Westland, Michigan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Westland, Michigan
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| City of Westland | |||
Westland City Hall
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| Nickname(s):
An All American City
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Location within Wayne County
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 Westland, Michigan
Location in Michigan
Westland, Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  Michigan |
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| County |  Wayne |
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| Incorporated | 1966 | ||
| Government | |||
| • Type | Mayor-Council | ||
| Area | |||
| • City | 20.45 sq mi (52.96 km2) | ||
| • Land | 20.43 sq mi (52.92 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.04 km2) | ||
| Elevation | 666 ft (199 m) | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • City | 85,420 | ||
| • Density | 4,180.70/sq mi (1,614.20/km2) | ||
| • Metro | 4,285,832 (Metro Detroit) | ||
| Time zone | UTC−5 (EST) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) | ||
| ZIP code(s) |
48185, 48186, 48187
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| Area code(s) | 734 | ||
| FIPS code | 26-86000 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 1616212 | ||
Westland is a city in Wayne County, Michigan, in the United States. It's a western suburb of Detroit. Westland is located about 18 miles (29 km) west of downtown Detroit. In 2022, the city had a population of 84,037 people.
Contents
History of Westland
Early Times in Westland
In the 1700s, the area where Westland is now was home to the Potawatomi Native American people. Other Algonquian tribes also used the land for hunting. White settlers started moving into the area around 1824.
Before it was called Westland, the area had other names. In 1827, it was known as Bucklin Township. This large area included parts of what are now the cities of Livonia, Garden City, and Dearborn.
In 1829, Bucklin Township was split into two parts. One part was first called Lima. But because of rules about not having duplicate post office names, Lima was renamed Nankin Township. It was named after the Chinese city of Nanking.
How Westland Became a City
Nankin Township was mostly farmland until World War II. After the war, the Norwayne neighborhood was built. It provided homes for soldiers returning from the war who worked in nearby factories.
By 1960, Nankin Township had grown a lot, with 70,000 people. This made it the largest township in Michigan. In the early 1960s, the city of Livonia wanted to take over the part of Nankin where a big shopping mall was planned. This mall, the Westland Shopping Center, opened in 1965.
To stop Livonia from taking their land, the people of Nankin Township voted. On May 16, 1966, they decided to form their own city. They named it the City of Westland. At that time, it was the fourth largest city in Wayne County.
Education in Westland
Westland and the city of Wayne share the Wayne-Westland Community School District. There are several high schools in the area. These include John Glenn High School and William D. Ford Career Technical Center in Westland. Wayne Memorial High School is in Wayne.
Most students from Wayne attend Wayne Memorial High School. Some students from nearby towns also go there. Students in central and northern Westland usually go to John Glenn High School. Some parts of northern Westland are in the Livonia Public Schools district.
Westland also has a historical school site called Perrinsville School. There are also private schools like Lutheran High School Westland and Hope Christian Academy.
Geography of Westland
Westland covers an area of about 20.45 square miles (52.96 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with only a small amount of water.
People of Westland
Westland is home to many different people. The city's population has grown over the years. In 2020, there were 85,420 people living in Westland.
The community is diverse, with people from many different backgrounds. The city has seen an increase in its African American and Asian populations over the last two decades. Many people in Westland are also of Hispanic or Latino heritage.
City Services in Westland
Westland has its own police and fire departments. The fire department provides emergency medical services, fire protection, and special rescue teams.
The city is known for having many parks. Hines Park is in the northern part of Westland. Residents near the park can often see deer, foxes, and hummingbirds. The park also has bike paths that are popular year-round. Westland also has many smaller parks in its neighborhoods.
The William P. Faust Public Library offers books, magazines, CDs, and videos. It also provides access to online resources.
Westland has an automated recycling program. Residents use black bins for garbage and blue bins for recycling. Recycling is picked up every other week, and trash is picked up weekly.
There are also nature trails near Westland, like the one at Newburg Lake.
Famous People from Westland
Many notable people have come from Westland, including:
- Mike Modano, a famous hockey player in the NHL Hall of Fame.
- Josh Gracin, a country music singer.
- Eric Haase, a catcher for the Milwaukee Brewers baseball team.
- Jeremy Langford, a running back for the Chicago Bears football team.
- Wanda Young, a singer from the group The Marvelettes.
See also
In Spanish: Westland (Míchigan) para niños
