Northville, Michigan Real Estate and Local Information

Northville is one of Michigan’s oldest communities. It is best known for its upscale downtown, which includes an eclectic mix of shopping and restaurants. The focal point of town is Main Street, which includes the bulk of the shopping district, and the Historic District, home to Northville’s oldest homes. The City of Northville has retained its Victorian charm with many historic homes, old-fashioned street lamps and benches.

Brief History

Northville residents take pride in the history of the area. They have traced the history of the land and the making of their community back to the ice age. To the east of Northville, the waters of the west shore of Lake Erie used to cover the terrain which is now low flat land. To the west, you can find rolling hills, formed by the retreating glaciers. The early settlers of Northville logged and farmed the area, and in the 1800s the community of Northville was formed. In 1867 it became a formal village. It took almost another 100 years, until 1955, for Northville to become incorporated as a city. In 1972 Northville recognized the unique nature of its architecture and history and the city council passed the “Historic District Ordinance’ which preserves its historic districts and history.

Geography – Northville

According to the United States Census Bureau, Northville has a total area of 2.0 mi². 2.0 mi² of it is land and 0.50% is water.

Geography – Northville Township

According to the United States Census Bureau, Northville Township has a total area of 16.6 mi². 16.4 mi² of it is land and 0.2 mi² of it is water. The total area is 0.96% water.

Special Events

The highlight of Northville’s social calendar is its annual “Victorian Festival.” The streets are closed to automobile traffic as townspeople, artists and business owners turn back the clock and transform the community into a Victorian Village complete with period costumes, free horse and carriage rides, storytellers, medicine man show, strolling musicians, and street entertainment. In July 1986, the Northville Arts Commission presented the first band concert in the park on Main Street. Since then, the summer music series has grown in popularity. These concerts attract as many as 500 spectators to the band shell every Friday evening during the summer. Friends and families gather to listen to small ensembles as well as big bands.

Shopping

Visitors enjoy a unique shopping experience in the many fine establishments in Northville, old fashioned games, food booths, and antique show and art market. Founded in early 1800s, Northville came of age during the Victorian period. The Festival celebrates the town’s special heritage. The community retains much of the flavor of that period today.

Restaurants

Northville is home to some of metro Detroit’s finest dining, including Emily’s, McKinnon’s and Little Italy.

Recreation

The Parks & Recreation Department operates two indoor facilities. The Northville Community Center, located at 303 W. Main Street is leased from the Northville Public Schools. This site, which previously housed the Parks & Recreation offices, includes a gymnasium, stage and bleachers, a kitchen, and meeting rooms. The Recreation Center at Hillside, located at 700 W. Baseline is a result of a unique collaboration with the Northville Public Schools. In 1995, the Northville Board of Education offered 34,000 square feet of the former Northville High School to the community for use as indoor recreation space. After approval of a 15-year lease agreement, with two 10-year optional extensions, the project became a reality. Residents now have access to an indoor swimming pool, two additional gymnasiums, multi-purpose classrooms, and fitness rooms. In addition, larger administrative offices for Northville Parks & Recreation were constructed during the renovation in the summer of 2001. The department operates five community park facilities, including Ford Field, Fish Hatchery Park, Henningsen Park, Northville Community Park, and the newest facility, Millennium Park. In the future, an expansion to Northville Community Park is planned, along with the development of Thayer Corners Park.

Recognition

In August of 2004, Northville received all A’s on the state report card accreditation system—one of only fifty schools to achieve such honors. Its students are constantly recognized for achievements in education, scoring above average on the Michigan Education Assessment Tests, in the top five for MEAP scores, and earning awards from Wayne County and the State of Michigan for writing, art, music, and public speaking.

Location

Northville is ideally located approximately 30 miles west of the heart of downtown Detroit, and approximately 20 miles east of Ann Arbor, home of the University of Michigan. It is also approximately 20 miles from Metro Airport. It has convenient access to I-275, Michigan’s busiest expressway, and I-96, which connects Detroit to Ann Arbor, Lansing and Grand Rapids.

Schools

Northville school systems are among the highest-rated in metro Detroit. Northville students traditionally score higher than the national average on the Michigan Education Assessment Program (MEAP) tests. More than 95 percent of the students in the district go on to continue their studies at a college. The district currently enrolls over 6,000 students. A spectacular new high school was opened in the fall of 2000.

Northville is home to several private schools, including Northville Christian School, Our Lady of Victory School, St. Paul’s Lutheran School, and William Allan Academy.

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.

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