Editing Washtenaw County, Michigan

{{Short description|County in Michigan, United States}}
{{Redirect|Washtenaw County|the US Navy landing ship|USS Washtenaw County{{!}}USS ''Washtenaw County''}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Washtenaw County
 | state                = Michigan
 | seal                 = Seal of Washtenaw County, Michigan.svg
 | seal size            = 160
 | founded year         = {{start date and age|1822}} (created)<br />1826 (organized)<ref name="Clarke">{{cite web|url=https://www.cmich.edu/library/clarke/AccessMaterials/Bibliographies/MichiganLocalHistory/Pages/washtenaw.aspx|publisher=[[Clarke Historical Library]], [[Central Michigan University]]|title=Bibliography on Washtenaw County|access-date=January 23, 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006081857/https://www.cmich.edu/library/clarke/AccessMaterials/Bibliographies/MichiganLocalHistory/Pages/washtenaw.aspx|archive-date=October 6, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ewashtenaw.org/about/index_html#history|title=About —|work=ewashtenaw.org|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121028160818/http://www.ewashtenaw.org/about/index_html#history|archive-date=October 28, 2012|access-date=June 16, 2006}}</ref>
 | founded date         = 
 | seat wl              = Ann Arbor
 | largest city wl      = Ann Arbor
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 722
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 706
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 16
 | area percentage      = 2.3%
 | census yr            = 2020
 | pop                  = 372258
 | density_sq_mi        = 527
 | district             = 6th
 | time zone            = Eastern
 | web                  = washtenaw.org 
 | ex image             = Washtenaw County Courthouse (Ann Arbor).jpg
 | ex image cap         = Washtenaw County Courthouse
 | named for            = ''O-wash-ta-nong'' ("far away water"), [[Ojibwe language|Ojibwe]] name for the [[Grand River (Michigan)|Grand River]]
}}

'''Washtenaw County''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|w|ɔ:|ʃ|t|ə|n|ɔː}} {{respell|WAWSH|tə|naw}}) is a [[County (United States)|county]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Michigan]]. At the [[United States 2020 Census|2020 census]], the population was 372,258.<ref name=QF>{{cite web|title=US Census QuickFacts|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/washtenawcountymichigan,US/PST045219|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=August 13, 2021}}</ref> The [[county seat]] and largest city is [[Ann Arbor, Michigan|Ann Arbor]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|archive-date=May 31, 2011}}</ref> The county was authorized by legislation in 1822 and organized as a county in 1826.<ref name="Clarke"/>
Washtenaw County comprises the '''Ann Arbor [[Metropolitan Statistical Area]]'''.
The county is home to the [[University of Michigan]], [[Eastern Michigan University]], [[Washtenaw Community College]], and [[Concordia University Ann Arbor]].

==History==
===Native American territories===
The first peoples occupying the central portion of what is now Michigan included: "the Pottawattamies, the Chippewas, the Ottawas, the Wyandottes and the Hurons".<ref name="historicalsociety">{{cite book|year=2013|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-lo0AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA36|title=Publications of the Historical Society of Grand Rapids, Vol. 1, Parts 1–7|page=36|access-date=January 23, 2013}} Early tribes and Ojibwe etymology of the word: Wash-ten-ong".</ref> Native Americans whose territories included land within the Washtenaw County boundaries are shown to have included: Myaamia ([[Miami people|Miami]]),<ref>{{cite web |url=https://native-land.ca/maps/territories/miami/ |website=Native-Land.ca |access-date=December 24, 2020|title=Myaamia }}</ref> Bodéwadmiké ([[Potawatomi]]),<ref>{{cite web |title=Bodéwadmiké (Potawatomi) territory |url=https://native-land.ca/maps/territories/potawatomi/ |website=Native-Land.ca |access-date=December 24, 2020}}</ref> [[Anishinaabe|Anishinabewaki ᐊᓂᔑᓈᐯᐗᑭ]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://native-land.ca/maps/territories/anishinabek-%e1%90%8a%e1%93%82%e1%94%91%e1%93%88%e1%90%af%e1%92%83/ |title=Anishinabewaki ᐊᓂᔑᓈᐯᐗᑭ |website=Native-Land.ca |access-date=December 24, 2020}}</ref> [[Peoria people|Peoria]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://native-land.ca/maps/territories/peoria/ |website=Native-Land.ca |access-date=December 24, 2020|title=Peoria }}</ref> Meškwahki·aša·hina ([[Meskwaki]]),<ref>{{cite web |title=Meškwahki·aša·hina (Fox) |url=https://native-land.ca/maps/territories/meskwahki%c2%b7asa%c2%b7hina-fox/ |website=Native-Land.ca |access-date=December 24, 2020}}</ref> and the [[Mississauga First Nation|Mississauga]] nation.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mississauga |url=https://native-land.ca/maps/territories/mississauga/ |website=Native-Land.ca |access-date=December 24, 2020}}</ref>

===Etymology of Washtenaw===
In the [[Ojibwe]] language, "Wash-ten-ong" or "Owashtanong" literally translates as "far away waters", and was then used by the Ojibwe as the name for the Grand River due to its great length.<ref name="historicalsociety" /><ref name="Clarke"/><ref>{{cite web|year=2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120802053326/http://washtenawhistory.org/index.php?section=history&content=index|archive-date=August 2, 2012|url-status=dead|url=http://washtenawhistory.org/index.php?section=history&content=index|title=Washtenaw County Historical Society: Etymology of the Name|access-date=January 23, 2013}} Washtenaw County Historical Society detail of etymology of the county's name.</ref>
At the time of the official naming of the county in 1822, the headwaters of the [[Grand River (Michigan)|Grand River]] fell within the original boundaries of Washtenaw County, which encompassed a much larger area than the present county.<ref name="Clarke"/>

===Early colonization===
The earliest histories mention French trappers and traders conducting trade in the area at the Potawatomi Trail and Pontiac Trail crossings of the Huron River, and later English then American settlers. The first successful settlement was established at the present site of [[Ypsilanti, Michigan|Ypsilanti]] about 1809 by French traders.{{sfn|Chapman|1881|pp=116–124}}

In 1822, the [[Legislative Council of Michigan Territory]] government defined the name and boundaries of the county, but attached it to [[Wayne County, Michigan|Wayne County]] for revenue, taxation and judicial affairs. Four years after the first platting out of the county, Washtenaw was established as a separate self-administered county by an act of the Michigan Territorial Legislature, in 1826.{{sfn|Chapman|1881|pp=116–124}} It was attached for administrative purposes to Wayne County until (before 1829) when county government was seated. [[Ingham County, Michigan|Ingham]] and other counties were formed from portions of territorial Washtenaw County.

Swamps were drained to lower the water table. The swamp northwest of the I-94 and US-23 intersection, and areas within Waterloo Recreation Area still appear as they did to early settlers. As productive farms became established, the local deer herds grew. In the 1820s and 1830s, the events surrounding the independence of [[Greece]] from [[Turkey]] inspired construction of Greek Revival buildings, and the names of townships, towns, and children.

The "frostbitten convention" was held at Ann Arbor, the county seat, in 1835. Statehood was delayed because Michigan claimed the [[Toledo, Ohio|Toledo Strip]], which was also claimed by [[Ohio]]. Following resolution of the [[Toledo War]] (1835–1836), in which Michigan Territory ceded its claim to Toledo in exchange for most of the Upper Peninsula (from the [[Porcupine Mountains]] eastward), Ohio withdrew its objection and Michigan became a state on January 26, 1837.

The convention also decided to move the capital from Detroit to a point further away from the Canadian border. After considering many existing communities, the delegates decided to build an entirely new capital city, which became [[Lansing, Michigan|Lansing]]. The [[University of Michigan]], founded at Detroit in 1817, was moved to [[Ann Arbor]] in 1839 as a consolation for the city not being named the new state capital, as it had sought. The university subsequently became and remains Washtenaw County's largest employer.

In 1849, the Michigan State Normal School (now [[Eastern Michigan University]]) was established in Washtenaw's oldest settlement, [[Ypsilanti, Michigan|Ypsilanti]]. It was elevated to collegiate status c. 1891 as Michigan State Normal College. The name was changed in 1956 to Eastern Michigan College, which was elevated to university status in 1959.

==Geography==
[[File:Interstate 94 Business Route Ann Arbor Washtenaw Avenue.JPG|thumb|Business Loop Interstate&nbsp;94/Business US Highway&nbsp;23 (BL I-94/Bus. US&nbsp;23, Washtenaw Avenue) in Ann Arbor]]<!--for "major highways" section, but looks better if placed here-->
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|722|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|706|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|16|sqmi}} (2.3%) is water.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_26.txt|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=September 28, 2014|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113024015/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_26.txt|archive-date=November 13, 2013}}</ref>

===Adjacent counties===
{{div col}}
* [[Livingston County, Michigan|Livingston County]] (north)
* [[Oakland County, Michigan|Oakland County]] (northeast)
* [[Wayne County, Michigan|Wayne County]] (east)
* [[Monroe County, Michigan|Monroe County]] (southeast)
* [[Lenawee County, Michigan|Lenawee County]] (southwest)
* [[Jackson County, Michigan|Jackson County]] (west)
* [[Ingham County, Michigan|Ingham County]] (northwest)
{{div col end}}

===Major highways===
{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}
* {{jct|state=MI|I|94}}
* {{jct|state=MI|BL|94|dab1=Ann Arbor}}
* {{jct|state=MI|US|12|name1=Michigan Avenue, Chicago Road}}
* {{jct|state=MI|US-Bus|12|dab1=Ypsilanti}}
* {{jct|state=MI|US|23}}
* {{jct|state=MI|US-Bus|23|dab1=Ann Arbor}}
* {{jct|state=MI|M|14}}
* {{jct|state=MI|M|17}}
* {{jct|state=MI|M|52}}
* {{jct|state=MI|M|153|name1=Ford Road}}
{{div col end}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1830= 4042
|1840= 23571
|1850= 28567
|1860= 35686
|1870= 41434
|1880= 41848
|1890= 42210
|1900= 47761
|1910= 44714
|1920= 49520
|1930= 65530
|1940= 80810
|1950= 134606
|1960= 172440
|1970= 234103
|1980= 264748
|1990= 282937
|2000= 322895
|2010= 344791
|2020= 372258
|estyear=2023
|estimate=365536
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2023">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 4, 2024}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=US Decennial Census|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=September 28, 2014}}</ref><br />1790–1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=September 28, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120811110448/http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/|archive-date=August 11, 2012}}</ref> 1900–1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/mi190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=September 28, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150215142038/http://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/mi190090.txt|archive-date=February 15, 2015}}</ref><br />1990–2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=September 28, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141218203824/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf|archive-date=December 18, 2014}}</ref> 2010–2019<ref name=QF/>
}}

As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 372,258 people living in the county. 69.2% were [[White American|White]], 11.5% [[African American|Black or African American]], 9.03% [[Asian American|Asian]], 0.3% [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]], 1.9% of some other race and 7.8% [[Multiracial American|of two or more races]]. 5% were [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (of any race). 17.4% were of [[German American|German]], 10.5% [[English American|English]], 10% [[Irish American|Irish]] and 7.1% [[Polish American|Polish]] ancestry.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Washtenaw_County,_Michigan?g=050XX00US26161#populations-and-people |access-date=2024-10-27 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref>

83.4% spoke only [[English language|English]] at home; 3.7% spoke [[Spanish language|Spanish]] and 12.9% spoke another language.

There were 149,379 households, out of which 17.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.9% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 29.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.6% were non-families. 

In the county, 23.77% of the population was under the age of 19, 12.71% was from 19 to 25, 25.74% from 25 to 44, 22.58% from 45 to 64, and 16.4% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35.5 years. 

The median income for a household in the county was $83,754 and the median income for a family was $116,562. 15.3% of people were under the poverty line.

==Government==
[[File:CWA-WashCoBldg1.jpg|thumb|upright=.6|right|Washtenaw County Court House, sculpture by [[Carleton W. Angell]] ]]
[[File:Washtenaw County Downtown Ann Arbor Campus.JPG|thumb|right|Washtenaw County Clerk building]]

===Elected officials===
* [[Prosecutor|Prosecuting Attorney]]: [[Eli Savit]] ([[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]])
* [[Sheriff]]: Alyshia M. Dyer ([[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]])
* [[County Clerk]]/[[Register of Deeds]]: [[Lawrence Kestenbaum]] ([[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]])
* [[Treasurer|County Treasurer]]: Latitia Lamelle Sharp ([[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]])
* [[Drain Commissioner|Water Resources Commissioner]]: [[Gretchen Driskell]] ([[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]])

The Board of Commissioners has nine members, elected from single member districts, on a partisan ballot, in November of even-numbered years. The term is two years. <small>Information as of October 2024.</small>

{| class="wikitable"
! District !! Commissioner !! Party !! Positions
|- {{Party shading/Democratic}}
| 1 || Jason Maciejewski || [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] ||
|- {{Party shading/Democratic}}
| 2 || Crystal Lyte || [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]]|| 
|- {{Party shading/Democratic}}
| 3 || Shannon Beeman || Democrat ||
|- {{Party shading/Democratic}}
| 4 || Caroline Sanders|| Democrat ||Vice Chair of the Board
|- {{Party shading/Democratic}}
| 5 || Justin Hodge || Democrat||Board Chair
|- {{Party shading/Democratic}}
| 6 || Annie Sommerville || Democrat||Working Session Committee Chair
|- {{Party shading/Democratic}}
| 7 || Andy LaBarre || Democrat ||Vice Chair of the Working Session
|- {{Party shading/Democratic}}
| 8 || [[Yousef Rabhi]] || Democrat ||
|- {{Party shading/Democratic}}
| 9 || Katie Scott || Democrat ||
|- {{Party shading/Democratic}}
|}

===Government services===
====Parks and recreation====
{{Update section|date=December 2022}}
Washtenaw County operates 10 parks and one recreation center ([[gym]]nasium). One park has a water sprinkler area, one has a substantial [[water park]] component, and there is one golf course. The recreation center has a swimming pool, indoor track, [[basketball]] courts, complete set of [[Exercise machine|resistance machines]], a weight room, and several multipurpose rooms.

Washtenaw County is in the process of acquiring land for natural preservation. The program started in 2001, was renewed in 2010. The millage was renewed a second time in 2020 with a record high of 72% of votes supporting the renewal.<ref>{{cite web |title=From the Director – Natural Areas Preservation Program Millage Renewal |url=https://www.washtenaw.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=1276&ARC=2596 |website=Washtenaw County |access-date=December 24, 2020}}</ref> Eight parcels of land had been purchased by July 2007. These parcels are of special ecological, recreational, and educational benefits.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Larson |first=Lucas Smolcic |date=December 2, 2022 |title=$1.44M conservation purchase sets up one of largest nature preserves in Ann Arbor area |url=https://mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2022/12/144m-conservation-purchase-sets-up-one-of-largest-nature-preserves-in-ann-arbor-area.html |access-date=December 3, 2022 |website=MLive}}</ref> They are preserved in a natural unimproved state and are open to the public during daylight hours.

====Wireless communication====
In partnership with private enterprise, the county maintains a wireless network which is currently available to approximately 50% of county residents. This is the [[Wireless Washtenaw]] Project; its stated aim of this project is to provide wireless access to all county residents.

====Miscellaneous====
The county government operates the [[County jail|jail]], maintains rural roads (through a largely independent road commission), operates the major local courts, records deeds and mortgages, maintains [[vital records]], administers [[public health]] regulations, and participates with the state in providing welfare and social services. The [[county commission|county board of commissioners]] controls the budget and has limited authority to make laws or ordinances. In Michigan, most local government functions – police and fire, building and zoning, tax assessment, street maintenance, etc. – are the responsibility of individual cities and townships.

==Politics==
{{PresHead|place=Washtenaw County, Michigan|source=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|first=David|last=Leip|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=May 7, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180323225526/https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/|archive-date=March 23, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Democratic|58,844|157,152|6,173|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2020|Democratic|56,241|157,136|3,554|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2016|Democratic|50,631|128,483|10,965|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|56,412|120,890|3,035|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|53,946|130,578|3,024|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2004|Democratic|61,455|109,953|1,856|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2000|Democratic|52,459|86,647|5,834|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|40,097|73,106|10,825|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|41,386|73,325|22,755|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1988|Democratic|55,029|61,799|1,092|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|58,736|55,084|749|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1980|Democratic|48,699|51,013|16,467|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|56,807|50,917|3,965|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1972|Democratic|50,535|55,350|1,690|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|36,432|33,073|8,309|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|25,595|42,089|206|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|39,632|25,129|225|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|38,911|19,124|141|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|35,826|17,671|262|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|24,588|12,721|1,258|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|24,740|14,922|244|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|21,664|11,802|253|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1936|Republican|14,986|13,589|935|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1932|Republican|15,368|12,552|1,180|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|19,676|5,308|109|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|14,326|3,603|1,901|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|14,082|4,468|362|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|6,505|5,279|242|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|2,495|4,164|3,897|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|5,845|4,441|423|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|6,566|3,779|238|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|5,369|5,072|275|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1896|Republican|5,671|5,348|384|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1892|Democratic|4,362|5,508|518|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1888|Democratic|4,549|5,482|557|Michigan}}
{{PresFoot|1884|Democratic|4,049|5,315|626|Michigan}}

Since [[1988 United States presidential election in Michigan|1988]], when [[Michael Dukakis]] won it, the county has been a [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] stronghold in local and national elections due to the presence of [[Ann Arbor, Michigan|Ann Arbor]] and the [[University of Michigan]]. In the [[2020 United States presidential election]] it gave 72.4% of the vote to Democratic nominee [[Joe Biden]], the highest margin for a Democrat in the county, the third-highest for any candidate in the county's history, and the highest in the state at the time as well.<ref>{{Cite news|date=November 3, 2020|title=Michigan Election Results|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/11/03/us/elections/results-michigan.html|access-date=November 14, 2020|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Between [[1960 United States presidential election in Michigan|1960]] and 1988 it was generally a swing county: [[1992 United States presidential election in Michigan|1992]] marked the first time that the county supported the same party as in the previous election since 1960. 

Despite its modern-day Democratic strength, it was reliably Republican at the presidential level from [[1896 United States presidential election in Michigan|1896]] to 1960, only voting Democratic once in that span in [[1912 United States presidential election in Michigan|1912]] when the Republican vote was split. It was one of the few counties where [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] was shut out in all four of his successful campaigns. [[George McGovern]]'s win over [[Richard Nixon]] in the county in [[1972 United States presidential election in Michigan|1972]] despite the latter winning nationally by a landslide was a sign of the county's shift towards supporting the Democratic Party, though Michigander and former Wolverine [[Gerald R. Ford]] won it in 1976 and [[Ronald Reagan]] won it in 1984 amid his national landslide, being the most recent Republican to win the county.

==Economy==
[[File:Biomedical Science Research 2010.jpg|thumb|A. Alfred Taubman Biomedical Science Research Building at the University of Michigan's medical school]]
The largest employers in Washtenaw County, as of July 2020, are:<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ecom.datajoe.com/ecom/download/?z4oZDnE|title=Datajoe - Product Download|website=ecom.datajoe.com}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! #
! Employer
! # of full-time employees
|-
|1
|[[University of Michigan]]
|35,446
|-
|2
|[[Trinity Health (Livonia, Michigan)|Trinity Health]]
|7,435
|-
|3
|[[Federal government of the United States|United States Federal government]]
|3,060
|-
|4
|[[Ann Arbor Public Schools]]
|2,607
|-
|5
|Toyota Technical Center 
|2,295
|-
|6
|[[Faurecia|Faurecia North America]]
|2,178
|-
|7
|[[Eastern Michigan University]]
|1,559
|-
|8
|[[Saint Joseph Mercy Health System|IHA Health Services]]
|1,442
|-
|9
|[[Michigan|State of Michigan]]
|1,409
|-
|10
|Washtenaw County
|1,264
|-
|11
|[[Thomson Reuters]]
|1,155
|-
|12
|[[Domino's Pizza]]
|812
|-
|13
|[[Ann Arbor|City of Ann Arbor]]
|712
|-
|14
|[[Ford Motor Company]]
|700
|-
|15
|[[NSF International]]
|693
|-
|16
|[[US Postal Service]]
|650
|-
|17
|[[Washtenaw Community College]]
|597
|-
|18
|[[DTE Energy]]
|568
|-
|19
|[[Ypsilanti Community Schools]]
|550
|}

==Communities==
[[File:Washtenaw County, MI census map.png|thumb|upright=1.7|[[United States Census|U.S. Census]] data map showing local municipal boundaries within Washtenaw County. Shaded areas represent incorporated cities.]]

===Cities===
* [[Ann Arbor, Michigan|Ann Arbor]] (county seat)
* [[Chelsea, Michigan|Chelsea]]
* [[Dexter, Michigan|Dexter]]
* [[Manchester, Michigan|Manchester]]
* [[Milan, Michigan|Milan]] (partial)
* [[Saline, Michigan|Saline]]
* [[Ypsilanti, Michigan|Ypsilanti]]

===Village===
* [[Barton Hills, Michigan|Barton Hills]]

===Charter townships===
* [[Ann Arbor Charter Township, Michigan|Ann Arbor Charter Township]]
* [[Augusta Charter Township, Michigan|Augusta Charter Township]]
* [[Pittsfield Charter Township, Michigan|Pittsfield Charter Township]]
* [[Superior Township, Washtenaw County, Michigan|Superior Charter Township]]
* [[York Township, Michigan|York Charter Township]]
* [[Ypsilanti Charter Township, Michigan|Ypsilanti Charter Township]]

===Civil townships===
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[Bridgewater Township, Michigan|Bridgewater Township]]
* [[Dexter Township, Michigan|Dexter Township]]
* [[Freedom Township, Michigan|Freedom Township]]
* [[Lima Township, Michigan|Lima Township]]
* [[Lodi Township, Michigan|Lodi Township]]
* [[Lyndon Township, Michigan|Lyndon Township]]
* [[Manchester Township, Michigan|Manchester Township]]
* [[Northfield Township, Michigan|Northfield Township]]
* [[Salem Township, Washtenaw County, Michigan|Salem Township]]
* [[Saline Township, Michigan|Saline Township]]
* [[Scio Township, Michigan|Scio Township]]
* [[Sharon Township, Michigan|Sharon Township]]
* [[Sylvan Township, Washtenaw County, Michigan|Sylvan Township]]
* [[Webster Township, Michigan|Webster Township]]
{{div col end}}

===Census-designated place===
* [[Whitmore Lake, Michigan|Whitmore Lake]] (partial)

===Other unincorporated communities===
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[Bridgewater, Michigan|Bridgewater]]
* [[Dixboro, Michigan|Dixboro]]
* [[Delhi Mills, Michigan|Delhi Mills]]
* [[Geddes, Michigan|Geddes]]
* [[Mooreville, Michigan|Mooreville]]
* [[Paint Creek (Washtenaw County, Michigan)|Paint Creek]]
* [[Salem Township, Washtenaw County, Michigan|Salem]]
* [[Stony Creek, Michigan|Stony Creek]]
* [[Whittaker, Michigan|Whittaker]]
* [[Willis, Michigan|Willis]]
{{div col end}}

===Ghost town===
* [[Rawsonville, Michigan|Rawsonville]] (partial)

==Education==
School districts include:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st26_mi/schooldistrict_maps/c26161_washtenaw/DC20SD_C26161.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220622050758/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st26_mi/schooldistrict_maps/c26161_washtenaw/DC20SD_C26161.pdf |archive-date=June 22, 2022 |url-status=live|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Washtenaw County, MI|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|accessdate=July 22, 2022}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st26_mi/schooldistrict_maps/c26161_washtenaw/DC20SD_C26161_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Ann Arbor Public Schools]]
* [[Columbia School District (Michigan)|Columbia School District]]
* [[Chelsea School District]]
* [[Clinton Community Schools]]
* [[Dexter Community School District]]
* [[Grass Lake Community Schools]]
* [[Lincoln Consolidated School District (Michigan)|Lincoln Consolidated School District]]
* [[Manchester Community Schools]]
* [[Milan Area Schools]]
* [[Northville Public Schools]]
* [[Pinckney Community Schools]]
* [[Plymouth-Canton Community Schools]]
* [[Saline Area Schools]]
* [[South Lyon Community Schools]]
* [[Stockbridge Community Schools]]
* [[Van Buren Public Schools]]
* [[Whitmore Lake Public Schools]]
* [[Ypsilanti Community Schools]]
{{div col end}}

Former school districts:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/sch_dist/st26_mi/c26161_washtenaw/DC10SD_C26161_001.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220722202918/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/sch_dist/st26_mi/c26161_washtenaw/DC10SD_C26161_001.pdf |archive-date=July 22, 2022 |url-status=live|title=SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP (2010 CENSUS): Washtenaw County, MI|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|accessdate=July 22, 2022}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/sch_dist/st26_mi/c26161_washtenaw/DC10SD_C26161_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>
* [[Ypsilanti Public Schools]]
* [[Willow Run Community Schools]]

==See also==
{{Portal|Michigan}}
* [[List of Michigan State Historic Sites in Washtenaw County, Michigan]]
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Washtenaw County, Michigan]]
* [[USS Washtenaw County (LST-1166)|USS ''Washtenaw County'' (LST-1166)]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Sources==
{{refbegin}}
*{{cite book |last1=Chapman |first1=Chas. C. |title=History Of Washtenaw County, Michigan: Together With Sketches Of Its Cities, Villages And Townships...and Biographies Of Representative Citizens: History Of Michigan, Volume 1 |date=1881 |publisher=Chas. C. Chapman & Co. |pages=1412–1413 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EiziAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA1412 |access-date=February 8, 2021}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{wikivoyage|Washtenaw County}}
* [https://smile.amazon.com/Foodloose-Washtenaw-Foodies-Guide-County/dp/160785466X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1528225496&sr=8-1&keywords=foodloose+in+washtenaw/ Foodloose in Washtenaw: A Foodie's Guide to Washtenaw County, 2018]
* [http://www.dexter.lib.mi.us/ Dexter District Library]
* [http://www.ewashtenaw.org/ Washtenaw County Government]
* [http://www.hti.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/text-idx?sid=b92ef34ac7eae292063c88e0fdcc9d82;c=micounty;view=toc;idno=bad1054.0001.001;cc=micounty ''Past and present of Washtenaw County, Michigan''] by Samuel W. Beakes Chicago: The S.J. Clarke publishing co., 1906
* [https://archive.today/20130111113051/http://groups.yahoo.com/group/washtenawmichigancommunity/ Washtenaw Community Cafe] An online discussion group for the county of Washtenaw
* [http://www.ypsilantihistoricalsociety.org/ Ypsilanti Historical Society]

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Washtenaw County, Michigan
|North     = [[Livingston County, Michigan|Livingston County]]
|Northeast = [[Oakland County, Michigan|Oakland County]]
|East      = [[Wayne County, Michigan|Wayne County]]
|Southeast = [[Monroe County, Michigan|Monroe County]]
|South     = [[Monroe County, Michigan|Monroe County]]
|Southwest = [[Lenawee County, Michigan|Lenawee County]]
|West      = [[Jackson County, Michigan|Jackson County]]
|Northwest = [[Ingham County, Michigan|Ingham County]]
}}

{{Washtenaw County, Michigan}}
{{Michigan}}
{{Metro Detroit}}
{{Authority control}}

{{Coord|42.25|-83.84|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-MI_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Washtenaw County, Michigan| ]]
[[Category:Michigan counties]]
[[Category:Metro Detroit]]
[[Category:Michigan placenames of Native American origin]]
[[Category:1826 establishments in Michigan Territory]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1826]]