41°46′N 86°11′W / 41.76°N 86.19°W
Michiana  | |
| No. Counties | 7 (15 in Greater Michiana) |
| States | Michigan, Indiana |
| Postal Codes | 46-49 |
| Largest city |  South Bend
|
| Second largest city |  Elkhart
|
| Time Zones | Eastern, Central |
| US Region | Midwest |
Michiana (/ˌmɪʃiˈænə/ MISH-ee-AN-ə) is a region in northern Indiana and southwestern Michigan centered on the city of South Bend, Indiana. The Chamber of Commerce of St. Joseph County, Indiana defines Michiana as St. Joseph County and "counties that contribute at least 500 inbound commuting workers to St. Joseph County daily." Those counties include Elkhart, La Porte, Marshall, St. Joseph, and Starke in Indiana, and Berrien and Cass in Michigan. As of the 2020 census, those seven counties had a population of 867,747 (661,842 in Indiana and 205,905 in Michigan).
The name is a portmanteau of "Michigan" and "Indiana" and was chosen as the winning entry, purportedly submitted by Indiana politician Thurman C. Crook,[1] among others, in a contest to name the area held by the Associated South Bend Merchants in 1934.[2][3] The term is frequently used throughout the area, particularly by local radio and television stations based in South Bend that serve the entire area, but also by businesses that seek to draw customers from Indiana into Michigan or vice versa. A 2016 report stated that residents in the Michigan portion are particularly fond of the term because it contains part of the state name as opposed to generic terms for the area such as "the South Bend region."[4]
- ^ Mason, Kirk (2010-11-26). "Where Are They Now?: Michiana (video)". WSBT Special Reports: Where Are They Now?. WSBT-TV. Archived from the original on 2012-07-07. Retrieved 2011-02-12. Note: Video not available online
- See also: "Why Do We Call Our Area Michiana?". South Bend Tribune. 2010-11-21. p. B3. Retrieved 2019-05-16.
- ^ "South Bend Trading Area Name Is 'Michiana'; 100 Tied for Prize". South Bend Tribune. 1934-12-15. p. 1. Retrieved 2019-05-16.
- ^ "Has 'Michiana' outlived its usefulness?". South Bend Tribune. 2000-01-06. p. A8. Retrieved 2019-05-16.
- ^ Donnelly, Francis X. (2016-03-05). "Border residents cling to Michiana name". The Detroit News. Retrieved 2016-03-05.