Wayne County, Michigan

Wayne County, Michigan
Seal
Location in the state of Michigan
Michigan's location in the U.S.
Founded	August 15, 1796 [1]
Seat	Detroit
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	672.20 sq mi (1,741 km²) 614.15 sq mi (1,591 km²) 58.05 sq mi (150 km²), 8.64%
Population  - (2010)  - Density	1,820,584 2,963/sq mi (1,144/km²)
Website	www.waynecounty.com

Wayne County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, its population was 1,820,584^[1] making it the 15th most-populous county in the United States. The county seat is Detroit^[2], the largest city in Michigan.

Geography

According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 672.20 square miles (1,741.0 km²), of which 614.15 square miles (1,590.6 km²) (or 91.36%) is land and 58.05 square miles (150.3 km²) (or 8.64%) is water^[3] (including parts of the Detroit River and Lake St. Clair).

Wayne County borders on Oakland County and Macomb County to the north, Washtenaw County to the west, and Monroe County to the south.

The eastern (and sometimes southern) boundary is a water boundary in the Detroit River and Lake St. Clair with Essex County, Ontario, Canada. Automotive traffic crosses this boundary at the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel and the Ambassador Bridge. Due to the change in direction of the river, this portion of Ontario actually lies south of Wayne County. Due to the direction ambiguity, the southern communities of the county are usually referred to as "Downriver".

Grosse Ile is the largest island in Wayne County and is connected to the mainland by the Wayne County Bridge and the Grosse Ile Toll Bridge.

Adjacent counties

• Washtenaw County (west)
• Monroe County (south/southwest)
• Macomb County (northeast)
• Oakland County (northwest)
• Essex County, Ontario (east)

	Oakland County	Oakland County and Macomb County	Macomb County and Lake St. Clair
	Washtenaw County		Essex County, Ontario, Canada and Detroit River
		Wayne County, Michigan
	Monroe County	Monroe County	Lake Erie and Detroit River

History

"Mad Anthony" Wayne

Wayne County was one of the first counties formed when the Northwest Territory was organized. It was named for the American general "Mad Anthony" Wayne. It originally encompassed the entire area of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, as well as small sections that are now part of northern Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. By proclamation of the Territorial Secretary and Acting Governor, Winthrop Sargent, on August 15, 1796, the boundaries of Wayne County were declared to begin at the mouth of the Cuyahoga River then west to Fort Wayne, then to the southernmost point of Lake Michigan and along the western shore north to the territorial boundary in Lake Superior and then along the territorial boundary through Lake Huron, Lake St. Clair, and Lake Erie back to the starting point.^[4]

On January 14, 1803, the Governor of Indiana Territory, William Henry Harrison, issued a similar proclamation defining the boundaries as beginning at a point where an east and west line passing through the southernmost extreme of Lake Michigan would intersect a north and south line, passing through the westernmost extreme of the lake, then north to the territorial boundary, then along said boundary line to a point where an east and west line passing through the southerly extreme of Lake Michigan would intersect the same, then along this last mentioned line to the place of beginning. This boundary would include Chicago, Illinois and a sizable strip of Wisconsin along Lake Michigan.^[5]

These boundaries would be adjusted as Indiana and Illinois became states and as other counties were formed within Michigan Territory.

National protected area

• Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge (part)

Transportation

	I-75	Interstate 75 travels through the Downriver communities, then through the southwest-side neighborhoods of Detroit and serves as the northern border of Downtown Detroit as the Fisher Freeway. It then turns away from the Fisher onto the Chrysler Freeway at a complex interchange with I-375 and an unnumbered extension which connects with M-3, then follows M-1, which is less than a mile away through the remainder of Detroit, connecting eastern Wayne County to Toledo and Flint to the south and north respectively. It runs non-stop to the Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge to the north and to Florida to the south.
	I-94	Interstate 94 runs east-west through the central parts of Wayne County, connecting it to Port Huron eastbound and Chicago westbound. To the west it provides an uninterrupted route as far as Montana and connects to the northern side of the Detroit Metro Airport. In Detroit it is known as the Edsel Ford Freeway.
	I-96	has its eastern terminus in the county, in Detroit. It follows Grand River Avenue until the city's northwest side, there it turns due west to I-275, where it turns north to concurrent with I-275. West of Detroit to I-275 it is known as the Jeffries Freeway; in Detroit it is the Rosa Parks Memorial Highway, but it is sometimes still known as the Jeffries.
	I-275	Most of Interstate 275's mileage is in Wayne County, serving the southern side of the Detroit Metro Airport as well as the Pinnacle Race Course.
	I-375	Interstate 375 is the nation's shortest Interstate Highway to be signed. However some highways are shorter but are not signed at all. It serves as the eastern boundary of Downtown Detroit and is a southern extension of the Chrysler Freeway.
	US-12	U.S. Route 12 has its eastern terminus in Downtown Detroit at Cass Avenue. From there it travels through the west side of Detroit and through Dearborn and other points west and is a useful alternative to I-94. Locally it is known as Michigan Avenue.
	US-24	U.S. Route 24 traverses through Downriver and the far west sides of Dearborn and Detroit and is a useful alternative to I-75. Locally it is known as Telegraph Road.
	US 10	U.S. Route 10 entered the county by two ways. Initially it was via Woodward Avenue but when the Lodge Freeway was completed U.S. Route 10 was relocated onto it; the Woodward route became M-1. Later the existing highway was truncated in Bay City and M-10 replaced it on the Lodge.
	US 16	U.S. Route 16 entered Wayne County on Grand River Avenue and ended in Downtown Detroit.
	US 25	Locally, U.S. Route 25 was the designated name for Dix-Toledo Highway in Downriver and Fort Street and Gratiot Avenue in Detroit. The construction of I-75 resulted in the truncation of U.S. Route 25 to Cincinnati.
	US 112	U.S. Route 112 followed Michigan Avenue out of Downtown Detroit and out of Wayne County. Is now a routing of U.S. Route 12.
	M-1	M-1 has its southern terminus in Downtown Detroit at Adams Street. It travels through Midtown Detroit and New Center and through Highland Park. It serves as an alternative to I-75 and M-10. Locally known as Woodward Avenue. M-1 was a result of US-10 being redesignated to the Lodge Freeway.
	M-3	M-3 has its southern terminus in Downtown Detroit at Randolph and Jefferson Avenue. It proceeds northeasterly through Detroit's northeast side and beyond towards Mount Clemens and points further north. Locally known as Gratiot Avenue. M-3 was the result of the removal of US-25 from Michigan.
	M-5	M-5 begins at the northern intersection with I-96 on Detroit's northwest side and follows Grand River Avenue out of the county.
	M-8	M-8 runs from I-96 to Conant Street in Detroit, passing through Highland Park. The freeway portion is known as the Davison Freeway.
	M-10	M-10 starts at the same intersection where M-3 starts in Downtown Detroit and travels further into the city on the Lodge Freeway and connects it to Southfield.
	M-14	M-14 starts at the interchange with I-96 and I-275 in Livonia and travels out into rural areas, serving Plymouth and Ann Arbor.
	M-39	M-39 starts in Lincoln Park's city center and runs along Southfield Road to Allen Park and becomes the Southfield Freeway, traveling through the west side of Detroit.
	M-53	M-53 begins at M-3 in Detroit, running through the city and connecting it to the Thumb area of the state. Locally known as Van Dyke Avenue.
	M-85	The entire length of M-85 is in Wayne County, starting at Griswold Street in Downtown Detroit and connecting the city's southwest side to Downriver, ending near Flat Rock at I-75, for whom which M-85 serves as an alternative. Locally known as West Fort and South Fort, divided at the River Rouge.
	M-97	M-97 only runs a short distance through Detroit's northeast side, starting at M-3. In the city it follows Gunston Street and Hoover Street.
	M-102	M-102 follows the county line between M-5 and I-94. Locally known as West 8 Mile and East 8 Mile, divided at John R. Street.
	M-153	M-153 starts at Wyoming Street on the Detroit-Dearborn limit and continues through the western suburbs as Ford Road.
	M-16	M-16 became part of U.S. Route 16, which is also removed from Michigan.
	M-17	M-17 once followed Ecorse Road into Lincoln Park, then ran concurrently with U.S. Route 25 to Downtown Detroit.
	M-56	During the 1950s, M-56 connected U.S. Route 25 in Flat Rock to U.S. Route 112 in Canton along Huron River Drive and Belleville Road.
	M-112	During World War II and the years following, M-112 entered Wayne County on an expressway, providing access to the Willow Run Airport in Van Buren Township and turned onto present-day Interstate 94 in Romulus Township. In Taylor Township it had interchanges with both M-17 and U.S. Route 24, then ended at U.S. Route 112 in Dearborn.
	Dixie Highway	Dixie Highway ran through Wayne County as early as 1915. Back then it was one of the only routes that connected the county to the Southern United States. Today there are no traces of the old highway in the county.
	Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport	Detroit Metro Airport is located in the Downriver community of Romulus. It serves as a hub for Delta Air Lines and Spirit Airlines and is one of the two airports operated by the Wayne County Airport Authority.
	Willow Run Airport	Willow Run Airport is located in Van Buren Township and has four runways (a fifth was recently converted into a taxiway). No scheduled flights operate out of Willow Run and is one of the two airports operated by the Wayne County Airport Authority.
	Grosse Ile Municipal Airport	It is located about two miles (3 km) south of Grosse Ile Township's downtown area. It has two paved runways. No scheduled flights operate out of this airport as well.
	Coleman A. Young International Airport	Also known as the Detroit City Airport (not to be confused with the larger and nearby Detroit Metro Airport). It is located just a short drive from Downtown Detroit along M-3. It also has two runways and no scheduled flights, although it has been attempted in the past.

Demographics

As of the census^[6] of 2000, there were 2,061,162 people, 768,440 households, and 511,781 families residing in the county. The population density was 3,356 people per square mile (1,296/km²). There were 826,145 housing units at an average density of 1,345 per square mile (519/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 51.70% White, 42.16% Black or African American, 0.37% Native American, 1.70% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.55% from other races, and 2.49% from two or more races. 3.75% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

8.5% were of German, 8.0% Polish and 5.7% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000. 89.3% spoke only English at home; 3.2% spoke Spanish and 2.4% Arabic.

Three native American groupings had over 1000 people in Wayne County in 2000, including 1,015 Iroquois, including at least in theory members of all six tribes, and Chippewa or Ojibwa numbering 2,041. The Cherokee were the most numerous group of Native Americans here in Wayne County, as in most of the United States, with 4,127.^[7]

There were eight groups of Asians who were identified as having over 1000 in Wayne County. Asian Indians numbered 15,856. Chinese came in second at 5879. After that comes the Filipinos, numbering 5480. There were 2478 Koreans. Bangladeshis numbered 2238. Next came Japanese numbering 2025. Hmongs numbered 1927. Pakistanis numbered 1887 and Vietnamese 1684.^[7]

There were 768,440 households out of which 32.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.70% were married couples living together, 20.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.40% were non-families. 28.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.26.

In the county the population was spread out with 28.00% under the age of 18, 8.70% from 18 to 24, 30.30% from 25 to 44, 20.90% from 45 to 64, and 12.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 92.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $40,776, and the median income for a family was $48,805. Males had a median income of $42,392 versus $29,027 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,058. About 12.70% of families and 16.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.00% of those under age 18 and 11.30% of those age 65 or over.

Government

The historic Guardian Building in Detroit is the Wayne County headquarters.

Wayne County is Michigan's first "charter county", with a home rule charter setting up its structures within limits set in state law and constitution. Most Michigan county governments are structured according to state law, without a locally adopted charter.

The county government operates the jail, maintains rural roads, keeps files of deeds and mortgages, maintains vital records for all areas except Detroit, administers public health regulations, and participates with the state in the provision of welfare and other social services. Most other local government functions – police and fire, building and zoning, tax assessment, street maintenance, etc. – are the responsibility of individual cities and townships.

Wayne County Elected officials

• County Executive: Robert A. Ficano (Democrat)
• Prosecuting Attorney: Kym L. Worthy (Democrat)
• Sheriff: Benny N. Napoleon (Democrat)
• County Clerk: Cathy M. Garrett (Democrat)
• County Treasurer: Raymond J. Wojtowicz (Democrat)
• Register of Deeds: Bernard J. Youngblood (Democrat)
• County Board of Commissioners: Edward A. Boike, Jr., Chair (Democrat) 15 members, elected from districts (14 Democrats, 1 Republican)
• Circuit Court (3rd Circuit encompasses Wayne County): 61 judges (non-partisan)
• Probate Court: 8 judges (non-partisan)

(information as of December 2009)

Politics

Cities, villages, and townships

The white areas represent unincorporated charter and civil townships. The gray areas represent incorporated cities and villages.

Cities

• Allen Park
• Belleville
• Dearborn Heights
• Dearborn
• Detroit
• Ecorse
• Flat Rock (partially in
  Monroe County)
• Garden City
• Gibraltar

Townships

See also

Metro Detroit portal

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Wayne County, Michigan
• Saginaw Trail

References

Further reading

• Farmer, Silas. (1884) (Jul 1969) The history of Detroit and Michigan, or, The metropolis illustrated: a chronological cyclopaedia of the past and present: including a full record of territorial days in Michigan, and the annuals of Wayne County, in various formats at Open Library.

External links

• Wayne County Government
• Wayne County Local History
• Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University, Bibliography on Wayne County

v d e Municipalities and communities of Wayne County, Michigan, United States County seat: Detroit Cities Allen Park Belleville Dearborn Dearborn Heights Detroit Ecorse Flat Rock‡ Garden City Gibraltar Grosse Pointe Grosse Pointe Farms Grosse Pointe Park Grosse Pointe Shores‡ Grosse Pointe Woods Hamtramck Harper Woods Highland Park Inkster Lincoln Park Livonia Melvindale Northville‡ Plymouth River Rouge Riverview Rockwood Romulus Southgate Taylor Trenton Wayne Westland Woodhaven Wyandotte Charter townships Brownstown Canton Huron Northville Plymouth Redford Van Buren General law townships Grosse Ile Sumpter Unincorporated community Cherry Hill Martinsville New Boston West Sumpter Footnotes ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

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Coordinates: 42°17′N 83°16′W / 42.28°N 83.26°W / 42.28; -83.26