The City of Northville, Michigan straddles Oakland and Wayne counties in the Detroit Metro Region, about eleven miles west of Detroit.
The city is bounded by the city of Novi to the north and by Northville Township to the south. Other cities and villages within twenty miles of Northville include Plymouth, Farmington, Livonia, Walled Lake, Wixom, South Lyon, Farmington Hills, Wolverine Lake, Westland, Franklin, Garden City, Milford, Wayne, Bingham Farms, Southfield, Orchard Lake, Beverly Hills, Dearborn Heights, Lathrup Village, Inkster, Keego Harbor, Brighton, Oak Park, and Ann Arbor.
Although no major highways pass through the Northville city limits, both 7 Mile Road and 8 Mile Road are east-west corridors that intersect I-96 and I-275. Other routes include Novi Road, Northville Road, Sheldon Road, and Taft Road.
Lake Success is partly within the eastern boundaries of the city, Mill Race Pond is entirely within the city, and the Rouge River extends from Dearborn, through Northville and Novi, and then breaking into the Upper, Middle, and Lower Rouge Rivers. The Johnson Drain also flows through the southern part of the city.
The first European-American settlers came for the farmland in the early 1800s. The first land acquisition was made by Gideon P. Benton, who claimed 240 acres of land in 1823, although permanent settlers didn't come until 1825, when a small group of settlers came from New York State to establish farms in northern Plymouth Township, which later broke off to become Northville. The first settlers included Alanson Aldrich and Alvale Smith, the latter of whom sold his property to John Miller, who started the first mill in Plymouth Township, while Abraham B. Markham built a grist mill in 1826.
Employees of the mills built homes near their places of work, forming the foundation for the settlement. Early residents included Rufus Thayer Jr., Joseph Yerkes and his son, William Yerkes, Daniel and Samuel Cady, and William Dunlap. In 1927, there were two blacksmith shops, a tailor, a shoe shop, a tavern, and a Presbyterian church, although the Methodists were the first to erect their own building in 1836.
Northville Township was separated from Plymouth Township in 1831, and the village north of it became Northville. A post office was established on October 10, 1831, with Jabish M. Mead as postmaster, as he operated the general store that housed the post office. Soon, David Rowland opened a second general store on the corner of Main and Central Streets.
The village was platted and recorded by William Dunlap and D.L. Cady in 1840. Distinct neighborhoods within the community developed early, such as Waterford, which was also known as Mead's Mill, and Phoenix, both with mills as their base.
In 1867, Northville was incorporated as a village, although the villages of Northville and Plymouth were governed by a single township organization until 1897, when they were detached legally. Northville became a city in December of 1955, and later annexed a portion of Novi, north of 8 Mile Road.
Situated on land donated by the Ford Motor Company, Northville's Mill Race Historical Village was established in 1972, and operated by the Northville Historical Society. The historical village and park includes a park, gardens, museum, and historic village. Once the site of a grist mill, the Village includes a church, school, blacksmith shop, general store, gazebo, and several houses reminiscent of an earlier era, as well as a rustic wooden bridge, and an interurban train station, some of which are original structures moved to the Village location, while others are reconstructions.
Headquartered in the city, Northville Public Schools serves the city, Novi Township, portions of the city of Novi, and parts of Lyon and Salem townships. The district operates six elementary schools, two middle schools, a high school, and two special education campuses. Catholic and Lutheran K-8 schools are also located within the city.
The city operates a full-time police department, as well as a fire department, which provides fire prevention, inspection, and suppression services, and BLS emergency medical services, with a full-time chief and both part-time and paid-on-call firefighters and EMS personnel.
With the exception of 1910 and 2010, Northville has increased each census year since it first appeared on the census rolls in 1860, although it is estimated that its population will decline again slightly when the 2020 census numbers are released. Its peak population was 6,459 in 2000, and its current population is just under 6,000.
The focus of this portion of our guide is on the city of Northville, Michigan. Appropriate resources include websites representing the municipal government, as well as local businesses, industries, schools, places of worship, organizations, attractions, events, and recreational opportunities.
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Recommended Resources
Straddling Oakland and Wayne counties, Northville is a western suburb of Detroit. The official municipal website publishes city council agendas, minutes, and videos, as well as election notices, ordinances, text and videos of its master plan, bill pay, fee schedules, public notices, and a city directory. Other resources include maps, and a guide to local civic and municipal organizations and services, and links to neighborhood and homeowners association organizations.
https://www.ci.northville.mi.us/
Home to more than a hundred and fifty businesses, Northville, Michigan's downtown district is represented by the Northville Downtown Association, whose members have an interest in property downtown, and are appointed by the mayor for staggered four-year terms. Its board of directors, budget data, purpose, boundaries, and a history of the organization are set forth, along with an interactive map of participating businesses. Also included are a business directory and job opportunities.
https://www.downtownnorthville.com/
As part of the worldwide Rush Soccer program, Rush Northville provides a player development program for soccer players in Southeast Michigan, regardless of the child's age, abilities, or financial status. Tryouts and team formation, age group training, team commitments, and cost estimations are featured, along with its programs, the Rush Jr. Academy, Rush Summer Camp, Rush College Fit Finder, and a list of distinguished and college alumni. Contacts are posted on the site.
https://www.michiganrush.com/
Northville Chamber of Commerce
The Chamber was organized to promote, develop, and support business and industry for the benefit of the Northville, Michigan community. Its professional staff and volunteers serve its retail, manufacturing, and service sector members through marketing, advocacy, and other services, which are highlighted here. Its board of directors and staff are introduced, contacts are posted, a member directory, a calendar of events, and a guide to local shopping, dining, and entertainment venues are included.
https://www.northville.org/
NCS is a private K-8 Christian school in Northville, Michigan, which also includes a preschool. Its admissions policies, an online application, and tuition plans are published on the site, which includes an overview of its academic programs, athletics programs, team schedules, summer camps, dress code, and required forms and other documents, as well as its spiritual life, speech and drama programs, and a school calendar. Its preschool schedules, curriculum, and contacts are included.
https://northvillechristian.school/
Northville Estates Civic Organization
Consisting of 155 single-family homes in the northwest corner of Northville, Michigan, Northville Estates was part of Novi Township when it was developed in 1956, residents chose to become part of Northville rather than being included in the newly forming city of Novi, which was accomplished in 1959. Board members, meeting minutes, and a membership form are set forth, along with a photo gallery, and a list of Northville Estates residents who offer a variety of services.
http://northvilleestates.org/
Northville Newcomers & Neighbors
Organized to welcome new residents to the Northville, Michigan community, NNN is a membership club that includes several interest groups, such as book clubs, bowling, bridge, canasta, crafting, euchre, golfing, genealogy, movies, dance, mahjongg, pinochle, walking, wine tasting, and others, which are featured here, along with membership information, a membership application, notices and a calendar of events, contacts, and links to various area attractions and resources.
https://northvillenewcomers.com/
Serving the City of Northville, Northville Township, and part of Novi, the public school district offers a PK-12th-grade curriculum through six elementary schools, two middle schools, one high school, and two special programs, the Cooke School and an early childhood education program, each of which is highlighted here, with schedules and announcements, student handbooks, enrollment policies, and volunteer opportunities. A district calendar and staff directory are included.
https://www.northvilleschools.org/
The Charter Township of Northville, in Wayne County, is a suburb of the Metro Detroit region. The township is adjacent to the city of Northville, to the north, although the two are administered autonomously. The official township website features a profile of the township, maps, a calendar of events, and a guide to township services and facilities, as well as agendas and minutes for meetings of the board of trustees, planning commission, and zoning board of appeals.
https://www.twp.northville.mi.us/
Our Lady of Victory Catholic School
In operation since 1952, the coeducational PK-8th-grade Catholic school is on Orchard Drive in the city of Northville, Michigan, and includes nineteen classrooms, a gymnasium, cafeteria, computer lab, music room, science lab, media center, three learning centers, an art room, kindergarten activity area, and an outdoor play area. The school's administration and staff are introduced, school schedules, a school newsletter, curriculum, open house schedules, application, tuition data, and contacts.
https://olvnorthvilleschool.org/
Featuring two fully-furnished short-stay apartments in Downtown Northville, Michigan, on Randolph Street near Center Street, the facilities include high-speed Internet, free WiFi, large flat-screen televisions, a private entrance, and parking. Offering weekly and monthly stay packages, reservations may be made by telephone or by email. The address is provided and its location is shown on a map. Its pricing and fees are posted on the site, which includes a gallery of photographs.
https://randolphhouse.net/
Offering half-day and full-day options for students in preschool, kindergarten, and young 5s, as well as a full-day program for those in grades 1-8, the Christian school is located on Elm Street in Northville, Michigan. Daily schedules, dress codes, admissions policies, promotional videos, testimonials, tuition and fee schedules, and a downloadable enrollment application are included. Also included are an academic calendar, supply lists, extracurricular programs, and faculty contacts.
https://stpaulschoolnorthville.org/