This article reviews key circumstances during 2010 in Michigan, including the state's office holders, demographics, performance of sports teams, cultural events, and a chronology of the state's top news and sports stories.
Top stories The top news stories of 2010 in Michigan included: Kalamazoo River oil spill resulted in the release of more than 800,000 gallons of crude oil into Talmadge Creek in Marshall that flowed into the Kalamazoo River. 2010 Michigan elections: Republicans swept the November elections for statewide offices, including Rick Snyder's election as Governor of Michigan. Criminal prosecutions in state and federal court of Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, civil litigation over the killing of Tamara Greene, and Kilpatrick's imprisonment for probation violations. Recovery in the automobile industry and the debut of the Chevrolet Volt. The attacks of 16 black men in the Flint area by a serial stabber and the arrest of Elias Abuelazam in August. Federal raids and prosecution of the Hutaree, a Lenawee County Christian Patriot militia group. The Thanksgiving disappearance of the three Skelton boys from Morenci and the arrest of their father.
The top sports stories of 2010 in Michigan included the Michigan State football team tying for the Big Ten championship with Kirk Cousins at quarterback; the Michigan State football team advancing to the Final Four led by Draymond Green; Armando Galarraga's near-perfect game; the Detroit Red Wings compiling 44–24–14 record with Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg each tallyng 70 points; and The Big Chill at the Big House setting a hockey record with over 100,000 in attendance.
Notable deaths connected to Michigan included Detroit Tigers radio announcer Ernie Harwell, Detroit Tigers managers Sparky Anderson and Ralph Houk, Michigan football legend Ron Kramer, Michigan and Detroit Tigers baseball player Steve Boros, Detroit Red Wings enforcer Bob Probert, The Knack guitarist and singer Doug Fieger, Gumby creator Art Clokey, and Presidential press secretary Jerald terHorst.
Office holders State office holders
Governor of Michigan - Jennifer Granholm (Democrat) Lieutenant Governor of Michigan: John D. Cherry (Democrat) Michigan Attorney General - Mike Cox (Republican) Michigan Secretary of State - Terri Lynn Land (Republican) Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives: Andy Dillon (Democrat) Majority Leader of the Michigan Senate: Mike Bishop (Republican) Chief Justice, Michigan Supreme Court: Marilyn Jean Kelly
Federal office holders
U.S. Senator from Michigan - Carl Levin (Democrat) U.S. Senator from Michigan - Debbie Stabenow (Democrat) House District 1: Bart Stupak (Democrat) House District 2: Pete Hoekstra (Republican) House District 3: Vern Ehlers (Republican) House District 4: Dave Camp (Republican) House District 5: Dale Kildee (Democrat) House District 6: Fred Upton (Republican) House District 7: Tim Walberg (Republican) House District 8: Mike Rogers (Republican) House District 9: Gary Peters (Democrat) House District 10: Candice Miller (Republican) House District 11: Thaddeus McCotter (Republican) House District 12: Sander Levin (Democrat) House District 13: Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick (Democrat) House District 14: John Conyers (Democrat) House District 15: John Dingell (Democrat)
Mayors of major cities
Mayor of Detroit: - Dave Bing (Democrat) Mayor of Grand Rapids: - George Heartwell Mayor of Ann Arbor: John Hieftje (Democrat) Mayor of Lansing: Virgil Bernero Mayor of Flint: Dayne Walling Mayor of Saginaw: Greg Branch
Demographics Michigan had a population as recorded in the 2010 U.S. Census of 9,883,640, a decline of 0.8% from the 2000 Census which recorded Michigan's population at 9,948,444. The decline was attributable principally to a drop of over 235,000 in the population of the state's largest city, Detroit. It was the first and only decade in the state's history during which the population decreased. The upward trend resumed in the 2010s with the population increasing to 10,077,331 (a 2.0% increase) in 2020.
The following is a list of the 25 largest Michigan cities based on 2010 U.S. Census data. Historic census data from 2000 and 2020 is included to reflect trends in population increases or decreases. Cities that are part of Metro Detroit are shaded in tan.
2010Rank City County2000 Pop.2010 Pop.2020 Pop.Change 2000–20101DetroitWayne951,270713,777639,111−25.0% 2Grand RapidsKent197,800188,036198,917−4.9% 3WarrenMacomb138,247134,056139,387−3.0% 4Sterling HeightsMacomb124,471129,699134,3465.6% 5LansingIngham119,128114,297112,644−4.1% 6Ann ArborWashtenaw114,024113,934123,8510.1% 7FlintGenesee124,943102,43481,252−18.0% 8DearbornWayne97,77598,153109,9760.5%9LivoniaWayne100,54596,94295,535−3.6% 10WestlandWayne86,60284,09485,420−2.9% 11TroyOakland80,95980,98087,2940.0% 12Farmington HillsOakland82,11179,74083,986−2.9% 13KalamazooKalamazoo76,14574,26273,598−2.6% 14WyomingKent69,36872,12576,5014.0% 15SouthfieldOakland78,32271,75876,618−8.4% 16Rochester HillsOakland68,82570,99576,3003.2% 17TaylorWayne65,86863,13163,409−4.2% 18St. Clair ShoresMacomb63,09659,71558,874−5.4% 19PontiacOakland66,33759,51561,607−10.3% 20Dearborn HeightsWayne58,26457.77463,292−0.8% 21Royal OakOakland60,06257,23658,211−4.7% 22NoviOakland47,38655,22466,24316.5% 23Battle CreekCalhoun53,36452,34752,721−1.9% 24SaginawSaginaw61,79951,50844,202−16.7% 25KentwoodKent45,25548,70754,3047.6%
Sports Baseball
2010 Detroit Tigers season - In their fifth year under manager Jim Leyland, the Tigers compiled an 81–81 record. The team's statistical leaders included Miguel Cabrera (.328 batting average, 38 home runs, and 126 RBIs), Justin Verlander (18 wins, 219 strikeouts) and Joel Zumaya (2.58 earned run average). Highlights included Armando Galarraga's near-perfect game.
American football
2010 Detroit Lions season - In their second season under head coach Jim Schwartz, the Lions compiled a 6–10 record. Ndamukong Suh and Calvin Johnson were selected to the Pro Bowl. 2010 Michigan State Spartans football team - In their fourth season under head coach Mark Dantonio, the Spartans compiled an 11–2 record and tied for the Big Ten championship. The team's statistical leaders included Kirk Cousins (2,825 passing yards) and Edwin Baker (1,201 rushing yards). 2010 Michigan Wolverines football team - In their final season under head coach Rich Rodriguez, the Wolverines compiled a 7–6. Denard Robinson was selected as the team's most valuable player.
Basketball
2009–10 Detroit Pistons season - In their first year under head coach John Kuester, the Pistons compiled a 27–55 record. The team's statistical leaders included Rodney Stuckey (1,215 points, 348 assists) and Ben Wallace (597 rebounds). 2009–10 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team - 28–9, advanced to Final Four, Draymond Green 2009–10 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team - 15–17, DeShawn Sims and Manny Harris MVPs
Ice hockey
2009–10 Detroit Red Wings season - In their fifth season under head coach Mike Babcock, the Red Wings compiled a 44–24–14 record. Nicklas Lidstrom was the team captain. Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg each tallied 70 points. 2009–10 Michigan Wolverines men's ice hockey season - Led by head coach Red Berenson, the Wolverines compiled a 17-15-1 record. Highlights of the season included The Big Chill at the Big House.
Other 2010 Carfax 400 2010 Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips 400 Detroit Free Press Marathon
Chronology of events
January January 6 - Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, a 23-year-old Nigerian national who became known as the "Underwear bomber", was indicted for his bombing attempt on Northwest Airlines Flight 253 as it approached Detroit on Christmas Day 2009. The defendant used chemical explosives sewn into his underwear. While a small explosion and fire occurred, the exposive device failed to detonate properly. The government asked for the death penalty. He was arraigned on January 8. January 20 - After hearing six days of testimony from former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, Wayne County Circuit Court Judge David Groner concluded that Kilpatrick's testimony was not credible and that his conduct was "reprehensible", ordering Kilpatrick to pay $320,000 in restitution to the city within 90 days or face jail. January 28 - Ford reported a $2.8 billion profit for 2009. The announcement marked a reversal from $30 billion in losses sustained from 2005 to 2008.
February February 2 - DeDan Milton, an aide and childhood friend of former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, pleaded guilty to bribery and extortion conspiracy as part of a plea deal requiring him to cooperate in the prosecution of Kilpatrick. February 3 - Justin Verlander signed a five-year, $80 million contract with the Tigers. February 7 - Dick LeBeau was selected for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a player. February 8 - The federal government agreed to spend $78 million to control the spread of Asian carp in the Great Lakes. February 20 - Outfielder Johnny Damon signed a one-year, $8-million contract with the Tigers. February 22 - Two pairs who trained at a Canton ice skating club (Tessa Virtue / Scott Moir and Meryl Davis / Charlie White) won the gold and silver medals in the ice dancing competition at the Winter Olympics. February 23 - The NCAA accused Michigan football under Rich Rodriguez of five potential major violations.
March March 4 - Cobo Center contractor Karl Kado was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Marianne Battani to community service and probation as part of a deal to cooperate in the public corrumption probe of Detroit City Hall. March 9 - Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick was arraigned In Wayne County Circuit Court for probation violation, having failed to make his court-ordered restitution payments of $79,011 per month. March 10 - Former Detroit City Council president pro tempore Monica Conyers was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Avern Cohn to 37 months in prison and two years of probation, following her conviction for accepting bribes. She began serving her sentence at a federal prison camp in West Virginia, nicknamed Camp Cupcake, on September 10. March 15 - The Stooges were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the 17th Detroit act to be so honored. March 25 - Dick Purtan retired after 45 years on Detroit radio. March 28 - Michigan State defeated Tennessee to advance to the Final Four. March 31 - Federal prosecutors in a press conference announced prosecution of nine members of the Hutaree, a Lenawee County Christian Patriot militia group, and the discovery of bombs intended to be used in an uprising against the government. The prosecutors alleged that the defendants intended to kill a police officer and bomb the funeral. In the end, three defendants pleaded guilty to possession of a machine gun; all of the more serious charges were dismissed in 2012. March 31 - The White House announced that it was purchasing the first 100 Chevrolet Volts to roll off the assembly line.
April April 3 - Michigan State lost to Butler, 52–50, in the Final Four. April 9 - Nine-term Democrat Congressman Bart Stupak from the Upper Peninusla announced he would not run for reelection following Tea Party opposition over his vote in support of Obama's healthcare legislation. April 10 - Boston College won the NCAA hockey championship at Ford Field. April 12 - Affidavits from two former Detroit police officers in the Tamara Greene case asserted that police officials tried to cover up an investigation into the former mayor Kilpatrick's alleged wild party at the Manoogian Mansion and the killing of Greene. April 16 - Gov. Jennifer Granholm and other leaders held a press conference urging the legislature to support construction of a second bridge across the Detroit River.