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 miles ( 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 battle 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 81.1 km² (31.3 sq mi). 78.9 km² (30.5
sq mi) of it is land and 2.2 km² (0.9 sq mi) 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 600.5/km² (1,555.2/sq mi). There were 19,649 housing units at an average density of 249.0/km²
(644.9/sq mi). 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 Bob Gatt, Terry Margolis, Andrew Mutch, Toni Nagy,
and Lynne Paul. The City Manager is Clay J. Pearson. The Assistant City Manager is Pamela Antil. The city has around 280
full-time employees.
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.
The city includes a branch of Walsh College, which focuses on accounting, business, and finance education.
Detroit Catholic Central High School is located in Novi.
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.
Another prominent natural area is the Lakeshore/North Novi Park 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 acres ( ha) of
environmentally sensitive areas in the Huron River watershed. In 2005, the City
of Novi was awarded a Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund grant to acquire acres ( ha) of environmentally sensitive
property in southeast Novi within the Rouge River watershed.
Shopping & Event Centers
Twelve Oaks Mall: 180 stores including Lord
& Taylor, Macy's, JC Penney, and
Sears. The mall is currently undergoing an expansion which will include the
addition of a Nordstrom.
Fountain Walk: Includes 50 stores in an outdoor setting including Buffalo Wild Wings, The Bamboo Club, Cold Stone, 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.
Main Street Novi: Two story outdoor shopping/food.
Rock Financial Showplace Center : New exposition/conference center for large events. Named after large Michigan lending
institution.
Novi Expo Center: Former exposition center with automotive museum.
Notable residents
- Dr. Sanjay Gupta, chief medical correspondent for CNN,
graduate of Novi High School
- Ernie Harwell, major league baseball radio announcer
- Nicklas Lidström, captain, Detroit Red
Wings
- Manny Legace, goalie, St. Louis
Blues
- Dominic Raiola, center, Detroit Lions
- Damien Woody, guard, Detroit Lions
- Swifty McVeigh, rapper, member of the group D12
External links
- 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
Coordinates:
42°28′50″N, 83°28′32″W
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