Some events in the 150 years from the founding of Ann Arbor Most trace the growth of the town and the University, but some reflect student life.
18th Century		Potawatami make Michigan their territory, although retaining a homeland farther west.
1824	January	John Allen and Elisha Rumsey meet in Detroit, Michigan Territory.
	February	Traveling by sleigh, Allen and Rumsey locate a well forested site along a creek (later Allen Creek) feeding a river (Huron River), thereby providing the essentials for development: wood and water.
	February 14	Allen purchases 480 acres and Rumsey 160 acres from the Federal Government at $1.25 /acre for the future village of Annarbour, named for an abundance of burr oak and their wives common name.
1825	Erie canal opened markets to east and sped immigration west.
1833	Michigan Territorial Council passes law incorporating the village of Ann Arbor, including the Lower Town. The Act defines offices and duties of town government, with a village council including a President, Recorder, and six trustees. Their charge is to secure the peace, health, property, and prosperity of the town, and they are empowered to make ordinances, tax property, regulate and improve streets, and add to their numbers as deemed necessary. John Allen is elected the first president.
1833	Council’s first ordinance requires hogs running at large be penned at the owners expense, an important safety issue at the time. Similar ordinances followed to prevent dogs running wild and the discharge of firearms.
1840	In Federal Census, Washtenaw County leads the state in the production of barley, oats, and numbers of horses and cattle. Large sheep herds reported.
1837	Railroad reaches Ann Arbor from Detroit.
1848	Village Council rents Solomon Mann’s house to treat smallpox victims.
1858	Gas lighting arrives.
1871	Ordinance creates permanent police force. City Gas Works organized.
1873	The Panic and economic downturn. Realization that Ann Arbor was not going to be a significant industrial or commercial center. Ypsilanti Sentinel states that Ann Arbor would be dead without the University.
1881	First telephone exchange enters service.
1884	First electric lights.
1885	Private company installs water system. In addition to providing fire hydrants, this replaces use of wells and cisterns for drinking water. System continuously criticized over water purity and pressure.
1887	Survey shows at least 60% of UM students pay all or part of their college expenses.
1890	Electric street railway system.
1893	Main sanitary sewer approved.
1894	Gas lighting gone from city.
1896	Bicycles common mode of transport, sold by 17 businesses.
1902	Sale of alcohol east of Division forbidden.
1905	Parks Commission created, and adds 200 acres to city parks over the next five years.

 
 

1911	Purchase of motorcycle for police to help enforce recent 10 and 15 mph speed limits. Dust due to automobiles is as problematic as speeding and accidents.
1913	Water Company bought out and replaced by municipal system.
1916	Birth Control Clinic opens.
1922	University launches building campaign, including Angell Hall, Clements Library, University Hospital, start of Law Quadrangle, and a 90,000 capacity football stadium.
1922	Olmsted Brothers Proposed Improvements for Ann Arbor delivered includes recommendation for zoning policy to balance university expansion, industrial growth, land development and residential priorities.
1924	Last hansom cab ceases business.
1927	Regents resolve that students could not operate cars except under unusual circumstances.
1946	First parking meters.
1950	UM acquires land for a second campus north of the city.
1950	UM begins to redefine its mission as a research university, which with the increase in enrollment continues to fuel the Ann Arbor economy. Supported by city with creation of Greater Ann Arbor Research Park.
1956	Human Relations Committee created to examine issues of discrimination, especially in housing.
1965	Vietnam "teach-in" begins.
1965	Housing Committee established to meet city housing needs, especially for low-income residents.
1967	Old West Side Association formed to preserve local neighborhood.
1967	Ann Arbor named an All American City, with an application listing civil rights as first among its achievements.
1970	Bond issue for dams approved.