Wixom, Michigan
Encyclopedia
Wixom is a city
in Oakland County
in the U.S. state
of Michigan
. The population was 13,498 at the 2010 census. The city was home to the former Wixom Assembly Plant
, which produced the Lincoln LS
, the Ford Thunderbird
, the Ford GT
, and the Lincoln Town Car
. The plant closed its doors on May 31, 2007.
Wixom is home to several production and manufacturing businesses, including Trijicon
, a leading manufacturer of night gun sights and night telescopic sights; Discraft
, a leading manufacturer of flying discs for disc sports games like Ultimate
; the U.S. headquarters of spark plug
manufacturer NGK
, and MAC Valves, Inc., a manufacturer of pneumatic valves used in the automotive and packaging industries.
and Commerce Township
border. The construction of a railroad depot and the naming of the area as Wixom fixed Wixom as a destination.
The village of Wixom was incorporated in the 1950s following the announcement of plans to construct the Wixom Assembly Plant in Novi Township. Prior to that time, Wixom was an unincorporated place. The village borders included portions of both Novi and Commerce Townships. Efforts by the remainder of Novi Township to incorporate as a village prompted the newly established village of Wixom to incorporate as a city. The city largely follows the borders of the village although a small area of parkland on the north side of the city was annexed from Commerce Township in the 1970s.
On November 13, 1996, Gerald Atkins "shot his way" (according to eyewitness reports) into the Wixom Ford plant with an AK-47 semi-automatic rifle, eventually killing plant manufacturing manager Darrell Izzard (aged 57) in a hallway; the shooter wounded three others. Fleeing the plant, Atkins hid in storm drain tunnels while law enforcement surrounded the plant and trained their weapons from as far away as the Interstate 96
freeway. Hours later he surrendered.
. A small area of commercial property on the city's southern border lies within the Novi Community Schools district, while the extreme southwest portion of the city is within the South Lyon Community School District.
Wixom is protected by Fire Station #1 on North Wixom Road and Fire Station #2 located at 50430 Pontiac Trail. The Wixom Fire Department is primarily staffed with paid on-call firefighters in addition to a full-time fire chief and several part-time firefighters.
In 1996, two Wixom police officers, Gary Hamlin and Martin Harp, undertook the dangerous task of apprehending and arresting Gerald Atkins (the above-mentioned Ford plant killer) as he sought refuge in a large storm drain. For their bravery and heroism they received awards and commendations, including official thanks in the form of resolutions passed by the state legislature and the National Association of Police Officers Top Cops© award, which was awarded during a ceremony at the White House
, conducted by president Bill Clinton
.
, the city has a total area of 9.5 square miles (24.6 km²), of which 9.3 square miles (24.1 km²) is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²), or 1.27%, is water.
of 2000, there were 13,263 people, 5,889 households, and 3,150 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,420.0 per square mile (548.3/km²). There were 6,086 housing units at an average density of 651.6 per square mile (251.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 90.40% White, 2.50% African American, 0.51% Native American, 2.85% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.55% from other races
, and 2.14% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.20% of the population.
There were 5,889 households out of which 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.8% were married couples
living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 46.5% were non-families. 37.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 3.07.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.9% under the age of 18, 14.0% from 18 to 24, 39.1% from 25 to 44, 16.5% from 45 to 64, and 5.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 109.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 108.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $44,320, and the median income for a family was $64,918. Males had a median income of $45,798 versus $30,942 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $27,543. About 4.5% of families and 5.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.0% of those under age 18 and 2.2% of those age 65 or over.
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
in Oakland County
Oakland County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the 2010 Census, there were 1,202,362 people, 471,115 households, and 315,175 families residing in the county. The population density as of the 2000 census was 1,369 people per square mile . There were 492,006 housing units at an average density of 564 per square mile...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. The population was 13,498 at the 2010 census. The city was home to the former Wixom Assembly Plant
Wixom Assembly Plant
The Ford Wixom Assembly Plant, now known as the Ford Renewable Energy Park, is a former Ford Motor Company automobile assembly plant in Wixom, Michigan, United States.-Ford years:...
, which produced the Lincoln LS
Lincoln LS
The Lincoln LS is a mid-size, rear wheel drive sedan from Lincoln. For its production run from 1999 until 2006, it was based on the Ford DEW98 platform, which was shared with the Jaguar S-Type and Ford Thunderbird...
, the Ford Thunderbird
Ford Thunderbird
The Thunderbird , is an automobile manufactured by the Ford Motor Company in the United States over eleven model generations from 1955 through 2005...
, the Ford GT
Ford GT
The Ford GT is a mid-engine two-seater sports car. Ford Motor Company produced the Ford GT for the 2005 to 2006 model years. The designers drew inspiration from Ford's GT40 race cars of the 1960s.- Development :...
, and the Lincoln Town Car
Lincoln Town Car
The Lincoln Town Car is a full-size luxury sedan that was sold by the upscale Lincoln division of Ford Motor Company; it was produced from 1981 to the 2011 model years...
. The plant closed its doors on May 31, 2007.
Wixom is home to several production and manufacturing businesses, including Trijicon
Trijicon
Trijicon ) is an American company, based in Wixom, Michigan, that manufactures and distributes optical sighting devices for firearms, including pistols, rifles, and shotguns....
, a leading manufacturer of night gun sights and night telescopic sights; Discraft
Discraft
Discraft is a company founded by Jim Kenner and located in Wixom, Michigan. They are a manufacturer of flying discs for the sports of Ultimate, Disc Golf and Freestyle frisbee...
, a leading manufacturer of flying discs for disc sports games like Ultimate
Ultimate (sport)
Ultimate is a sport played with a 175 gram flying disc. The object of the game is to score points by passing the disc to a player in the opposing end zone, similar to an end zone in American football or rugby...
; the U.S. headquarters of spark plug
Spark plug
A spark plug is an electrical device that fits into the cylinder head of some internal combustion engines and ignites compressed fuels such as aerosol, gasoline, ethanol, and liquefied petroleum gas by means of an electric spark.Spark plugs have an insulated central electrode which is connected by...
manufacturer NGK
NGK
is a Public Company established in 1936 and based in Nagoya, Japan. NGK is involved in the manufacture and sale of spark plugs and related products for internal-combustion engines and new ceramics and applicable products.-Organization:...
, and MAC Valves, Inc., a manufacturer of pneumatic valves used in the automotive and packaging industries.
History
The settlement of Wixom dates back to the 1830s. The establishment of Wixom as a place started in the early 1870s when the Holly, Wayne and Monroe Railroad was constructed through the area. Willard Wixom platted land on either side of the railroad near the NoviNovi Township, Michigan
Novi Township is a civil township of Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population is 150 as of the 2010 census. Of the original geographic township of Novi, only a small portion of approximately 60 acres remains unincorporated. It consists of the Brookland Farms #1 subdivision...
and Commerce Township
Commerce Township, Michigan
Commerce Charter Township is a charter township of Oakland County, in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 40,186 at the 2010 census. The terrain is rolling hills, but there are large expanses of flat land on which farms and, more recently, subdivisions are built. The Huron River runs...
border. The construction of a railroad depot and the naming of the area as Wixom fixed Wixom as a destination.
The village of Wixom was incorporated in the 1950s following the announcement of plans to construct the Wixom Assembly Plant in Novi Township. Prior to that time, Wixom was an unincorporated place. The village borders included portions of both Novi and Commerce Townships. Efforts by the remainder of Novi Township to incorporate as a village prompted the newly established village of Wixom to incorporate as a city. The city largely follows the borders of the village although a small area of parkland on the north side of the city was annexed from Commerce Township in the 1970s.
On November 13, 1996, Gerald Atkins "shot his way" (according to eyewitness reports) into the Wixom Ford plant with an AK-47 semi-automatic rifle, eventually killing plant manufacturing manager Darrell Izzard (aged 57) in a hallway; the shooter wounded three others. Fleeing the plant, Atkins hid in storm drain tunnels while law enforcement surrounded the plant and trained their weapons from as far away as the Interstate 96
Interstate 96
Interstate 96 is an intrastate Interstate Highway that is entirely within the US state of Michigan. Its western terminus is at an interchange with US Highway 31 and Business US Highway 31 , on the western boundary of Norton Shores southeast of Muskegon. Its eastern terminus is at I-75 near the...
freeway. Hours later he surrendered.
Downtown development
The downtown area of the city is being developed with a new main street area on Pontiac Trail by the city offices called the Wixom Village Center. The Village Center includes a pedestrian plaza, restaurants, and service shops. The residential development called Tribute of Wixom will contain 600 units that include ranch-style condos, town houses, and single-family homes. The $200 million project was expected to be completed in six years.Schools
Most of Wixom is part of Walled Lake Consolidated SchoolsWalled Lake Consolidated Schools
The Walled Lake Consolidated School District is located in Oakland County, Michigan. The school district has 14 elementary schools, four middle schools and four high schools and serves over 15,000 children from the cities of Farmington Hills, Novi, Orchard Lake, Walled Lake and Wixom, the townships...
. A small area of commercial property on the city's southern border lies within the Novi Community Schools district, while the extreme southwest portion of the city is within the South Lyon Community School District.
Police and fire
The police station is located in the newly developing downtown area on Pontiac Trail. The Wixom Police Department was formed in 1958. Prior to 1958, Wixom received police services from the Oakland County Sheriff's Department.Wixom is protected by Fire Station #1 on North Wixom Road and Fire Station #2 located at 50430 Pontiac Trail. The Wixom Fire Department is primarily staffed with paid on-call firefighters in addition to a full-time fire chief and several part-time firefighters.
In 1996, two Wixom police officers, Gary Hamlin and Martin Harp, undertook the dangerous task of apprehending and arresting Gerald Atkins (the above-mentioned Ford plant killer) as he sought refuge in a large storm drain. For their bravery and heroism they received awards and commendations, including official thanks in the form of resolutions passed by the state legislature and the National Association of Police Officers Top Cops© award, which was awarded during a ceremony at the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
, conducted by president Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 9.5 square miles (24.6 km²), of which 9.3 square miles (24.1 km²) is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²), or 1.27%, is water.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 13,263 people, 5,889 households, and 3,150 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,420.0 per square mile (548.3/km²). There were 6,086 housing units at an average density of 651.6 per square mile (251.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 90.40% White, 2.50% African American, 0.51% Native American, 2.85% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.55% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 2.14% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.20% of the population.
There were 5,889 households out of which 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.8% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 46.5% were non-families. 37.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 3.07.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.9% under the age of 18, 14.0% from 18 to 24, 39.1% from 25 to 44, 16.5% from 45 to 64, and 5.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 109.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 108.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $44,320, and the median income for a family was $64,918. Males had a median income of $45,798 versus $30,942 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $27,543. About 4.5% of families and 5.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.0% of those under age 18 and 2.2% of those age 65 or over.