1981 in Michigan

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Events from the year 1981 in Michigan.

The Associated Press (AP) selected the state's top sports stories as follows:

  1. The first championship boxing match between Thomas Hearns boxing match with Sugar Ray Leonard on September 16 and billed as "The Showdown";
  2. Eric Hipple's taking over as the Detroit Lions' quarterback after an injury to Gary Danielson;
  3. Michigan's victory over Washington in the 1981 Rose Bowl;
  4. The Detroit Pistons' selection of Isiah Thomas and Kelly Tripucka with the second and twelfth picks in the first round of the 1981 NBA draft;
  5. The Detroit Tigers' November 27 trade of Steve Kemp to the Chicago White Sox in exchange for Chet Lemon;
  6. The development of Kirk Gibson as a Major League Baseball player, compiling a .328 batting average for the Detroit Tigers;
  7. The death of University of Michigan football broadcaster Bob Ufer;
  8. The inaugural Michigan 500 automobile race at the Michigan International Speedway;
  9. The Detroit Red Wings' December 2 trade of Dale McCourt, Mike Foligno, and Brent Peterson to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for Danny Gare, Jim Schoenfeld, and Derek Smith; and
  10. The induction of Ernie Harwell into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Office holders[]

State office holders[]

Gov. Milliken

Mayors of major cities[]

Federal office holders[]

Sen. Riegle
Sen. Levin
  • U.S. Senator from Michigan: Donald W. Riegle Jr. (Democrat)
  • U.S. Senator from Michigan: Carl Levin (Democrat)
  • House District 1: John Conyers (Democrat)
  • House District 2: Carl Pursell (Republican)
  • House District 3: Howard Wolpe (Republican)
  • House District 4: David Stockman (Republican)/Mark D. Siljander (Republican)
  • House District 5: Harold S. Sawyer (Republican)
  • House District 6: Jim Dunn (Republican)
  • House District 7: Dale Kildee (Democrat)
  • House District 8: J. Bob Traxler (Democrat)
  • House District 9: Guy Vander Jagt (Republican)
  • House District 10: Donald J. Albosta (Democrat)
  • House District 11: Robert William Davis (Republican)
  • House District 12: David Bonior (Democrat)
  • House District 13: George Crockett Jr. (Democrat)
  • House District 14: Dennis M. Hertel (Democrat)
  • House District 15: William D. Ford (Democrat)
  • House District 16: John Dingell (Democrat)
  • House District 17: William M. Brodhead (Democrat)
  • House District 18: James Blanchard (Democrat)
  • House District 19: William Broomfield (Republican)

Population[]

In the 1980 United States Census, Michigan was recorded as having a population of 9,259,000 persons, ranking as the eighth most populous state in the country. By 1990, the state's population had grown only marginally by 0.4% to 9,259,000 persons.

Cities[]

The following is a list of cities in Michigan with a population of at least 50,000 based on 1980 U.S. Census data. Historic census data from 1970 and 1990 is included to reflect trends in population increases or decreases. Cities that are part of the Detroit metropolitan area are shaded in tan.

1980
Rank
City County 1970 Pop. 1980 Pop. 1990 Pop. Change 1980-90
1 Detroit Wayne 1,514,063 1,203,368 1,027,974 −14.6% Decrease
2 Grand Rapids Kent 197,649 181,843 189,126 4.0% Increase
3 Warren Macomb 179,260 161,134 144,864 −10.1% Decrease
4 Flint Genesee 193,317 159,611 140,761 −11.8% Decrease
5 Lansing Ingham 131,403 130,414 127,321 −2.4% Decrease
6 Sterling Heights Macomb 61,365 108,999 117,810 8.1% Increase
7 Ann Arbor Washtenaw 100,035 107,969 109,592 1.5% Increase
8 Livonia Wayne 110,109 104,814 100,850 −3.8% Decrease
9 Dearborn Wayne 104,199 90,660 89,286 −1.5%Decrease
10 Westland Wayne 86,749 84,603 84,724 0.1% Increase
11 Kalamazoo Kalamazoo 85,555 79,722 80,277 0.7% Increase
12 Taylor Wayne 70,020 77,568 70,811 −8.7% Decrease
13 Saginaw Saginaw 91,849 77,508 69,512 −10.3% Decrease
14 Pontiac Oakland 85,279 76,715 71,166 −7.2% Decrease
15 St. Clair Shores Macomb 88,093 76,210 68,107 −10.6% Decrease
16 Southfield Oakland 69,298 75,608 75,745 0.2% Increase
17 Royal Oak Oakland 86,238 70,893 65,410 −7.7% Decrease
18 Dearborn Heights Wayne 80,069 67,706 60,838 −10.1% Decrease
19 Troy Oakland 39,419 67,102 72,884 8.6% Increase
20 Wyoming Kent 56,560 59,616 63,891 7.2% Increase
21 Farmington Hills Oakland -- 58,056 74,611 28.5% Increase
22 Roseville Macomb 60,529 54,311 51,412 −5.3% Decrease
23 East Lansing Ingham 47,540 51,392 50,677 −1.4% Decrease

Counties[]

The following is a list of counties in Michigan with populations of at least 100,000 based on 1980 U.S. Census data. Historic census data from 1970 and 1990 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
County Largest city 1970 Pop. 1980 Pop. 1990 Pop. Change 1980-90
1 Wayne Detroit 2,666,751 2,337,891 2,111,687 −9.7% Decrease
2 Oakland Pontiac 907,871 1,011,793 1,083,592 7.1% Increase
3 Macomb Warren 625,309 694,600 717,400 3.3% Increase
4 Genesee Flint 444,341 450,449 430,459 −4.4% Decrease
5 Kent Grand Rapids 411,044 444,506 500,631 12.6% Increase
6 Ingham Lansing 261,039 275,520 281,912 2.3% Increase
7 Washtenaw Ann Arbor 234,103 264,748 282,937 6.9% Increase
8 Saginaw Saginaw 219,743 228,059 211,946 −7.1% Decrease
9 Kalamazoo Kalamazoo 201,550 212,378 223,411 5.2% Increase
10 Berrien Benton Harbor 163,875 171,276 161,378 −5.8% Decrease
11 Muskegon Muskegon 157,426 157,589 158,983 0.9% Increase
12 Ottawa Holland 128,181 157,174 187,768 19.5% Increase
13 Jackson Jackson 143,274 151,495 149,756 −1.1% Decrease
14 Calhoun Battle Creek 141,963 141,557 135,982 −3.9% Decrease
15 St. Clair Port Huron 120,175 138,802 145,607 4.9% Increase
16 Monroe Monroe 118,479 134,659 133,600 −0.8% Decrease
17 Bay Bay City 117,339 119,881 111,723 −6.8% Decrease
18 Livingston Howell 58,967 100,289 115,645 15.3% Increase

Sports[]

Baseball[]

American football[]

  • 1981 Detroit Lions season – The Lions, under head coach Monte Clark, compiled an 8–8 record and finished second in the NFC Central Division. The team's statistical leaders included Eric Hipple with 2,358 passing yards, Billy Sims with 1,437 rushing yards, Freddie Scott with 1,022 receiving yards, and Eddie Murray with 121 points scored.[2]
  • 1981 Michigan Wolverines football team – Under head coach Bo Schembechler, the Wolverines compiled a 9–3 record and were ranked No. 12 in the final AP Poll. The team's statistical leaders included Steve Smith with 1,661 passing yards and 72 points scored, Butch Woolfolk with 1,459 rushing yards, and Anthony Carter with 932 receiving yards.[3]
  • 1981 Michigan State Spartans football team – Under head coach Muddy Waters, the Spartans compiled a 5–6 record. The team's statistical leaders included Bryan Clark with 1,521 passing yards, Aaron Roberts with 461 rushing yards, and Daryl Turner with 653 receiving yards.[4]

Basketball[]

Ice hockey[]

Boxing[]

Other[]

Music and culture[]

Chronology of events[]

January[]

February[]

March[]

April[]

May[]

June[]

July[]

August[]

September[]

October[]

November[]

December[]

Births[]

  • January 20 - Jason Richardson, basketball player, in Saginaw
  • February 17 - T. J. Duckett, football running back, in Kalamazoo
  • March 13 - Mozella, singer and songwriter, in Detroit
  • March 25 - Daniel Vosovic, fashion designer, in Grand Rapids
  • April 20 - Tom Leonard, 73rd Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives (2017-2019)
  • May 23 - Charles Rogers, football wide receiver, in Saginaw
  • July 28 - Willie Green, basketball player and coach, in Detroit

Gallery of 1981 births[]

Deaths[]

  • February 9 - Bill Haley, rock and roll pioneer and Highland Park native, at age 55 in Texas
  • March 20 - Gee Walker, outfielder for Detroit Tigers (1931–37), at age 73 in Jackson, Mississippi
  • March 20 - Sonny Red, jazz saxophonist, at age 48 in Detroit
  • April 12 - Joe Louis, boxer and heavyweight champion, at age 66 in Nevada
  • May 6 - Frank Fitzsimmons, president of the Teamsters 1967-81, at age 72 in San Diego
  • October 18 - Bill Muncey, hydroplane racer, at age 52 in Acapulco, Mexico
  • October 26 - Bob Ufer, track and field athlete and radio announcer, at age 61 in Ann Arbor
  • November 22 - Corrado Parducci, architectural sculptor, at age 81

Gallery of 1981 deaths[]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "1981 Detroit Tigers Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 17, 2017.
  2. ^ "1979 Detroit Lions Statistics & Players". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 17, 2017.
  3. ^ "1981 Michigan Wolverines Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 17, 2017.
  4. ^ "1981 Michigan State Spartans Stats". Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 17, 2017.
  5. ^ "1980–81 Detroit Pistons Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 17, 2017.
  6. ^ "1980–81 Michigan Wolverines Schedule and Results". SR/CBB. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 17, 2017.
  7. ^ "1980–81 Michigan State Spartans Roster and Stats". SR/CBB. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 17, 2017.
  8. ^ "1980–81 Detroit Titans Roster and Stats". SR/CBB. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 17, 2017.
  9. ^ "1980–81 Detroit Red Wings Roster and Statistics". Hockey-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 17, 2017.
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