Washtenaw County, Michigan

Washtenaw County, Michigan
Seal
Location in the state of Michigan
Michigan's location in the U.S.
Founded	1826
Seat	Ann Arbor
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	722.53 sq mi (1,871 km²) 709.94 sq mi (1,839 km²) 12.59 sq mi (33 km²), 1.74%
Population  - (2010)  - Density	344,791 456/sq mi (176/km²)
Website	www.ewashtenaw.org

Washtenaw County (pron.: /ˈwɒʃtɨnɔː/) is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the population was 344,791.

Washtenaw County was officially established as a county in 1826. The county seat is Ann Arbor. The United States Office of Management and Budget defines the county as part of the Detroit–Warren–Flint Combined Statistical Area. The county is home to the University of Michigan, Eastern Michigan University, Washtenaw Community College, Concordia University Ann Arbor, and the Ann Arbor campus of the Thomas M. Cooley Law School.

History

The earliest histories mention trade conducted in the area at the Potawatomi Trail and Pontiac Trail crossings of the Huron River by French traders, and later English then American settlers. The first successful settlement was established at the present site of Ypsilanti about 1809 by French traders.

In 1822, the Legislative Council of the Michigan Territory government defined the name and boundaries of the county; however, it was at first administered as a part of Wayne County. The word: Washtenaw is a variant of the Ojibwe word: "Wash-ten-ong," meaning what is now called the "Grand River". At the time of the official naming of the county in 1822, the headwaters of the Grand River fell within the original boundaries of Washtenaw County, which encompassed a much larger area than the current area of the county. In the Ojibwe language, the word "Wash-ten-ong" literally translates as "far away waters", and was then used by the Ojibwe as the name for the Grand River due to the great length of that river. Accordingly, most literally, the definition of the word "Washtenaw" could be said to mean, "far away waters".

Four years after the first platting out of the county, Washtenaw county was established as a separate self-administered county by an act of the Michigan Territorial Legislature, in 1826. It was attached for administrative purposes to Wayne County until {before 1829} when county government was seated. Ingham and other counties were formed from portions of territorial Washtenaw County.

Swamps were drained and farms were tiled to lower the water table. The swamp northwest of the I-94 and US-23 intersection, and areas within Waterloo Recreation Area still appear as they did to early settlers. As productive farms became established, the local deer herds grew. In the 1820s and 1830s, the events surrounding the independence of Greece from Turkey inspired construction of Greek Revival buildings, and the names of townships, towns, and children.

The "frostbitten constitutional convention" was held at Ann Arbor, the county seat, in 1835. Following resolution of the Toledo War (1835-1836), in which Michigan Territory gave up its claim to the Toledo strip in exchange for most of the Upper Peninsula, Michigan became a state on January 26, 1837. The University of Michigan, founded at Detroit in 1817, was then moved by the state to Ann Arbor in 1839 as a consolation for the city not being named the new state capital, as it had hoped. The University subsequently became and remains the largest employer in the county.

In 1849, the Michigan State Normal School (now Eastern Michigan University) was established in Washtenaw's oldest settlement, the city of Ypsilanti.

Geography

According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 722.53 square miles (1,871.3 km²), of which 709.94 square miles (1,838.7 km²) (or 98.26%) is land and 12.59 square miles (32.6 km²) (or 1.74%) is water.

Transportation

Interstate 94 Business Route Ann Arbor Washtenaw Avenue

• I-94
• BL I-94 is a route traveling through downtown Ann Arbor.
• US 12 (Michigan Avenue, Chicago Road)
• 
  BUS US 12 is a loop traveling through downtown Ypsilanti
• US 23
• 
  BUS US 23 is a loop route traveling through downtown Ann Arbor.
• M-14
• M-17
• M-52
• M-153 (Ford Road)

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1830	4,042		—
1840	23,571		483.2%
1850	28,567		21.2%
1860	35,686		24.9%
1870	41,434		16.1%
1880	41,848		1.0%
1890	42,210		0.9%
1900	47,761		13.2%
1910	44,714		−6.4%
1920	49,520		10.7%
1930	65,530		32.3%
1940	80,810		23.3%
1950	134,606		66.6%
1960	172,440		28.1%
1970	234,103		35.8%
1980	264,748		13.1%
1990	282,937		6.9%
2000	322,895		14.1%
2010	344,791		6.8%
Est. 2012	350,946		1.8%

As of the census estimate of 2011, there were 347,962 people, 147,510 households, and 73,692 families residing in the county. The population density was 493 people per square mile (176/km²). There were 147,510 housing units at an average density of 209 per square mile. The racial makeup of the county was Non-Hispanic White (71.7%), Black or African American (12.9%), Asian (8.30%), Hispanic or Latino of any race (4.2%), Native American (0.4%), Pacific Islander (0.1%), Other races (1.04%), and Two or more races (3.2%). Within the Non-Hispanic White segment, 17.4% were of German, 9.0% English, 8.4% Irish, 5.3% Polish and 5.0% American ancestry according to Census 2000. Regarding the primary language used within the home, 87.1% spoke only English; 2.7% spoke Spanish and 1.7% Chinese or Mandarin.

There were 125,327 households out of which 29.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.40% were married couples living together, 9.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.20% were non-families. 29.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the county the population was spread out with 22.10% under the age of 18, 17.10% from 18 to 24, 32.10% from 25 to 44, 20.60% from 45 to 64, and 8.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 98.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $51,990, and the median income for a family was $70,393 (these figures had risen to $59,887 and $80,779 respectively as of a 2007 estimate). Males had a median income of $49,304 versus $33,598 for females. The per capita income for the county was $27,173. About 5.10% of families and 11.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.60% of those under age 18 and 5.80% of those age 65 or over.

Cities, villages, and townships

Washtenaw County was formed from a portion of Wayne County. It is one of many Michigan counties which has a name not borne by any other county in the United States. As the population increased, townships were formed. Amongst the townships, communities have grown from hamlets into villages and cities. Some of the townships have elected to incorporate as charter townships.

Cities	Villages	Charter Townships	Townships
Ann Arbor Chelsea Milan Saline Ypsilanti	Barton Hills Dexter Manchester	Ann Arbor Charter Township Augusta Charter Township Pittsfield Charter Township Superior Charter Township York Charter Township Ypsilanti Charter Township	Bridgewater Township Dexter Township Freedom Township Lima Township Lodi Township Lyndon Township Manchester Township	Northfield Township Salem Township Saline Township Scio Township Sharon Township Sylvan Township Webster Township

There are also a number of unincorporated communities, such as Bridgewater, Dixboro, Delhi Mills, Geddes, Mooreville, Salem, Stoney Creek, Whittaker, Whitmore Lake, and Willis.

Also see: Official Washtenaw County website page listing localities

Government

Washtenaw County Court House, sculpture by Carlton W. Angell

Washtenaw County Downtown Ann Arbor Campus

Washtenaw County elected officials

• Prosecuting Attorney: Brian L. Mackie (Democrat)
• Sheriff: Jerry Clayton (Democrat)
• County Clerk/Register of Deeds: Lawrence Kestenbaum (Democrat)
• County Treasurer: Catherine McClary (Democrat)
• Water Resources Commissioner: Evan Pratt (Democrat)

The Board of Commissioners has nine members, elected from single member districts, on a partisan ballot, in November of even-numbered years. The term is two years. Information as of January 2013.

District	Commissioner	Party	Positions
1	Kent Martinez-Kratz	Democrat
2	Dan Smith	Republican
3	Alicia Ping	Republican	Board Vice-Chair
4	Felicia Brabec	Democrat	Ways & Means Chair
5	Rolland Sizemore Jr.	Democrat
6	Ronnie Peterson	Democrat
7	Andy LaBarre	Democrat	Working Session Chair
8	Yousef Rabhi	Democrat	Board Chair
9	Conan Smith	Democrat

Government services

Parks and recreation

Washtenaw county operates 10 parks, and 1 recreation center (gymnasium). These parks include one with a water sprinkler area for children to splash through, one park with a substantial water park component, and one golf course. The recreation center has a swimming pool, indoor track, basketball courts, complete set of resistance machines, a weight room, and several multipurpose rooms.

Washtenaw county is in the process of acquiring land for natural preservation. The program started in 2001 and will end in 2011. Eight parcels of land had been purchased as of July 2007. These parcels are of special ecological, recreational, and educational benefits. They are preserved in a natural unimproved state and are open to the public during daylight hours.

Wireless communication

In partnership with private enterprise, the county maintains a wireless network which is currently available to approximately 50% of county residents. This is the Wireless Washtenaw Project. The stated aim of this project is to one day provide wireless access to 100% of all county residents.

Miscellaneous

The county government operates the jail, maintains rural roads, operates the major local courts, keeps files of deeds and mortgages, maintains vital records, administers public health regulations, and participates with the state in the provision of welfare and other social services. The county board of commissioners controls the budget but has only limited authority to make laws or ordinances. In Michigan, most local government functions — police and fire, building and zoning, tax assessment, street maintenance, etc. — are the responsibility of individual cities and townships.

See also

• USS Washtenaw County (LST-1166)
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Washtenaw County, Michigan

External links

• Dexter District Library
• Washtenaw County Government
• Past and present of Washtenaw County, Michigan by Samuel W. Beakes Chicago: The S.J. Clarke publishing co., 1906.
• Washtenaw Community Cafe An online discussion group for the county of Washtenaw.
• Ypsilanti Historical Society