Exploring Ann Arbor: Why It’s Called Tree Town

Every city is known for something. Our neighbors in Detroit are the “Motor City.” On the west side of the state, Grand Rapids is usually referred to as either “Furniture City” or “Beer City” thanks to all its craft breweries.

Here in Ann Arbor, we’re known for our trees, which is why they call us “Tree Town.” It’s a name we’re proud to represent and happy to enjoy.

But how did our historic city get a nickname like that? And what does it mean for residents, businesses, students, and visitors? Read on to discover more about our impressive nickname and, more importantly, why it matters today.

In This Article

Here are 5 key takeaways from the article, written to draw in homeowners in the Ann Arbor area of Michigan:

• Discover the fascinating history behind Ann Arbor’s “Tree Town” nickname and how it shapes the city’s identity today, from its founding to its current status as one of America’s greenest cities.
• Learn how Ann Arbor’s impressive 1.45+ million trees provide over $4.6 million in tangible benefits to residents, from energy conservation to improved air quality and increased property values.
• Uncover the connection between Ann Arbor’s lush tree canopy and the University of Michigan’s appeal, and how it impacts the local economy and job market.
• Explore how the city’s urban forest contributes to residents’ mental and physical well-being, making Ann Arbor one of the most serene places to live in the United States.
• Find out why maintaining your property’s trees is crucial for preserving Ann Arbor’s “Tree Town” legacy and how professional tree care can help you maximize the benefits of your outdoor spaces.

A Trip Down Memory Lane: Why Is Ann Arbor Called “Tree Town?”

Firstly, it’s important to understand the city’s actual name: Ann Arbor. “Arbor” is Latin for tree.

Back in 1824, land speculators John Allen and Elisha Walker Rumsey purchased 640 acres of land from the federal government at $1.25 an acre. The name “Arbor” comes from stands of bur oaks that filled the original plot of land.

Both John Allen’s wife and Elisha Walker Rumsey’s wife were named Ann, so they also decided to name the city after them. Thus, “Ann Arbor” was established. In 1833, it was incorporated as a village.

Fun Fact: A group of land speculators, known as The Ann Arbor Land Company, offered 40 acres of undeveloped land to be used as the site of the state capitol. But the bid was lost to Lansing. In 1833, those 40 acres instead became the site of the University of Michigan.

More Than a Story: Tree Town Today

The nickname “Tree Town” is partially due to the city’s actual name, and partially due to the extensive urban forest that makes up Ann Arbor. Today, over 1.45 million trees line the parks, streets, yards, and commercial properties of the city. It is considered one of the greenest cities in the country, as well as the third most serene place to live in the US.

Ann Arbor sustainably maintains more than 7,000 trees in public parks and over 40,000 street trees. The city boasts of its proactive Urban and Community Forest Management Plan that prioritizes tree maintenance, continual planting, community education, and pest and disease monitoring to ensure a strong, resilient, diverse, and beautiful tree canopy for decades to come.

All of this works together to create a beautiful, green city that is a pleasure to walk in, play in, live in, and of course, attend university in.

Tree Town and The University of Michigan

It’s hard to talk about Ann Arbor and not mention the University of Michigan. Our city’s economy relies heavily on the university. And the school owns 18% of the land in Ann Arbor.

This university ranks among the most beautiful college campuses in the US, and it has a lot to do with the amount of greenery present in the city and on campus. There’s no doubt that potential students visit the campus, see how beautiful it is, and experience how seamlessly it blends into the tree-lined streets of the city.

As a city that heavily relies on new students attending school each fall, the beauty of “Tree Town” certainly plays a role in convincing them to choose UofM. With 37% of full-time jobs in the city tied to the University, it’s easy to see why this is important.

How Residents Benefit from Ann Arbor’s Extensive Tree Canopy

Having more than a million trees within city limits doesn’t just make our city more beautiful. Although that’s a major benefit, there are real, tangible, economic benefits to our city’s tree canopy.

The publicly managed trees alone provide more than $4.6 million in benefits to our local community. Here are a few of those benefits that residents get to enjoy.

1. Trees Conserve Energy and Moderate Seasonal Temperatures

The tree canopy in A2 covers 33% of land in the city. And both the city and the UofM have a plan to achieve a 40% tree canopy in the coming years.

These trees cool the air with the shade they provide and through evapotranspiration, where trees pull moisture from the soil and release it into the air through the leaves, creating a cooling effect. This cools homes and businesses, saving money on utility bills. This also reduces the urban heat island effect, keeping the entire city cooler and more comfortable.

In winter, trees act as windbreaks that limit the amount of cold wind hitting buildings, reducing the need for gas, oil, or electric heating and their corresponding carbon emissions.

2. Our Trees Improve Local Air Quality

Trees are extremely effective at removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, leading to cleaner air. By prioritizing the urban forest, cities like Ann Arbor enjoy cleaner, fresher air with fewer airborne pollutants than cities with less tree coverage.

The canopy in Tree Town removes as much as 405 tons of pollution per year, or about as much pollution generated by 358,000 cars annually. This can potentially mitigate the negative health effects of air pollution by reducing pollutants like ozone, intercepting dust or smoke, and releasing oxygen.

3. Trees Reduce Stormwater Runoff and Improve Water Quality

Stormwater water runoff is surface water that cannot be absorbed into the ground. When a storm hits a typical city, most of the water lands on hard surfaces, like roads and sidewalks. Without a place to soak into the ground, this runoff can pose serious flooding concerns.

Runoff can also carry large amounts of surface impurities and pollutants to nearby waterways, like the beloved Huron River that runs through town. But our extensive urban forest helps to capture much of this runoff, absorbing and storing it in the soil and limiting the amount that spills into local waterways.

Leaves and branches also delay the amount of rainfall reaching the ground, which can limit total runoff. As the soil absorbs runoff, tree roots act as a filter, capturing pollutants and cleaning the water.

4. Tree Town Is a Beautiful City that Residents Love

Ask most residents about our trees and they’ll likely tell you how they appreciate the beauty, the shady parks and sidewalks, the fall colors, and the birds these trees support. Our trees improve the aesthetics of our homes and communities and make the city a desirable place to live.

Trees, even in the city, can help boost mental and physical health. A study by the University of Michigan has shown that exposure to nature can help reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety, especially in young people.

5. Mature Trees Boost Property Values

Mature trees, and lots of them, have been shown over and over again to increase the value of homes. A well landscaped yard with mature trees can increase the value of a home by 7% to 19%.

Studies show that homeowners who invest in tree plantings and landscaping can get 100% or more of their money back when they go to sell. And homes with trees tend to sell faster than those without.

Even in Tree Town, Trees Need Continual Care

It’s important to note that not all trees are beneficial to homeowners or to the city of Ann Arbor. Trees need care and maintenance to stay healthy and provide the many benefits listed above. Urban trees that are neglected can easily develop unsightly growth, diseases, pest problems, or become a nuisance or even a hazard.

That’s why the city of Ann Arbor has an extensive plan to maintain its more than 50,000 public trees. Trees require regular pruning at a bare minimum, and some may need consistent fertilization or other services to grow into robust, mature, and reliable trees, due to the less-than-favorable growing conditions in urban environments.

Most of the 1.5 million trees in Tree Town are on private property, so it’s up to property owners to maintain their trees so that our city can continue to live up to its name for generations to come. If you need help with that, check out our tree services in Ann Arbor to keep your trees healthy, safe, and beautiful for generations to come.

Let Highland Tree Services Help with Your Tree Town Trees

If you value the trees on your Ann Arbor property and want them to continue providing shade, summer cooling, stormwater runoff, natural beauty, and more, then it’s important to have your trees professionally maintained.

Our expert team here at Highland Tree Services exclusively serves the Ann Arbor area. We know our trees, our climate, and what it takes to ensure health and beauty for years and decades to come.

If your trees need pruning, if you need to have a problem tree removed, or if you just need your trees to be inspected for potential issues, then call us at (734) 999-3880 or use our online form to request a tree work proposal today.