The paper was started as the Lansing Republican on April 28, 1855. Founder and publisher Henry Beard completed only two issues of the weekly abolitionist publication before selling it and returning to Detroit.
Over the next 50 years, the paper saw many name changes and many different owners, finally merging with another newspaper and becoming the State Journal in 1911.
Gannett bought the paper in 1971, and it became the Lansing State Journal on August 25, 1980. On April 15, 1985 it went from an afternoon publication to a morning one, that it is still today.
Its current circulation is 65,886 morning; 80,006 Sunday.
The paper also has a subperiodical called NOISE, which covers local entertainment.