SHAKEY JAKE VERY SCARCE
SHAKIN JAKE WOODS ON THE MOVE
CASSETTE SIGNED TWICE BY SHAKEY JAKE. DIRTY PLASTIC CASSETTE CASE BUT CASSETTE OVERALL VG.
PRODUCED BY SILENT, BUT DEADLY IN ANN ARBOR, MICH.
Shakey Jake, born Jake Woods in Little Rock, Arkansas, was a street musician and storyteller well known to students and residents of Ann Arbor, Michigan, from the time of his arrival there in 1973 until his death.
Shakey (or Shakin) Jake Woods, a great storyteller and guitarist, a true legend of Ann Arbor, Michigan, passed away last Sunday, September 16, 2007, at the age of 82. Or maybe he was 106, you never really knew for sure with Jake. He didnt know how to tune a guitar, and sometimes his guitar had only one, two, or even no strings at all. But somehow this all didnt matter, he certainly had the spirit of the blues. Born in Little Rock, Arkansas, Jake moved to Saginaw, Michigan, and finally to Ann Arbor after playing a hugely successful 5-minute gig at the Ann Arbor Blues Festival in 1973. If you have ever spent more than a few hours in Ann Arbor in the last 34 years, you have probably met Jake or heard people talk about him. Shakey Jake will be missed, but his legend lives on. Here are a few links for you to check out:
An older blog post I wrote with three MP3s from his one and only CD On The Move. Several people who knew Jake left comments.
The Ann Arbor News looks back on Jakes life, and tons of people who knew Jake left comments.
Some University of Michigan students made this absolutely amazing video (YouTube video) about Jake. Here he says he was born on Halloween in the year 1900.
More videos: Ann Arbor residents remember Jake (YouTube), Coverage of todays memorial parade (Ann Arbor News story with video)
Saginaw residents still remember Jake fondly, and there is a Shakey Jake Blues Festival happening next week, September 29.
Fun facts (all according to Jake himself): He was born a midget, but when the doctor left the room, he grew six inches; he traveled around the world dozens of times, but never in an airplane; and he wrote "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot".
We will let Jake have the last word: "Theres 88 notes on the guitar. I knows em all."
One of Ann Arbors most famous residents died over the weekend. His name was Jake Woods. But if you ever spent any amount of time in Ann Arbor...youd probably know him as Shakey Jake.
For over thirty years, he was on the move with his guitar, cassettes and "I Break For Jake" bumper stickers.
Michigan Radios Jennifer Guerra interviewed Shakey Jake a couple years ago and has this remembrance:
It had been more than five years since Id last seen Jake. I used to see him all the time when I was an undergrad at the University of Michigan. Hed be on the corner of State and whatever – the intersection always changed, but not Jake! He always looked the same: top hat, fur coat and pink sunglasses. And hed always playing his guitar.
Ok, well "playing" is probably a strong term. It was more like hed hit the guitar string and occasionally shout out some words. My friend liked to call it "cha ching cha ching, hey hey".
When I moved back to Ann Arbor, a couple years ago – I ran into Jake. This time, he did look different. He was more hunched over and slower than I remembered. Apparently he had had a stroke while I was away. So his speech was really slurred.
But he still managed to carry around his guitar and a tip bucket. And the myth surrounding him? Well it was even bigger than I remembered. Heres what some locals think about Jake:
"Theres a lot of rumors going around that he had a mansion in Florida, and he was living down there living with the Bee Gees..."
"Supposedly hes really old, and he doesnt age because of some voodoo magic he performed..."
"Were not sure how old he is. Weve heard everything from 92 to 105..."
Half the cars around town still sport "I Break for Jake" bumper stickers. Ive seen kids wear "I Break for Jake" t-shirts. And at one time there was even a bagel store in town with a sign that said had a sign out front that said "We Bake for Shakin Jake!"
"Im Shakin Jake," says Jake. "Thats my name."
When I finally got the chance to interview him, he didnt have much to say except:
"Ill be all right now. Ill be all right now. Ill be all right now."
Thats it, thats all he would say. I think he liked that people didnt know a whole lot about him, that he had this myth surrounding him. Eventually, though, he opened up...
"I been here forty years," he says.
"Whered you come from?" I ask.
"Little Rock, from the Cotton Mill," says Jake. "I picked cotton, chopped cotton, bailed hay. Ive done it all."
"Why did you come here?" I ask.
"Something to do!" Jake replies.
We talked for a couple more hours...mostly about how he had been institutionalized. About his thirteen guitars and his recording studio days. And about his family:
"My brother died," continues Jake. "My mother died in 1974. But Im doing alright. Im by myself now, so Im not worrying about it."
I should say that Jake wasnt totally alone. A bunch of local business owners looked out for him and he had friends all around town. He had a caretaker, social security, and a HUD apartment.
He had endeared himself to the town. And whether or not he knew it, he made a difference.
Shakey Jakes caretaker and friend, Carol Lopez:
"A middle aged women said to me one day: I have soft spot in my heart for that old man. And I said why was that? I was standing on the street corner, not feeling all that great, and Jake was on the other side of the street waiting for the light to change and all of a sudden he went, toot, toot! And I looked up and he said, you make me a mighty fine wife. And she said, it just made my day."
Shakey Jake Woods died on Sunday. At last count he said he was 103 years old. Records indicate he was probably closer to 82.
A memorial service is planned for 1PM on Sunday, September 23rd at Muehlig Funeral Chapel in Ann Arbor.
Shakey Jake Woods was a star in Ann Arbor, almost from the time he arrived here 34 years ago.
Wearing his trademark three-piece suit, hat and dark sunglasses, the man known simply as "Shakey Jake" could be seen playing his guitar on the street downtown for as long as many can remember. And when he stopped inside local stores or restaurants for breakfast or lunch, it was if a movie-star had walked in.
"Customers would treat him as a celebrity," said Kathi Macker, a manager of Expresso Royale on Main Street.
Remembering Shakey Jake
Do you have a favorite memory of Shakey Jake?
When did you meet him? What made him larger-than-life?
Please post your thoughts below.
Woods, perhaps the citys most recognizable resident, died Sunday evening, said Felicia Epps, a property manager for the Ann Arbor Housing Commission. He was 82 years old, according to a friend and the date of birth he gave police in 2001 after he reported being punched in the stomach.
Though he played his guitar with vigor, it was often out of tune. Sometimes it had only one or two strings.
But he had a larger-than-life persona.
Among his claims: That he had been around the world dozens of times but never in an airplane. That he had a dozen bodyguards who watched out for him constantly but couldnt be seen by other people. That he slept only two hours a night. And that he was born on Halloween and was 104 years old.
Whats true is that he sold tapes, T-shirts and bumper stickers ("I brake for Jake") that made their way around the country. Occasionally, he put a bucket out on the street when he played his guitar. But he lived on Social Security and relied on the kindness of many downtown merchants. It was enough to cover the cost of renting rooms all over the city, and later to live in public housing.
"He was so harmless," said Chera Tramontin, whose mother, Karen Piehutkoski, opened Kilwins Chocolate Shoppe in 1983 on Liberty Street. Woods was one of the first to visit the new shop.
"It wasnt that he wanted the handout," said Tramontin. "He wanted to go out and work, and he thought he was working. He was out playing his music."Woods was raised with 13 younger siblings on a farm in Little Rock, Ark. The family eventually moved to Saginaw, but Woods never went to school.
Music brought Shakey Jake to Ann Arbor from Saginaw in the early 1970s.
Ann Arbor News file photo
Shakey Jake Woods died Sunday at the age of 82.
Fred Reif, an accounts payable clerk at the University of Michigan who booked blues artists for shows over the years, lived in Saginaw. Woods was a street person there, but played some music.
Reif invited Woods to play at the Ann Arbor Blues Festival in 1973. He only played for five minutes, but he made an impression. After the show, Reif said, women and girls headed backstage to fawn over Woods, thinking he was a blues star.
"I aint never going back to Saginaw," Reif recalled Woods saying.
And he never did. Instead, he became a street legend in Ann Arbor, Reif said.
Many mornings, Woods arrived at Afternoon Delight before the Liberty Street restaurant opened for the day. He ate breakfast for free - oatmeal and wheat toast.
"He used to eat clam chowder, but we talked him into oatmeal because it was better for you," said longtime employee Kim Bewersdorf.
If a customer was seated at his favorite table by the front door, Woods asked that person to leave. And they always did.
At Kilwins, an autographed poster of a much younger Woods hangs on the wall. He often stopped there to collect a bucket for busking, and when he returned it later each day, he was treated to a cup of ice cream. Employees then called a cab for him to get home; a notecard providing instructions to new employees is taped up near the phone.
"The whole town cared for him," said Carol Lopez, owner of The Peaceable Kingdom on Main Street, who managed Woods finances and paid his bills, among other tasks.
A memorial service is being planned, Lopez said. "He had a lot of friends," she said.
Audrey Jackson first saw Shakey Jake Woods in the mid-1970s, when she was a freshman at the University of Michigan.
She had come from Detroit, and was intrigued by the grizzled man in the funky, dressy outfit playing guitar at Liberty Plaza.
She was scared at first, then curious. But as she grew older, Jackson came to see Shakey Jake as something much larger.
He became a symbol of whats best about Ann Arbor, its quirky and kind side, something we fight to retain as we grow in size and stature as a world-class university town.
He was a treasured vestige of the citys colorful and passionate past that included concerts in West Park, anti-war protests on The Diag and unique haunts such as Mr. Floods Party or the Del Rio Bar.
He wasnt an educated man, he wasnt rich and he couldnt play music a lick. But, man, did we get a kick out of him.
"This is what diversity is all about ... " Jackson said after hearing Shakey Jake had died Sunday at age 82. "Its taking an average person like him and embracing him .... He was a character, but he was a great character."
Ann Arbor adored Jake, and he loved Ann Arbor. Somehow, through a combination of funk and friendliness, he became everyones pal.
What do you think of when you describe Ann Arbor?
Michigan Stadium. Burton Tower, the Farmers Market. And Jake.
I cant think of anybody who will be so missed by such a wide variety of people. He came here more than 30 years ago and the city took him in.
Fred Reif, an accounts payable clerk at U-M, knew Jake both back when he lived in Saginaw in the 1960s and after he came here. Reif says that some people in Saginaw feared Jake and that he was often hassled by police.
It was just the opposite in Ann Arbor, where Jake became the embodiment of an Ann Arbor that saw itself as hip, streetwise, and, above all, tolerant.
We noticed his outfits - the hats, the shades, the long winter coats, the white shoes and the ever-present guitar case.
We would say "Hi" to Jake as we passed him, feeling, just for that moment, as if we were an insider granted access to his world.
He belonged to all of us - always there to see and enjoy - at the art fairs, hustling around downtown, or just hanging out on the sidewalk.
He had something to say to everybody, and if it often had little to do with the truth or made little sense, no matter. That was part of the fun. He was the towns enigma.
Jim Balmer, president of Dawn Farm, put that penchant for tall tales to use in the 1970s. Hed occasionally get a young, recovering addict who was defiant and full of himself and would take the kid down to the bars on Ann Street, back when that was a tough part of town. Jake would scare the young punk straight with tales of the fate awaiting him. It was all fluff, Balmer said, but Jake had that street credibility.
He wasnt homeless, as some thought, but instead benefited from the generosity of many.
Particularly in the later years, downtown people helped keep Jake afloat. Among those was Carol Lopez, owner of The Peaceable Kingdom on Main Street. She watched out for him, taking care of his affairs. "He had a very good support team," Lopez says.
Now hes gone. An era ends.
But the spirit that helped Shakey Jake prosper on Ann Arbors downtown streets remains. May that never die.
Shakey Jake (sometimes “Shakin' Jake”) (August 24, 1925 – September 16, 2007),[1] born Jake Woods in Little Rock, Arkansas, was a street musician and storyteller well known to students and residents of Ann Arbor, Michigan, from the time of his arrival there in 1973 until his death. Woods, who had moved as a child with his family from Little Rock to Saginaw, Michigan, travelled from Saginaw to Ann Arbor for a brief appearance at the Ann Arbor Blues Festival in 1973, and decided to stay.[2]
Jake could be seen regularly on the streets of Ann Arbor in his unconventional clothing, strumming his guitar and singing (generally tuneless) songs to passers-by.[3][4] He also sold cassettes and CDs of his music, and T-shirts and bumper stickers bearing the slogan, “I brake for Jake”.[5]
In conversation, Jake enjoyed recounting a variety of implausible stories about his life and upbringing – claiming, for example, that he had been born on Halloween in 1900 and was 104 years old, that he had been a smoker since the age of one, or that he had dozens of invisible bodyguards.[2][3][4][5][6][7]
Despite his disheveled appearance and quirky conversational style, Jake was unthreatening, and was well-liked by those who knew – or even merely knew of – him. Indeed, he was a welcome patron at many Ann Arbor retail establishments.[5][6][7][8] By many accounts, Jake was one of the most popular parts of the citys annual Fourth of July parade.[9] Although many believed him to be homeless, he lived in rented rooms or in public housing.[5][7][8]
Shakey Jake was the inspiration for Calhoun Tubbs, a sketch character created and portrayed by David Alan Grier in the television comedy series In Living Color.[10]
Jake died in 2007 of kidney failure, at the age of 82. A memorial service drew 400 mourners. Afterwards a smaller group paraded for an hour through the streets of Ann Arbor past some of Jakes favorite spots, singing songs and playing instruments.[11]
Dressed in a pink straw hat, white loafers and a chiffon scarf safety-pinned over his striped suit, Ann Arbors favorite personality is hurrying down Main Street, guitar case in hand.
"Im on the move!" growls Shakey Jake Woods in that gravelly voice so many Ann Arborites have come to know.
Although archives show it was probably in 1972 that Woods moved from Saginaw to Ann Arbor, Woods says hes been here 51 years now. But then he also says hes turning 99 on Halloween, and although hes slowing down just a bit, nobody believes hes 98.As his many friends and acquaintances will attest, spending time with Shakey Jake is quite the kick. Its also a challenge, as one is never quite sure when Woods is fibbing. Or kidding. Or totally sincere.
Among his assertions:
1) He is going to live forever.
2) Hes been smoking since the age of 1. (But his mother didnt allow it in the house.)
3) He hitchhiked to New Orleans from Little Rock when he was 2. By himself. Whereupon he became a hit playing his guitar on street corners.
4) He has 15 bodyguards who watch out for him constantly, although they will not let themselves be seen by anyone else.
5) He sleeps no more than two hours a night.
6) Hes been around the world nine times, but never been on an airplane. He takes a boat, according to his mothers wishes.
One friend believes Woods may be trying to create an image of himself as a man even more colorful than he already is. That could be hard to do, considering he is so much the town celebrity that he cant walk a block without five or six people shouting his name.
Does he like the attention?
"Oh, yeah!" he says. "I love the life I live. I get all kinds of attention. People look out for me."
Woods day begins early, when he goes downtown via cab. (He has a Senior Gold Card, so the fare is cheap.) His routine typically involves breakfast at The Broken Egg or The Bagel Factory, then walking over to Peaceable Kingdom (where owner Carol Lopez takes his messages) and Amers on Main Street and Blimpie Subs & Salads on East Liberty, where he may use his custom-made Shakey Jake Combo Card for a free bowl of chili. A strawberry ice cream cone at Kilwins is also a favorite ritual. And he makes sure his hair is clipped with regular stops at the State Street Barbershop.
His favorite place to eat in Ann Arbor is Boston Market, where on a recent afternoon he chose a helping of just about everything, then took it all home in a doggy bag to savor through the week.
Often a customer or merchant will pay for his meal, and Woods is grateful. But you wont find him at a free meal for the needy, or a shelter. He supports himself on Social Security and the money he makes selling T-shirts and tapes of himself strumming his guitar. And every now and then he sets out a bucket and plays guitar on the street. Typically, the instrument is not quite tuned.
Merchants say they like him hanging around, that his image is good for business, that customers enjoy talking with him.
"He knows everybody," says John Hartman, manager of Amers, one of Woods daily haunts. "Hes one of the nicest guys I know. Its good to have him here."
John Zemba, owner of Blimpie Subs & Salads, says Woods has a lot to say if you really listen to him.
"Hes seasoned. I have a lot of respect for him," says Zemba, who believes Woods knows the city as well as anyone.
Bill Sablack, 20, grew up in Ann Arbor and remembers seeing Woods at The Fleetwood when he would eat breakfast there with his father.
"He hasnt changed a bit in 20 years as far as Ive noticed," he says.
Woods was raised with 13 younger siblings on a farm in Little Rock, Ark. The family eventually moved to Saginaw, but Woods never went to school. Although he cant read, not even a cab driver could know his way around town better.
"I made it this far without an education and Im going to go farther," he says. "Carol (Lopez) does all my reading. Ive got secretaries and everything. Im all set."
Woods says hes had a lot of girlfriends, but never came close to marriage. "I dont believe in marriage and I dont believe in having no kids," he says, adjusting his plastic-rimmed sunglasses. "My brother has 14 kids. One weighs 500 pounds and is 8 feet tall. God."
Woods rented rooms all over town before he moved into the small low income senior housing that is now home. About three dozen pairs of shoes - most of them white loafers - line the living room of his Broadway Terrace apartment. Its a scruffy place, but it suits him just fine, even if he doesnt spend many daylight hours there.
A small Christmas tree is a perennial part of the decor and at night he plugs in the strand of Christmas lights which he has strung around the room, never mind that he must lift up the wire every time he passes from the living room to the back rooms.
"I love Christmas," he says. "You cant beat Christmas."
A foot massager le plus cher sits beneath his favorite chair. There are five old TVs in the living room and another five old TVs in the bedroom. Most of them work.
The bedroom closet is stuffed with dozens of suits kept neatly in their dry cleaning bags. More suits and shoes fill the pantry.
There is no such thing as a casual Friday in the world of Shakey Jake Woods.
"My mother raised us to wear suits!" he says. "She said, Be neat and keep yourself clean, and thats what I do. She used to make my sisters put on dresses and high heels just to cross the street."
Hell never leave Ann Arbor, he says.
"For what?" he asks, as if the question is ridiculous. "Ive built a thing here. Im happy. Im going to stay and Im going to live forever. Ann Arbor is nothing but a playhouse for me."
But everyone occasionally wants out of the playhouse, and Woods can sometimes be spotted along the highway with his thumb out. He never has to wait long for a ride to Saginaw or Flint or wherever he wants to go.
"You ought to see the fun I have when I go on the road," he says.
Bad weather doesnt keep him indoors. He buttons up one of several fur coats, steps into his moon boots and hits the road.
He says he was robbed recently by some thugs who knocked him down and took his money. But he didnt call the police.
"I dont believe in calling the police," he says. "I got another way of dealing with them."
Which mostly amounts to keeping away from them. Woods says he will no longer be walking down Maynard.
"I dont have no bad days," he says. "I really dont believe in bad days. Theyre all good days to me."
Theres little doubt that the people of Ann Arbor love Jake. A collection was taken up for him in 1996 when the city raised vendor license fees and required street vendors to carry $500,000 in liability insurance. Jake was selling T-shirts on the street and didnt have the money, so Lopez and Middle Earth owner Cynthia Shevel raised the money for a license and six months of insurance.
Lopez says people were happy to help, including Mayor Ingrid Sheldon.
Perhaps part of Woods appeal in academic Ann Arbor is his ability to tell it like he sees it; to easily engage in a spirited conversation with a stranger on the street regardless of potential barriers. Although he seldom truly smiles - much less laughs - Woods never fails to make the other guy feel good.
When Woods says hes going to live forever, you want to believe him.
"Im on the move," he says, pushing on. "The older I get, the younger I get. I aint never gonna die."
It was a fitting farewell.
And Jake Woods - the venerable street icon known more familiarly as Shakey Jake to generations of downtown Ann Arbor visitors - would have loved it.
About 400 people filled the Muehlig Funeral Chapel on Sunday just around the corner from where the 82-year-old Woods died Sept. 16 in his Baker Commons apartment, at the corner of Packard and his beloved Main Street.
Multimedia
Photos: Memorial service
Video: Parade for Jake
Afterwards, about 50 people sang and played instruments as they walked pass Woods favorite spots downtown.
"He was a man of the streets, and so we take it to the streets," said "Steady" Eddie Spagetti of Ann Arbor, who led the hour-long parade through the streets playing his accordion. "I wish it could have been bigger. I think Shakey Jake deserves a parade miles long."
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Ann Arbor, Michigan
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"Ann Arbor" redirects here. For other uses, see Ann Arbor (disambiguation).
Ann Arbor, Michigan
City
City of Ann Arbor
City downtown at sunset
Ann Arbor at sunset looking towards downtown State Street and the University of Michigan central campus
Flag of Ann Arbor, Michigan
Flag
Official seal of Ann Arbor, Michigan
Seal
Nicknames: A2, A2, Tree Town
Location within Washtenaw County
Location within Washtenaw County
Ann Arbor is located in MichiganAnn ArborAnn Arbor
Location within the state of Michigan
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Coordinates: 42°16′53″N 83°44′54″WCoordinates: 42°16′53″N 83°44′54″W
CountryUnited States
StateMichigan
CountyWashtenaw
Founded1825
Incorporated1833 (village)
1851 (city)
Government
• TypeCouncil–manager
• MayorChristopher Taylor (D)
• AdministratorTom Crawford
• ClerkJacqueline Beaudry
• City council
Members
Area[1]
• City28.79 sq mi (74.56 km2)
• Land27.92 sq mi (72.31 km2)
• Water0.87 sq mi (2.25 km2)
Elevation840 ft (256 m)
Population (2010)[2]
• City113,934
• Estimate (2019)[3]119,980
• Density4,297.59/sq mi (1,659.29/km2)
• Urban306,022 (US: 125th)
• Metro344,791 (US: 145th)
Demonym(s)Ann Arborite
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP code(s)
48103–48109, 48113
Area code734
FIPS code26-03000[4]
GNIS feature ID0620133[4]
WebsiteOfficial website
Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County.[5] The 2010 census recorded its population to be 113,934. It is the principal city of the Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Washtenaw County. Ann Arbor is also included in the larger Greater Detroit Combined Statistical Area.
Ann Arbor is home to the University of Michigan. The university significantly shapes Ann Arbors economy as it employs about 30,000 workers, including about 12,000 in the medical center. The citys economy is also centered on high technology, with several companies drawn to the area by the universitys research and development infrastructure.[6]
Ann Arbor was founded in 1825, named for wives of the villages founders, both named Ann, and the stands of bur oak trees.[7] The University of Michigan moved from Detroit to Ann Arbor in 1837, and the city grew at a rapid rate in the early to mid-20th century. During the 1960s and 1970s, the city gained a reputation as a center for left-wing politics. Ann Arbor became a focal point for political activism, such as opposition to the Vietnam War and support for the legalization of cannabis.
Contents
1History
2Geography and cityscape
2.1Climate
3Demographics
4Economy
5Culture
6Law and government
6.1Politics
6.2Crime
7Education
7.1Primary and secondary education
7.2Higher education
8Media
9Health, environment, and utilities
10Transportation
10.1Surface roads and paths
10.2Bus service
10.3Airports
10.4Railroads
11Sister cities
12See also
13Notes
14References
15Further reading
16External links
History
Main article: History of Ann Arbor, Michigan
See also: History of the University of Michigan
In about 1774, the Potawatomi founded two villages in the area of what is now Ann Arbor.[8]
Ann Arbor was founded in 1825 by land speculators John Allen and Elisha Walker Rumsey. On May 25, 1825, the town plat was registered with Wayne County as "Annarbour", the earliest known use of the towns name.[9] Allen and Rumsey decided to name it for their wives, both named Ann, and for the stands of bur oak in the 640 acres (260 ha) of land they purchased for $800 from the federal government at $1.25 per acre.[7] The local Ojibwa named the settlement kaw-goosh-kaw-nick, after the sound of Allens sawmill.[10]
Aerial view of a city downtown, showing the Michigan Theater and a Borders in the foreground, and several buildings amongst trees in the background
A view of Ann Arbor looking east toward Liberty and State streets, showing the Burton Memorial Tower and Michigan Theater
Ann Arbor became the seat of Washtenaw County in 1827,[11] and was incorporated as a village in 1833.[12] The Ann Arbor Land Company, a group of speculators, set aside 40 acres (16 ha) of undeveloped land and offered it to the state of Michigan as the site of the state capitol, but lost the bid to Lansing. In 1837, the property was accepted instead as the site of the University of Michigan, which moved from Detroit.[13]
Since the universitys establishment in the city in 1837, the histories of the University of Michigan and Ann Arbor have been closely linked.[14] The town became a regional transportation hub in 1839 with the arrival of the Michigan Central Railroad, and a north–south railway connecting Ann Arbor to Toledo and other markets to the south was established in 1878.[15] Throughout the 1840s and the 1850s settlers continued to come to Ann Arbor. While the earlier settlers were primarily of British ancestry, the newer settlers also consisted of Germans, Irish,[16] and African-Americans.[17] In 1851, Ann Arbor was chartered as a city,[18] though the city showed a drop in population during the Depression of 1873.[15] It was not until the early 1880s that Ann Arbor again saw robust growth,[19] with new emigrants from Greece, Italy, Russia, and Poland. Ann Arbor saw increased growth in manufacturing, particularly in milling.[20] Ann Arbors Jewish community also grew after the turn of the 20th century, and its first and oldest synagogue, Beth Israel Congregation, was established in 1916.[21]
Tree-lined city street, with an apartment tower with columns of windows at the far-end of the street
South University Avenue, a central location for Ann Arbor nightlife due to its concentration of bars and pubs
During the 1960s and 1970s, the city gained a reputation as an important center for liberal politics. Ann Arbor also became a locus for left-wing activism and anti-Vietnam War movement, as well as the student movement. The first major meetings of the national left-wing campus group Students for a Democratic Society took place in Ann Arbor in 1960; in 1965, the city was home to the first U.S. teach-in against the Vietnam War.[22] During the ensuing 15 years, many countercultural and New Left enterprises sprang up and developed large constituencies within the city.[23] These influences washed into municipal politics during the early and mid-1970s when three members of the Human Rights Party (HRP) won city council seats on the strength of the student vote. During their time on the council, HRP representatives fought for measures including pioneering antidiscrimination ordinances, measures decriminalizing marijuana possession, and a rent-control ordinance;[24] many of these progressive organizations remain in effect today in modified form.
Two religious-conservative institutions were created in Ann Arbor; the Word of God (established in 1967), a charismatic inter-denominational movement;[21] and the Thomas More Law Center (established in 1999).[25]
Following a 1956 vote, the city of East Ann Arbor merged with Ann Arbor to encompass the eastern sections of the city.[26]
In the past several decades, Ann Arbor has grappled with the effects of sharply rising land values, gentrification, and urban sprawl stretching into outlying countryside. On November 4, 2003, voters approved a greenbelt plan under which the city government bought development rights on agricultural parcels of land adjacent to Ann Arbor to preserve them from sprawling development.[27] Since then, a vociferous local debate has hinged on how and whether to accommodate and guide development within city limits.[28] Ann Arbor consistently ranks in the "top places to live" lists published by various mainstream media outlets every year. In 2008, it was ranked by CNNMoney.com 27th out of 100 "Americas best small cities".[29] And in 2010, Forbes listed Ann Arbor as one of the most liveable cities in the United States.[30]
Geography and cityscape
The Huron River runs through Ann Arbor
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 28.70 square miles (74.33 km2), of which, 27.83 square miles (72.08 km2) of it is land and 0.87 square miles (2.25 km2) is water,[31] much of which is part of the Huron River. Ann Arbor is 11.2 miles (18.0 km) road miles west of Ypsilanti. Ann Arbor is also 42.1 miles (67.8 km) road miles west of Detroit. Ann Arbor Charter Township adjoins the citys north and east sides. Ann Arbor is situated on the Huron River in a productive agricultural and fruit-growing region.[32] The landscape of Ann Arbor consists of hills and valleys, with the terrain becoming steeper near the Huron River. The elevation ranges from about 750 feet (230 m) along the Huron River to 1,015 feet (309 m) on the citys west side, near the intersection of Maple Road and Pauline Blvd.[33] Generally, the west-central and northwestern parts of the city and U-Ms North Campus are the highest parts of the city; the lowest parts are along the Huron River and in the southeast. Ann Arbor Municipal Airport, which is south of the city at 42°13.38′N 83°44.74′W, has an elevation of 839 feet (256 m).[34]
Ann Arbors "Tree Town" nickname stems from the dense forestation of its parks and residential areas. The city contains more than 50,000 trees along its streets and an equal number in parks.[35] In recent years, the emerald ash borer has destroyed many of the citys approximately 10,500 ash trees.[36] The city contains 157 municipal parks ranging from small neighborhood green spots to large recreation areas. Several large city parks and a university park border sections of the Huron River.[37] Fuller Recreation Area, near the University Hospital complex, contains sports fields, pedestrian and bike paths, and swimming pools. The Nichols Arboretum, owned by the University of Michigan, is a 123-acre (50 ha) arboretum that contains hundreds of plant and tree species. It is on the citys east side, near the universitys Central Campus.[38] Located across the Huron River just beyond the universitys North Campus is the universitys Matthaei Botanical Gardens, which contains 300 acres of gardens and a large tropical conservatory as well as a wildflower garden specializing in the vegetation of the southern Great Lakes Region..
Night time in downtown, with buildings lit by street lamps
Washington Street looking east to Main Street
The Kerrytown Shops, Main Street Business District, the State Street Business District, and the South University Business District are commercial areas in downtown Ann Arbor. Three commercial areas south of downtown include the areas near I-94 and Ann Arbor-Saline Road, Briarwood Mall, and the South Industrial area. Other commercial areas include the Arborland/Washtenaw Avenue and Packard Road merchants on the east side, the Plymouth Road area in the northeast, and the Westgate/West Stadium areas on the west side.[39] Downtown contains a mix of 19th- and early-20th-century structures and modern-style buildings, as well as a farmers market in the Kerrytown district.[40] The citys commercial districts are composed mostly of two- to four-story structures, although downtown and the area near Briarwood Mall contain a small number of high-rise buildings.[41]
Ann Arbors residential neighborhoods contain architectural styles ranging from classic 19th- and early 20th-century designs to ranch-style houses. Among these homes are a number of kit houses built in the early 20th century. Contemporary-style houses are farther from the downtown district.[39] Surrounding the University of Michigan campus are houses and apartment complexes occupied primarily by student renters. Tower Plaza, a 26-story condominium building located between the University of Michigan campus and downtown, is the tallest building in Ann Arbor.[42] The 19th-century buildings and streetscape of the Old West Side neighborhood have been preserved virtually intact; in 1972, the district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and it is further protected by city ordinances and a nonprofit preservation group.[43]
City skyline during the day with clear skies
Ann Arbor skyline looking northeast from Michigan Stadium. From left to right several Ann Arbor landmarks may be seen: The Tower Plaza condominium building, the tallest building in Ann Arbor; the Burton Memorial Tower on the Central Campus of the University of Michigan, a clock tower and carillon; the Michigan Union (flying a maize-and-blue flag); and the Central Power Plant, operated by the university. The Modern architecture building on the far right is the Stephen M. Ross School of Business.
Climate
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Climate chart (explanation)
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
2.6 3118
2.4 3520
2.7 4627
3.3 6038
3.4 7148
3.7 8058
3.6 8362
3.7 8161
3.5 7453
2.8 6142
3.1 4833
2.9 3523
Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation totals in inches
Metric conversion
Ann Arbor has a typically Midwestern humid continental climate (Köppen Dfa), which is influenced by the Great Lakes. There are four distinct seasons: winters are cold and snowy, with average highs around 34 °F (1 °C). Summers are warm to hot and humid, with average highs around 81 °F (27 °C) and with slightly more precipitation. Spring and autumn are transitional between the two. The area experiences lake effect weather, primarily in the form of increased cloudiness during late fall and early winter.[44] The monthly daily average temperature in July is 72.6 °F (22.6 °C), while the same figure for January is 24.5 °F (−4.2 °C). Temperatures reach or exceed 90 °F (32 °C) on 10 days,[45] and drop to or below 0 °F (−18 °C) on 4.6 nights.[45] Precipitation tends to be the heaviest during the summer months, but most frequent during winter. Snowfall, which normally occurs from November to April but occasionally starts in October, averages 58 inches (147 cm) per season. The lowest recorded temperature was −23 °F (−31 °C) on February 11, 1885 and the highest recorded temperature was 105 °F (41 °C) on July 24, 1934.[45]
Climate data for Ann Arbor, Michigan (UMich, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1881–present)
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Record high °F (°C)72
(22)68
(20)85
(29)88
(31)95
(35)103
(39)105
(41)104
(40)99
(37)91
(33)78
(26)67
(19)105
(41)
Average high °F (°C)31.9
(−0.1)35.4
(1.9)46.2
(7.9)59.7
(15.4)71.4
(21.9)80.1
(26.7)83.7
(28.7)81.7
(27.6)75.1
(23.9)62.2
(16.8)48.0
(8.9)36.3
(2.4)59.3
(15.2)
Daily mean °F (°C)24.0
(−4.4)26.5
(−3.1)35.7
(2.1)47.6
(8.7)59.0
(15.0)68.0
(20.0)71.9
(22.2)70.3
(21.3)63.3
(17.4)51.4
(10.8)39.2
(4.0)29.2
(−1.6)48.8
(9.3)
Average low °F (°C)16.2
(−8.8)17.7
(−7.9)25.2
(−3.8)35.5
(1.9)46.6
(8.1)55.9
(13.3)60.1
(15.6)58.8
(14.9)51.6
(10.9)40.7
(4.8)30.5
(−0.8)22.1
(−5.5)38.4
(3.6)
Record low °F (°C)−22
(−30)−23
(−31)−8
(−22)7
(−14)20
(−7)35
(2)37
(3)39
(4)27
(−3)19
(−7)−3
(−19)−20
(−29)−23
(−31)
Average precipitation inches (mm)2.96
(75)2.51
(64)2.82
(72)3.44
(87)3.84
(98)3.91
(99)3.52
(89)3.52
(89)3.18
(81)2.99
(76)2.82
(72)2.75
(70)38.26
(972)
Average snowfall inches (cm)18.3
(46)15.3
(39)8.3
(21)2.6
(6.6)0.0
(0.0)0.0
(0.0)0.0
(0.0)0.0
(0.0)0.0
(0.0)0.1
(0.25)4.1
(10)12.7
(32)61.4
(156)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in)18.314.414.314.414.712.411.711.210.613.313.516.9165.7
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in)15.212.17.52.80.10.00.00.00.00.44.911.554.5
Source: NOAA[46][47]
Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18605,097—
18707,36344.5%
18808,0619.5%
18909,43117.0%
190014,50953.8%
191014,8172.1%
192019,51631.7%
193026,94438.1%
194029,81510.7%
195048,25161.8%
196067,34039.6%
1970100,03548.6%
1980107,9697.9%
1990109,5921.5%
2000114,0244.0%
2010113,934−0.1%
2019 (est.)119,980[3]5.3%
Sources: Michigan State Census[48] (before 1860)
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