The City of Ypsilanti has 20,000 residents, spans 4.5 square miles, and is known for its rich history, Huron River parks, and as the home of Eastern Michigan University. The City’s mission is to work creatively and collaboratively to enhance the natural and built environment so that its population grows and thrives. Ypsilanti's business community is a mixture of traditional manufacturing firms with small arts- and tech-based companies. The city combines one of Michigan's largest local historic districts, centered on its older neighborhoods and downtown, with a Redevelopment Ready Certification. Located on I-94, between US-23 and I-275, Ypsilanti is on the eastern edge of Ann Arbor and half an hour from downtown Detroit.