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The Michigan Meridian mapped the Mitten 200 years ago

Kevin Lavery/WKAR

For many of us in the Lansing area, U-S Highway 127 is our gateway “Up North” to the more idyllic Michigan to which we all dream of escaping. But decades before the highway was built, surveyors drew an imaginary north-south line that would become the basis of countless maps of the state. It’s called the Michigan Meridian, and 2015 marks its 200th anniversary. The Michigan Meridian runs right through Meridian Township.Current State's Kevin Lavery talks with Ron Lester, a retired professional surveyor from Mason. He's been affiliated with the Michigan Society of Professional Surveyors for more than 40 years.

Kevin Lavery served as a general assignment reporter and occasional local host for Morning Edition and All Things Considered before retiring in 2023.
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