Romulus is a city in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 22,979 at the 2000 census and was estimated to be 24,269 for the 2007 census estimate. Romulus is home to Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, a General Motors plant (Romulus Engine) which opened in 1976. The city is the most western community in the Downriver area in Wayne County.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 35.9 square miles (93.0 km²), of which, 35.9 square miles (93.0 km²) of it is land and 0.03% is water. The City of Romulus is bound to the North by Van Born Road, to the South by Pennsylvania Road, to the East by Inkster Road, and to the West by Hannan Road.
Adjacent communities
Demographics
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 22,979 people, 8,439 households, and 5,941 families residing in the city. The population density was 639.9 per square mile (247.1/km²). There were 8,943 housing units at an average density of 249.0/sq mi (96.2/km²). 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. According to a crime report from 2007 from the FBI, the population was 24,269 in the year 2007.
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
The first white settler in Romulus was Samuel Polyne, a French-Canadian, who located on section 2 in 1826, though he left soon after the township was organized in 1835. Solomon Whitaker, Charles and Joseph Pulcifer located in the area in 1830, and in 1833, Jenks Pullen and his six sons settled at what became known as "Pullen's Corners" (located in section 19 at the intersection that is now commonly called "Five Points"). Pullen's Corners was platted in 1836. The community later took on the name of the Township.[3][4][5][6]
The Township of Romulus was set off from a part of Huron Township by an Act of the Territorial Legislature on March 17, 1835, and the first township meeting was held on April 16, 1835, two years before the State of Michigan was admitted in to the Union (1837), in the house of Joseph T. Pullen. The first supervisor was David J. Pullen. The Township's name was changed to "Wayne" on March 19, 1845, but was changed back to Romulus on January 16, 1848.[3][4][5][6]
Romulus incorporated as a city in 1970.
Underground Railroad stops
- Samuel Kingsley Home is a famous historic landmark in Romulus. During slave times, Samuel L. Kingsley lived in a house on Ozga Rd near Pullens Corners, what is today known as Five Points. He hid slaves in an underground cellar. Today, the house is located on Hunt Street across from the Romulus Historical Museum. The address to the house was 37426 S. Huron River Drive.
- The White Church at the Pullens Corner / Five Points was also an underground railroad stop. Today, the church, which is now called Romulus Wesleyan Church, still sits at the corner.
Northwest Airlines Flight 255 crash
See Northwest Airlines Flight 255
Chemical Plant Explosion
On August 9, 2005 at approximately 9:30 p.m., the EQ Recovery Plant caught fire. Citizens within 1 to 1⅓ mile radius were forced to evacuate their homes. Romulus and Wayne fire crews and crews from neighboring communities managed to put out the fire after letting it burn down a little bit. Chemical-filled smoke filled the sky, causing respiratory problems. Many citizens from both Romulus and Wayne were taken to Oakwood Annapolis Hospital, about two miles from the explosion site. No one was injured.
Historical places
The following are historic places in the City of Romulus:
- Romulus Memorial Cemetery
- Block's Greenhouse & Produce Market
- Peter C. Byrd Home (located at Wayne Rd. and Grant St.)
- Merril - Morris House
- Grange Hall (current Western Wayne Alano Club)
- Morris Homestead
- Romulus School House No.# 1 (currently Romulus Historical Museum)
- Old Romulus South Junior High School
Some of these historic sites are also Michigan Historic Sites.
Famous Former Residents
Parks and recreation
Recreation
The Romulus Athletic Center (or R.A.C. for short) opened to the public on April 1, 2008. The R.A.C. is Southeastern Michigan's premiere indoor water park, recreation and meeting facility. This is located at 35765 Northline Road, conveniently west of the Detroit Metro Airport. This recreation center is a unique, state-of-the-art that has something for everyone in one building. The R.A.C. is open Monday through Saturday from 5:00am to 10:00pm and on Sunday from 7:00am to 10:00pm
Parks
The following parks are affiliated with The Department of Parks & Recreation:
- Beverly McAnally Neighborhood Park - Located on Cordell Street, off Joan Street, East of Middlebelt Road
- Boice Neighborhood Park - extension to Eugenio Fernandez Park
- Jimmie C. Raspberry Neighborhood Park - Corner of Hunt and Cypress Streets, West of Wayne Rd
- Elmer Johnson Community Park - Ozga Road between McBride and Wick Roads, North of Five Points
- Eugenio Fernandez Neighborhood Park - Located on Avalon Street, off Fourth Street, East of Wayne Road
- Historical Park - Corner of Bibbins and Hunt Streets, located in the outside of the Historical museum
- Mary Ann Banks Community Park - Located at Five Points, behind the White Church
- Merriman Neighborhood Park - Located on Merriman Road, next to Merriman Elementary
- Romulus - Park #1 - Corner of Henry Ruff and Beverly Roads, next to Romulus Elementary
- Senior Citizens Neighborhood Park - Located at the corner of Bibbins and Olive Street, behind the Senior Citizens Center
The following parks are in the community, but not affiliatted with the Department of Parks & Recreattion:
- Civic League Park - Located on Grover Street behind the Romulus Civic League Center, West of Wayne Road
- Halecreek Park - Located behind Halecreek Elementary on Harrison Street.
- VFW Park - Located at Wayne Rd & Waynecourse Dr.
Media
Newspapers
Television
The City of Romulus have three television stations (via cable) for citizens to view upcoming citywide events and other news including being able to watch the city council and school board meetings. These channels include:
- Channel 12 Romulus City Government Channel
- Channel 18 Romulus Public Access Channel
- Channel 19 Romulus Community School District Info Channel
Education
The Romulus Community School District serves and educates the children in the City of Romulus and other communities, which it has been fulfilling for decades. The district is made up of a high school (Romulus Senior High School), a middle school (Romulus Middle School), an alternative secondary school (Romulus Community High/Middle School) and 6 elementary schools (Barth, Cory, Halecreek, Merriman, Romulus, and Wick). The Summit Academy Schools and the Metro Charter Academy(NHA) also educates children.
The Romulus Public Library is located at 11121 S. Wayne Road.[7]
References
External links
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Coordinates: 42°13′20″N 83°23′48″W / 42.22222°N 83.39667°W / 42.22222; -83.39667
