1985 in Michigan

1985 in Michigan
History of Michigan
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License plate
1983 1984 ← → 1986 1987

Events from the year 1985 in Michigan.

Top Michigan news stories

The Associated Press (AP) selected the state's top news stories as follows:[1]

1. The enactment of a state law, effective July 1, 1985, requiring all drivers of motor vehicles and front-seat passengers to wear seat belts. Opponents viewed the law as excessive government intrusion.
2. National competition for construction of a high tech, $3.5 billion plant to build automobiles for General Motors' new Saturn division. In August, GM announced that the plant would be built in Spring Hill, Tennessee.
3. The state government's return to financial solvency. Gov. James Blanchard declared "Solvency Day" on November 8 when the state repaid its $1.8 billion debt.
4. The rapid increase in premiums for liability insurance for doctors, truckers, lawyers, tavern keepers, and others.
5. A late summer sales boom for automobiles, following a Teamsters strike that limited supplies to automobile pants and further fueled by a price war in late August and September that included rebates and low interest rates on car loans.
6. An ice storm that struck the state on New Year's Day and cut off electricity to 370,000 customers.
7. The arrest of 26-year-old Ronald Bailey of Livonia for the abduction and murder of two young boys, ages 13 and 14, and the kidnapping and sexual assault of another youth.
8. A late summer storm that resulted in record flooding in Flint, causing $10 million in damages.
9. A decline in the state's unemployment rate to 9.3% in March, the first time in five years that the rate had dropped below 10%.
10. The Michigan State Police's seizure of three children living in a dilapidated bus near Niles, Michigan. The parents, Donald and Eva Monk, were tried and acquitted of child cruelty and subsequently filed a lawsuit against the state over the removal of their children.

The AP also selected the state's top sports stories as follows:[2]

1. After finishing with a 6–6 record in 1984, the 1985 Michigan Wolverines football team led by quarterback Jim Harbaugh finished the season with a 10–1–1 record, defeated Nebraska in the Fiesta Bowl, and was ranked No. 2 in the AP Poll.
2. The hiring of Darryl Rogers as head coach of the Detroit Lions, following the firing of Monte Clark.
3. Michigan State sophomore running back Lorenzo White led the NCAA with 1,908 rushing yards and finished third in voting for the Heisman Trophy.
4. The 1984–85 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team led by Roy Tarpley and Antoine Joubert compiled a 26–4 record, won the Big Ten championship, and were ranked No. 2 in the AP and coaches' polls released at the end of the regular season.
5. The 1985 Detroit Tigers season in which the team finished third in the American League East, 15 games behind the Toronto Blue Jays.
6. Kirk Gibson's declaration of free agency after the 1985 season and contract negotiations between Gibson and the Tigers.
7. The U.S. Open golf championship at Oakland Hills Country Club, ending with Andy North as champion after a final-round collapse by T.C. Chen.
8. Darrell Evans, at age 38, leading the American League with 40 home runs.
9. The Detroit Red Wings' signing of Czechoslovakian hockey star, Petr Klíma.
10. Marvin Hagler vs. Thomas Hearns - The April 15 boxing match in Las Vegas between the "Motor City Cobra" Thomas Hearns and Marvelous Marvin Hagler, ending in a technical knockout of Hearns in the third round.

Office holders

State office holders
Gov. Blanchard

Mayors of major cities

Federal office holders
Sen. Riegle
Sen. Levin

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
1DetroitWayne1,514,0631,203,3681,027,974−14.6%
2Grand RapidsKent197,649181,843189,1264.0%
3WarrenMacomb179,260161,134144,864−10.1%
4FlintGenesee193,317159,611140,761−11.8%
5LansingIngham131,403130,414127,321−2.4%
6Sterling HeightsMacomb61,365108,999117,8108.1%
7Ann ArborWashtenaw100,035107,969109,5921.5%
8LivoniaWayne110,109104,814100,850−3.8%
9DearbornWayne104,19990,66089,286−1.5%
10WestlandWayne86,74984,60384,7240.1%
11KalamazooKalamazoo85,55579,72280,2770.7%
12TaylorWayne70,02077,56870,811−8.7%
13SaginawSaginaw91,84977,50869,512−10.3%
14PontiacOakland85,27976,71571,166−7.2%
15St. Clair ShoresMacomb88,09376,21068,107−10.6%
16SouthfieldOakland69,29875,60875,7450.2%
17Royal OakOakland86,23870,89365,410−7.7%
18Dearborn HeightsWayne80,06967,70660,838−10.1%
19TroyOakland39,41967,10272,8848.6%
20WyomingKent56,56059,61663,8917.2%
21Farmington HillsOakland--58,05674,61128.5%
22RosevilleMacomb60,52954,31151,412−5.3%
23East LansingIngham47,54051,39250,677−1.4%

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
1WayneDetroit2,666,7512,337,8912,111,687−9.7%
2OaklandPontiac907,8711,011,7931,083,5927.1%
3MacombWarren625,309694,600717,4003.3%
4GeneseeFlint444,341450,449430,459−4.4%
5KentGrand Rapids411,044444,506500,63112.6%
6InghamLansing261,039275,520281,9122.3%
7WashtenawAnn Arbor234,103264,748282,9376.9%
8SaginawSaginaw219,743228,059211,946−7.1%
9KalamazooKalamazoo201,550212,378223,4115.2%
10BerrienBenton Harbor163,875171,276161,378−5.8%
11MuskegonMuskegon157,426157,589158,9830.9%
12OttawaHolland128,181157,174187,76819.5%
13JacksonJackson143,274151,495149,756−1.1%
14CalhounBattle Creek141,963141,557135,982−3.9%
15St. ClairPort Huron120,175138,802145,6074.9%
16MonroeMonroe118,479134,659133,600−0.8%
17BayBay City117,339119,881111,723−6.8%
18LivingstonHowell58,967100,289115,64515.3%

Sports

Baseball

American football

Basketball

Ice hockey

Boxing

Music and culture
  • January 1985 - Madonna's song "Material Girl" was released as a single and reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100.
  • February 1985 - The film Vision Quest was released; it featured Madonna playing a singer at a local bar, where she performs the songs "Crazy for You" and "Gambler".
  • March 1985 - Madonna's song "Crazy for You" was released as a single and reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
  • March 1985 - The film Desperately Seeking Susan starring Madonna in the title role was released
  • April 1985 - Madonna's song "Angel" was released as a single and reached No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100.
  • July 1985 - Aretha Franklin's album Who's Zoomin' Who? was released and went platinum. The single "Freeway of Love" reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and won the Grammy for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.
  • July 1985 - The film Silverado written and directed by University of Michigan alumnus Lawrence Kasdan was released.
  • July 1985 - Madonna's song "Into the Groove" was released. Ineligible for the Billboard Hot 100, it was later honored by Billboard magazine as the Dance Single of the Decade.
  • July 1985 - Madonna's song "Dress You Up" was released as a single and reached No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100.
  • September 1985 - Stevie Wonder's album In Square Circle was released and spent 12 weeks at No. 1 on the Top R&B Albums chart. The single "Part-Time Lover" reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
  • September 1985 - Diana Ross' album Eaten Alive was released and reached No. 45 on the album chart.

Chronology of events

Births

Deaths

See also

References
  1. "Seat-belt law leads Associated Press Top 10 stories for Michigan in 1985". Battle Creek Enquirer. December 30, 1985. pp. 1, 2 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. "Michigan' best: Wolverines were state's top sports story". Lansing State Journal. December 26, 1985. pp. 1D, 3D – via Newspapers.com.
  3. "1985 Detroit Tigers Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  4. "1985 Detroit Lions Statistics & Players". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 23, 2018.
  5. "1985 Michigan Wolverines Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 23, 2018.
  6. "1984–85 Detroit Pistons Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 23, 2018.
  7. "1984–85 Detroit Red Wings Roster and Statistics". Hockey-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 23, 2018.
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