Metro Detroit Washtenaw County Charter township
Ypsilanti Charter Township
Home of Willow Run: the bomber plant, a flight museum and Ford Lake
- People (2025 estimate)
- 53,721
- Land area
- 30.0 sq mi · 77.6 km²
- From downtown
- 29.4 miles · 47 km · west
- Incorporated
- 1827
Nothing on our calendar here this week yet.
01 / Why it matters
Why Ypsilanti Charter Township matters
Ypsilanti Township wraps around the city of Ypsilanti on the west, south and east, but it runs itself, with its own board. It's home to Willow Run, where Ford built bombers during World War II, and where you'll find an airport, a flight museum and a vehicle proving ground today.
The Albert Kahn-designed plant was considered the largest factory under one roof in the world in its day, with an assembly line more than a mile long. Between 1942 and 1945 it turned out more than 8,500 B-24 Liberators, and the women who worked there became faces of the Rosie the Riveter legend.
It's in Washtenaw County, so statistically it belongs to the Ann Arbor metro area and counts as Metro Detroit only within the wider Detroit–Warren–Ann Arbor combined statistical area. Willow Run Airport, though, is run by the Wayne County Airport Authority, and the county line cuts right across it.
02 / Known for
What Ypsilanti Charter Township is known for
The Willow Run bomber plant, designed by Albert Kahn and considered the world's largest factory under one roof in its day.
Rosie the Riveter: Rose Will Monroe riveted B-24s here and was picked to play Rosie in a wartime promotional film.
Willow Run Airport: opened in 1942, it was the region's main passenger airport until 1958; today it handles cargo and business flights and is home base for cargo airline Kalitta Air.
Ford Lake, the reservoir created when the Ford Lake Dam went up on the Huron River in the early 1930s, named for Henry Ford.
The American Center for Mobility, a vehicle proving ground that has leased the state-owned former plant site since 2016.
03 / What’s on
What’s on in Ypsilanti Charter Township
Nothing on our calendar in Ypsilanti Charter Township right now. Try the neighbors:
04 / What to do
If you’re in Ypsilanti Charter Township
Michigan Flight Museum
The former Yankee Air Museum tells the bomber plant's story at Willow Run Airport, with outdoor static aircraft, a fleet of flying historic planes and vintage plane rides.
Official site ↗Ford Lake Park és a Ford Lake Loop Trail
The only launch for motorboats on the lake is here, and the 9.49-mile, mostly off-road paved loop around Ford Lake links seven lakeside parks.
Official site ↗
05 / History
Ypsilanti Charter Township through the years
- 1827
Ypsilanti Township is created, back in Michigan Territory days.
- 1942
Production starts at the Willow Run bomber plant; its dedication plaque is dated June 16.
- 1945
The bomber plant shuts down in June; its Liberator line had run until May 1945 and built almost half of all Liberators.
- 1953
After Kaiser-Frazer's car years, General Motors takes over the complex and builds transmissions here.
- 2010
The GM Powertrain plant closes in December; most of the factory is demolished in 2013 and 2014.
- 2016
In November a state-created entity buys the site and leases it to the American Center for Mobility.
06 / Born here
8 people in our lexicon were born here
Dax Shepardactor, comedian, filmmaker, podcaster · 1975
Marie Tharpgeologist, oceanographic cartographer · 1920- TTiffany Portertrack and field athlete, hurdler · 1987
Ella Andersonactress, singer-songwriter · 2005- ZZeke Joneswrestler, coach · 1966
Barbara Morrisonjazz and blues singer, educator · 1949
BabyTronrapper, songwriter · 2000- WWalter O. Briggsauto-body manufacturer, owner of the Detroit Tigers · 1877
07 / People
Famous names from here
- Rose Will Monroe a riveter at Willow Run who became one of the best-known faces of Rosie the Riveter
- Charles Lindbergh the Detroit-born aviator worked at the bomber plant as a consultant
Sources
Population and area are Census Bureau figures (Ypsilanti charter township).
- 2020 Census, Michigan (PL 94-171)
- Census Bureau population estimates: cities and towns
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ypsilanti_Charter_Township,_Michigan
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ypsilanti,_Michigan
- www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/metro-micro/geographies/reference-files/2023/delineation-files/list1_2023.xlsx
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willow_Run
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willow_Run_Airport
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosie_the_Riveter
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalitta_Air
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Lake_(Michigan)
- acmwillowrun.org
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michigan_Flight_Museum
- miflightmuseum.org
- files.ypsitownship.org/departments/recreation___parks/parks.php
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Lindbergh
- ytown.org
Change since 2020, per the Census Bureau estimate: −3.5 percent.
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