Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan is best known as home to The University of Michigan. With the charm of a college town and the energy of a bustling business community, the city is an ideal moving destination for families, college students and job seekers. Ann Arbor has been consistently rated by various publications such as Money Magazine, Inc. Magazine, Seventeen, and Ladies Home Journal as one of the best moving destinations in the U.S.
Economy:
The University of Michigan takes the center stage in Ann Arbor’s economy. It is the city’s largest employer accounting for nearly 10 percent of the work force. The remaining 90 percent is divided between health care, information technology, manufacturing and biomedical research fields. Ann Arbor's numerous software companies supply a significant amount of the computer programming and devices used in the auto industry. High-technology research and development has contributed to the growth in Ann Arbor's population, which also includes an increasing number of interstate and intrastate movers.
History:
Virginian John Allen and New Yorker Elisha Rumsey arrived in the southeastern Michigan Territory in 1824 at a place named Allen's Creek. It is believed that the town was named in honor of their wives, Ann and Mary Ann, respectively. Mills, a tannery, and a general store were soon established in the area. This drew in settlers from Virginia and New York. Immigrants from Ireland and Germany arrived soon after. Ann Arbor became the seat of Washtenaw County in 1827. It was incorporated as a village in 1833 and chartered as a city in 1851. Ann Arbor's strategic location on the Huron River, the Territorial Road, and the Michigan Central Railroad contributed to its development as a trading center.
University of Michigan’s relocation from Detroit to Ann Arbor in 1841 is the most important milestone in the city’s history. The university has time and time again been the venue of historically significant political announcements. Senator John F. Kennedy’s plan for a Peace Corps was introduced on the steps of the university's Student Union during his 1960 presidential campaign, and President Lyndon Baines Johnson announced his Great Society program at commencement exercises there in 1964. The influence of the University of Michigan is so great that it has made Ann Arbor the highest-ranked community in the United States for the educational and medical facilities available to its residents.
Tourism:
Finding something to do is never a problem in Ann Arbor. With a long tradition as a cultural center, the city’s year-round calendar of entertainment is packed with events. Ann Arbor provides a wealth of opportunities for those who love the performing arts. At night, the city comes alive! Rock, rhythm and blues bands perform at all sorts of venues. Ann Arbor also hosts several annual festivals, the most prominent of which is the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair which draws over half a million spectators each year. During this week in mid-summer, thousands of nationally known and local artist display their work. Other festivals showcase film, the performing arts and a variety of musical styles. Devotees of the theater will find a variety of stages in the Ann Arbor area.
The city also has a vibrant downtown area which is a haven for shoppers. There are also over 200 restaurants around the city catering to every mood, appetite and budget. Ann Arbor also boasts hundreds of parks and more than a dozen recreational facilities.
Colleges/Universities:
• The University of Michigan
• Concordia University
• Washtenaw Community College
Interesting Facts:
• Borders Book Store, regarded as one of the two best book stores in the country, was founded in Ann Arbor in 1971 by brothers Tom and Louis Borders.
• In 1929, Ann Arbor had more cars and telephones per capita than any other city in the world.
• Ann Arbor is the world's capital for lithography, a method of printing using a stone or a metal plate with a completely smooth surface.
Helpful Links:
• Ann Arbor Real Estate
• Ann Arbor Storage Facility
• Ann Arbor Insurance
• Ann Arbor Dental Offices
• Ann Arbor Moving Guide
• Ann Arbor Official Website