Livonia, Michigan

Livonia is a city in Wayne County in the state of Michigan. It is a western suburb of Detroit, about 20 miles northwest of downtown Detroit. Many people live there because it is close to the big city but still feels like a quieter place.

In the year 2020, more than 95,000 people called Livonia home. The area started as a township back in 1835 and became an official city in 1950. Over the years, it has grown into a busy community with lots of homes, schools, and places to shop and play. Today, Livonia is known for its safe neighborhoods and good schools, making it a popular place for families to live.

History

People from places like New England and New York were among the first to settle in Livonia. They set up the area as Livonia Township on March 17, 1835. The name "Livonia" came from a town in New York that many settlers came from.

Over time, Livonia grew and became a city on May 23, 1950. Many people moved to the area for jobs, including families from places like Palestine and Lebanon. Famous U.S. presidents such as Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush have all visited Livonia.

Geography

Livonia is a city in Michigan. It covers an area of 35.86 square miles, most of which is land with a small amount of water.

The city has many creeks and rivers. Two important lakes, Newburgh and Nankin Lake, are located in the southern and southwestern parts of the city. These lakes are connected by a river and a road called Edward N. Hines Drive, or simply Hines Drive by local people.

Demographics

Racial and ethnic composition

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Livonia had a population of 95,535. The median age was 45.6 years. About 18% of residents were under the age of 18 and around 22% were 65 years or older. For every 100 females, there were 96.5 males.

Nearly all residents lived in urban areas. There were about 39,000 households, with around 25% having children under 18. Over half of the households were married couples. The most common ancestries reported were German, Irish, English, Polish, and Italian.

2010 census

In 2010, the median household income was $65,391. About 5% of families and 8% of the population lived below the poverty line. There were around 97,000 people living in the city. The racial makeup was mostly White, with smaller percentages of African American, Asian, and others. About 2.5% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

2000 census

By the year 2000, Livonia had over 100,000 people and the highest percentage of non-Hispanic white people in the United States. Many residents had Polish, German, Irish, Italian, or English ancestry. There is also a notable Middle Eastern community, mainly Arab from places like Syria, Jordan, Palestine, and Lebanon. Most are of the Christian faith and many belong to Saint Mary's Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church, which is one of the few churches in the city for this community. This group began settling in Livonia in the late 1960s and has grown steadily since then.

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1900	1,460	—
1910	1,365	−6.5%
1920	1,608	17.8%
1930	3,192	98.5%
1940	8,728	173.4%
1950	17,634	102.0%
1960	66,702	278.3%
1970	110,109	65.1%
1980	104,814	−4.8%
1990	100,850	−3.8%
2000	100,545	−0.3%
2010	96,942	−3.6%
2020	95,535	−1.5%
2023 (est.)	92,185	−3.5%
U.S. Decennial Census 2018 Estimate

**Livonia, Michigan – Racial and ethnic composition**
*Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.*
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)	Pop 2000	Pop 2010	Pop 2020	% 2000	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	94,651	87,332	80,242	94.14%	90.09%	83.99%
Black or African American alone (NH)	945	3,264	4,488	0.94%	3.37%	4.70%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	207	204	189	0.21%	0.21%	0.20%
Asian alone (NH)	1,944	2,441	3,011	1.93%	2.52%	3.15%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	13	11	9	0.01%	0.01%	0.01%
Other race alone (NH)	72	86	322	0.07%	0.09%	0.34%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)	982	1,205	3,791	0.98%	1.24%	3.97%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	1,731	2,399	3,483	1.72%	2.47%	3.65%
Total	100,545	96,942	95,535	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

Economy

Livonia has many places to shop and eat, including schools, colleges, churches, parks, and libraries. One popular shopping place is Laurel Park Place, a fancy mall with many stores that opened in 1989.

The city used to have two other malls, Wonderland Mall and Livonia Mall, but they closed and were turned into new developments with stores like Walmart and Target. Livonia is also home to many sports groups, such as the Livonia Hockey Association and the Livonia City Soccer Club.

Arts and culture

Livonia has several libraries, including the Civic Center Library, the Alfred Noble Library, the Carl Sandburg Library, and the Vest Pocket Library. There is also a community recreation center called the Jack E. Kirksey Livonia Community Recreation Center, named after a former mayor. It is located at 15100 Hubbard in Livonia, Michigan.

Government

Livonia's mayor is Maureen Miller Brosnan. The city is part of Michigan's 12th congressional district, where Rashida Tlaib serves as a representative. Livonia also belongs to Michigan's 7th State Senate District, represented by Dayna Polehanki.

Most of the city is in Michigan's 19th State House District, where Laurie Pohutsky was elected in 2018. A small part of southeast Livonia is in the 11th district, represented by Jewell Jones.

Education

Colleges and universities

Several colleges and universities have campuses in Livonia. These include Madonna University, Schoolcraft College, and a small University of Phoenix campus. A Davenport University campus opened in Livonia in 2008 but moved to Detroit in 2017.

Madonna University

Primary and secondary schools

Public schools

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

Livonia Public Schools administration

Livonia has four public high schools: Franklin, Churchill, and Stevenson high schools in the Livonia Public Schools district, and Clarenceville High School in the Clarenceville Public School District. Each high school offers special programs. Stevenson focuses on global education, Churchill has programs in math, science, computers, and creative arts, and Franklin offers an International Baccalaureate program for some students.

Alternative schools

CAPA, a performance art program at Churchill High School
MSC (Math, Science, Computers), a program for advanced students at Churchill High School

Private schools

St. Edith and St. Michael Catholic grade schools
Peace Lutheran School (Pre-K-8) and St. Paul's Lutheran School (Pre-K-8)

Media

The main newspapers for the Metro Detroit area are the Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News. In Livonia, The Livonia Observer is printed twice a week, on Thursdays and Sundays.

Two other important publications, Between the Lines and the website PrideSource, have their main offices in Livonia.

Infrastructure

Transportation

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

In 2012, a public vote named Livonia as one of the cities with the most strict traffic enforcement in North America, placing it at number two.

Notable people

Livonia, Michigan has been home to many interesting people who have achieved success in different fields. Some of these individuals include:

Janet M. Anderson, a commercial artist known for her work on Detroit.
Adam Bedell, a professional soccer player.
Chuck Behler, a musician and former drummer for the band Megadeth.
Doug Brzezinski, a former football player who played for the Philadelphia Eagles and the Carolina Panthers.
Bernie Carbo, a former baseball player who played in Major League Baseball from 1969 to 1980.
Jeff Cassar, a soccer player and coach.
Charlie Collins, a member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from Fayetteville.
Chris Conner, a professional hockey player for the Washington Capitals.
Brian Conz, a racing driver.
Mike Cox, a former Attorney General of Michigan.
Nancy Jane Dean, a teacher and missionary in Persia.
Warren Defever, a musician and producer.
Mike Donnelly, a professional hockey player who played for five NHL teams.
Judy Greer, an actress who graduated from Churchill High School.
Charlie Haeger, a former baseball pitcher for three Major League Baseball teams.
Al Iafrate, a professional hockey player who played for four NHL teams.
Ryan Kesler, a professional hockey player for the Anaheim Ducks.
Jeff Lerg, a professional hockey player for the New Jersey Devils.
Mike Modano, a professional hockey player who was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
David Moss, a hockey player for the Phoenix Coyotes.
Cecilia Muñoz, a director of the White House Domestic Policy Council.
Alfred Noble, a civil engineer known for his work on the Soo Locks and the Panama Canal.
Aaron Palushaj, a professional hockey player for Brynäs IF.
FP Santangelo, a Major League Baseball player from 1995 to 2001.
Tracie Savage, an actress and journalist.
Dana Schutz, a painter.
Tim Shaw, a professional football player who played for four NFL teams.
Chris Tancill, a professional hockey player who played for four NHL teams.
Sheila Taormina, an athlete who won a gold medal in swimming at the 1996 Summer Olympics in the 4 x 200 meter freestyle relay. She also competed in the 2000 Summer Olympics, 2004 Summer Olympics, and 2008 Summer Olympics. She was the first woman to qualify for three different Olympic sports: freestyle swimming, triathlon, and modern pentathlon.
Caleb Tiernan, a football player for the Minnesota Vikings.
Ken Westerfield, a pioneer in disc sport (Frisbee).
Jonathan B. Wright, a stage and film actor.

Images

Chapel (1961) of the Felician Sisters in Livonia, Michigan – architectural sculpture by Corrado Parducci
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