The 17th district was created by the 1850 Michigan Constitution, as the 1835 constitution only permitted a maximum of eight senate districts.

[2][3] It has been represented by Republican Jonathan Lindsey since 2023, succeeding fellow Republican Dale Zorn.

[4][5] District 17 encompasses all of Branch, Cass, and St. Joseph counties, as well as parts of Berrien, Calhoun, Hillsdale, and Jackson counties.

[6] District 17, as dictated by the 2011 Apportionment Plan, covered Lenawee and Monroe Counties on the outskirts of Detroit and Toledo, including the communities of Monroe, Adrian, Tecumseh, Carleton, Dundee, Hudson, Morenci, Blissfield, Clinton, Bedford Township, Monroe Township, Frenchtown Township, Berlin Township, Madison Township, and part of Milan.

[8] It bordered the state of Ohio, and shared a water border with Canada via Lake Erie.