Sep 30, 2026Michigan Men's Tennis vs. M15 Ann Arbor
University of Michigan · Michigan men's tennis hosts M15 Ann Arbor on Wednesday, September 30, 2026 in Ann Arbor. Ticket info is on mgoblue.com, Michigan’s official athletics site.
Metro Detroit Washtenaw County City
Ann Arbor
Tree Town: bookstores, big ideas and the biggest stadium in America
- People (2025 estimate)
- 122,233
- Land area
- 28.2 sq mi · 73.0 km²
- From downtown
- 35.2 miles · 57 km · west
- Incorporated
- 1851
01 / Why it matters
Why Ann Arbor matters
Ann Arbor sits about 43 miles by car from Downtown Detroit, and it feels like a different world. Everything here orbits the University of Michigan, which started in Detroit in 1817 and moved here in 1837. Think students, researchers, coffee shops, bookstores and a lot of green along the Huron River. There's a reason people call it Tree Town.
Statistically it isn't part of the six-county Detroit–Warren–Dearborn metro area: Washtenaw County is its own Ann Arbor metro, which belongs to the wider nine-county Detroit–Warren–Ann Arbor combined statistical area. Plenty of locals don't think of themselves as Metro Detroiters, but Detroiters still drive out for game days, the art fair and dinner.
The student movements of the 1960s and 1970s gave the city a liberal, slightly quirky reputation that stuck. The first teach-in against the Vietnam War in the country happened here in 1965, and since 1972 the Hash Bash has taken over the Diag on the first Saturday of April.
02 / Known for
What Ann Arbor is known for
Michigan Stadium, nicknamed "The Big House": open since 1927 and officially seating 107,601, it's the largest stadium in the United States.
The University of Michigan, founded in Detroit in 1817 and moved to Ann Arbor in 1837.
The Ann Arbor Art Fair, held every July since 1960 and drawing more than 400,000 visitors a year.
Zingerman's Delicatessen, the legendary deli Paul Saginaw and Ari Weinzweig opened in 1982.
The tiny fairy doors hidden in downtown walls, a scavenger hunt in miniature.
03 / What’s on
What’s on in Ann Arbor
Sep 30, 2026
Sep 30, 2026, 7:00 PMDate Night: Jacob Hart Piano Duo
Blue LLama Jazz Club · The Jacob Hart Piano Duo performs at Blue LLama Jazz Club in Ann Arbor, presenting special piano pieces.
Sep 30, 2026, 8:00 PMThe Ark's Open Stage
The Ark · The Ark's Open Stage offers performers the chance to showcase their talents for eight minutes or two songs. Names are drawn to determine the performance order, creating a supportive environment for musicians to practice live performance or simply enjoy playing for an audience.
Oct 1, 2026Michigan Men's Tennis vs. M15 Ann Arbor
University of Michigan · Michigan men's tennis hosts M15 Ann Arbor on Thursday, October 1, 2026 in Ann Arbor. Ticket info is on mgoblue.com, Michigan’s official athletics site.
Oct 1, 2026, 7:00 PMEllen Rowe Trio ft. Rob Bickley & Pete Siers
Blue LLama Jazz Club · A performance by the Ellen Rowe Trio featuring Rob Bickley and Pete Siers at the Blue LLama Jazz Club in Ann Arbor.
Oct 1, 2026, 7:00 PMMusic: Saya: Beyond Blues
2070 W.Stadium Blvd Ann Arbor · 'Saya: Beyond Blues' is a music event in Ann Arbor highlighting blues and styles that extend beyond the traditional genre. The performance takes place at the venue located at 2070 W. Stadium Blvd.
Oct 1, 2026, 7:30 PMBrain Plasticity Ukulele Collective & Blueshouse
The Ark · Ann Arbor’s Brain Plasticity Ukulele Collective is an intergenerational group playing a variety of instruments and exploring music’s impact on cognition. Blues musician Mike Brooks leads Blueshouse and the Collective, bringing an extensive career from the UK and involvement with youth music programs.
Oct 2, 2026Michigan Men's Tennis vs. M15 Ann Arbor
University of Michigan · Michigan men's tennis hosts M15 Ann Arbor on Friday, October 2, 2026 in Ann Arbor. Ticket info is on mgoblue.com, Michigan’s official athletics site.
Oct 2, 2026, 4:00 PMWEMU 5:01 Jazz Series: Sean Dobbins Trio's Tribute to Stevie Wonder
Blue LLama Jazz Club · As part of the WEMU 5:01 Jazz Series, the Sean Dobbins Trio performs a tribute to Stevie Wonder at the Blue LLama Jazz Club in Ann Arbor.
Oct 2, 2026, 5:00 PMMichigan Field Hockey vs. Iowa (Cardiac Awareness)
University of Michigan · Michigan field hockey hosts Iowa on Friday, October 2, 2026, at 5 p.m. in Ann Arbor. Ticket info is on mgoblue.com, Michigan’s official athletics site.
Oct 2, 2026, 6:00 PMMichigan Softball vs. Toledo
University of Michigan · Michigan softball hosts Toledo on Friday, October 2, 2026, at 6 p.m. in Ann Arbor. Ticket info is on mgoblue.com, Michigan’s official athletics site.
Oct 2, 2026, 7:00 PMVincent Herring & Erena Terakubo - Alto Madness
Blue LLama Jazz Club · A jazz performance featuring saxophonists Vincent Herring and Erena Terakubo at the Blue LLama Jazz Club in Ann Arbor, emphasizing the alto saxophone's dynamic sound.
04 / Places
68 places on our site in Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor Civic Theatre322 W Ann St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Blue Karaoke3500 W Liberty Rd, Ann Arbor, MI 48103
Decode Ann Arbor3170 Packard Rd, Ann Arbor, MI 48108
Joseph A. Labadie Collection913 S University Ave (Hatcher Library South, 6th floor, Room 660), Ann Arbor, MI 48109
Necto PRIDE Friday516 E. Liberty St., Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Queer Film at the Michigan & State Theaters603 E. Liberty St., Ann Arbor, MI
State Theater233 S State St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
The Circ Bar210 S First St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Theatre Nova410 W Huron St, Ann Arbor, MI 48103
Uplift Ann Arbor210 S. 1st Street, Suite 100N, Ann Arbor, MI 48103
Vertex Coffee Roasters – Ann Arbor1335 S. University Ave, Ann Arbor, MI
Closed – archive entryPerformance Network TheatreFourth Ave & Huron St (downtown, 2000-2015), Ann Arbor, MI05 / What to do
If you’re in Ann Arbor
Michigan Stadium
The Big House on a fall Saturday, with 100,000-plus people in maize and blue. Every home game since November 8, 1975, has drawn more than 100,000.
Official site ↗Ann Arbor Farmers Market (Kerrytown)
Kerrytown's market has been running for more than a century and is producer-only, with about 130 Michigan vendors. Wander the neighborhood shops afterward.
Official site ↗Zingerman's Delicatessen
Get in line for a giant sandwich on Detroit Street; locals will tell you it's worth the wait.
Official site ↗Nichols Arboretum
The university's hilly arboretum on the Huron River, home to the largest collection of heirloom peonies in North America.
Official site ↗
06 / History
Ann Arbor through the years
- 1824
John Allen and Elisha Rumsey register the town plat as "Annarbour" on May 25.
- 1837
The university founded in Detroit accepts land from the Ann Arbor Land Company and moves here.
- 1851
Ann Arbor is chartered as a city.
- 1927
Michigan Stadium opens on October 1 with an original capacity of 72,000.
- 1960
At 2 a.m. on October 14, John F. Kennedy gives an impromptu speech on the Michigan Union steps, credited with sparking the Peace Corps.
- 1965
The city hosts the first U.S. teach-in against the Vietnam War.
07 / Born here
35 people in our lexicon were born here
Samuel C. C. Tingparticle physicist · 1936
Eric Betzigphysicist · 1960
Thomas Huckle Wellervirologist, physician · 1915
Michael Portereconomist, management scholar · 1947
Alvin Plantingaphilosopher · 1932
Bill Hewlettengineer, entrepreneur · 1913
Charles Horton Cooleysociologist · 1864
Kenneth Waltzpolitical scientist · 1924
08 / People
Famous names from here
- Gerald R. Ford the future president played football for Michigan, and his presidential library was dedicated on North Campus in 1981
- Arthur Miller the playwright wrote his first play, No Villain, here and won a Hopwood Award for it; the university named a theater after him in 2007
Sources
Population and area are Census Bureau figures (Ann Arbor city).
- 2020 Census, Michigan (PL 94-171)
- Census Bureau population estimates: cities and towns
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ann_Arbor,_Michigan
- wdet.org/2025/03/21/curiosid-how-did-ann-arbor-get-its-name
- www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/metro-micro/geographies/reference-files/2023/delineation-files/list1_2023.xlsx
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metro_Detroit
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hash_Bash
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michigan_Stadium
- apps.lib.umich.edu/online-exhibits/exhibits/show/creating-a-campus/creating-a-campus/founding
- apps.lib.umich.edu/online-exhibits/exhibits/show/creating-a-campus/creating-a-campus/move-to-ann-arbor
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ann_Arbor_Art_Fair
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zingerman%27s
- a2gov.org/parks-and-recreation/parks-and-places/ann-arbor-farmers-market
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nichols_Arboretum
- michiganpublic.org/arts-culture/2010-10-13/celebrating-jfks-peace-corps-speech-with-audio
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerald_R._Ford_Presidential_Library
- fordlibrarymuseum.gov
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Miller
- a2gov.org
Change since 2020, per the Census Bureau estimate: −1.3 percent.
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