Wayne, Michigan

This article is about the city in Wayne County, Michigan. For the township in Cass County, see Wayne Township, Michigan.

Wayne, Michigan
City
City of Wayne
Official seal of Wayne, Michigan Seal
Location in Wayne County and the state of Michigan
Coordinates:
Country	United States
State	Michigan
County	Wayne
Government
• Mayor	James Hawley
Area
• Total	6.02 sq mi (15.59 km2)
• Land	6.02 sq mi (15.59 km2)
• Water	0 sq mi (0 km2)
Elevation	656 ft (200 m)
Population (2010)
• Total	17,593
• Estimate (2012)	17,310
• Density	2,922.4/sq mi (1,128.3/km2)
Time zone	EST (UTC-5)
• Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code	48184
Area code(s)	734
FIPS code	26-84940
GNIS feature ID	1615901
Website	http://www.ci.wayne.mi.us/

Downtown Wayne, westbound, Michigan Avenue

State Wayne Theater

Michigan Assembly Plant

Wayne is a city in Wayne County in the state of Michigan, west of Detroit. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 17,593. Ford Motor Company has two plants here; Wayne Stamping & Assembly and the Michigan Assembly Plant, formerly known as Michigan Truck Plant. The Michigan Assembly Plant began manufacturing the third generation, North American Ford Focus on December 14, 2010.

As of 2006, Downtown Wayne began to undergo a revitalization & growth program, with the assistance of Andrews University - Urban Design Studio. Completed projects have included the new fire station on Wayne Road, the new police station on Michigan Avenue, and the new Department of Public Works on Forest. Plans in the program includes adding Wayne as a Transit Department train stop on Washington Street.

In 2006, the Downtown Development Authority launched several beautification projects including streetscape and parking lot improvements and three City-operated hiking trails which border the city.

History

Wayne was first settled in the 1820s. Soon a hamlet began to develop known as Derby’s Corners. In 1836 the name of the settlement was changed to Wayne in honor of General Anthony Wayne. In 1869 Wayne was incorporated as a village. Its population and industrial production significantly increased after World War II.

Wayne's population was 19,899 in 1990, more than its 2000 population.

On December 29, 2010, according to an Associated Press news story featured on the AOL News homepage, a family-owned furniture store (located in downtown Wayne about 15 miles southwest of Detroit) exploded and collapsed in what authorities believed to be a natural gas explosion, critically injuring the store's owner, Paul Franks (who was listed in serious condition in the burn unit of the University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor), and trapping two others beneath the rubble, after a failed attempt by area police to locate them using their cellular phones. Later, Wayne City Manager John Zech said rescuers using search dogs found the body of salesman James Zell, 64, of Westland, in the debris left by the explosion at the store. At some point afterwards, Shawn Bell, Wayne's deputy fire marshal, said that workers found the body of a woman in the rubble, and that she was a clerical worker for the store in her fifties, who was also from Westland. Police and fire officials, who said that it would be highly unlikely for anyone else to have survived under the concrete, had evacuated nearby homes and businesses, where the power had been fluctuating. The blast, which left a heavy scent of natural gas, was likened by one witness to a bombing; it broke nearby windows and could be felt miles away.

Education

The Wayne-Westland Community School District operates public schools serving the city. Schools with attendance boundaries including the Wayne city limits include:

Elementary Schools:

• Hoover Elementary School
• Roosevelt-McGrath Elementary School
• Taft-Galloway Elementary School
• Elliott Elementary School (Westland)
• Hamilton Elementary School (Westland)
• Schweitzer Elementary School (Westland)
• Walker-Winter Elementary School (Canton)

Private School

St. Mary Catholic School

All residents are zoned to Adams Upper Elementary School in Westland, Benjamin Franklin Middle School in Wayne, and Wayne Memorial High School in Wayne.

The sole early childhood campus serving the district is the Stottlemyer Early Childhood and Family Development Center in Westland.

Community facilities

The Wayne Public Library was founded in 1923 in the back of a shoe store. The book collection was the personal property of the librarian who loaned them to Wayne residents. After occupying several other locations over the years, the library became an operation shared by the cities of Wayne and Westland and occupied a 5,000 sq ft (460 m²). building at Wayne and Sims which for many years served a combined population of over 100,000. In 1995, Wayne built its own 24,000 sq ft (2,200 m²). prairie-style building at Veterans’ Plaza. The library offers books, CDs, DVDs, computer services, children's programming, and other special programs. The Friends of the Wayne Public Library provides supplemental financial support through their book sales and other programs. The semi-autonomous Wayne Library Board comprises five members appointed by City Council.

The Parks and Recreation Department Community Center has an aquatic area, ice skating facility, Racquet & Exercise Club (REC), and the Oakbridge Suites Banquet Facility.

Parks - Besides the Community Center, Wayne is home to 17 neighborhood parks and playgrounds. The annual fireworks display takes place at Attwood Park, and the annual Wheelfest celebration is held at Goudy Park. In the summer, the Goudy Park Concert Series is held each Thursday evening at the Goudy Park Amphitheatre.

State Wayne Theater - Additionally, each month more than 7,000 people visit the State Wayne Theater which is owned and operated by the City of Wayne and located at 35310 Michigan Avenue. The State Wayne is home to community theater groups for youths and adults, and presents 4-6 productions a year.

Senior Center - The Senior Center is located at the corner of Wayne and Sims Roads and offers programs to those 50 years and older. Programs include free Legal Aid, the Home Chore Program, free Blood Pressure checks, Meals on Wheels, Telecare services, the Golden Hour Club, Tai Chi, Bingo, Special Gadabout Van Trip, Sometimes Travelers, Now Showing Movies, Computer classes and many other special events.

Historical Museum

The Historical Museum, which maintains more than 100 exhibits, is located at One Town Square in downtown Wayne.

The two-story building was constructed in 1878 and officially became the Wayne Historical Museum. In July 1963, the City Council adopted the Historical Ordinance that created the Historical Commission, which oversees the collection and preservation of Wayne's History.

On March 19, 1985, the City Council approved the site plan recommended by the Historical Commission for the expansion and renovation of the historical Museum. The money to fund this project was a result of Historical Fund Requests by Floyd Warner, Clara Hosie and Mr. and Mrs. Peter E. Brender. The new addition, dedicated to the public on September 4, 1986, did not cost the taxpayers any money. The State of Michigan Historical Marker was dedicated to the public October 25, 1987.

Geography

The city, located on the Lower River Rouge which bisects the city, is bound on the north by Glenwood Road, the west by Hannan Road, the south by Van Born Road, and on the east by Merriman Road.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.02 square miles (15.59 km²), all land.

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1860	304		—
1870	833		174.0%
1880	919		10.3%
1890	1,226		33.4%
1900	1,361		11.0%
1910	1,263		−7.2%
1920	1,899		50.4%
1930	3,423		80.3%
1940	4,223		23.4%
1950	9,409		122.8%
1960	16,034		70.4%
1970	21,054		31.3%
1980	21,159		0.5%
1990	19,899		−6.0%
2000	19,051		−4.3%
2010	17,593		−7.7%
Est. 2014	17,091		−2.9%
U.S. Decennial Census 2012 Estimate

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 17,593 people, 7,055 households, and 4,450 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,922.4 inhabitants per square mile (1,128.3/km²). There were 7,824 housing units at an average density of 1,299.7 per square mile (501.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 76.3% White, 17.1% African American, 0.5% Native American, 2.1% Asian, 1.0% from other races, and 3.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.4% of the population.

There were 7,055 households of which 32.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.9% were married couples living together, 18.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 36.9% were non-families. 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.06.

The median age in the city was 38.6 years. 23.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.8% were from 25 to 44; 28.2% were from 45 to 64; and 12.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.2% male and 51.8% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 19,051 people, 7,373 households, and 4,844 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,165.2 per square mile (1,221.9/km²). There were 7,651 housing units at an average density of 1,271.2 per square mile (490.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 84.36% White, 11.29% African American, 0.61% Native American, 1.44% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.43% from other races, and 1.82% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.94% of the population.

There were 7,373 households out of which 33.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.2% were married couples living together, 15.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.3% were non-families. 28.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the city the population was spread out with 26.4% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 31.8% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 11.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 92.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $46,397, and the median income for a family was $56,150. Males had a median income of $42,385 versus $28,069 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,326. About 7.6% of families and 9.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.9% of those under age 18 and 9.6% of those age 65 or over.

External links

• City of Wayne Online
• City of Wayne Parks and Recreation
• Wayne-Westland Community School District
• Wayne Ripple Effect Citizens' Action Group
• Wayne Baseball Assoc.