Ypsilanti, Michigan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ypsilanti, Michigan
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Images from top to bottom, left to right: Ypsilanti Performance Space, Depot Town, Eastern Michigan University's Starkweather Hall, Ypsilanti District Library, and Depot Town Merchants Row
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| Nickname(s):
Ypsi, The Free Zone
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| Motto(s):
"Pride. Diversity. Heritage."
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Location within Washtenaw County
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 Ypsilanti, Michigan
Location in Michigan
Ypsilanti, Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States | ||
| State | Michigan | ||
| County | Washtenaw | ||
| Settled | 1823 | ||
| Incorporated | 1832 (village) 1858 (city) |
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| Named for | Demetrios Ypsilantis | ||
| Government | |||
| • Type | Council–manager | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 4.47 sq mi (11.58 km2) | ||
| • Land | 4.29 sq mi (11.12 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.18 sq mi (0.46 km2) | ||
| Elevation | 719 ft (219 m) | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 20,648 | ||
| • Density | 4,809.69/sq mi (1,857.19/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) | ||
| ZIP code(s) |
48197, 48198
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| Area code(s) | 734 | ||
| FIPS code | 26-89140 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 1616910 | ||
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Ypsilanti (/ˌɪpsəˈlænti/ IP-sə-LAN-tee ), often called Ypsi (/ˈɪpsiː/ IP-see), is a city in Washtenaw County, Michigan. It sits along the Huron River. In 2020, about 20,648 people lived there.
Ypsilanti is known for being home to Eastern Michigan University (EMU). This university started in 1849 as Michigan's first college for training teachers. The city is also famous for its historic Depot Town area and the unique Ypsilanti Water Tower, built in 1890.
During World War II, the Ford Motor Company's Willow Run Bomber Plant near Ypsilanti made over 8,000 Consolidated B-24 Liberator planes. Ford also created Ford Lake by building a dam on the Huron River. Ypsilanti is conveniently located near major highways, making it easy to reach Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport. It is also where the very first Domino's Pizza opened!
Contents
- Exploring Ypsilanti's Past
- Ypsilanti's Location and Landscape
- Who Lives in Ypsilanti?
- Fun Things to Do and See in Ypsilanti
- Parks and Outdoor Fun
- Learning and Schools
- News and Radio
- Getting Around Ypsilanti
- Famous People from Ypsilanti
- Common Nicknames for Ypsilanti
- Cities Ypsilanti is Connected To
- See also
Exploring Ypsilanti's Past
How Ypsilanti Began
In 1809, a French-Canadian fur trader named Gabriel Godfroy set up a trading post here. Later, in 1823, Major Thomas Woodruff started a permanent settlement called Woodruff's Grove on the east side of the Huron River.
In 1825, another community was founded nearby on the west side of the river. It was named "Ypsilanti" after Demetrios Ypsilantis, a hero from the Greek War of Independence. Woodruff's Grove changed its name to Ypsilanti in 1829, and the two communities eventually joined together. You can see a statue of Demetrios Ypsilantis at the Ypsilanti Water Tower.
Ypsilanti's Car-Making History
Ypsilanti has a cool history with cars! From 1920 to 1922, Apex Motors made a car called the "ACE" here. Preston Tucker, whose family owned a local machine company, designed his famous Tucker '48 car prototypes in Ypsilanti. His story was even made into a movie!
After World War II, Henry J. Kaiser and Joseph W. Frazer bought the old bomber plant from Ford. They started making Kaiser and Frazer cars there in 1947. Car production stopped in 1953 when the company moved. Later, General Motors bought the plant and made car parts there until 2010.
Ypsilanti is also home to the last ever Hudson car dealership. Today, it's the Ypsilanti Automotive Heritage Collection. The museum has a real Fabulous Hudson Hornet race car. This car inspired the character Doc Hudson in the movie Cars.
Important Moments in Ypsilanti's Timeline
- 1809 – A trading post was started.
- 1823 – The village of Woodruff's Grove was planned.
- 1825 – The name Ypsilanti was officially recorded.
- 1832 – Woodruff's Grove became the Village of Ypsilanti.
- 1849 – Eastern Michigan University was founded as Michigan State Normal School.
- 1858 – The Village of Ypsilanti became a city.
- 1890 – The Ypsilanti Water Tower was finished.
- 1929 – Miller Motors Hudson, the last Hudson dealership, opened.
- 1959 – Eastern Michigan became a university.
- 1960 – Tom Monaghan started Domino's Pizza in Ypsilanti.
- 1990 – Eastern Michigan University had its largest number of students ever.
- 1998 – The Michigan Firehouse Museum opened.
Ypsilanti's Location and Landscape
Ypsilanti covers about 4.52 square miles (11.71 square kilometers). Most of this is land, with a small part being water. The Huron River flows through the city.
Ypsilanti is located in the western part of the Detroit metropolitan area. The areas between Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor have grown together since the 1960s. Downtown Ypsilanti has many historic homes, including special "kit homes" from companies like Aladdin and Sears.
Who Lives in Ypsilanti?
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1860 | 3,955 | — | |
| 1870 | 5,471 | 38.3% | |
| 1880 | 4,984 | −8.9% | |
| 1890 | 6,129 | 23.0% | |
| 1900 | 7,378 | 20.4% | |
| 1910 | 6,230 | −15.6% | |
| 1920 | 7,413 | 19.0% | |
| 1930 | 10,143 | 36.8% | |
| 1940 | 12,121 | 19.5% | |
| 1950 | 18,302 | 51.0% | |
| 1960 | 20,957 | 14.5% | |
| 1970 | 29,538 | 40.9% | |
| 1980 | 24,031 | −18.6% | |
| 1990 | 24,818 | 3.3% | |
| 2000 | 22,362 | −9.9% | |
| 2010 | 19,435 | −13.1% | |
| 2020 | 20,648 | 6.2% | |
| Sources: United States Census (1900–2000) U.S. Census Bureau (2009) |
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As of the 2020 census, Ypsilanti had 20,648 residents. The city is home to a diverse population.
In 2010, there were 19,435 people living in Ypsilanti. The city had about 8,026 households. The average age of residents was 25 years old. Many people between 18 and 24 years old live here, likely because of the university.
Fun Things to Do and See in Ypsilanti
Arts and Culture Scene
The Martha Washington Theatre opened in 1915. It was run by Florence W. Signor, who was the only woman theater operator in Michigan at the time. The theater closed in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and was later damaged.
Domino's Pizza started in Ypsilanti in 1960, close to Eastern Michigan University.
Since 1979, Ypsilanti has been known for its summer festivals in "Depot Town". This area is next to Riverside and Frog Island Parks along the Huron River. Festivals include the Ypsilanti Heritage Festival, Michigan ElvisFest, the Orphan Car Festival, and the Michigan Brewers Guild Summer Beer Festival.
The non-profit Riverside Arts Center overlooks Riverside Park. It opened in 1994 and has a theater, an art gallery, and meeting rooms.
Since 2013, Ypsilanti has hosted "First Fridays". This is a monthly event where local businesses show off art and offer free samples. The same group also organizes Ypsi Pride, which celebrates LGBTQ+ culture with family-friendly events in June.
Cool Places to Visit
Ypsilanti has the second largest historic district in Michigan! The Ypsilanti Historic District includes downtown Ypsilanti and the Depot Town area. Depot Town has many unique shops, restaurants, and a farmers' market.
The Tridge is a special three-way wooden footbridge. It connects Riverside Park, Frog Island Park, and Depot Town.
Other interesting places to visit include:
- Ypsilanti District Library
- Ypsilanti Historical Museum (in a Victorian mansion from 1860)
- Automotive Heritage Museum
- Michigan Firehouse Museum
- Ypsilanti Water Tower, built in 1890
- Ypsilanti Food Co-op
- Highland Cemetery, founded in 1864
- Pease Auditorium, built in 1914 (at Eastern Michigan University)
- Starkweather House, built around 1840
- Starkweather Hall, built in 1896 as a student religious center
- Peninsular Paper Dam
- Ladies' Literary Club Building, built around 1843
- Brinkerhoff–Becker House, built between 1863 and 1869
Parks and Outdoor Fun
Ypsilanti has many parks for outdoor activities:
- Border to Border Trail
- Prospect Park
- Riverside Park, which hosts many festivals like the Ypsilanti Heritage Festival
- Frog Island Park
- Rutherford Municipal Pool, which reopened in 2014 after the community helped raise money for it.
Learning and Schools
Schools for Kids (K-12)
Ypsilanti Community Schools serve students in the city and nearby townships. Two school districts merged in 2013 to form this new district. There are also Charter schools like Arbor Preparatory High School.
Ypsilanti was also part of a famous study called the High/Scope Perry Preschool Study. This study looked at how early childhood education helped children from low-income families later in life.
Colleges and Universities
Ypsilanti is a college town! It is home to Eastern Michigan University, which started in 1849. Today, EMU has over 17,500 undergraduate students and more than 4,800 graduate students. Washtenaw Community College also has an extension center in Ypsilanti.
News and Radio
Ypsilanti gets daily newspapers from Detroit. The city used to have its own newspaper, the Ypsilanti Press, but it closed in 1994. Now, The Ann Arbor News publishes an Ypsilanti edition. There is also a weekly newspaper, the Ypsilanti Courier. Eastern Michigan University has its own student newspaper, The Eastern Echo.
Local radio stations include:
- WEMU FM (89.1 FM): A public radio station from Eastern Michigan University that plays jazz and blues and NPR news.
- WQBR (610 AM): EMU's student-run radio station.
- WDEO (990 AM): A Catholic religious radio station.
- WSDS (1480 AM): Plays Spanish-language popular music.
- WAAM (1600 AM): A talk and news station for Washtenaw County.
Getting Around Ypsilanti
Main Roads
I-94 runs along the southern edge of the city.
US 12 (Michigan Avenue) also goes through the city.
Bus. US 12 is a business route through downtown.
M-17 (Washtenaw Avenue) connects Ypsilanti to Ann Arbor.- The Border-to-Border Trail is a path that links Ypsilanti to Ann Arbor and other towns.
Bus Services
The Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority provides bus service in the area. There are ten bus routes that stop at the Ypsilanti Transit Center. A new transit center is planned to open in 2026.
Famous People from Ypsilanti
Many interesting people have connections to Ypsilanti:
- Queen Naija – R&B artist and YouTuber
- Ella Anderson – actress from Henry Danger
- Nickolas Ashford – songwriter and singer
- BabyTron – rapper
- Mike Bass – NFL player for the Washington Redskins
- Walter Briggs Sr. – former owner of the Detroit Tigers
- John Burton – Ypsilanti's first African-American mayor
- Jalen Chatfield – professional ice hockey player
- Byron M. Cutcheon – Civil War general and U.S. Congressman
- Brandon Denson – professional football player
- Amy Devers – furniture designer and TV personality
- Adam Gase – former NFL head coach
- Rodney Holman – NFL player for the Cincinnati Bengals
- Jaylen Johnson – basketball player
- Zeke Jones – Olympic wrestler
- Doug Kalitta – racing driver
- Charles S. Kettles – Medal of Honor recipient
- Carolyn King – one of the first girls to play Little League baseball
- Janae Marie Kroc – record-setting powerlifter
- Elijah McCoy – inventor
- K. J. Osborn – NFL player for the Minnesota Vikings
- Iggy Pop – famous rock star, grew up nearby
- Charles Ramsey – former basketball coach
- Victor Roache – baseball player for the Milwaukee Brewers
- Don Schwall – former MLB player
- Ryan Shay – long-distance runner
- Michael Joseph Sobran Jr. – conservative writer
- Bob Sutton – NFL defensive coordinator
- Marie Tharp – geologist who helped understand plate tectonics
- Preston Tucker – automobile entrepreneur
- Edwin F. Uhl – former mayor and U.S. Secretary of State
Common Nicknames for Ypsilanti
Ypsilanti is often called "Ypsi" by locals and in the surrounding area.
Cities Ypsilanti is Connected To
Ypsilanti has a sister city relationship with:
- Nafplio, Greece
See also
In Spanish: Ypsilanti (Míchigan) para niños
