Midland

Industrial city and administrative headquarters of Midland County, central Michigan, USA, on the junction of the Tittabawassee and Chippewa rivers, 32 km/20 mi northwest of Saginaw; population (2000) 41,700. There are oil and gas wells here, and the main industries are the manufacture of chemicals, pharmaceuticals, plastic goods, and concrete. Midland is the home of Saginaw Valley University (1963), the Northwood Institute (1959), and the Midland Center for the Arts and Dow Gardens.

Midland was founded in the 1830s and incorporated as a city in 1887. It developed as a centre of the chemical industry after the Dow Chemical Company was started here in 1888.

Midland

City and administrative headquarters of Midland County, west Texas, USA, situated on the high plains at an altitude of 850 m/2,789 ft; population (2000) 95,000. It was named for its position approximately midway between Fort Worth and El Paso. Midland lies in a rich cattle-ranching region, famous for its Hereford cattle. Oil-producing is also important, with the nearby Permian Basin oilfields. Other industries include the production of oilfield equipment, chemicals, electronic components, and processed food. The city is home to Midland College (1969).

Midland was founded in 1884 and incorporated in 1906; it developed after the discovery of oil in 1923. Human remains found locally, dated to 20,000 BC, are known as those of Midland Man.