In about 1774, the Potawatomi founded two villages in the area of what is now Ann Arbor. Massachusetts ceded the claim to the federal government as part of the Northwest Territory after April 19, 1785. The lands of present-day Ann Arbor were part of Massachusetts's western claim after the French and Indian War (1754–1763), bounded by the latitudes of Massachusetts Bay Colony's original charter, to which it was entitled by its interpretation of its original sea-to-sea grant from The British Crown. See also: History of the University of Michigan Before founding as Ann Arbor The city's population grew at a rapid rate in the early to mid-20th century. It was named after the wives of the village's founders, both named Ann, and the stands of bur oak trees they found at the site of the town. The city's economy is also centered on high technology, with several companies drawn to the area by the university's research and development infrastructure. The university significantly shapes Ann Arbor's economy as it employs about 30,000 workers, including about 12,000 in its medical center.

Ann Arbor is also included in the Greater Detroit Combined Statistical Area and the Great Lakes megalopolis, the most populated and largest megalopolis in North America.Īnn Arbor is home to the University of Michigan. It is the principal city of the Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Washtenaw County. The 2020 census recorded its population to be 123,851, making it the fifth-largest city in Michigan. state of Michigan and the seat of government of Washtenaw County.

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