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Wayne, Michigan
City of Wayne
Downtown Wayne
Downtown Wayne
Official seal of Wayne, Michigan
Seal
Location within Wayne County
Location within Wayne County
Wayne, Michigan is located in Michigan
Wayne, Michigan
Wayne, Michigan
Location in Michigan
Wayne, Michigan is located in the United States
Wayne, Michigan
Wayne, Michigan
Location in the United States
Country  United States
State  Michigan
County Wayne
Settled 1824
Incorporated 1869 (village)
1960 (city)
Named for Anthony Wayne
Area
 • City 6.02 sq mi (15.59 km2)
 • Land 6.02 sq mi (15.59 km2)
 • Water 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
656 ft (200 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • City 17,713
 • Density 2,942.36/sq mi (1,136.10/km2)
 • Metro
4,285,832 (Metro Detroit)
Time zone UTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code(s)
48184
Area code(s) 734
FIPS code 26-84940
GNIS feature ID 1615901

Wayne is a city in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. A western suburb of Detroit, Wayne is located about 18 miles (29 km) southwest of downtown Detroit. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 17,713.

Wayne has a long history of automotive and transportation related manufacturing. Ford Motor Company currently has two plants in Wayne: Wayne Stamping & Assembly and the Michigan Assembly Plant, formerly known as the Michigan Truck Plant.

History

The site of Wayne was crossed by the Sauk Trail, and due to this, the area was visited by Potawatomi and French fur traders for years before permanent settlement. The first settler was George M. Johnson, who built a small log cabin on 80 acres of land in 1824 (a state historical marker can now be found at the site). The cabin served as a tavern for travelers along the trail, by then known as the Chicago Road. The area soon became known as Johnson's Tavern. After a few years, the tavern was sold to Stephen G. Simmons, who continued to operate the business until he killed his wife. Simmons was arrested and taken to Detroit, where he was tried and hanged September 24, 1830. He became the last person to be executed in Michigan, as the territory abolished capital punishment shortly thereafter.

In 1832, Ezra Derby bought the tavern and land from the Simmons heirs and began establishing a settlement. Derby built a sawmill, store, mill, blacksmith shop and the first frame dwelling for himself. In 1834 a plat was recorded in Detroit with lots and a town square under the name Derby's Corners. In 1836, the name of the settlement was changed to Wayne, in honor of Revolutionary War General Anthony Wayne. Soon a small hamlet began to develop, which was accelerated by the arrival of the Michigan Central Railroad in 1838. The Chicago Road that ran through Wayne was paved with oak logs in 1850, becoming the Detroit and Saline Plank Road. In 1867 it was changed to its current name of Michigan Avenue. In 1869, Wayne was incorporated as a village with a population of about 800 people. (In 1960 Wayne officially became a city.)

Many major industries have located in the village over the years. The Prouty and Glass Carriage Factory was the first, moving from Detroit in 1888. At the time, this made Wayne the largest carriage and sleigh producer in the country. In 1899, the Detroit interurban railroad (a streetcar system connecting Detroit to outlying towns) reached Wayne and ran until 1929. Ray Harroun, winner of the first Indianapolis 500, built the Harroun motor car in Wayne from 1916-21. The Gotfredson Truck was produced from 1924-27, and The Graham-Paige car company made vehicles in Wayne from 1928-36. Stinson Aircraft was also located at the nearby Detroit Industrial Airport and produced small planes from 1926-48. The Michigan Assembly Plant was built in 1957, and the Gar-Wood company built garbage trucks and hydraulic equipment from 1947-72. Other major companies located in Wayne include Unistrut and Wayne Industries.

The population and industrial production around Wayne significantly increased after World War II.

Geography

The city, located on the Lower River Rouge which bisects the city, is bound on the north by Glenwood Road, the west by Hannan Road, the south by Van Born Road, and on the east by Merriman Road.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.02 square miles (15.59 km2), all land.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1860 304
1870 833 174.0%
1880 919 10.3%
1890 1,226 33.4%
1900 1,361 11.0%
1910 1,263 −7.2%
1920 1,899 50.4%
1930 3,423 80.3%
1940 4,223 23.4%
1950 9,409 122.8%
1960 16,034 70.4%
1970 21,054 31.3%
1980 21,159 0.5%
1990 19,899 −6.0%
2000 19,051 −4.3%
2010 17,593 −7.7%
2020 17,713 0.7%
U.S. Decennial Census
State Wayne Theater, Wayne Michigan
State Wayne Theater (1946)
Ford Michigan Assembly Plant
Michigan Assembly Plant

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 17,593 people, 7,055 households, and 4,450 families living in the city. The population density was 2,922.4 inhabitants per square mile (1,128.3/km2). There were 7,824 housing units at an average density of 1,299.7 per square mile (501.8/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 76.3% White, 17.1% African American, 0.5% Native American, 2.1% Asian, 1.0% from other races, and 3.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.4% of the population.

There were 7,055 households, of which 32.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.9% were married couples living together, 18.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 36.9% were non-families. 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.06.

The median age in the city was 38.6 years. 23.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.8% were from 25 to 44; 28.2% were from 45 to 64; and 12.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.2% male and 51.8% female.

Education

Schools of the Wayne-Westland Community School District located in Wayne include:

  • Benjamin Franklin Middle School
  • Roosevelt-McGrath Elementary School
  • Taft-Galloway Elementary School
  • Wayne Memorial High School
  • Wayne Westland Community High School

Private Schools

  • St. Michael Lutheran School: PK-8th Grade
  • St. Mary's Catholic School (permanently closed)
  • St. Joseph's Catholic School

All residents are zoned to Adams Upper Elementary School in Westland, Benjamin Franklin Middle School in Wayne, and Wayne Memorial High School in Wayne, as well as Walker-Winter Elementary School in Canton.

Notable people

  • Bill Stafford, (1938–2001) was a professional baseball player known for his time with the New York Yankees.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Wayne (Míchigan) para niños

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