Washtenaw County, Michigan

Washtenaw County is located in the southeast section of Michigan�s lower peninsula. It is a major metropolitan area best known as a major educational center. The University of Michigan, the first state university in the nation, was moved from Detroit to Ann Arbor, the county seat, in 1837. A few years later in 1852, Eastern Michigan University was formed in Ypsilanti, becoming the first teachers� college outside the 13 colonies. These institutions served as the focal point for the development of what has become one of the leading medical research and technology centers in the world, with many corporations and businesses choosing to make their home here.

The name Washtenaw is derived from the Chippewa "wash-ten-ong," meaning "grand river," in reference to the Huron River which flows through the area. The Huron today remains a showpiece of the county, with a carefully developed Metro Park system available to enjoy. The area is also rich in turn-of-the-century architecture, which includes the old Clock Tower and Depot in Chelsea, as well as storefronts in some of the smaller towns including Manchester and Dexter. Truly, Washtenaw County remains one of the leading cultural centers in the world today.

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