6 reasons to love Ann Arbor
Recently, the Chicago Tribune rounded up Illinois' mediocre-to-poor rankings among the 50 states. The paper pointed out to the Land of Lincoln that it could be worse: "You could be Michigan."
Hey!
Sure, Michigan suffers the worst unemployment rate and ranks 46th for high cholesterol. And one can't deny that, since 2001, the Detroit Lions have the lowest winning percentage of any NFL team since World War II. Still, things don't look so bleak from this corner of the mitten.
Main Street in Ann Arbor.
Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com
Here are 6 reasons why it's good to be in Ann Arbor:
1. The Gallup-Healthways Well Being Index, which interviewed 350,000 Americans to gauge the nation's well-being, recently reported that Ann Arbor was the 38th happiest city in America. To create its happy metric, Gallup asked Americans about their finances, physical and emotional health and jobs. (Holland was No. 2 on the list behind Boulder, Colo.)
2. NFL stats being what they are, at least Forbes named Ann Arbor the "Best College Sports Town" in 2009.
3. US News listed Ann Arbor among the "Top 10 Brainiest Places to Retire" in 2008. Forbes thinks Ann Arbor has brains, too.
4. Business Week says Ann Arbor is the "Best Place in Michigan to raise your kids."
5. Ann Arbor is among the 50 greenest cities in America, so says Popular Science magazine.
6. Ann Arborites are foodies with good appetites, but according to AARP Magazine, aren't gluttons. The magazine named A2 the healthiest hometown in America in 2008.
Do you agree with these rankings? What would you add or take away from this list? Has this list left your fingers tingling to unleash snark upon the keyboard? Take our poll and tell us what you think in the comments section below.
Juliana Keeping, once a Michigan-reared Chicagoan subject to a red-light camera racket that's now a source of growing civil unrest, thinks the Prairie State should step off. Reach her at julianakeeping@annarbor.com or 734-623-2528. Follow Juliana Keeping on Twitter
Comments
dufus
Sun, Feb 28, 2010 : 10:34 a.m.
The title said "Reasons to love Ann Arbor". The reasons are lists. Lists are not a reason to love where you live unless you love where you live because it ranks high on lists.
Spooner
Tue, Feb 23, 2010 : 10:47 a.m.
Ann Arbor has Spooner.
transplant
Mon, Feb 22, 2010 : 10:27 p.m.
Ann Arbor is a fantastic city to be young, old, and everything in between! The downtown is thriving with restaurants and culture. The people are intellectual, midwestern, and tend to love both outdoors and athletics. Large businesses outside the downtown district are typically nestled into their natural environments and there is a great deal of pride associated with being from or living in Ann Arbor. Having lived in several big and small cities, the only thing Ann Arbor leaves to be desired are lower property taxes.
Kvetchmeister
Mon, Feb 22, 2010 : 7:51 p.m.
Chicago is better than Michigan, very true. But Michigan is definitely better than the rest of Illinois.
gibby76
Mon, Feb 22, 2010 : 5:33 p.m.
Just remember, it's a big state. and all Illinois has is Chicago. I like A2 for my reasons, but it's not really fair to compare it to larger cities because it's not a large city. My hopes and dreams is that the whole DETROIT area will become more connected and the economy take off somehow. It would be a shame if it just dwindles back into the shadows....
CynicA2
Mon, Feb 22, 2010 : 5:06 p.m.
Yeah... right, and Flint was #159 on the list, so the list must be pretty short, to begin with. This place is a lot more impressed with itself than it needs to be - primarily due to all the "don't you know who I think I am" egos who now reside here. Too many bohemian bourgeoisie with more money than sense. Most are invasive species from one coast or the other, and since they have thoroughly screwed-up those places, they naturally gravitate to relatively unspoiled locales, like Ann Arbor. Good thing they don't have to work much, as Ann Arbor, like the rest of the state, is rapidly swirling toward the economic drain. In another 10 years, the college kids and the retirees, (and those who tend to them) will be the only ones left. Everyone else will have whistled right on past the graveyard, and out of the state.
John Frank
Mon, Feb 22, 2010 : 4:11 p.m.
The marvelous University of Michigan brings a steady stream world-class free-to-the-public lectures and talks on many topics from Nobel Laureates and other notables, as well as Saturday Morning Physics presentations and demonstrations open to all. What a wonderful place for retirement!
Matt Sussman
Mon, Feb 22, 2010 : 3:43 p.m.
This is probably the goofiest town I've ever set foot in. In a good way.
Bear
Mon, Feb 22, 2010 : 3:21 p.m.
Chicago is fun to visit, and I was actually born there, but Ann Arbor is my home. I have traveled all over this country and beyond. I have lived in many interesting places along the way. But Ann Arbor is my home. Illinois is mostly flatland and very drab compared to Michigan. Our state is awesome! "There are also more than 11,000 inland lakes in Michigan and, according to the Michigan Historical Center, one is never more than six miles from an inland lake or more than 85 miles from one of the Great Lakes." "except for Alaska, Michigan has more shoreline than any other state, fronting four of the Great Lakes: Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, and Lake Erie. With 3,177 miles of Great Lakes shoreline." (thanks to netstate.com for the handy info.) What kind of lakeshore do they have in Illinois besides that little bit of Lake Michigan in the NE corner. I am proud to call myself a Michigander! Hard times bring out character and Ann Arbor is full of characters! :^) Every college town I have been to in the US has had people who say to me, "We're a lot like Ann Arbor here." To which I proudly answer, "Yeah, but your not." I haven't found anywhere in the world that compares to here.
quitelistener
Mon, Feb 22, 2010 : 2:55 p.m.
Ann Arbor is a great city to live in for someone at almost any age. I just wish more of its citizens had a little more self-esteem and stopped looking at the stupid polls. Its smug to constantly point out how much better you are than everyone else. Also, I love Detroit and would never trade it for Chicago. You just have to know what to look at.
David Bardallis
Mon, Feb 22, 2010 : 2:46 p.m.
Sorry, meant to include the source link. It's an interesting read! http://mercatus.org/publication/freedom-50-states-index-personal-and-economic-freedom
David Bardallis
Mon, Feb 22, 2010 : 2:45 p.m.
I'll take Michigan over Illinois any day, and here's just one important reason why: Michigan ranks 14th in the Mercatus Center's most recent "freedom index" to Illinois's 42nd. More opportunity! Keep your Land of Lincoln, Illinoisians.
a2doc
Mon, Feb 22, 2010 : 12:13 p.m.
The City Council will shortly be considering whether to expand the airport, moving it closer to Lohr Road by 950 feet. One of the arguments for this include allowing larger, fully loaded jets to use it (in preference to Willow Run, 10 miles away). This goes against the reason Ann Arbor has such a high ranking in terms of quality of life, culture and environmental stewardship. People come to live and work in Ann Arbor because of this quality of life. I am proud of Ann Arbor, and love it when we receive acknowledgement of the great things we have here. More concrete and airport expansion does not equate to financial success for an airport with falling revenues. A contribution to the quality of life enjoyed by Ann Arbor and its surrounding residents does. Stop the proposed Airport Expansion.
Top Cat
Mon, Feb 22, 2010 : 11:12 a.m.
Ann Arbor still needs a minor league baseball team.
spaceman
Mon, Feb 22, 2010 : 11:04 a.m.
Ann Arbor is: 28 square miles surrounded by reality. A legend in its own mind....and I love it
A2OK
Mon, Feb 22, 2010 : 11:02 a.m.
For some reason Chicago money owns a good chunk of the Lake Michigan coastline of our poor state from New Buffalo to Harbor Spings...go figure?
David Briegel
Mon, Feb 22, 2010 : 10:42 a.m.
I agree with the positive comments. I LOVE Ann Arbor. My grandparents and succeeding generations were all born here. My daughter and granddaughters live in sunny Arizona and I love to visit, especially this time of year and days like today. But I will always love the change of seasons and could never leave Michigan or Ann Arbor. Can't wait for Spring and Autumn is my favorite time of year. I prefer the Great Lakes to the Ocean any day!
Dr. G.
Mon, Feb 22, 2010 : 10:38 a.m.
Ann Arbor is great for retirees. Everyone says so and many mags. Latest I saw was US News and World Reports. Bus is free for seniors. You can walk everywhere anyway. Decent bike paths many places. Very high density with cultural events and every day there is something going on around town. The quality of cultural events is also very sophisticated. This is a very cerebral town. You can take classes which are much more advanced than sewing. Bookstores galore. Close to the airport. Hyperhealty food opportunities. Cosmopolitan with many cross cultural events, food etc. Huge art fair in summer. Museums, exhibits galore. It is a little chilly is all.
TXteacher
Mon, Feb 22, 2010 : 10:34 a.m.
Having grown up in Ann Arbor and vistited on many occasions, it is a wonderful town! Appreciate it for what it is- one of the best places to live in America. A first-class university, wonderful restaurants, cultural awareness, and a public education system that compares favorably to any in the country. If we hadn't had to leave for job reasons, we would still be there. Appreciate it, you have a gem!
ann arbor girl
Mon, Feb 22, 2010 : 10:27 a.m.
Given how many of us are voting that we think A2 is a gem - let's make a belated new years resolution to say more good things about our town and snark less. We have a wonderful city and we're rightly proud that we keep finding A2 on "best of" lists. We're doing a lot right.
jcj
Mon, Feb 22, 2010 : 10:22 a.m.
Maybe the Tribune should do a story cities with a history of the most corruption!
walker101
Mon, Feb 22, 2010 : 10:06 a.m.
Sorry, I can only go for #4 and it is just another Midwestern college town.
xmo
Mon, Feb 22, 2010 : 9:27 a.m.
Thank God we can watch MSU football and basketball here! U of M sports have lost the National Spotlight.
Top Cat
Mon, Feb 22, 2010 : 8:58 a.m.
I did the Chili Challenge in Depot Town yesterday and it was one more reason to feel good about this area. $5 went a long way for a hefty amounnt of chili. They raised a lot of money for SOS. The beer at Corner Brewery was great as always.
81wolverine
Mon, Feb 22, 2010 : 8:49 a.m.
Yes, our unemployment in Michigan is bad. But overall, I'd still take Michigan over Illinois any day. Granted, I'd trade Detroit for Chicago any day of the week. But, outside of that, Illinois isn't that hot of a state honestly. Michigan has FAR more natural beauty and resources. And they have no college towns that compare to Ann Arbor.
bs
Mon, Feb 22, 2010 : 8:31 a.m.
I'm afraid the Tribune is right.
mrk
Mon, Feb 22, 2010 : 8:09 a.m.
Not gonna lie, as a young professional with interests in theatre I would probably be in Chicago if my family wasn't in Michigan. When I visited there in August we actually got some "poor you" comments after telling locals that we live in Michigan! I could not believe, also, how many of the people we met while visiting were Michigan natives. We Michiganders are tough. We don't need their pity. We'll keep all of those things that make Michigan Michigan to ourselves, then, thank you. I have always said, though (and I stick to this to this day), that if I have to live in Michigan the only place I could be happy is in Ann Arbor. Deep down I think I do love it, and I will probably never leave.