Northville Township, Michigan
Encyclopedia
Northville Township, or The Charter Township of Northville, is a charter township
of Wayne County
in the U.S. state
of Michigan
and a suburb
in Metro Detroit
. 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. A majority of the township is served by Northville Public Schools
. A small portion of the township is served by Plymouth-Canton Community Schools
. The entire township is served by the Northville District Library and by its own police and fire departments.
, the township has a total area of 16.6 square miles (43 km²), of which 16.5 square miles (42.7 km²) is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²), or 0.96%, is water.
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
).
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 414 acres (1.7 km²) 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.
of 2000, there were 21,036 people, 8,119 households, and 5,569 families residing in the township. The population density
was 1,278.5 per square mile (493.7/km²). There were 8,480 housing units at an average density of 515.4 per square mile (199.0/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 89.31% White, 4.39% African American, 0.28% Native American, 4.30% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.44% from other races
, and 1.25% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino 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.
The median income for a household in the township was $81,541, and the median income for a family was $101,998 (These figures had risen to $98,054 and $123,509 respectively as of a 2007 estimate). Males had a median income of $76,460 versus $43,198 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $40,258. About 1.4% of families and 2.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.3% of those under age 18 and 3.3% of those age 65 or over.
North American Operations is based in Northville Township.
operated the Western Wayne Correctional Facility in the township. It closed on December 20, 2004.
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.
Charter township
A charter township is a form of local government in the U.S. state of Michigan. Townships in Michigan are organized governments. A charter township is a township that has been granted a charter, which allows it certain rights and responsibilities of home rule that are generally intermediary in...
of Wayne County
Wayne County, Michigan
-History:Wayne County was one of the first counties formed when the Northwest Territory was organized. It was named for the American general "Mad Anthony" Wayne. It originally encompassed the entire area of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, as well as small sections that are now part of northern...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
and a suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
in Metro Detroit
Metro Detroit
The Detroit metropolitan area, often referred to as Metro Detroit, is the metropolitan area located in Southeast Michigan centered on the city of Detroit which shares an international border with Windsor, Ontario. The Detroit metropolitan area is the second largest U.S. metropolitan area...
. The population was 28,497 at the 2010 census.
The City of Northville
Northville, Michigan
Northville is a city located in and divided by Oakland and Wayne counties in the U.S. state of Michigan and a suburb in Metro Detroit. The population was 5,970 at the 2010 census. The Oakland County portion is surrounded by the city of Novi. The Wayne County portion is surrounded by 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. A majority of the township is served by Northville Public Schools
Northville Public Schools
Northville Public Schools is a school district headquartered in Northville, Michigan. The district serves Northville, portions of Novi, and sections of Lyon Township and Salem Township. Some areas are near South Lyon....
. A small portion of the township is served by Plymouth-Canton Community Schools
Plymouth-Canton Community Schools
The Plymouth-Canton Community Schools is a school district headquartered at E. J. McClendon Educational Center in Plymouth, Michigan. The district's boundary includes areas in Wayne County and Washtenaw County.-Schools:...
. 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 BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the township has a total area of 16.6 square miles (43 km²), of which 16.5 square miles (42.7 km²) is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²), or 0.96%, is water.
ZIP code
In response to the rapid growth of the township, a new 48168 ZIP codeZIP Code
ZIP codes are a system of postal codes used by the United States Postal Service since 1963. The term ZIP, an acronym for Zone Improvement Plan, is properly written in capital letters and was chosen to suggest that the mail travels more efficiently, and therefore more quickly, when senders use the...
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
Northville, Michigan
Northville is a city located in and divided by Oakland and Wayne counties in the U.S. state of Michigan and a suburb in Metro Detroit. The population was 5,970 at the 2010 census. The Oakland County portion is surrounded by the city of Novi. The Wayne County portion is surrounded by Northville...
) kept the 48167 zip code, as well as any residents with a 48170 ZIP code (Plymouth
Plymouth, Michigan
Plymouth is a city in Wayne County of the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 9,132 at the 2010 census. The City of Plymouth is an enclave completely surrounded by Plymouth Charter Township, Michigan.-Geography:...
).
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 414 acres (1.7 km²) 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 censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 21,036 people, 8,119 households, and 5,569 families residing in the township. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,278.5 per square mile (493.7/km²). There were 8,480 housing units at an average density of 515.4 per square mile (199.0/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 89.31% White, 4.39% African American, 0.28% Native American, 4.30% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.44% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.25% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino 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
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
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.
The median income for a household in the township was $81,541, and the median income for a family was $101,998 (These figures had risen to $98,054 and $123,509 respectively as of a 2007 estimate). Males had a median income of $76,460 versus $43,198 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the township was $40,258. About 1.4% of families and 2.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.3% of those under age 18 and 3.3% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
ZF GroupZF Friedrichshafen
ZF Friedrichshafen AG, also known as ZF Group, and commonly abbreviated to ZF, is a German public company headquartered in Friedrichshafen, in the south-west German region of Baden-Württemberg....
North American Operations is based in Northville Township.
Government and infrastructure
The Michigan Department of CorrectionsMichigan Department of Corrections
The Michigan Department of Corrections oversees prisons and other correctional facilities in the state of Michigan, USA. It has 34 prison facilities, and a Special Alternative Incarceration program, together composing approximately 44,000 prisoners. Another 72,000 probationers and parolees are...
operated the Western Wayne Correctional Facility in the township. It closed on December 20, 2004.
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 and was closed in 2003. As of 2011, the NRPH is standing and there are plans to demolish the buildings and clean the property. However, there is no date set for this to take place.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 LivoniaLivonia, Michigan
Livonia is a city in the northwest part of Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. Livonia is a very large suburb with an array of traditional neighborhoods connected to the metropolitan area by freeways. The population was 96,942 at the 2010 census, making it Michigan's 9th largest...
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.