Livonia is a city in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan.[ The population was 95,535 at the 2020 census, which ranked it as Michigan's ninth most-populated municipality.]
Livonia is a part of Metro Detroit and is located about west of the city limits of Detroit, separated only by Redford Township. Originally organized as Livonia Township in 1835, it incorporated as a city in 1950.
History
After most members of the indigenous tribes were pushed out of the area, ethnic European-American pioneers from New England and New York settled here. The borders of Livonia Township were defined by the Legislature of the Territory of Michigan on March 17, 1835.
The settlers named the community "Livonia", after Livonia, New York, a town in the western part of the state from where many had migrated.[ "The name Livonia was chosen because a number of the earliest settlers had come from western New York, where there was also a town named Livonia."][City of Livonia. History. Retrieved on January 11, 2009.]Walter Romig (1986). 081431838X, Wayne State University Press. 081431838X
Livonia Township was split off from Nankin Township, in which a Livonia post office had been established in June 1834.[ Democratic Free Press (Detroit, Michigan) June 18, 1834, p. 2] During the days of the township, a number of small communities developed. One of these was Elmwood, initially known as McKinley's Station. It was a stop on the Detroit, Lansing and Northern Railroad. It had a separate post office from 1858 until 1906.[Walter Romig, Michigan Place Names, p. 182] Another post office in the township was Giltedge, which operated from 1899 until 1902.[Romig, Michigan Place Names, p. 224]
Livonia was incorporated as a city on May 23, 1950, by vote of the citizens of the civil township. An incentive was that this status would allow the residents to gain tax revenues from the Detroit Race Course (DRC). From 1985 it ran only harness racing for Standardbred, and the track closed in 1998, when the large property was sold for redevelopment. The last race tracks operating in the state were Hazel Park Raceway, which closed in 2018, and Northville Downs, which closed in 2019.
Among the immigrants attracted to Detroit for its industrial jobs in the 20th century have been Palestinian and Lebanese Christians, as well as Muslims. By 1985, Palestinian Christians had settled in Livonia, as well as the western suburbs of Farmington and Westland.[ Present Tense, Volumes 13–15. American Jewish Committee, 1985. p. 36] As of 2005, there were a number of Christian Palestinian Americans who had immigrated from Ramallah. They have developed and operated several small and medium-sized businesses.[Hassoun, Rosina J. Arab Americans in Michigan (Discovering the Peoples of Michigan). MSU Press, October 24, 2005. , 9781609170462. p. PT21 of Google Books.]
Six U.S. presidents have visited Livonia: Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and is water.
Demographics
According to a 2010 American Community Survey, the median income for a household in the city was $65,391, and the median income for a family was $77,119. Males had a median income of $62,071 versus $42,083 for females. The per capita income for the city was $29,536. About 5.4% of families and 7.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.6% of those under age 18 and 3.8% of those age 65 or over.
2010 census
As of the census
There were 38,714 households, of which 29.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.9% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 30.6% were non-families. Of all households 26.7% were made up of individuals, and 13.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.01.
The median age in the city was 44.5 years. 20.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.2% were from 25 to 44; 31.5% were from 45 to 64; and 17.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.3% male and 51.7% female.
2000 census
As of the census
There were 38,089 households, out of which 32.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.8% were married couples living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.3% were non-families. Of all households 22.9% were made up of individuals, and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.07.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 23.8% under the age of 18, 6.3% was from 18 to 24, 28.7% was from 25 to 44, 24.3% was from 45 to 64, and 16.9% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.8 males.
As of 2000, Livonia was the city in the United States with over 100,000 people that had the highest percentage of non-Hispanic white people.[" Race and Ethnicity in the Tri-County Area: Selected Communities and School Districts." ( Archive) From a Child's Perspective: Detroit Metropolitan Census 2000 Fact Sheets Series. Wayne State University. June 2002. Volume 2, Issue 2. p. 1. Retrieved on November 10, 2013.]
Economy
In addition to its schools, colleges, churches, parks, recreation center, libraries and the St. Mary Mercy Hospital, Livonia also has commercial and industrial sectors, and . Laurel Park Place, an upscale fashion mall with 74 stores, was built in 1989 at 6 Mile Road and Newburgh Road. Carson's and Von Maur department stores serve as anchors.
The city previously featured two other malls which have since been dismantled. Wonderland Mall was the first, opening in 1959 and closing in 2003; it was replaced with a development called Wonderland Village, anchored by Walmart and Target. Livonia Mall was built to the north in 1964. It also closed in 2008 and was redeveloped as Livonia Marketplace, featuring a second Walmart, along with Sears and Kohl's. Other are located near Laurel Park Place.
Livonia is home to the Livonia Hockey Association, the largest amateur hockey association in Michigan, as well as two-time state champions the Livonia Knights. The city also boasts the Livonia City Soccer Club, one of the largest soccer programs in the state, with 1,300 participants.
Leading employers
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Ford Motor Company
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Trinity Health
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Livonia Public Schools
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St. Mary Mercy Hospital
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NYX, Inc
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ZF Automotive
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Schoolcraft College
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Roush Performance
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United Parcel Service
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Mastronardi Produce
Arts and culture
The Livonia Public Library includes the Civic Center Library, the Alfred Noble Library, the Carl Sandburg Library, and the Vest Pocket Library.[" Hours and Locations ." Livonia Public Library. Retrieved on March 29, 2010.]
Government
Livonia's mayor is Maureen Miller Brosnan. The city is located in Michigan's 11th congressional district. Livonia is in Michigan's 7th State Senate District, and is represented by Dayna Polehanki (Democrat).
Most of Livonia makes up Michigan's 19th State House District which elected Laurie Pohutsky (Democrat) in 2018. A part of southeast Livonia is in the 11th district which is represented by, Jewell Jones (Democrat).
Education
Colleges and universities
Various private and public colleges and universities are located in Livonia, including Madonna University, Schoolcraft College, and a small University of Phoenix campus. The most recent university to open in Livonia is a Davenport University campus, which opened in 2008.
Primary and secondary schools
Public schools
Most of Livonia is served by the Livonia Public Schools district, consisting of two early childhood centers, thirteen elementary schools, four upper elementary Schools, three middle schools and three high schools. The district also serves students in portions of Westland. A portion of northeast Livonia is served by the Clarenceville School District.
There are currently four high schools in Livonia, all of which are public: Franklin, Churchill and Stevenson high schools in the Livonia Public Schools district; and Clarenceville High School in the Clarenceville Public School District. Ladywood High School, a Catholic all-girls private school run by the Felician Sisters, closed in 2018. Bentley High School, the first high school built in the district, closed in 1985.
Each high school in the Livonia Public School District offers a different educational program. Stevenson High School is the home of the school of Global Education, an alternative education model which combines students' English and social studies classes with a focus on the student's role in the world. Churchill houses the MSC (Math/Science/Computer) and CAPA (Creative and Performing Arts) programs. Franklin currently offers an International Baccalaureate program for select students.
Frost Middle School houses the Middle School Alternative Classrooms for the Academically Talented (MACAT) program. The public K-6 Webster Elementary School is home to the Alternative Classrooms for the Academically Talented (ACAT) program, as well as many after-school programs. Webster also has classes for disabled children. In 2008, the original Webster school was burned down by an arsonist, and Webster was moved to a closed-down school, Tyler Elementary.
Alternative schools
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CAPA, a performance art program at Churchill high school
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MSC (Math, Science, Computers) a program for the academically gifted housed at Churchill High School.
Private schools
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Ladywood High School, a private, Roman Catholic, all-girls high school in Livonia
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St. Edith and St. Michael Catholic grade schools
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St. Michael the Archangel School - The school began on September 21, 1942, and the building used for the school had a second story installed after the archdiocese granted permission for this on November 9, 1943. The addition was installed from January to May 1944. There were 345 students for the 1944–1945 school year. On September 24, 1997 construction began for a new addition with a cost of $3.4 million. Construction finished before September 8, 1998, with dedication on October 11 of that year. The addition included a cafeteria, a library, a gymnasium, a computer lab, and six classrooms.
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Peace Lutheran School (Pre-K-8)
St. Genevieve Catholic School closed in 2016.
Media
The Metro Detroit–area newspapers are the Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News. The Livonia Observer is printed twice a week, on Thursdays and Sundays.
The newspaper Between the Lines and the website PrideSource are headquartered in Livonia.[" About Us ". PrideSource. Retrieved on April 14, 2014. "Mailing address Pride Source Media Group Between The Lines Newspaper 20222 Farmington Road Livonia, Michigan 48152"]
Infrastructure
Transportation
Livonia has limited access to public bus service through the Detroit Department of Transportation.
In 2012, the National Motorists Association released the results of a public poll on the "Worst Speed Trap Cities" in North America. Livonia was listed at #2.
Notable people
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Janet M. Anderson, commercial artist who depicted Detroit
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Chuck Behler, musician, drummer for Megadeth 1987–1989
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Doug Brzezinski, former NFL player for the Philadelphia Eagles and the Carolina Panthers
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Bernie Carbo, Major League Baseball outfielder from 1969 to 1980 (Franklin High School Class of 1965)
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Charlie Collins, member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from Fayetteville
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Chris Conner, professional hockey player for the Washington Capitals
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Mike Cox, former Attorney General of Michigan
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Nancy Jane Dean, teacher and Presbyterian missionary in Persia
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Warren Defever, musician and producer
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Mike Donnelly, professional hockey player for five NHL teams
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Judy Greer, actress
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Charlie Haeger, pitcher for three Major League Baseball teams
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Al Iafrate, professional hockey player for four NHL teams
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Ryan Kesler,
[ NHL Players from Livonia, Michigan | QuantHockey.com Last retrieved on March 19, 2011] professional hockey player for the Anaheim Ducks
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Jeff Lerg, professional hockey player for the New Jersey Devils
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Mike Modano, professional hockey player, inducted into Hockey Hall of Fame
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David Moss, hockey player for the Phoenix Coyotes
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Cecilia Muñoz, director of the White House Domestic Policy Council
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Aaron Palushaj, professional hockey player for the Brynäs IF
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FP Santangelo, Major League Baseball player 1995–2001
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Dana Schutz, painter
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Tim Shaw, professional football player for four NFL teams
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Chris Tancill, professional hockey player for four NHL teams
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Sheila Taormina, athlete, 1996 Summer Olympics swimming gold medalist in Relay race; four-time Olympian (1996, 2000, 2004, and 2008 Summer Olympics); first woman to qualify in three different Olympics sports events (freestyle swimming, triathlon and modern pentathlon)
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Ken Westerfield, disc sport (Frisbee) pioneer, athlete
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Jonathan B. Wright, stage and film actor
==Images==
See also
Further reading
External links
