Brief History
The area that is now Livonia was originally inhabited by Pottawattamie Indians. Rich soil and abundant harvests had first attracted pioneers from New England and New York to this area. They brought with them a new way of life and perhaps the very name “Livonia” – the name of a town in New York State, Pennsylvania State and a region of the Baltic Sea comprising present day Estonia and Latvia. By March 17, 1835, when an act of territorial legislature set the boundaries of Livonia Township, a forested wilderness had become an area of prosperous dairy farms and fruit orchards. For the first 100 years, Livonians raised sheep and dairy cattle and grew vegetables and grain. Growth was slow. But gradually, over the years, dirt trails became roads and then hard-surfaced highways. In the late 1940’s, the area took its first dramatic step from agriculture to commerce and industry. In 1948, the General Motors Corporation built an automatic transmission plant, soon to be followed by a Ford Motor Company parts depot. In 1950, the residents of Livonia Township voted to become a City. On May 23, 1950, the entire Township was incorporated into the City of Livonia.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 35.8 mi². 35.7 mi² of it is land and 0.1 mi² of it is water. The total area is 0.33% water.
Special Events
The City of Livonia hosts the Livonia Spree festival the last weekend of June each year. The festival includes a fun-filled carnival and a huge fireworks display on Sunday night.
Shopping
Whether it is elegant shopping at Laurel Park Place Mall or treasure hunting at the Town Peddler, the Midwest’s largest antique and craft mall, Livonia has something to fit everyone’s interests. Laurel Park Place is a very popular, upscale shopping destination, which features Parisian and other high-end retailers. Livonia Mall, at Middlebelt and Seven Mile Road, is one of the major shopping destinations in the community. The mall includes many craft and antique dealers and specialty shops.
Restaurants
As home to over 200 restaurants, this city has something for everyone’s tastes. Livonia is known as the home to many fine Italian restaurants located on a stretch of Plymouth Road and dotted throughout the city, including Fonte D’Amore. Along Haggerty Road next to Schoolcraft College are many upscale restaurants and bars that opened in 2005, including Mitchell’s Fish Market, Bravo Cucino Italiana, and Claddagh Irish Pub. For a blast from the past, people enjoy pulling their cars up to the drive-in at Daly’s on Plymouth Road, a Livonia institution since 1962. From burgers and fries, world famous Coney Island hot dogs and upscale dinning, Livonia has a place for every visitor’s tastes.
Recreation
Abundant recreational opportunities contribute greatly to Livonia’s premier quality of life for families and individuals. The city has set aside 1,800 acres for recreation and has a brand new 130,000 square foot community recreation center, along with many other recreational venues. Built as a testament to Livonia’s strong commitment to families and fun and envisioned as a catalyst for the growth of community, the Livonia Community Recreation Center offers recreational activities for residents of all ages, all fitness levels, and to all who want to recreate in a lively and inviting environment. The center includes two indoor pools with a 250 foot water slide, 27,000 square feet of gymnasium, a fitness hub with training equipment, an indoor track, a 40 feet high by 36 feet wide climbing wall, aerobics room, party rooms, game room, giant indoor play structure, 14,000 square feet skate board park, two sand volleyball courts and an 8,600 square feet gymnastics area.
Recognition
Livonia has been recognized by the FBI as the seventh safest city in the Country. It has also been named the second best Kid Friendly Place in the nation by Population Connection. The City of Livonia has also been rated the second Least Economic Stressful by the City American City Business Journals.
Location
Livonia, located in the northwest corner of Wayne County, is halfway between Detroit and Ann Arbor. Livonia’s location is convenient, with access east to west on the Jeffries Expressway (I-96), the I-275 expressway flowing north to south, and additional access to major highways and interstates passing through in all directions. Livonia is also just 20 to 25 minutes from Detroit Metropolitan Airport.
Schools
The Livonia Public Schools operate 22 elementary schools, four middle schools, three high schools and a career/technical center enrolling over 17,500 students total.
Livonia is home to several private schools, including Ladywood High School, Livonia Montessori Center, St. Michael, and St. Paul’s Lutheran School.
Community Statistics
If you are new to the area, we thought it might be useful for you to see how the communities in our immediate area relate to one another in terms of pricing and how various subdivisions within the same city compare, as well as some other useful statistics and demographics. If you already live here, this information might be useful to help you understand the value of your home.
For the latest information please Email our Sales Dept.
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