Michigan's Italian roots stretch back to its founding, and small towns, streets and other locations highlight that history. From industrial metro Detroit to Upper Peninsula iron mining communities, Italian immigrants and their Italian American descendants have played a key role in shaping Michigan's history. As of 2000, when the U.S. Census last included the Italian American option, data showed 4.5% of Michigan's population was of Italian ancestry, according to the National Italian American Foundation.

"For more than 350 years, Italian immigrants have played important roles in the opening and development of the land that is now Michigan, from their participation in the French fur trade up to the present day," reads the description of Russell Magnaghi's book "Italians in Michigan."