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Novi, Michigan

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Novi, Michigan
City
Location in the state of Michigan
Location in the state of Michigan
CountryUnited States
StateMichigan
CountyOakland
Government
 • MayorDavid Landry
Area
 • Total31.3 sq mi (81.1 km2)
 • Land30.5 sq mi (78.9 km2)
 • Water0.9 sq mi (2.2 km2)
Elevation
909 ft (277 m)
Population
 (2000)
 • Total47,386
 • Density1,555/sq mi (600.5/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes
48374-48377
Area code248
FIPS code26-59440Template:GR
GNIS feature ID0633773Template:GR
Websitehttp://www.cityofnovi.org/

Novi is a city in Oakland County of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a suburb of Detroit. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 47,386. In 2007, the city completed a special census which places the current population at 52,231. The city is located approximately 25 miles (40 km) northwest from the center of Detroit, and is located within the boundaries of the geographic Township of Novi.

Novi is one of the fastest-growing cities in Michigan. The construction of Twelve Oaks Mall in the 1970s made the city a major shopping destination in the Detroit metropolitan area and is often credited with ushering in an era of growth that continues to this day (although in fact, the community had been growing rapidly since the 1950s). This growth has led to substantial increases in the city's population, as well as commercial and industrial developments in the city.

Novi is also home to the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America, which opened in 1989. Inductees receive the "Horsepower Award" on the Wednesday before the June NASCAR race at Michigan International Speedway.

History

The City of Novi was incorporated in 1969 after the approval of a city charter by Village of Novi voters. The city was incorporated along the boundaries of the then-existing Village of Novi. The approval of incorporation and the city charter followed several previous attempts at incorporation that were rejected by Novi voters. In the 1970s, the city annexed portions of Novi Township that had been detached from the Village of Novi after the village incorporated in 1958. A lengthy legal battle ensued between the city and the township which ultimately was decided by the Michigan Supreme Court in favor of the city. The legal disputes around the annexation battles were not fully resolved until 1984.

Historic Sites

  • Jacob and Rebecca Fuerst Farmstead: Listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
  • Tollgate Farm: 160 acre (650,000 m²) farmstead and educational center
  • Colonel Samuel White Homestead: Site includes a Michigan Historical Marker
  • Novi Depot: Portion of the original railroad depot constructed in 1871 for the Holly, Wayne and Monroe Railroad (currently CSX railroad).
  • Historic Township Hall: Located adjacent to Jacob and Rebecca Fuerst Farmstead

The name Novi was taken from the township, which was organized in 1832 from Farmington Township. The name was offered by resident Dr. J. C. Emory, at the suggestion of his wife. Residents were reportedly looking for a shorter name than Farmington.

Several popular but historically inaccurate explanations have been given for the origin of the name Novi. One version is that it was named after the 6th tollgate (No. VI) on the Grand River toll road. However, the township was named in 1832 and the toll road was not constructed until the 1850s. A similar claim is made about the township being stop number 6 on the railroad. However, the Holly, Wayne and Monroe (now CSX) railroad was not constructed through the township until 1870 - 1871, almost 40 years after it was named.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 31.3 square miles (81.1 km²), of which, 30.5 square miles (78.9 km²) of it is land and 0.9 square miles (2.2 km²) of it (2.74%) is water. Walled Lake, which lies mainly within Novi, is the largest lake in the city. It also serves as the headwaters of the Middle Branch of the Rouge River. Shawood Lake lies just southwest of Walled Lake. Several smaller lakes within the city were created by gravel pit mining or as stormwater retention areas. Most of the city lies within the Rouge River watershed. Some areas on the north and west side of the City are part of the Huron River watershed.

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there were 47,386 people, 18,726 households, and 12,321 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,555.2 per square mile (600.5/km²). There were 19,649 housing units at an average density of 644.9/sq mi (249.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 87.26% White, 1.92% African American, 0.19% Native American, 8.67% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.47% from other races, and 1.48% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.80% of the population.

There were 18,726 households out of which 36.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.2% were married couples living together, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.2% were non-families. 28.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.17.

In the city the population was spread out with 27.6% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 35.7% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 8.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 96.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $71,918, and the median income for a family was $91,369. Males had a median income of $65,590 versus $38,432 for females. The per capita income for the city was $35,992. About 1.6% of families and 2.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.4% of those under age 18 and 2.7% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Novi's government is a council-manager system with a weak mayor. The city council consists of the mayor, elected for a two-year term, and six council members, elected for four-year terms. The mayor has largely ceremonial duties in addition to the same voting powers as the other council members. The city council is responsible for hiring a city manager. The council also approves the city budget and sets city policies and ordinances. The City Manager oversees the day-to-day business of running the city, recommends an annual budget, and makes policy recommendations to the council.

The first city charter was adopted by the voters in 1969. The last major charter revision was in 1977. The current council consists of Mayor David Landry, Mayor Pro-Tem Kim Capello and council members Kathy Crawford, Bob Gatt, Terry Margolis, Andrew Mutch and David Staudt. The City Manager is Clay J. Pearson. The Assistant City Manager is Pamela Antil. The city has around 280 full-time employees.

Public Education

Novi includes all or part of four public school districts including Novi Community Schools, Northville Public Schools, South Lyon Community Schools and Walled Lake Consolidated Schools.

Private Education

Detroit Catholic Central High School is a private, Catholic, all-male, college preparatory high school located on Wixom Road in Novi.

Franklin Road Christian School is a K-12, coeducational, college-preparatory school with a nondenominational Christian philosophy located on Thirteen Mile Road.

Higher Education

A branch of Walsh College, which focuses on accounting, business, and finance education is located on Meadowbrook Road.

The newest location of The Art Institutes, the Art Institute of Michigan, is in Novi.

Parks and Natural Areas

Most of the farmland and open spaces present in the mid-20th Century have been developed. The exceptions include the Tollgate Farm located at the northwest corner of the intersection of Twelve Mile and Meadowbrook Roads. This farmstead is owned by the Americana Foundation and is currently leased and operated by Michigan State University as an agricultural extension.

Lakeshore/North Novi Park is another prominent natural area. The park is located between Walled Lake and Twelve Mile Road, west of Novi Road. While portions of the park were turned over to a developer to settle a lawsuit, it remains one of the largest municipal parks in southeast Michigan. In 2004, the City of Novi negotiated for the donation of several parcels of parkland on the west side of the city. These properties, along with several adjoining parcels owned by the city preserve 253 acres (102 ha) of environmentally sensitive areas in the Huron River watershed. In 2005, the City of Novi was awarded a Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund (MNRTF) grant to acquire 51 acres (21 ha) of environmentally sensitive property in southeast Novi within the Rouge River watershed. In 2007, the City was awarded a second MNRTF grant to acquire 16 acres of natural area in southwest Novi within the headwaters of the Huron River watershed.

Shopping & Event Centers

Twelve Oaks Mall: 200 stores including Lord & Taylor, Macy's, Nordstrom, JC Penney, and Sears. The mall recently completed an renovation and addition that included 40 new stores and Nordstrom.

Fountain Walk: Includes 50 stores in an outdoor setting including Buffalo Wild Wings, The Bamboo Club, Cold Stone Creamery, Dick's Sporting Goods, Modern Skate Park, Emagine Theater, Lucky's Arcade and Bar, and The Great Indoors.

Novi Town Center: Borders Books and Music, Linens 'n Things, Pier 1 Imports and restaurants. Outlot businessnes include Inkstop, Pei Wei, Potbelly's, and Children's Place.

Main Street Novi: Two story outdoor shopping/food.

Rock Financial Showplace Center : Exposition/conference center for large events. Named after large Michigan lending institution.

Novi Expo Center: Former exposition center with automotive museum. No longer in operation.

Notable residents

  • City of Novi home page
  • Novi Information Network
  • On the name Novi in History of Oakland County Michigan a narrative account of its historic progress, its people, its principal interests / compiled from the official records of the county, the newspapers and data of personal interviews, under the editorial supervision of Thaddeus D. Seeley. (1912)
  • Founding of Novi in History of Oakland County, Michigan., Durant, Samuel W. 1877


 

42°28′50″N 83°28′32″W / 42.48056°N 83.47556°W / 42.48056; -83.47556

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