12/1/2008
Local Information and History of Midland

M idland Michigan, located in the heart of Michigan, is probably best known for Dow Chemical .

T he economy of Midland, Michigan was transformed just over a hundred years ago by the discovery of a new process for extracting chlorine from the brine wells under the city. Herbert H. Dow discovered an electrolytic process which was much more efficient than other methods for removing chlorine and other elements from the brine, creating simultaneously a local production industry, a local research community, and an influx of capital from the financial powerhouses in the region, most notably Cleveland and Detroit.

A lden B Dow was born in Midland, Michigan on April 10, 1904 to Herbert Henry and Grace A. (Ball) Dow. From his father, who founded The Dow Chemical Company, came his pioneer spirit.

I t is particularly fortunate for Midland that Alden Dow chose to remain in his home town. Through his concern for the landscape, his unique buildings and their settings and the ever-evolving Dow Gardens, he provided a living exhibition of outstanding architectural quality. The foresight and enthusiasm of Mr. Dow and his family have enhanced the life of the citizens with opportunities unmatched by communities of similar size in the United States.

M idland is known for its beautiful homes and churches . In addition, most Midland school children study and learn in Alden Dow's buildings and many of their parents work in Dow-designed offices, civic or commercial buildings and scientific laboratories.

I n 1983, crowning the achievements of his fifty year career, Alden Dow was named Architect Laureate of his home state of Michigan.

A t age seventy-nine, Alden Dow died on August 20,1983. A beautiful service was held in the Dow Gardens in final tribute to this most remarkable man.

A lthough Midland 's economy no longer centers on brine extraction and processing, its manufacturing sector continues to be heavily dominated by chemical manufacture and processing. In addition to Dow Chemical, the city is currently the site of Dow Corning, Inc. headquarters as well as several smaller companies involved in the field, presumably growing naturally out of local expertise. Dow Chemical has evolved its product line over the years to include pharmaceutical, agricultural (mainly pesticides), and many petrochemical products (plastics, polysterene and related polymer products).

A ccording to Harris 1998 Industrial Directory, four local manufacturing employers currently operate in the areas of chemistry, silicone products, and other chemical research and production, with a total of 5,100 employees. This represents approximately 12% of the county's employees.

B ecause of the shift to production using resources from other sources, as well as the concentration of management activities in Midland, the local economy can no longer be said to be truly dominated by an extraction process. Thus, the immediate downsides to local extraction--river water contamination, ground water contamination, and air pollution--have been successfully exported. However, since the economic well-being of the city continues to depend on (the exported production of) chlorine, bromine, and other chemical products, extraction and processing can be said to remain the foundation of chemical industry in the area.

T he growth of Midland over the years has been perceived as depending heavily on Dow Chemical, Dow Corning, and other spin-off industries in the area. A growing sector in the area is the Mid-Michigan Medical Center, which currently employees 1,745 people, as compared to Dow Chemical's 4,000 and Dow Corning's 1,000. Downsizing in the 1990's (from 8,936 in 1993 to current 4,000) due to fluctuations in the chemical market has changed the portion of the population working for either Dow company, but it continues to dominate.

H istorically, the Dows have been ardent supporters of local cultural institutions, including the library , a local cultural center , and gardens, among others. Hot political issues, such as the production of Agent Orange, napalm, and breast implants, have plagued Dow Chemical and Dow Corning over the years, and their current public relations materials reflect a desire to prove to the community that they are promoting the public good.