Chelsea, Michigan
Chelsea is a city of 5,426 people in Washtenaw County, Michigan, founded in 2004.
Why visit Chelsea
Townapedia lists 5 museums and landmarks, 6 parks and trails, 14 places to eat and 2 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Purple Rose Theatre Company, Purple Rose, Chelsea Commercial Historic District and George W. Palmer House.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 82°F; January lows average 16°F, and about 33 inches of snow fall in a normal year.
Weather in Chelsea
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Chelsea
Chelsea is a city in Washtenaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 5,467 at the 2020 census. Located approximately 15 miles west of Ann Arbor, the city is recognized for its vibrant arts community, historic downtown, and strong civic identity. Chelsea also serves as a regional hub for outdoor recreation, due to its proximity to state parks, trails, lakes and rivers.
From the Wikipedia article Chelsea, Michigan (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do2
Purple Rose Theatre Company
Cinema and theater · 0.4 mi
Business in Chelsea, Michigan, USA
Museums and landmarks5
Chelsea Commercial Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.5 mi
Historic district in Chelsea, Michigan, United States
George W. Palmer House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.5 mi
Building in Michigan, United States
Michigan Central Railroad Chelsea Depot
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.5 mi
Railway station in Chelsea, the United States of America
Saint Mary's School
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Parks, trails and playgrounds6
Restaurants and cafes14
Brahma Haus
Fast food · Burger, Ice Cream, Mediterranean · 0.6 mi
512 West Main Street
Tu-Sa 11:00-20:00
2 more on the map.
History
The area was first settled as early as 1820 within the Michigan Territory by settler Cyrus Beckwith. It would be organized as Sylvan Township in 1834. The Michigan Central Railroad constructed a line through the area in 1848, and a post office was first established on January 4, 1849. It was originally named Kendon. The name was changed to Chelsea on July 19, 1850 when the train station opened and community was formally platted. The name Chelsea came from Elisha Congdon, who suggested the name after his hometown of Chelsea, Massachusetts. Chelsea incorporated as a village in 1889. The Chelsea courthouse is housed in a 120-year-old bank building in downtown.
The village of Chelsea incorporated into a city in 2004. In 2011, the downtown area of Chelsea was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Chelsea Commercial Historic District.
In April 2025, some 300 residents of the town formed a human chain to help move 9,100 books for a bookstore to a new location.
From the History section of Chelsea, Michigan on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Churches and places of worship7
Immanuel Bible Church - Chelsea
Church · Nondenominational · 0.4 mi
20501 West Old US Highway 12, Chelsea
Shopping1
Gas and EV charging4
Schools, colleges and libraries7
Healthcare3
Chelsea Family Practice and Specialty Services
Clinic and pharmacy
14700 East Old US Highway 12, Chelsea
Map of Chelsea
49 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31°F | 16°F | 2.4 in | 10.9 in |
| Feb | 34°F | 17°F | 2.0 in | 8.6 in |
| Mar | 44°F | 25°F | 2.2 in | 4.7 in |
| Apr | 58°F | 37°F | 3.0 in | 0.9 in |
| May | 70°F | 48°F | 3.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 79°F | 56°F | 3.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 82°F | 61°F | 3.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 80°F | 59°F | 3.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 74°F | 51°F | 2.7 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 61°F | 40°F | 3.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 47°F | 31°F | 2.6 in | 1.8 in |
| Dec | 36°F | 23°F | 2.1 in | 6.0 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Chelsea (1 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Washtenaw County has had 8 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2026-06-30: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Flood)
- 2021-07-15: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes (Severe Storm)
- 2020-03-27: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2005-09-07: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation (Hurricane)
- 2004-06-30: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Ann Arbor Municipal Airport (ARB) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 16 miles away.
- Grass Lake 10 mi southwest, about 17 min by car
- Pinckney 11 mi north, about 17 min by car
- Manchester 11 mi south, about 18 min by car
- Stockbridge 12 mi northwest, about 20 min by car
- Ann Arbor 15 mi east, about 24 min by car
- Clinton 17 mi south, about 27 min by car
- Brighton 19 mi northeast, about 31 min by car
- Jackson 20 mi west, about 33 min by car
- Ypsilanti 21 mi east, about 34 min by car
- Howell 21 mi north, about 34 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
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Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Chelsea Michigan Clocktower, Dwight Burdette, CC0
- DowntownChelseaMI, Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0
- George W Palmer House Chelsea Michigan, Dwight Burdette, CC BY 3.0
- ChelseaMIDepot, Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Saint Mary's School Chelsea Michigan, Dwight Burdette, CC BY 3.0
- Purple Rose Theatre Night, Thomas Macias, CC BY-SA 4.0
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