Livonia, Michigan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Livonia, Michigan
City
Livonia City Hall
Logo
Motto(s):  "Come home to Livonia!"
Location in Wayne County
Livonia, Michigan Location in Michigan Show map of Michigan Livonia, Michigan Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Michigan
County	Wayne
Organized	1835 (Livonia Township)
Incorporated	1950
Government
• Type	Mayor–council
Area
• City	35.85 sq mi (92.86 km2)
• Land	35.70 sq mi (92.45 km2)
• Water	0.16 sq mi (0.41 km2)
Elevation	640 ft (206 m)
Population  (2020)
• City	95,535
• Density	2,676.43/sq mi (1,033.38/km2)
• Metro	4,285,832 (Metro Detroit)
Time zone	UTC−5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Zip code(s)	48150–48154
Area code(s)	248 and 734
FIPS code	26-49000
GNIS feature ID	0630841

Livonia is a city in Wayne County, Michigan. It is a western suburb of Detroit. Livonia is about 20 miles (32 km) northwest of downtown Detroit. In 2020, the city had a population of 95,535 people. Livonia was first set up as Livonia Township in 1835. It became a city in 1950.

History of Livonia

After most of the native tribes moved away, European-American pioneers from New England and New York settled here. The borders of Livonia Township were set by the Michigan Territory Legislature on March 17, 1835.

The settlers named the community "Livonia" after a town in western New York, Livonia, New York. Many of them had moved from that area.

Livonia Township was created from Nankin Township. A Livonia post office had already opened there in June 1834. Over time, several small communities grew within the township. One was Elmwood, also called McKinley's Station. It was a stop on the Detroit, Lansing and Northern Railroad. It had its own post office from 1858 to 1906. Another post office in the township was Giltedge, which operated from 1899 to 1902.

Livonia officially became a city on May 23, 1950. Citizens of the township voted for this change. One reason was that becoming a city would allow residents to collect tax money from the Detroit Race Course. This horse racing track closed in 1998. The land was then sold for new buildings.

Many people from Palestine and Lebanon moved to Detroit in the 20th century for factory jobs. By 1985, Palestinian Christians had settled in Livonia. As of 2005, many Christian Palestinian Americans from Ramallah lived there. They have started and run many small and medium-sized businesses.

Six U.S. presidents have visited Livonia: Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.

Geography of Livonia

Livonia covers a total area of about 35.86 square miles (92.88 square kilometers). Of this, 35.70 square miles (92.46 square kilometers) is land. Only 0.16 square miles (0.41 square kilometers) is water.

The city has many creeks and rivers. The most important ones are parts of Newburgh and Nankin Lake in the south and southwest. These two lakes are connected by a river and Edward N. Hines Drive, which locals call Hines Drive.

Population of Livonia

2020 Census Data

In 2020, Livonia had a population of 95,535 people. Most residents, about 84%, were White. About 4.7% were Black or African American. Around 3.15% were Asian. People of two or more races made up nearly 4% of the population. About 3.65% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

2010 Census Data

In 2010, there were 96,942 people living in Livonia. The average age in the city was 44.5 years old. About 20.8% of residents were under 18. About 17.7% were 65 or older. The city had slightly more females (51.7%) than males (48.3%).

The average income for a household in the city was about $65,391. For families, it was about $77,119. About 7.8% of all people in Livonia lived below the poverty line. This included 15.6% of those under 18.

Economy and Businesses in Livonia

Livonia has many schools, colleges, churches, parks, and a recreation center. It also has libraries and St. Mary Mercy Hospital. The city has many businesses, restaurants, and stores.

Laurel Park Place is a large shopping mall with 74 stores. It was built in 1989. The Von Maur department store is a main store there.

Two other malls in Livonia have been replaced. Wonderland Mall opened in 1959 and closed in 2003. It was replaced by Wonderland Village, which has stores like Walmart and Target. Livonia Mall opened in 1964 and closed in 2008. It became Livonia Marketplace, with another Walmart and a Kohl's store.

Livonia is home to the Livonia Hockey Association. This is the largest amateur hockey group in Michigan. The city also has the Livonia City Soccer Club, which is one of the biggest soccer programs in the state. It has 1,300 players.

Top Employers in Livonia

• Ford Motor Company
• Trinity Health
• Livonia Public Schools
• St. Mary Mercy Hospital
• NYX, Inc
• ZF Automotive
• Schoolcraft College
• Roush Performance
• United Parcel Service
• Mastronardi Produce

Arts and Culture in Livonia

The Livonia Public Library system has several branches. These include the Civic Center Library, the Alfred Noble Library, the Carl Sandburg Library, and the Vest Pocket Library.

Education in Livonia

Colleges and Universities in Livonia

Several colleges and universities are located in Livonia. These include Madonna University, Schoolcraft College, and a small University of Phoenix campus. Davenport University also had a campus in Livonia from 2008 to 2017.

Madonna University

Public Schools in Livonia

Most of Livonia is served by the Livonia Public Schools district. This district has two early childhood centers, thirteen elementary schools, four upper elementary schools, three middle schools, and three high schools. It also serves some students in Westland. A small part of northeast Livonia is served by the Clarenceville School District.

Livonia Public Schools administration building

There are four public high schools in Livonia:

• Franklin High School
• Churchill High School
• Stevenson High School (all in Livonia Public Schools)
• Clarenceville High School (in the Clarenceville Public School District)

Each high school in the Livonia Public School District offers special programs. Stevenson High School has the School of Global Education. Churchill High School offers the MSC (Math/Science/Computer) and CAPA (Creative and Performing Arts) programs. Franklin High School has an International Baccalaureate program.

Frost Middle School has the MACAT program (Middle School Alternative Classrooms for the Academically Talented). Webster Elementary School has the ACAT program (Alternative Classrooms for the Academically Talented). It also has classes for children with disabilities.

Alternative School Programs

• CAPA: A performance art program at Churchill High School.
• MSC: A program for gifted students in Math, Science, and Computers, also at Churchill High School.

Private Schools in Livonia

• St. Edith Catholic School
• St. Michael Catholic School: This school started in 1942. A new addition was built from 1997 to 1998. It included a cafeteria, library, gym, computer lab, and six classrooms.
• Peace Lutheran School (Pre-K to 8th grade)
• St. Paul's Lutheran School (Pre-K to 8th grade)

Media in Livonia

The main newspapers for the Detroit area are the Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News. Livonia also has its own local newspaper, The Livonia Observer, which is printed twice a week.

Transportation in Livonia

Livonia has some public bus service through the Detroit Department of Transportation.

In 2012, a public survey by the National Motorists Association named Livonia as the second "Worst Speed Trap City" in North America. This means many people felt that speed limits were strictly enforced there.

Famous People from Livonia

• Janet M. Anderson, artist
• Adam Bedell, soccer player
• Chuck Behler, drummer for Megadeth
• Doug Brzezinski, former NFL player
• Bernie Carbo, former Major League Baseball player
• Charlie Collins, politician
• Chris Conner, professional hockey player
• Brian Conz, racing driver
• Mike Cox, former Attorney General of Michigan
• Nancy Jane Dean, teacher and missionary
• Warren Defever, musician and producer
• Mike Donnelly, professional hockey player
• Judy Greer, actress
• Charlie Haeger, former Major League Baseball pitcher
• Al Iafrate, professional hockey player
• Ryan Kesler, professional hockey player
• Jeff Lerg, professional hockey player
• Mike Modano, professional hockey player, in the Hockey Hall of Fame
• David Moss, hockey player
• Cecilia Muñoz, government official
• Alfred Noble, civil engineer
• Aaron Palushaj, professional hockey player
• FP Santangelo, former Major League Baseball player
• Dana Schutz, painter
• Tim Shaw, professional football player
• Chris Tancill, professional hockey player
• Sheila Taormina, Olympic gold medalist in swimming; first woman to compete in three different Olympic sports
• Ken Westerfield, Frisbee pioneer and athlete
• Jonathan B. Wright, actor

Images for kids

• 

  Chapel (1961) of the Felician Sisters in Livonia, Michigan

• 

  Saint Mary's Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church

• 

  St. Mary Mercy Hospital

• 

  Entrance to neighborhood at Berwick and Plymouth in Rosedale Gardens Historic District

• 

  Street scene on Auburndale in Rosedale Gardens Historic District

• 

  Street scene on Auburndale in Rosedale Gardens Historic District

• 

  Rosedale Gardens Historic District

• 

  Orson Everitt House historic site

See also

In Spanish: Livonia (Míchigan) para niños