Northville Township, officially the Charter Township of Northville, is a
charter township of
Wayne County in the U.S. state of
Michigan
Michigan () is a U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest, upper Midwestern United States. With a population of nearly 10.12 million and an area of nearly , Michigan is the List of U.S. states and ...
and a
suburb in
Metro Detroit
The Detroit metropolitan area, often referred to as Metro Detroit, is a major metropolitan area in the U.S. State of Michigan, consisting of the city of Detroit and its Southeast Michigan, surrounding area. There are varied definitions of the a ...
. The population was 28,497 at the
2010 census.
The
City of Northville is adjacent to the northern part of the township but is administratively autonomous. Portions of Northville Township were incorporated into the Village of Northville, which later incorporated as the City of Northville. Portions of the township have also since been annexed to the city. The most recent annexation was property owned by the City of Northville as part of the Rural Hill Cemetery. The entire township is served by the Northville District Library and by its own police and fire departments.
Geography
According to the
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of t ...
, the township has a total area of , of which is land and (2.29%) is water.
History
While the village of Northville developed within the borders of Plymouth Township from the 1820s, Northville Township itself did not exist until 1898. At that time, local residents, allegedly feeling slighted by Plymouth Township officials being more focused on Plymouth Village, decided to split off into a separate township. In this way, the former Plymouth "SuperTownship" (which formerly included all of Canton, Plymouth, and Northville Townships) became split into Plymouth Township and Northville Township.
Northville Township later became a charter township in 1985.
1907 Salem Train Crash
The 1907 Salem Train Crash occurred in what is now Northville Township, approximately a quarter mile east of Napier Road and a quarter mile north of Five Mile Road. 34 individuals lost their lives in the deadliest passenger train crash in Michigan history.
ZIP code
In response to the rapid growth of the township, a new 48168
ZIP code was introduced in June 2005 to those living south of Seven Mile Road. Those living on or north of the road (as well as those living in the city of
Northville) kept the 48167 zip code, as well as any residents with a 48170 ZIP code (
Plymouth).
2009 budget crisis and proposed public safety layoffs
In late September 2009, just more than a month after the hospital property purchase, the Northville Township Board of Trustees stated that they were operating with a budget deficit. The Board began the process of asking department heads and directors to find ways to cut their budgets. One of the proposed cuts was the laying off of 5 police officers and 2 public safety dispatchers, roughly a 15-20% reduction in police manpower. The Northville Township police union went door-to-door passing out flyers to educate the public on the board proposed cuts and to invite the public to voice their opinions on the issue to the township Board of Trustees.
On October 1, 2009, Northville Township residents voiced their displeasure over proposed public safety cuts on the 2010 budget. Several of the residents in attendance criticized the Township Board of Trustees for not doing more to maintain the public safety department. Board members came under scrutiny for supporting the August ballot initiative to buy the of the former Northville Regional Psychiatric Hospital property, knowing that there was a budget shortfall. Several residents argued that the Board should have asked for a millage to support their current level of service, instead of asking voters to support the land purchase. Township trustees stated that the two issues were unrelated.
On October 15, 2009, a little more than two months after the Psychiatric Hospital property vote, the Northville Township Board of Trustees approved the 2010 fiscal budget. The budget, as approved, authorized the laying off of 5 police officers and 2 public safety dispatchers. The budget also required many of the township's non-union employees to take mandatory furlough days. In an attempt to prevent police layoffs, a local lottery winner proposed to give Northville Township the money necessary to make up for the alleged public safety budget deficit, approximately $640,000. The Board of Trustees turned down the offer stating that one of its conditions, the maintenance of current public safety staffing, was not a condition they could legally accept. The Board of Trustees stated that if the police officers’ union were to agree to concessions, then the layoffs would be avoided. Residents continued to publicly voice their displeasure with the Board's decision, with some residents even suggesting a possible campaign to recall the members of the township board.
Demographics
As of the
census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses in ...
of 2000, there were 21,036 people, 8,119 households, and 5,569 families residing in the township. The population density was . There were 8,480 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the township was 89.31%
White
White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White o ...
, 4.39%
African American
African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...
, 0.28%
Native American, 4.30%
Asian, 0.03%
Pacific Islander
Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the Pacific Islands. As an ethnic/racial term, it is used to describe the original peoples—inhabitants and diasporas—of any of the three major subregions of O ...
, 0.44% from
other races
Other often refers to:
* Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy
Other or The Other may also refer to:
Film and television
* ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack
* ''The Other'' (1930 film), a ...
, and 1.25% from two or more races.
Hispanic
The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad.
The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to viceroyalties forme ...
or
Latino
Latino or Latinos most often refers to:
* Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America
* Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States
* The people or cultures of Latin America;
** Latin A ...
of any race were 1.77% of the population.
There were 8,119 households, out of which 28.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.5% were
married couples living together, 6.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.4% were non-families. 26.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the township the population was spread out, with 21.4% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 28.8% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.2 males.
According to a 2007 estimate the median income for a household in the township was $98,054, and the median income for a family was $123,509. Males had a median income of $76,460 versus $43,198 for females. The
per capita income
Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population.
Per capita i ...
for the township was $40,258. About 1.4% of families and 2.5% of the population were below the
poverty line
The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for t ...
, including 2.3% of those under age 18 and 3.3% of those age 65 or over.
Between 2000 and 2010, the Asian American population in Northville Township increased from 891 to 3,205, a 260% increase.
Economy
ZF Group North American Operations is based in Northville Township.
Government and infrastructure
The
Michigan Department of Corrections
The Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) oversees prisons and the parole and probation population in the state of Michigan, United States. It has 31 prison facilities, and a Special Alternative Incarceration program, together composing appr ...
operated the
Western Wayne Correctional Facility in the township. It closed on December 20, 2004. Northville Township's local government is made up of an elected Township Supervisor, Clerk, Treasurer and four Trustees.
Highways
* / (concurrent highways)
*, travels just south of the township in neighboring
Plymouth Township
*, named locally as Eight Mile Road; roadway does not carry the M-102 state designation through Northville Township
Northville Regional Psychiatric Hospital
The Northville Regional Psychiatric Hospital (NRPH) is located on a large (400+ acres) property on 7 Mile Road on the eastern side of the township. It was built in 1952, closed in 2003, and was demolished in 2018.
2002–2006
It was announced that the NRPH was to be closed by the Department of Community Health (DCH) on November 18, 2002. By May 2003 all patients had been transferred to a community setting or another state run psychiatric facility. Due to ineffective controls and oversight of the NRPH's closing in 2003, and purchasing, receiving, and payment processes, there is still much unused and used equipment left in the buildings that lost all value during storage. The hospital was closed because of several reasons. First, a declining number of patients in the statewide mental health system. Second, a decline in the workforce, resulting from an early retirement rate, caused the hospital to be shut down. At the time of the closing NPH had 536 employees and 239 patients. The property was sold in a May 2005 auction to REI/Schostak (REIS) for $31.5 million.
2007–2008
In October 2007, the sale of the property to REIS was closed.
REIS planned to develop the property into an $800 million, mixed-use residential, office, and retail development called 'Highwood'. Due to the fact that Northville Township would only allow a scaled-down version of Highwood, REIS moved employees to the property in mid-October 2007 for security and to vote to annex the property into neighboring
Livonia
Livonia ( liv, Līvõmō, et, Liivimaa, fi, Liivinmaa, German and Scandinavian languages: ', archaic German: ''Liefland'', nl, Lijfland, Latvian and lt, Livonija, pl, Inflanty, archaic English: ''Livland'', ''Liwlandia''; russian: Ли ...
on August 5, 2008, which approved the original plans for Highwood. Northville and Northville Township residents largely opposed the annexation, which was possible without their consent. Only residents of the area being annexed and the city/township trying to annex the area could vote in the annexation. Residents of the Township started an organization known as 'Stop Annexation'. On August 5, 2008, the residents of the property and Livonia voted against annexation.
2009
On August 4, 2009, residents of Northville Township voted to purchase a majority of the property for $23.5 million. REIS will retain to develop into or less of retail. An owner of a house worth $300,000 would see a tax increase of $144 (per year). Using REIS tax dollars, Northville Township will clean the property extensively. The property will become open, natural space with trails.
The main building of the hospital is being demolished by
Adamo Demolition
Adamo Demolition (Adamo Group) is a Detroit-based asbestos remediation and demolition company founded in 1964 that specializes in industrial projects.
Works
They have demolished many well-known, major structures such as: Georgia Dome, Park A ...
but due to higher level of asbestos, the demolition was delayed. However, this was quickly resolved and the buildings were razed without issue on Friday, November 30, 2018.
Education
A majority of the township is served by
Northville Public Schools
Northville Public Schools (NPS) is a school district headquartered in Northville, Michigan. The district serves Novi Township, Northville, and portions of Novi, Lyon Township, and Salem Township. Some areas are near South Lyon.Woodards, Sha ...
. A small portion of the township is served by
Plymouth-Canton Community Schools.
Schools within the township from the former district include Moraine, Ridge Wood, Silver Springs, and Winchester elementary schools, as well as Meads Mill Middle School and
Northville High School
Northville High School is the public high school of Northville Public Schools located in Northville Charter Township, Michigan, with a Northville postal address.
Within Wayne County the school serves most of Northville Township and the county' ...
.
Additionally, sections of the township are zoned to Hillside Middle School in Northville.
[ ]
Linked from the school district website, and this page explains how the zoning works
Compare with this map of Northville and Northville Township
/ref>
Tanger Elementary of Plymouth-Canton is in the township.[ The latter school district operates the ]Plymouth-Canton Educational Park
The Plymouth-Canton Educational Park (commonly PCEP or "The Park") encompasses three public secondary schools—Salem High School, Canton High School, and Plymouth High School—in Canton Township, Michigan, United States within Metro De ...
for high school.
References
External links
Northville Township official site
Northville District Library
InfoMI: Northville Charter Township
Northville Regional Psychiatric Hospital
{{Authority control
Townships in Wayne County, Michigan
Charter townships in Michigan
Populated places established in 1898
1898 establishments in Michigan