Marygrace Liparoto

 

Communities

Washtenaw County*
          Ann Arbor
          Dexter*
          Milan
          Saline*

Wayne County*
          Northville
          Plymouth

Monroe County*
          Dundee
          Monroe
          Milan

Oakland County*
          Northville

Livingston County*

 

*Starred links are external government Web sites.

 

Plymouth

Location
The City of Plymouth in western Wayne County has a total area of 2.2 square miles. It is about 26 miles west of Detroit and just west of I-275 and just south of M-14.

History
The first settlers to come to what is now known as Plymouth were Keziah (Benjamin) and William Starkweather, two farmers from Preston, Conn. They bought 240 acres from the U.S. government on March 11, 1825, for $1.25 an acre. William built the first home in Plymouth, at the southwest corner of Main Street and Ann Arbor Trail.

One of the oldest communities in Michigan, initially a number of names were proposed for the community, including Peking and LaRoy. But Plymouth was agreed upon because many of its first settlers originated from Plymouth, England. The town because an incorporated village in 1867 and became a city in 1932. The town became a center for commerce and industry and earned the title of Air Rifle Capital of the World when the Daisy Air Rifle Co. began operations there in 1886.

Education
The Plymouth-Canton Community Schools, with nearly 19,000 students, is the fourth largest in the state. It includes three high schools, five middle schools, 16 elementary schools and a host of special programs. In nearby Livonia, Schoolcraft College offers a range of two-year associate’s degrees. The community also is an easy drive to four-year universities, including Eastern Michigan University, Wayne State University, the University of Michigan and UM’s Dearborn campus.

2010 Demographics
City population: 8,676
Households: 4,506
Median household income: $51,535
Median housing value: $178,700
Housing owner-occupied: 63 percent
Households in poverty: 3.5 percent

Culture and Recreation
The City of Plymouth has dozens of recreation programs for a range of age groups. Its Cultural Center has space for meetings and banquets and includes an NHL-size ice arena. At least 12 parks dot the community. Among its major events are its Fall Festival, its mid-winter International Ice Sculpture Spectacular and the Art in the Park event at downtown’s Kellogg Park. Plymouth has a vibrant downtown with a variety of shops and restaurants.

Official government Web site: http://www.ci.plymouth.mi.us/