Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor is a city in Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The settlement spreads over gentle hills with a downtown built on a grid, surrounded by neighborhoods, tree-lined streets, and the campus of the University of Michigan that occupies a large portion of the central area.

Two pioneers from Virginia purchased land here in 1824 and gave the settlement a name inspired by their wives and the oak groves nearby. The university opened 13 years later and changed the character of the place forever.

Football games at Michigan Stadium bring thousands of fans wearing maize and blue colors every autumn, flooding downtown streets before and after matches. Independent bookstores, coffee shops open until late, and farmers markets on weekends show how students and longtime residents share the same public spaces year-round.

Bus lines and free campus shuttles run regularly between downtown, residential areas, and nearby Ypsilanti, making it easy to move around without a car. Most streets in the center have wide sidewalks and bike lanes, and the river trails are accessible from several parking areas.

The Huron River winds through several parks and forms a green corridor where locals paddle, fish, and walk along trails that connect different neighborhoods. In warmer months, you often see students and families floating downstream on inner tubes or picnicking on the riverbanks.

Location: Washtenaw County

Inception: 1824

Founders: John Allen, Elisha Rumsey

Elevation above the sea: 256 m

Website: https://a2gov.org

GPS coordinates: 42.28137,-83.74846

Latest update: December 3, 2025 07:08