Wyandotte, Michigan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Wyandotte, Michigan
City
Downtown Wyandotte along Biddle Avenue
Location within Wayne County
Wyandotte, Michigan Location in Michigan Show map of Michigan Wyandotte, Michigan Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Michigan
County	Wayne
Founded	1854
Incorporated	1867
Government
• Type	Mayor–council
Area
• City	6.98 sq mi (18.08 km2)
• Land	5.29 sq mi (13.71 km2)
• Water	1.69 sq mi (4.37 km2)
Elevation	581 ft (177 m)
Population  (2020)
• City	25,058
• Estimate  (2019)	24,859
• Density	4,697.47/sq mi (1,813.61/km2)
• Metro	4,285,832 (Metro Detroit)
Time zone	UTC-5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code(s)	48192
Area code(s)	734
FIPS code	26-88900
GNIS feature ID	1616849

Wyandotte riverfront looking north along the Detroit River

Wyandotte (pronounced WY-ən-dot) is a city in Wayne County, Michigan. In 2020, about 25,058 people lived there.

It's located in southeastern Michigan, about 11 miles south of Detroit on the Detroit River. It's part of a group of towns called Downriver. Wyandotte shares borders with Southgate (west), Lincoln Park (northwest), Riverview (south), Grosse Ile Township (southeast), Ecorse (north), and LaSalle, Ontario in Canada (east).

Wyandotte is a sister city to Komaki, Japan. This means they have a special friendship, and people from Komaki visit Wyandotte each year.

History of Wyandotte

Early History: 18th Century Beginnings

In the 1700s, the area where Wyandotte now stands was a small village called Maquaqua. It was home to the Wyandot (or Wendat) tribe. French settlers in the area called it Monguagon.

The Wyandot people spoke an Iroquoian language and were part of the Huron nation from Canada. They generally lived peacefully with the French farmers who were in the area, trading goods and helping each other.

During the French and Indian War (which was part of a bigger war in Europe called the Seven Years' War), the Wyandot sided with the Potawatomi tribe and the French. The British had taken control of the fort in Detroit. Near Wyandotte, Chief Pontiac planned an attack against the British fort in 1763, but it didn't succeed.

The main part of the village was close to where Biddle Avenue is today, between Oak Street and Eureka Road, near the river. The sandy beach there was useful for the tribes, as they used birch bark canoes to travel to the fort in Detroit. The tribe was known for being peaceful and friendly with the British, the French, and the new American settlers.

19th Century: Land Changes and City Planning

In 1818, after the United States became independent and took control of this land from the British, the Wyandot people signed a treaty. This treaty meant they gave up their land here. Some Wyandot moved to an area near Flat Rock, Michigan, then to Ohio, and later to Indian Territory in Kansas and finally Oklahoma.

Many Wyandot moved across the Detroit River to Canada, to a place now called Anderdon in Windsor, Ontario. Their descendants still live there today. The name "Wyandotte" lives on in Wyandotte County, Kansas.

Later, Americans said that Major John Biddle was the first white settler in Wyandotte. However, French settlers had lived there for over a hundred years before he arrived.

After the War of 1812, Major Biddle bought 2,200 acres of land from the government in 1818. He built a farm and a summer home, which were finished around 1835. He named his estate "Wyandotte" after the Native Americans who still lived nearby.

John S. Van Alstyne, who managed the Eureka Iron & Steel Works and Wyandotte Rolling Mills, created the city's main plan. This plan was often called the "Philadelphia Plan" because streets were laid out in a grid, like in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. That plan was made by William Penn, who founded Pennsylvania.

In Wyandotte, the Detroit River was the main focus. The first street parallel to the river was called Front Street. This street was later extended and renamed Van Alstyne Boulevard in 1921. Streets running parallel to Front Street were given numbers (First, Second, and so on). Streets running across the numbered streets were named after trees and plants.

Wyandotte started as a village in Ecorse Township in 1854. It officially became a city and received its charter from Michigan on December 12, 1866. Its first city election was in April 1867, making it the oldest city in Wayne County after Detroit. On April 8, 1867, the Village of Wyandotte became a home rule city, meaning it could govern itself more.

20th Century: Growth and Mergers

In the 1890s, a community called New Jerusalem was founded nearby by immigrants from many countries. Wyandotte later took over this area. New Jerusalem became a village called Glenwood in 1900. In 1901, a post office was set up there and named Bacon because there was already a Glenwood post office in Michigan. Wyandotte annexed this community in 1905.

The community of Ford City was founded as a village in 1902. It was named after John B. Ford, who ran the Michigan Alkali Company there. In 1922, Ford City merged with Wyandotte. On April 14, 1924, Wyandotte added a large part of Ecorse Township.

Over time, Wyandotte has been shaped by immigrants from many countries, including German, Polish, Irish, and Italian communities. These groups added a lot to the city's culture. The city also attracted African Americans for factory jobs, but it had a history of not allowing them to live there.

Geography and Location

Wyandotte covers a total area of about 7.01 square miles (18.08 square kilometers). Of this, about 5.27 square miles (13.71 square kilometers) is land, and 1.74 square miles (4.37 square kilometers) is water.

The city is located about 10 miles (16 kilometers) southwest of Downtown Detroit. The Detroit River forms the eastern edge of the city. The uninhabited Grassy Island is also managed by Wyandotte. The Ecorse River forms a small part of the city's northern border.

Businesses and Industries

Wyandotte in 1896

An important person in Wyandotte's early industry was Captain John Baptiste Ford. He used salt to make soda ash, which was then used to create plate glass. In 1893, he started the Michigan Alkali Company. This company made baking soda, soda ash, and lye. The company later became Wyandotte Chemicals Co. and made many types of soaps and cleaners. Eventually, it became part of BASF and grew into a large industrial complex.

Eber Ward also helped start Wyandotte's shipbuilding industry, which lasted from the 1870s to the 1920s. During this time, many different kinds of boats were built along the Detroit River in Wyandotte, including steamers, tugs, and large ferries. In 1873, Ward's Wyandotte Iron Ship Building Works built the first steel-hulled boat in the United States, a tugboat called the Sport. This shipbuilding history was shown in paintings created in 1942, which are still in the auditorium of Theodore Roosevelt High School.

Starting in the 1920s, Wyandotte was a major center for making toys. The All Metal Products Company was founded in 1920 in Wyandotte. From the 1920s to the 1950s, this company, known as "Wyandotte Toys", was the biggest maker of toy guns and pistols in the US. They made many kinds of pop guns, clicker pistols, dart guns, cap guns, and plastic pistols. The company also made toy airplanes and other vehicles by pressing leftover metal from local car factories. Their motto was "Wyandotte Toys Are Good and Safe." In the early 1950s, the company moved to Ohio and was later bought by Louis Marx and Company.

Bishop Park, located on the riverfront north of downtown, used to have a dock where people could board the Boblo Boat ferry to Boblo Island.

Today, much of the industry in Wyandotte is smaller, except for BASF Wyandotte, which is a large industrial complex on the city's north riverfront.

In July 2002, three workers at a plant in nearby Riverview died when a rail car leaked a gas called methyl mercaptan. The gas caught fire, leading to an emergency evacuation of 3,100 people, including some Wyandotte residents.

The city has three newspapers: the regional Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News, and The News-Herald. The News-Herald is a local paper for the Downriver communities and has roots in older newspapers published in Wyandotte. Wyandotte is also part of the Detroit radio and television areas.

Education in Wyandotte

Public Schools

Wyandotte Public Schools runs the city's public schools. Since 1901, all schools are named after former US presidents.

• Elementary and middle schools include:
  • Garfield Elementary School (built in 1932)
  • James Monroe Elementary School (built in 1954)
  • George Washington Elementary School (built in the 1930s)
  • Thomas Jefferson Elementary School (built in 1950)
• Middle schools include:
  • Woodrow Wilson Middle School (built in 1956)

Wyandotte's public high school is Theodore Roosevelt High School. Its construction began in 1921 and was finished in 1923. It has been expanded four times since then.

Catholic Schools

Currently, there are no Catholic schools open in Wyandotte. Some Catholic schools that used to be open include: Our Lady of Mount Carmel Elementary and High School, St. Stanislaus Kostka Elementary School, St. Patrick Elementary and High School, St. Elizabeth Elementary School, St. Joseph Elementary School, and St. Helena Elementary School. Wyandotte Catholic Consolidated School was also in the community after St. Elizabeth, St. Patrick, and St. Joseph schools combined. These schools were part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit.

Wyandotte Consolidated formed in 1970 when St. Elizabeth, St. Joseph, and St. Patrick Schools merged. It closed in 2011 due to economic challenges.

Sports and Fun Activities

The city is home to the Wyandotte Boat Club, a place for rowing. The club hosts three rowing competitions each year: two for high school teams in the spring and one for clubs in the fall. The club has two indoor rowing tanks, many boat racks and shells, rooms for exercise, locker rooms, a meeting room, and a large club area overlooking the Detroit River. The rowing tanks help rowers practice their technique. During the off-season, other schools and universities can rent the tanks.

Wyandotte has 23 parks in total. The biggest one is Bishop Park. In all Wyandotte city parks, pets, bikes, and alcohol are not allowed. Rollerblades and skateboards are only allowed in the Wyandotte Skate Park.

Wyandotte also had minor league baseball teams. In 1912 and 1913, the Wyandotte Alkalis, named after the Michigan Alkali Company, played in the Class D level Border League. They won the league championship in 1912. The Alkalis played their home games at Alkali Park.

F.O.P. Park

Located at Bondie and 8th Streets, F.O.P. Park has a big shaded playground and a covered picnic area. It also has a basketball court, a baseball field, and two horseshoe pits.

Youth baseball and softball games for the Wyandotte Braves Association are held at F.O.P. Park during the day and night. Restrooms are open during baseball games and other special events.

Kiwanis Park

Kiwanis Park is named after the Kiwanis Club of Wyandotte, which is the city's oldest non-profit group. The Kiwanis Club helps pay for the park's upkeep every year. The park is at 6th Street and North Drive and does not have restrooms.

Lions Club Park

Lions Club Park is at Vinewood and 9th Avenue, next to the Our Lady of the Scapular Religious Education Office. The Lions Club opened it on August 12, 2009. The park is fully fenced and has benches. It features a large playscape and a climbing area. It is open from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM all year.

Oak Club Park

Oak Club Park is at 20th Street and Vinewood. It has a large shaded area, a playground, and a basketball court. There's also a small picnic area, a water fountain, and a pavilion. The park is open from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM all year. In 2022, the park's name was changed to American Legion Edward C. Headman Post 217 Park.

Pulaski Park

Pulaski Park is at 12th Street and Oxford Court. It has several softball and baseball fields, two basketball courts, and four tennis courts. It is open from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM all year.

The park is named after Count Casimir Pulaski. A statue of him was placed in the park in 1938.

V.F.W Playfield

V.F.W Playfield is a medium-sized park at 11th and Cherry. It has a baseball field, a very large open area, swings, and a playscape. There is also a covered pavilion. It is next to Silver Lining Tire Recycling. The park is open from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM all year. Pets, bikes, skateboards, and rollerblades are not allowed in the park. Alcohol is also not allowed. The park is owned by the Veterans Of Foreign Wars (V.F.W) in Wyandotte.

WAA Park

WAA Park is a smaller park in the north end of Wyandotte, on Highland and Alfred Street. It has a playground, swing sets, an open space for sports, a covered pavilion, benches, and a sand pit. It is owned by the Wyandotte Athletic Association. The park is open from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM all year.

Transportation in Wyandotte

Public Transportation Options

Two bus routes from the Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART) go through Wyandotte. Route 125 serves Fort Street north of Eureka Road seven days a week, connecting Detroit Metropolitan Airport and River Rouge. Route 140 serves Biddle Avenue, Eureka Road, and Fort Street south of Eureka Road on weekdays, extending north to the John D. Dingell Transit Center in Dearborn.

Major Highways

• M-85, known locally as Fort Street, runs north-south and forms most of the city's western border.

Railways

The Canadian National Railway (through its Grand Trunk Western Railroad company) Shore Line and Flat Rock subdivisions, along with the Conrail Shared Assets Detroit Line (also used by Norfolk Southern Railway trains), run side-by-side through Wyandotte. These lines connect Detroit and Toledo, Ohio.

Population and People

2010 Census Information

Based on the census from 2010, there were 25,883 people living in Wyandotte. There were 10,991 households and 6,727 families. The city had about 4,911.4 people per square mile (1,896.3 per square kilometer). There were 12,081 housing units, with an average of 2,292.4 units per square mile (885.1 per square kilometer).

The people in the city were mostly White (94.7%), with smaller percentages of African American (1.3%), Native American (0.7%), Asian (0.5%), and other groups. About 5.1% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.

In terms of households, 28.4% had children under 18 living with them. About 42.6% were married couples living together. The average household had 2.35 people, and the average family had 2.99 people.

The average age in the city was 40.4 years. About 21.4% of residents were under 18, and 13.8% were 65 or older. The population was 48.9% male and 51.1% female.

Famous People from Wyandotte

• Amy Faye Hayes, a ring announcer and model.
• Lucille Ball, a famous actress who grew up in the city as a child.
• Joe Carollo, a football player for Notre Dame and the NFL's Los Angeles Rams.
• Dick Dean, born Richard Dean Sawitskas, a designer and builder of custom cars.
• Aaron Diaz, a science popularizer and creator of the comic Dresden Codak.
• Gwen Frostic, an artist and author.
• Justin Hicks, a professional golfer.
• Denise R. Johnson, the first woman appointed to the Vermont Supreme Court.
• Jeff Kaiser, a former pitcher for the Cleveland Indians.
• Bob Kuzava, a baseball pitcher for the New York Yankees in three World Series.
• Bill Lajoie, the general manager of the 1984 World Series champion Detroit Tigers.
• Budd Lynch, the Detroit Red Wings' public address announcer.
• Lee Majors, an actor famous for roles like The Six Million Dollar Man.
• Gerald Mayhew, a professional ice hockey player.
• Ann Penelope Marston, an archery champion and Miss America 1960 pageant contestant.
• John Martin, a baseball pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals.
• Thomas McGuane, a novelist and screenwriter.
• Ed Mierkowicz, a baseball outfielder for the Detroit Tigers in the 1940s.
• Jenny Romatowski, a baseball player in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League.
• Soony Saad, a Lebanese-American professional soccer player.
• John Schreiber, a baseball pitcher for the Kansas City Royals.
• Matt Shoemaker, a baseball pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays.
• Fritz Shurmur, a football coach for several NFL teams.
• Craig Titus, a former bodybuilding champion.
• Louis A. Waldman, an art historian who studies the Italian Renaissance.

See also

In Spanish: Wyandotte (Míchigan) para niños