Westland, Michigan

Westland, Michigan
City
City of Westland
(pronounced: West Land', not West'lind)

Westland City Hall

Flag
Seal
Nickname(s): An all American City.

Location of Westland within Michigan
Westland, Michigan

Location in the United States

Coordinates: 42°19′27″N 83°24′1″W / 42.32417°N 83.40028°W / 42.32417; -83.40028
Country United States
State Michigan
County Wayne
Government
 • Mayor William R. Wild
Area[1]
 • City 20.45 sq mi (52.97 km2)
 • Land 20.43 sq mi (52.91 km2)
 • Water 0.02 sq mi (0.05 km2)
Elevation 666 ft (199 m)
Population (2010)[2]
 • City 84,094
 • Estimate (2012[3]) 82,883
 • Density 4,116.2/sq mi (1,589.3/km2)
 • Metro 4,296,250 (Detroit metro)
Time zone EST (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP codes 48185-48186
Area code(s) 734
FIPS code 26-86000[4]
GNIS feature ID 1616212[5]
Website http://www.cityofwestland.com

Westland is a city in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located about 16 miles (26 km) west of downtown Detroit. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 84,094.[6] It is the 10th largest city and 12th largest municipality in Michigan.

Politics

The Westland City Hall Sign

The current mayor of Westland is William (Bill) Wild. During his first term as President of the Westland City Council, Mr. Wild was appointed as mayor after Mayor Sandra A. Cicirelli was elected as judge of the 18th District Court in November 2006. Mr. Wild took office in January 2007 and continues to serve as mayor.

In the judicial branch of government, Sandra A. Ference Cicirelli and Mark A. McConnell. Cicirelli have served all three branches of government in the City of Westland. The legislative body of Westland is the City Council, which contains seven members. The current President of the City Council is James Godbout.

In addition to Mr. Godbout, Michael Kehrer, William (Bill) Johnson and Dewey Reeves, the three more recent members are Christine Cicirelli Bryant and Adam Hammons first elected in 2009, and Kevin Coleman who was recently elected as of November, 2013. Ranking in the following order for the 2013 election, Cicirelli Bryant, Coleman, Keher, then Reeves, they will all serve a four-year term duration with the exception of Reeves, with a two-year term.

History

Early history

The Octagon House, part of the Westland Historical Park
Nankin Mills

During the 18th century, the area was inhabited by the people of a Potawatomi Native American village. Other tribes, particularly three Algonquian tribes, used the area as hunting territory.

Before becoming Westland, the area had several other names. Though white settlers did not begin to settle the area until about 1824, they began passing through at the beginning of the 19th century.

Bucklin Township was first organized in 1827 and included what is now the cities of Westland, Livonia, Garden City, Inkster, Wayne, Dearborn, Dearborn Heights and Redford Township.

By an act of the Michigan Territorial Legislature, October 20, 1829, Bucklin was divided into Lima and Richland townships. However, due to a naming conflict under postal regulations at that time, Lima was renamed Nankin Township, after the Chinese city Nanking, and Richland as Pekin Township, named after Peking, though Pekin became Redford Township in 1833.

In 1835, Livonia Township was split off from Nankin. Wayne incorporated as a village in 1869 and as a city in 1960. Garden City incorporated as a village in 1927 and as a city in 1933. Inkster incorporated as a village in 1926 and as a city in 1964.

Nankin Mills (located at 33175 Ann Arbor Trail) was built in 1842[7] as a gristmill and used by area farmers who once farmed this area. In 1916, Henry Ford purchased the mill and restored it as part of his Village Industries project devised as a way to allow farmers to work in the growing auto industry without having to move off their farms. Once restored, the mill was used to make stencils for Ford Motor Company. The automaker eventually sold the mill to Wayne County, and the historic building is now home to Wayne County Parks, which houses an interpretive center with exhibits on the natural and cultural history of the area and also hosts community events.

Eloise in the far southeast of the city began when the County Home for the poor was relocated here in 1839 from Gratiot Avenue. It later evolved into a sanitorium largely for treating tuberculosis and then was made Wayne County General Hospital in 1945. It had a post office named Eloise starting in 1894.[8]

The Norwayne subdivision is one of the oldest areas of the city, having existed for over 65 years. The area was built immediately after World War II to provide temporary housing for returning soldiers who worked in nearby factories. In late 2009 the City of Westland received $2.061 million to radically clean up, restore and rehabilitate this historic district. This is through Stimulus/Recovery funds and was allocated under the NSP - Neighborhood Stabilization Program of 2008. Please see the City of Westland Development for additional details. This project is expected to be completed by 2013 and was highlighted in the 2009 State of the City mayoral address.

Later history

The Westland Center

By 1960, Nankin's population had increased to 70,000, giving the area the distinction of being the world's largest township. During the early 1960s, the city of Livonia wanted to annex the part of Nankin in which a large shopping mall, Westland Shopping Center, was to be built. The shopping center eventually opened in 1965, joining Northland and Eastland malls in Southfield and Harper Woods, respectively. In reaction to Livonia's annexation attempts, the people of Nankin voted on May 16, 1966, to change the remainder of the township to the City of Westland. At that time, it was the fourth largest city in Wayne County.

View from Ford rd in central Westland, MI

Education

John Glenn High School

Westland and the city of Wayne form the Wayne-Westland Community School District. There are four high schools, John Glenn, Tinkham Center, and William D. Ford Career Tech Center in Westland, and Wayne Memorial in Wayne. There is a historical site, Perrinsville School in Westland on Warren Road. Nearly all students that live in the city of Wayne go to Wayne Memorial High School, along with some residents of Van Buren Township, Inkster, Romulus, Canton and southern Westland. Students in central Westland and portions of northern Westland, as well as isolated areas of neighboring Inkster and Canton, attend John Glenn High School. The northernmost portions of Westland are in the Livonia Public Schools district.[9]

Portions of Westland that had been in the Taylor School District prior to the 2013 dissolution of the Inkster School District are assigned to Taylor Parks Elementary School,[10] Hoover Middle School,[11] and Harry S. Truman High School in Taylor.[12]

Portions in Livonia School District are assigned to Hayes (in Westland), Rosedale, Garfield, and Cleveland K-4 elementary schools.[13][14] 5-6 elementary schools include Johnson Upper Elementary School (in Westland) and Cooper Upper Elementary School (in Westland). Livonia SD middle schools serving Westland include Frost and Emerson. Livonia SD high schools serving Westland include Churchill High School and Franklin High School.[13][15]

There is a portion of southeastern Westland that is currently divided between Romulus Community Schools and the Taylor School District that was previously assigned to the Inkster School District.[16][17] Romulus Senior High School is the assigned high school for Romulus students. Students in the Inkster zone previously attended Inkster High School.

There is a charter school in Westland, Universal Learning Academy.

Private schools:

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 20.45 square miles (52.97 km2), of which 20.43 square miles (52.91 km2) is land and 0.02 square miles (0.05 km2) is water.[1]

Demographics

The 18th District Court, located in Westland
Historical population
Census Pop. %±
19309,806—
194015,83861.5%
195030,40792.0%
196060,74399.8%
197086,74942.8%
198084,603−2.5%
199084,7240.1%
200086,6022.2%
201084,094−2.9%
Est. 201582,000[18]−2.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[19]

2010 census

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 84,094 people, 35,886 households, and 21,289 families residing in the city. The population density was 4,116.2 inhabitants per square mile (1,589.3/km2). There were 39,201 housing units at an average density of 1,918.8 per square mile (740.9/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 75.8% White, 17.2% African American, 0.5% Native American, 3.0% Asian, 1.1% from other races, and 2.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.8% of the population.

There were 35,886 households of which 29.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.5% were married couples living together, 16.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 40.7% were non-families. 34.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.98.

The median age in the city was 38.3 years. 22.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27.7% were from 25 to 44; 26.6% were from 45 to 64; and 14% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.5% male and 52.5% female.

2000 census

As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 86,602 people, 36,533 households, and 22,248 families residing in the city. The population density was 4,234.9 per square mile (1,635.1/km²). There were 38,077 housing units at an average density of 1,862.0 per square mile (718.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 87.21% White, 6.77% African American, 0.46% Native American, 2.81% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.67% from other races, and 2.04% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.47% of the population.

There were 36,533 households out of which 28.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.4% were married couples living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.1% were non-families. 32.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the city the population was spread out with 23.3% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 33.9% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 92.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $46,308, and the median income for a family was $55,323. Males had a median income of $45,111 versus $30,143 for females. The per capita income for the city was $22,615. About 4.7% of families and 6.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.6% of those under age 18 and 6.9% of those age 65 or over.

City services

The William P. Faust Public Library

Westland has a full-time police department and fire department. The fire department offers advanced EMS, fire protection and prevention, and several specialized rescue teams.

The Westland Public Library offers books, magazines, CDs, playaways, videos, DVDs and electronic materials through access to subscription databases.

As of January 1, 2013, the City of Westland's Park and Recreation division has merged with the City of Wayne's Park and Recreation division, allowing both cities to save on cost. The bi-lateral agreement also allows for citizens of Westland to use the City of Wayne pool at a resident rate.

With a long-standing history of sharing city services, in 2012 the cities of Wayne and Westland merged their fire departments. The cities saved an instant combined $250,000. The 88 uniformed personnel respond to over 15,000 calls a year making Wayne/Westland the busiest suburban fire department for call volume in southeast Michigan.

Notable people

References

  1. 1 2 "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-11-25.
  2. 1 2 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-11-25.
  3. ↑ "Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2013-06-03.
  4. 1 2 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  5. ↑ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  6. ↑ "Race, Hispanic or Latino, Age, and Housing Occupancy: 2010 Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171) Summary File (QT-PL), Westland city, Michigan". U.S. Census Bureau, American FactFinder 2. Retrieved September 8, 2011.
  7. ↑ Images of America-Westland by Daryl Baily and Sherrye Louise Huggins Bailey, 2004
  8. ↑ Romig, Michigan Place Names, p. 182
  9. ↑ Wayne RESA School District Map
  10. ↑ "Elementary School Boundary Map." Taylor School District. Retrieved on April 20, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Middle School Boundary Map." Taylor School District. Retrieved on April 20, 2014.
  12. ↑ "High School Boundary Map." Taylor School District. Retrieved on April 20, 2014.
  13. 1 2 "Official Zoning Map." City of Westland. September 2014. Retrieved on April 21, 2016.
  14. ↑ "K-4 Elementary areas." Livonia School District. Retrieved on April 21, 2016.
  15. ↑ "Upper elementary areas, middle school areas, and high school areas." Livonia School District. Retrieved on April 21, 2016.
  16. ↑ "NEW SCHOOL DISTRICT BOUNDARIES FOR INKSTER RESIDENTS" (Map). Wayne RESA. Retrieved on April 20, 2014.
  17. ↑ "Street Jurisdiction Map" (Archive) City of Westland. Retrieved on April 20, 2014.
  18. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  19. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  20. ↑ Clemens, Paul. "Breakdown ‘Detroit: An American Autopsy,’ by Charlie LeDuff." The New York Times. February 22, 2013. Retrieved on July 12, 2014.
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Coordinates: 42°19′27″N 83°24′1″W / 42.32417°N 83.40028°W / 42.32417; -83.40028

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