Lansing is the capital of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located about 80 miles (130 km) west-northwest of Detroit and is mostly in Ingham County, although small portions of the city extend into Eaton County. As of the July 1, 2009 Census Bureau estimate, it has a population of 113,802 and a Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) population of 453,603. The even larger Combined Statistical Area (CSA) population, which includes Shiawassee County, is estimated at 523,609.

The Lansing Metropolitan Area, colloquially referred to as "Mid-Michigan", is an important center for educational, cultural, governmental, business, and high-tech manufacturing institutions, including three medical schools (two human medicine and one veterinary), two nursing schools, two law schools including the nation's largest law school (Thomas M. Cooley Law School), a Big Ten Conference university (Michigan State), the state capital, the state Supreme Court and Court of Appeals, a federal court, the Library of Michigan and Historical Center, and headquarters of four national insurance companies.