. December 3, 1956. p. 1 via Newspapers.com.
  93. "Refugee Family Says U.S. Is Like 'Paradise'". Detroit Free Press. December 9, 1956. p. 1 via Newspapers.com.
  94. "Food Flies at U-M In 'Riot' By 1,000". Detroit Free Press. December 3, 1956. p. 1 via Newspapers.com.
  95. "Proud Old Ladies Die in Flames as Thousands Watch". Detroit Free Press. December 13, 1956. p. 1 via Newspapers.com.
  96. "Bears Maul Lions, 38 to 21: Layne Hurt Early in Title Struggle". Detroit Free Press. December 17, 1956. p. 1 via Newspapers.com.
  97. "Layne, Gedman Spark Big Attack In 42-10 Victory". Detroit Free Press. December 3, 1956. p. 1 via Newspapers.com.
  98. "Ford Gives Funds To U-M For Branch In Dearborn". Detroit Free Press. December 18, 1956. p. 1 via Newspapers.com.
  99. "Detroit Mom Saves Girl From Reds". Detroit Free Press. December 15, 1956. p. 1 via Newspapers.com.
  100. "Little Tanya Gets Royal Welcome". Detroit Free Press. December 18, 1956. p. 3 via Newspapers.com.
  101. "Tanya Called Pawn in Cold-War Plot". Detroit Free Press. December 24, 1956. p. 3 via Newspapers.com.
  102. "J&L Buys Steel Mill Here". Detroit Free Press. December 20, 1956. p. 1 via Newspapers.com.
  103. "Lions Give 2-Year Contract to Parker". Detroit Free Press. December 27, 1956. p. 23 via Newspapers.com.
  104. "Death Takes Clothier F. A. Hughes". Detroit Free Press. April 9, 1956. p. 3 via Newspapers.com.
  105. "Former Official Dies". Ironwood Daily Globe . May 25, 1956. p. 51. Retrieved October 24, 2021 via Newspapers.com.
  106. "Ex-Ad Man P.H. Bruske Dies at 78". Detroit Free Press. September 27, 1956. p. 41 via Newspapers.com.
  107. "Air Pioneer Dead at 75". Lansing State Journal. September 29, 1956. p. 2 via Newspapers.com.
  108. "Band Leader Isham Jones Dies at 63". Lansing State Journal. October 20, 1956. p. 18 via Newspapers.com.
  109. "U-M Great John Garrels Dies at 70". Detroit Free Press. October 22, 1956. p. 42 via Newspapers.com.
  110. "Preston Tucker, Inventor of 'Dream Car', Dies at 53". Lansing State Journal. December 27, 1956. p. 7 via Newspapers.com.
  111. "Tucker, Car Promoter, Dies". Detroit Free Press. December 27, 1956. p. 1 via Newspapers.com.