Ypsilanti

Ypsilanti is a city in Washtenaw County, Michigan, that stretches along the Huron River and includes three main neighborhoods: Downtown, Depot Town, and West Cross. Each neighborhood displays older buildings of brick and wood that line narrow streets with sidewalks and green spaces near the water.

The settlement was founded in 1823 as Woodruff's Grove and received its current name in 1829 to honor a Greek hero of independence. The state's first college for teacher training opened here in 1849 and has shaped the development of the city ever since.

The city's name honors a Greek general and appears today in local businesses and street signs that nod to this connection. The university brings young students into the neighborhoods, where cafés and small shops create everyday activity that ebbs and flows between semesters.

Several parks along the riverfront offer paths for walking, cycling, and picnicking that are well used in warm weather. Most neighborhoods are walkable, with level sidewalks making it easy to move around.

An old automobile dealer location on Michigan Avenue was converted into a museum for vehicles, focusing especially on the Hudson brand. This collection documents the era when the street was a center for car showrooms and families came here to buy new automobiles.

Location: Washtenaw County

Inception: 1823

Elevation above the sea: 219 m

Website: http://cityofypsilanti.com

GPS coordinates: 42.24280,-83.61830

Latest update: December 13, 2025 09:38