Depot Town in Ypsilanti in Washtenaw County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Michigan's Interurbans
Photographed by Joel Seewald, November 14, 2015
1. Michigan's Interurbans Marker
Inscription.
Michigan's Interurbans. . Michigan's first interurban, the Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor, began operating in 1890. Pulled by a steam engine, the cars went west on Packard Road to the Ann Arbor city limits. Because of the low fares (10 cents one way) and frequent service (cars leaving every 90 minutes) the line was soon carrying over 600 passengers daily. Electric power was adopted in 1896. In a few years a network of interurbans was built in southern Micigan. The "Ypsi-Ann" became part of a Detroit to Jackson road that carried 5,300 passengers a day in 1902. It became possible to go from Detroit to Kalamazoo or from Bay City to Cincinnati on connecting lines. But the automobile, bus, and truck put the interurbans out of business in Michigan in the 1920's. The last interurban from Ypsilanti ran in 1929.
Michigan's first interurban, the Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor, began operating in 1890. Pulled by a steam engine, the cars went west on Packard Road to the Ann Arbor city limits. Because of the low fares (10 cents one way) and frequent service (cars leaving every 90 minutes) the line was soon carrying over 600 passengers daily. Electric power was adopted in 1896. In a few years a network of interurbans was built in southern Micigan. The "Ypsi-Ann" became part of a Detroit to Jackson road that carried 5,300 passengers a day in 1902. It became possible to go from Detroit to Kalamazoo or from Bay City to Cincinnati on connecting lines. But the automobile, bus, and truck put the interurbans out of business in Michigan in the 1920's. The last interurban from Ypsilanti ran in 1929.
Erected 1957 by Michigan Historical Commission. (Marker Number 128.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Railroads & Streetcars. In addition, it is included in the Michigan Historical Commission series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1890.
Location. 42° 14.477′ N, 83° 36.379′ W. Marker is in Ypsilanti,
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Michigan, in Washtenaw County. It is in Depot Town. It is at the intersection of East Michigan Avenue (State Highway 17) and North Park Street, on the left when traveling east on East Michigan Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 211 East Michigan Avenue, Ypsilanti MI 48198, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Michigan and in Greater Detroit. It is also in the American Midwest and on the Great Lakes. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Northwest Territory.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 12, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 16, 2015, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. This page has been viewed 1,758 times since then and 68 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on November 16, 2015, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.
