It would be easy to say that Lansing almost never was. In 1836 a group of New York-based speculators sold plots on what was marketed as “Biddle City,” located in the center of the lower peninsula of Michigan. Imagine the surprise of those who bought plots when they found that the non-existent city was actually located in a marsh and many of the lots were underwater! A few of these hardy pioneers decided to stay on, and they developed a village about a mile north that would become Lansing.
     With its central location in Michigan, the state capital was moved from Detroit to Lansing Township in 1847. Eight years later what would become Michigan State University was founded as the Agricultural College of the State of Michigan. The City of Lansing officially incorporated in 1859 with a population of 3,000 citizens, and a new state capitol was dedicated in 1879. This capital which was designed in the neoclassical architectural style, was actually the third building to house the Michigan state government. A renovation of the building was completed in 1992.
     It is also worth noting that Lansing, MI is the only state capital in the United States to be located in three separate counties. While most of the city is located in Ingham County, a small portion extends into Eaton County and another small portion containing the Capitol City Airport extends into adjacent Clinton County.