Population: 114,024

Area: 28.2 square miles

Location: Located just west of Detroit along I-94, Ann Arbor is easily accessible by car, train, bus or air.

Time Zone: Central Standard Time (when it is noon in Ann Arbor, it is 1pm in New York City and 10:00am in California.) Ann Arbor observes Daylight Saving Time from April-October.

Weather:

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Average temp. (°F)

23.5

26.5

36.2

47.8

59.5

68.5

72.7

70.8

63.5

51.7

39.7

28.6

High temperature (°F)

30.2

34.1

45.4

58.2

70.7

79.4

83.2

80.8

73.7

61.3

47.0

34.8

Low temperature (°F)

16.7

18.9

27.1

37.3

48.3

57.6

62.1

60.7

53.2

42.1

32.4

22.3

Precipitation (in)

2.2

2.0

2.7

3.3

3.0

3.4

3.1

3.7

3.4

2.5

3.0

2.8

Normal Climate:

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Days with precipitation.

13

11

13

13

11

10

10

10

10

10

12

13

Wind speed (mph)

11.7

11.2

11.6

11.3

10.0

9.0

8.2

7.8

8.5

9.5

11.0

11.1

Morning humidity (%)

80

79

80

78

78

80

83

88

88

85

82

82

Afternoon humidity (%)

70

66

60

54

53

54

54

58

57

58

66

71

Sunshine (%)

40

46

51

53

61

65

68

66

61

51

35

31

Days clear of clouds

4

5

6

6

7

7

8

9

8

8

4

3

Partly cloudy days

7

7

7

8

10

11

12

11

10

9

7

6

Cloudy days

20

17

18

16

14

11

10

11

12

15

19

22

Snowfall (in)

10.7

8.9

6.9

1.8

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.2

2.9

9.6

History

Ann Arbor was founded in 1824 when John Allen took Elisha Rumsey with him, left Detroit on a one-horse sleigh, and headed west to establish a new community. Originally registered as Annarbour, the most recent version of the legend states that the "Ann" honors Allen's wife, Ann, who arrived 5 months later. "Arbour" was commonly used in Michigan Territory in reference to a grove or shady opening found in the woods. Eventually the words were separated and the town became known as Ann Arbor. It remains the only city in the world with that name.

When to Go

Fall brings with it the splendor of colorful foliage, the crisp air of winter follows, and then the beauty of spring and a warm summer breeze. In the spring, the city blooms with color. Summers are pleasantly warm, but not too warm, and the many and varied festivals and events keep visitors coming back year after year. Winter tends to be a slower time, allowing the visitor to experience special events held yearly. In March, the Michigan University Pow Wow is a local favorite. For those lucky enough to visit in June, be sure to take time for the annual Ann Arbor Run.

National Holidays

New Year’s Day, January 1

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, the third Monday in January

President’ Day, the third Monday in February

Memorial Day, the last Monday in May

Independence Day, July 4

Labor Day, the first Monday in September

Thanksgiving Day, the fourth Thursday in November

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, December 24 and 25

New Year’s Eve, December 31

Getting There

Arriving by Air Detroit Metro Airport is within 25 miles of Ann Arbor.

Detroit Metropolitan Airport Most domestic and international flights run through "Metro," which serves as a major Northwest Airlines hub. Located in nearby Romulus off I-94, Metro Airport is about 25 miles east of Ann Arbor. Taxi and limousine service is available.

Two smaller, local airports are:

Ann Arbor Airport 801 Airport Dr. (S. State St., near I-94), 994-2841 A municipal facility handling business, charter, and private flights. Taxi, limousine, and rental car services are available.

Willow Run Airport Ypsilanti 485-6666 Occupies 2,600 acres and serves cargo, corporate, and general aviation clients.

From the Airport to Ann Arbor There are several transportation companies that service the Ann Arbor area from Detroit Metro Airport. Some of the most popular include Golden Limousine (734) 668-8282; Arbor Limousine (734) 663-5959; Ground Transportation Specialists, Inc. (734) 947-3040; Curtiss Cars (734) 358-8840; and Tecumseh Trolley (517) 423-3335.

Bus

Greyhound 116 W. Huron St., Ann Arbor 662-5511

Ann Arbor Transportation Authority 2700 S. Industrial Hwy., Ann Arbor 996-0400 Voted the #1 mid-size transit authority in the country, the AATA offers a convenient and reliable transportation alternative.

Car Rental

Virtually every major car rental company is represented as well as local companies.

Rail

Amtrak 325 Depot St., Ann Arbor. 994-4906 or 1-800-872-7245

Taxi

You can't hail a cab from a curb in Ann Arbor. However, you may find cabs in the more frequented spots: the Michigan Union on the U of M campus, at the Amtrak station, or on the southwest corner of Main and Washington, downtown. Call any of these cab companies to bring a taxi to your door within 5-15 minutes.

Parking

Parking meters in Ann Arbor are abundant and usually require money from 8am to 6pm, but check the meter, because the hours vary.

Bring plenty of change: some garages hire attendants for parking fee collection; others are equipped with a computerized system that accepts currency or change; some have meters only.