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Metro Detroit Washtenaw County City
Ypsi: brick-row Depot Town, an infamous water tower and a whole lot of attitude
01 / Why it matters
Ypsilanti, Ypsi to everybody, is Ann Arbor's eastern neighbor, and it has zero interest in playing little sibling. It's smaller, looser and proudly working-class: home to Eastern Michigan University, Depot Town (which grew up around an 1838 rail depot) and an 1890 water tower whose shape the whole area loves to joke about.
It's in Washtenaw County, so it belongs to the Ann Arbor metro area. It isn't part of the six-county Detroit–Warren–Dearborn metro, only of the wider Detroit–Warren–Ann Arbor combined statistical area.
Ypsi's story runs on engines. Preston Tucker built the Tucker '48 prototypes here, the Willow Run plant on the edge of town cranked out B-24 bombers during World War II, and the very first Domino's opened here in 1960, back when it was called DomiNick's.
02 / Known for
Eastern Michigan University, founded in 1849 as Michigan State Normal School, the fourth teachers' college in the country and the first outside New England.
The Ypsilanti Water Tower, built in 1890, the city's go-to landmark and a National Register of Historic Places listing.
Depot Town, where most of the Cross Street brick buildings went up between 1850 and 1880.
The first Domino's, opened here on December 9, 1960, as DomiNick's.
The Tucker '48, whose prototypes Preston Tucker designed and built here, where his family owned the Ypsilanti Machine Tool Company.
03 / What’s on
Oct 3, 2026FreeWiard's Orchards · Local artisans set up at the Wiard's Orchards storefront in Ypsilanti on Saturday and Sunday, October 3 and 4, for a free craft and vendor show of handmade goods. Check Wiard's site for hours.
Oct 3, 2026, 6:00 PMGervin GameAbove Center · Eastern Michigan volleyball hosts Central Michigan on Saturday, October 3, 2026, at 6 p.m. at Gervin GameAbove Center in Ypsilanti. Ticket info is on emueagles.com, Eastern Michigan’s official athletics site.
Oct 4, 2026FreeWiard's Orchards · Local artisans set up at the Wiard's Orchards storefront in Ypsilanti on Saturday and Sunday, October 3 and 4, for a free craft and vendor show of handmade goods. Check Wiard's site for hours.
Oct 4, 2026, 1:00 PMScicluna Field · Eastern Michigan soccer hosts Kent State on Sunday, October 4, 2026, at 1 p.m. at Scicluna Field in Ypsilanti. Ticket info is on emueagles.com, Eastern Michigan’s official athletics site.
Oct 7, 2026, 6:15 PMTap Room · Boylesque hosts a trivia and drag night at Tap Room in Ypsilanti on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, at 6:15 p.m., raising money for a local high school theater program. Admission is free.
Oct 10, 2026Boathouse at Ford Lake · Eastern Michigan women's rowing hosts Small Boats Race (Michigan State, Wisconsin) on Saturday, October 10, 2026 at Boathouse at Ford Lake in Ypsilanti. Ticket info is on emueagles.com, Eastern Michigan’s official athletics site.
Oct 10, 2026Rowing Course at Ford Lake · Eastern Michigan lightweight rowing hosts Small Boats Race (Michigan State, Wisconsin) on Saturday, October 10, 2026 at Rowing Course at Ford Lake in Ypsilanti. Ticket info is on emueagles.com, Eastern Michigan’s official athletics site.
Oct 10, 2026Wiard's Orchards · On Saturday and Sunday, October 10 and 11, local organizations set up at the Wiard's Orchards storefront in Ypsilanti to share their resources. Check Wiard's site for hours and details.
Oct 10, 2026, 2:00 PMJones Natatorium · Eastern Michigan swimming & diving hosts Green vs. White on Saturday, October 10, 2026, at 2 p.m. at Jones Natatorium in Ypsilanti. Ticket info is on emueagles.com, Eastern Michigan’s official athletics site.
Oct 11, 2026Wiard's Orchards · On Saturday and Sunday, October 10 and 11, local organizations set up at the Wiard's Orchards storefront in Ypsilanti to share their resources. Check Wiard's site for hours and details.
Oct 11, 2026, 1:00 PMScicluna Field · Eastern Michigan soccer hosts Miami on Sunday, October 11, 2026, at 1 p.m. at Scicluna Field in Ypsilanti. Ticket info is on emueagles.com, Eastern Michigan’s official athletics site.
Oct 15, 2026, 4:30 PMScicluna Field · Eastern Michigan soccer hosts Western Michigan on Thursday, October 15, 2026, at 4:30 p.m. at Scicluna Field in Ypsilanti. Ticket info is on emueagles.com, Eastern Michigan’s official athletics site.
04 / Places
Boylesque Michigan201 W Michigan Ave, Ypsilanti, MI
Decode Ypsilanti16 N Washington St, Ypsilanti, MI 48197
Out Loud Chorus209 Washtenaw Ave (First United Methodist Church, rehearsals), Ypsilanti, MI
Ozone House – PrideZone102 N. Hamilton (Drop-in Center), Ypsilanti, MI 48197
Vertex Coffee Roasters – Ypsilanti307 N River St, Ypsilanti, MI05 / What to do
Walk the 19th-century brick row on Cross Street: bars, cafes, the old freight house, and summer festivals next door in Riverside Park, Michigan ElvisFest included. The city even publishes a walking-tour guide.
Official site ↗A museum in the world's last Hudson dealership, with an original Fabulous Hudson Hornet race car, the one that inspired Doc Hudson in Cars. Open Thursday through Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m.
Official site ↗An original 1898 firehouse plus a multilevel exhibit hall, more than 26,000 square feet of firefighting history.
Official site ↗The local history museum and archives, in a Victorian mansion built in 1860. Admission is free.
Official site ↗06 / History
A permanent settlement, Woodruff's Grove, takes root on the east bank of the Huron River.
A separate settlement named Ypsilanti is founded on the west bank; the two later merge.
The rail depot opens and Depot Town grows up around it.
Michigan State Normal School, today's Eastern Michigan University, is founded.
The water tower, designed by William R. Coats, is completed on February 3.
DomiNick's, the pizzeria that became Domino's, opens on December 9.
07 / Born here
Dax Shepardactor, comedian, filmmaker, podcaster · 1975
Marie Tharpgeologist, oceanographic cartographer · 1920
Ella Andersonactress, singer-songwriter · 2005
Barbara Morrisonjazz and blues singer, educator · 1949
BabyTronrapper, songwriter · 200008 / People
Population and area are Census Bureau figures (Ypsilanti city).
Change since 2020, per the Census Bureau estimate: −4.2 percent.
