A partial history of Ypsilanti,

Prepared by: Brianna Broderick Ypsilanti, Michigan

Population: 20,939 4.2 Square Miles

Median Age: 24.2

Per capita income: $24,562

Poverty: 32%

Ypsilanti North & Ypsilanti South from www.usgwarchives.com [U.S. Census Bureau, 2018] Ypsilanti at present

62% 27% of residents are white of residents are black

90% 69% of housing units are of housing units are occupied renter occupied

40% 51% of residents have moved of households are in the previous year non-family

92% 42% of residents are high of residents have school graduates bachelor’s degrees

[U.S. Census Bureau, 2018] A partial history of Ypsilanti

The area serves as a camp and burial ground for multiple Anishinaabe tribes

A French trading post is 1790 established along the

A settlement is formed about a 1823 mile south of the trading post. The settlement is named Woodruff’s Grove.

[City of Ypsilanti; Kelly, 2017] “Postcard Showing the Huron River.”

Judge Augustus Woodward, John 1825 Stewart and William Harwood combine their land to form a new settlement Ypsilanti

A railroad between and 1838 Ypsilanti is established

A train station is built on the East Side of the Huron River and a commercial district, Depot Town, develops

The Michigan Normal School is 1849 founded

[City of Ypsilanti; Kelly, 2017; Library Digital Collections] A second business district develops on the West side of the Huron River

Ypsilanti serves as a stop on the Underground Railroad. During this time, the black population triples

Ford Motor Company builds 1941 Willow Run Bomber Plant, which employed 42,000 people

The Michigan Normal School is 1959 renamed Eastern Michigan University

[City of Ypsilanti; Kelly, 2017; University of Michigan Library Digital Collections] Industrialization had a big impact on the changing makeup of Ypsilanti’s residents. During World War II, workers came from the south (especially Kentucky and Tennessee) to work at Willow Run constructing Bombers. built the Willow Run Village to house this surplus of workers.

“B24 Comes Home to Willow Run.”

Following the war, Willow Run was turned over to Kaiser-, an automobile manufacturer.

“Kaiser-Frazer Body Assembly Line at Willow Run.”

[City of Ypsilanti; Kelly, 2017; University of Michigan Library Digital Collections] A special note on race

Histories of race in Ypsilanti were challenging to find. Census data 1840: 58 black broken down by race at the city residents level prior to 2000 is not easily accessible, the official city histories didn’t mention race at all, and there were only a handful of photographs that included people of color in the 1850: ~70 black 800+ images from the Ypsilanti residents Historical Society.

A wonderful community run history of South Adams Street, an historic 1860: ~220 black African American neighborhood, residents can be found here: www.southadamstreet1900.wordp ress.com. Apart from the data to the right, I do not wish to steal words from this community effort 1880: 440 black residents so instead, hope that readers will ~10% of population explore this site for themselves.

1900: 600 black residents ~10% of population

[South Adams Street 1900] Ypsilanti Population: 1860-2018

[U.S. Census Bureau] References

“1865 Ypsilanti Map.” http://quod.lib.umich.edu/y/yhsic1/x-524/yhs00524.tif. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections.

“B24 Comes Home to Willow Run.” http://quod.lib.umich.edu/y/yhsic1/x-106/yhs00106.tif. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections.

City of Ypsilanti. Ypsilanti History. Retrieved from www.cityofypsilanti.com

“Kaiser-Frazer Body Assembly Line at Willow Run.” http://quod.lib.umich.edu/y/yhsic1/x-226/yhs00226.tif. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections.

Kelly, B. (2017). How Ypsi’s past informs its present and shapes its future. Retrieved from www.secondwavemedia.com

“Postcard Showing the Huron River.” http://quod.lib.umich.edu/y/yhsic1/x-93/yhs00093.tif. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections.

The Community: A Brief History. South Adams Street @ 1900: An Historic Ypsilanti African-American Neighborhood. Retrieved from www.southadamstreet1900.wordpress.com

U.S. Census Bureau (2018). American Community Survey 5-year estimates. Retrieved from Census Reporter Profile page for Ypsilanti, MI

Ypsilanti North Map. (1999). Retrieved from www.usgwarchives.net/maps/michigan

Ypsilanti South Map. (1999). Retrieved from www.usgwarchives.net/maps/michigan