South Lyon, Michigan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids South Lyon, Michigan
City
City of South Lyon
Downtown South Lyon along Pontiac Trail
Location within Oakland County
South Lyon, Michigan Location in Michigan Show map of Michigan South Lyon, Michigan Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Michigan
County	Oakland
Settled	1832
Incorporated	1873 (village) 1930 (city)
Government
• Type	Council–manager
Area
• City	3.74 sq mi (9.70 km2)
• Land	3.74 sq mi (9.69 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.01 km2)
Elevation	928 ft (283 m)
Population  (2020)
• City	11,746
• Density	3,139.80/sq mi (1,212.19/km2)
• Metro	4,296,250 (Metro Detroit)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code(s)	48178
Area code(s)	248
FIPS code	26-75100
GNIS feature ID	0638381

South Lyon is a city located in Oakland County, Michigan, in the United States. It's a growing community, with a population of 11,746 people counted in the 2020 census. This was an increase from 11,327 people in the 2010 census.

Geography of South Lyon

South Lyon covers a total area of about 3.74 square miles (9.70 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 3.73 square miles (9.69 square kilometers), is land. Only a very small part, about 0.01 square miles (0.01 square kilometers), is water.

History of South Lyon

South Lyon was first settled in 1832 and was known as Thompson's Corners. In the same year, the area around it was named Lyon Township. This was done to honor Lucius Lyon, who was a member of the state government. The village got its name, South Lyon, because of its location within Lyon Township. It officially became a village in 1873 and then a city in 1930.

Railroads in South Lyon's Past

In the past, three different train lines passed through South Lyon. In 1871, the Detroit, Lansing and Northern Railroad was built, connecting South Lyon to places like Plymouth, Lansing, and Ionia. Later, around 1880, a different railroad, which was a part of the Ann Arbor Railroad, built a line into town from Ann Arbor. This line was meant to go all the way to Pontiac, but that plan didn't happen with the original owners. This particular line was removed around 1890.

In 1883, the Grand Trunk Western Railroad built its Jackson Branch. This line went from Pontiac to Jackson and crossed the Pere Marquette Railway in South Lyon. The Grand Trunk Western line continued to serve South Lyon until the early 1980s. Today, this old train route has been turned into a paved bicycle trail that goes through the city. Reynold Sweet Parkway also follows part of this original route. Currently, the CSX main train line, which runs from Detroit to Grand Rapids, still passes through South Lyon.

People and Community (Demographics)

South Lyon's Population in 2020

In 2020, there were 11,746 people living in South Lyon, spread across 4,963 homes. On average, there were about 2.36 people living in each home. Most residents, about 88%, had lived in their homes for over a year.

Many homes in South Lyon are connected to the digital world:

• 93.7% of homes have a computer.
• 89% have a fast broadband Internet connection.

When looking at the people in South Lyon:

• 54.8% are female, and 45.2% are male.
• Most residents (94.4%) are White.
• There are also Asian (1.9%), multiracial (2.5%), and Black (0.9%) residents.
• About 4.1% of all residents are Hispanic or Latino.
• About 5.9% of residents were born in another country.
• About 6.1% of residents over 5 years old speak a language other than English at home.

The age groups in South Lyon include:

• 21.9% of residents are under 18 years old.
• 16.6% are 65 years old and above.

Most adults in South Lyon are part of the labor force, meaning they are working or looking for work. The average time people spend traveling to work is about 29.9 minutes. The typical household income in South Lyon is $73,200. The median value of homes in South Lyon is $192,100, and the median rent is $1,042.

Education in South Lyon

Education is important in South Lyon. About 93% of residents older than 25 have finished high school. Also, 42% have gone on to graduate from college with a bachelor's degree or higher.

South Lyon Community Schools

The public schools in South Lyon are part of the South Lyon Community Schools district. This district is quite large, covering 83 square miles across three counties and three townships.

The district includes:

• An Early Childhood Center for younger children.
• Eight elementary schools: Bartlett, Brummer, Dolsen, Hardy, Kent Lake, Pearson, Salem, and Sayre Elementary.
• Two middle schools: Millennium Middle School and Centennial Middle School.
• Two high schools: South Lyon High School and South Lyon East High School.

Both high schools are part of the Lakes Valley Conference and the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA), which means they compete in various sports.

Parks and Recreation

South Lyon has several parks where people can enjoy the outdoors and have fun.

McHattie Park

McHattie Park is a large park, nearly 15 acres, located on the west side of Pontiac Trail. It offers many activities, including:

• Playground equipment for kids.
• Little league baseball fields.
• Sand volleyball courts.
• A sledding hill for winter fun.
• Lots of open spaces for picnics and other outdoor activities.

McHattie Park is also home to the Witch's Hat Depot Museum and Historic Village. This historic village has six buildings:

• Washburn School (built in 1907)
• Queen Anne Depot, also known as the Witch's Hat (built in 1909)
• The Caboose (from around 1926)
• The Little Village Chapel (built in 1930)
• The Freight House (built in 1984)
• The Gazebo (built in 1990)

Most of these historic buildings were moved to the park from their original locations, starting with the Witch's Hat in 1976. The Freight House and the Gazebo were built right there in the park. These buildings are open to the public at certain times. The Little Village Chapel can even be rented for small weddings. The South Lyon Historical Society is working to bring a 100-year-old barn to the site as well.

McHattie Park and the Historic Village host many public events. During the summer, "Concerts in the Park" are held most weeks. The annual "Depot Days" festival takes place in early autumn.

The park also connects to a part of the Huron Valley Rail Trail. This is a public trail for walking and biking that used to be a train line.

Volunteer Park

Volunteer Park is a very large park, covering 130 acres, located on Dixboro Road. It has many sports fields, baseball diamonds, a volleyball court, and a picnic area. This park also connects to the Huron Valley Rail Trail.

Paul Baker Memorial Park

Paul Baker Memorial Park is a smaller park. It features a fountain, a small gazebo, and benches. You can find it at the corner of Lake Street and Reynold Sweet Parkway, right next to the old railroad tracks.

Important Events and Accidents

• South Lyon Hotel Fire: On June 23, 2016, a large fire broke out at the South Lyon Hotel. The fire, possibly caused by an electrical problem, destroyed the second floor and roof. However, the first floor and walls were saved. The hotel was rebuilt and reopened in the fall of 2017 after 12 months of construction.
• The Lyon Cantina Fire: On December 31, 2019, another large fire happened at the Lyon Cantina. This fire started in the kitchen and was so intense that firefighters had to focus on preventing it from spreading further. The building was destroyed.

Notable People from South Lyon

Many interesting people have connections to South Lyon, including:

• Trey Augustine – A promising young goaltender for the Detroit Red Wings.
• Tom Bambard – A NASCAR driver and an ice dancer.
• Dave Brandon – A successful business leader who was the CEO of Toys "R" Us and Domino's Pizza, and a former athletic director at the University of Michigan.
• Anita Cochran – A talented country music singer.
• John Heffron – A well-known stand-up comedian.
• Barbara Lewis – A singer famous for her song "Baby, I'm Yours."
• Mitch Ryder – A musician who was part of the band The Detroit Wheels.
• Danny Spanos – A drummer for the 1970s band Redbone, who also had solo albums and a hit song called "Hot Cherie."
• Maj. Gen. Edward D. Phelka - The 25th National Commander of Civil Air Patrol.

See also

In Spanish: South Lyon para niños