Romulus, Michigan

Romulus, Michigan
Nickname:  "Gateway to the World"
Motto(s):  "With Pride, With Unity"
Country	United States
State	Michigan
County	Wayne County
Government
• Mayor	Alan R. Lambert
Population  (2006)
• Total	31,500
Website	www.romulusgov.com

Romulus is a city in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 31,500 at the 2000 census.

The city is home to Detroit Metropolitan Airport, the major commercial airport serving the Detroit area. Prior to the growth of the airport in the 1960s it was a quiet rural community. The city was a swamp area when it was found in 1855. In the 1900's, Romulus was an incorporated township. In 1970, Romulus became a city to the Detroit Area.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 93.0 km² (35.9 mi²). 93.0 km² (35.9 mi²) of it is land and 0.03% is water.

Adjacent Cities

• Wayne, Michigan (north)
• Westland, Michigan (northeast)
• Taylor, Michigan (east)
• Woodhaven, Michigan (southeast)
• New Boston, Michigan (south)
• Van Buren Charter Township, Michigan (west)

Location of Romulus, Michigan

Location of Romulus, Michigan

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there were 22,979 people, 8,439 households, and 5,941 families residing in the city. The population density was 247.1/km² (639.9/mi²). There were 8,943 housing units at an average density of 96.2/km² (249.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 65.36% White, 29.99% African American, 0.54% Native American, 0.59% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 0.81% from other races, and 2.63% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.01% of the population.

There were 8,439 households out of which 36.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.5% were married couples living together, 18.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.6% were non-families. 23.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.19.

In the city the population was spread out with 29.2% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 31.7% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 7.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 95.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $45,088, and the median income for a family was $51,497. Males had a median income of $41,372 versus $27,517 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,679. About 10.6% of families and 12.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.8% of those under age 18 and 12.4% of those age 65 or over.

History

In 1855, Romulus was just a swamp land when it was found. In the 1900's, it became a township to Wayne County. Finally, in 1970, Romulus became a city favored by the citizens.

Underground Railroad Stops

Samuel L. Kingsley House

During slavery times, Samuel L. Kingsley lived in a house on Ozga Rd. near Pullens Corners , what is today known as Five Points. He hidden slaves in an underground cellar which was in a closet and the cellar door was on the floor. Today, the house is now located on Hunt Street across from the Romulus Historical Museum. The address to the house was 37426 S. Huron River Drive. Rory Means lived in that house for 4 years, 1982-1986. Along time resident of Romulus. And as a boy played in that cellar.

The White Church at Five Points (Pullens Corner)

The church at the Pullens Corner / Five Points was also an underground railroad stop. Today, the church, which is now called Romulus Wesealyn Church, still sits at the corner.

Historical Places

The following are historic places in the City of Romulus:

• Romulus Memorial Cemetery
• Block's Greenhouse & Produce Market
• Merril - Morris House
• Morris Homestead
• Romulus School House No.# 1 (currently Romulus Historical Museum)
• Old Romulus High School (currently Romulus Police Department)
• Old Romulus South Junior High School (site is currently Senior Citizens Neighborhood Park)

Some of these historic sites are one of the State of Michigan Historic Sites.

Citywide Traditions

• The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr Celebration is annual event hold every year on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Citizens walk from Romulus Middle School or Cory Elementary to Romulus High School. Ceremony is celebrated with singing and performances from students in Romulus including the Romulus High School Marching Eagles, skits performed by students from all 6 elementary schools and other performances from other asscoiations. A guest speaker will give a presentation. It has been a event since 2003.
• The Annual Romulus Pumpkin Festival & Parade of Lights is the biggest event all year round in the city. It is always held on the Third Weekend in September in Downtown. On the Friday Evening, the Parade of Lights gitters on streets of Romulus. Saturday and Sunday, festivities such as Pumpkin pie eating contest and singing competiton.

Parks and Recreation

Recreation

Currently, a new recreation center is being built on Wayne Rd at Northline Rd, just west of Detroit Metro Airport.

Parks

The following are parks in the city

• Romulus - Park #1
• Mary Ann Banks Memorial Park / Kennedy Park
• Eugenio Fernandez Park
• Cypress Park
• Halecreek Park
• Elmer Johnson Community Park
• Merriman Neighborhood Park
• Senior Citizens Neighborhood Park

Media

Television

The following are local Detroit stations and community channels:

• Channel 2 / WJBK-TV (FOX)
• Channel 4 / WDIV-TV (NBC)
• Channel 7 / WXYZ-TV (ABC)
• Channel 12 / City Government Channel
• Channel 18 / City Public Access Channel
• Channel 19 / Romulus Community Schools Information Channel
• Channel 20 / WDWB-TV (My Network TV)
• Channel 38 / WADL-TV (Detroit/Mt. Clemens Area TV)
• Channel 50 / WKBD-TV (The CW)
• Channel 56 / WTVS-TV (PBS)
• Channel 62 / WWJ-TV (CBS)

Newspapers

• Detroit Free Press
• The Detroit News
• The News-Hearld (Downriver area paper)
• "The Romulus News" (also known as the "little paper")
• "The Romulus Roman"

Education

Schools

Since 2005, Romulus Community Schools is one of the most recognized schools in the State of Michigan.

The following are schools with the corresponding grades:

• Romulus High School (9 - 12)
  • "Home of the Eagles"

• Romulus Middle School (7 & 8)
  • "Home of the Bulldogs"

• Romulus Community Middle/High School
  • "Home of the Lions"

• Lorena G. Burton Memorial Center (Romulus Head Start)
  • No Mascot

• Barth Elementary School (K - 6)
  • "Home of the Bears"

• Cory Elementary School (K - 6)
  • "Home of the Cougars"

• Halecreek Elementary School (K - 6)
  • "Home of the Hawks"

• Merriman Elementary School (K - 6)
  • "Home of the Superstars"

• Romulus Elementary School (K - 6)
  • "Home of the Jaguars"

• Wick Elementary School (K - 6)
  • "Home of the Wildcats"

Michigan Blue Ribbon School

In 2004, Barth Elementary was awarded the Michigan Blue Ribbon School Award by the Michigan Department of Education.

Chemical plant explosion

On August 9, 2005 at approxmetely 9:30p.m., the EQ Recovery Plant expolded in to bursts of fire. Citizens within 1 to 1⅓ mile radius was forced to evacuate their homes in subdivisions like North End/Subs, Woodside Square, Avalon Meadows, Rudgate and other subdivisions. Romulus fire crews and crews from Taylor, Belleville, Woodhaven & Sumpter Twp. managed to put out the fire after letting it burn down a little bit. Chemical-filled Smoke filled the dusk sky, and people were breathing the air in the area that they were receiving sickness or problems in health. Many citizens from both Romulus and Wayne were taken to Oakwood Annapolis Hospital, about 2 miles from the explosion site. Fortunally, no one was injured at the time.

Northwest Airlines 255

On August 16, 1987, Northwest Airlines Flight 255 crashed after taking off from Detroit Metropolitan Airport. All crew and passengers was killed except for a 4-year old girl. Today, a memorial sits at the site of the crash located on Middlebelt Rd between Interstate 94 and Wick Rd/Interstate 94 East Service Dr.

CSX Train Incident

In 2001, a CSX Transportation train crashed into a car on Tobine Road. The driver and passenger of the vehicle were killed, the engineer suffered major injuries.

Music

Musician Sufjan Stevens wrote a song titled "Romulus" on an album entitled Michigan (aka, Greetings From Michigan: The Great Lake State). The song is about his mother and the small rural community in which she lived.

External links

• City of Romulus, Michigan
• Romulus Community Schools
• Detroit Metro Airport