Romulus, Michigan

Infobox Settlement
official_name = The City of Romulus, Michigan
settlement_type = City
nickname = "Gateway to the World",
"Rom-Town"
motto = "With Pride, With Unity"
(Industry and its Citizens working together)


imagesize =
image_caption = Downtown Romulus
image_



imagesize =
image_caption = Downtown Romulus
image_

---

mapsize = 250x200px
map_caption =


mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_name1 = Michigan
subdivision_name2 = Wayne
leader_name = Alan R. Lambert
leader_name1 = Randolph Gear
leader_name2 = Pam Kersey
leader_name3 = Linda Choate
established_title = Settled
established_date = 1826
established_title2 = Organized
established_date2 = 1835
established_title3 = Incorporation
established_date3 = 1970
government_type =
leader_title = Mayor
leader_title1 = Mayor Pro-Tem
leader_title2 = Treasurer
leader_title3 = City Clerk
area_magnitude = 1 E8
area_land_km2 = 93.0
area_water_km2 = 0.0
area_total_sq_mi = 35.9
area_total_km2 = 93.0 sq mi.
area_land_sq_mi = 35.9
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0
elevation_m = 201
elevation_ft = 659
latd = 42 |latm = 14 |lats = 2 |latNS = N
longd = 83 |longm = 22 |longs = 18 |longEW = W
population_as_of = 2006
population_total = 24,137
timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 48174
area_code = 734
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 26-69420GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0636147GR|3
footnotes =
website = [http://www.romulusgov.com www.romulusgov.com]

Romulus is a city in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 22,979 at the 2000 census and the 2006 U.S. Census population estimate was 24,137. Romulus is home to Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, a General Motors plant (Romulus Engine) which opened in 1976, and is also the setting of the Sufjan Stevens song "Romulus" from his 2003 album Michigan.

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

*Wayne, Michigan (north)
*Westland, Michigan (northeast)
*Taylor, Michigan (east)
*Huron Charter Township, Michigan (south)
*Brownstown Township, Michigan (southeast)
*Van Buren Charter Township, Michigan (west)

Expressway access

The following is a list of freeway exits to access to the city:
* at Wayne Road (via Exit #196)
* at Vining Road (via Exit #197)
* /Merriman Road/Middlebelt Road (via Exit 198/199)
* at Ecorse Road (via Exit 200)
* at Detroit Metro Airport/Eureka Road (via Exit 15)
* at Ecorse Road/Romulus (via Exit 20)

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 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.

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.cite book |last=Fuller |first=George Newman |title=Local history of Detroit and Wayne County / edited by George B. Catlin | origyear=1928? |url=http://name.umdl.umich.edu/arh7780.0001.001 |accessdate=2007-04-01 |year=2005 |publisher=University of Michigan Library |location=Ann Arbor, Mich. |pages=pp. 109-110 |chapter=County Organization and Government |chapterurl= http://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=micounty;cc=micounty;idno=arh7780.0001.001;didno=ARH7780.0001.001;view=image;seq=115;page=root;size=s;frm=frameset ] cite book |last=Farmer |first=Silas |title=History of Detroit and Wayne County and early Michigan | origyear=1890 |url=http://name.umdl.umich.edu/bad1460.0002.001 |accessdate=2007-04-01 |year=2005 |publisher=University of Michigan Library |location=Ann Arbor, Mich. |pages=pp. 1362-1364 |chapter=Romulus Township |chapterurl= http://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=micounty;cc=micounty;idno=bad1460.0002.001;didno=BAD1460.0002.001;view=image;seq=668;page=root;size=s;frm=frameset; ] cite book |last=Wayne County Historical and Pioneer Society. |editor=Frederick Carlisle |title=Chronography of notable events in the history of the Northwest Territory and Wayne County | origyear=1890 |url= http://name.umdl.umich.edu/bad1137.0001.001 |accessdate=2007-04-01 |year=2005 |publisher=University of Michigan Library |location=Ann Arbor, Mich. |pages=p. 81 |chapter=Romulus |chapterurl= http://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=micounty&cc=micounty&idno=bad1137.0001.001&frm=frameset&view=image&seq=85 ] cite web |title=Brief History of Romulus |publisher=City of Romulus |url=http://www.romulusgov.com/index.asp?site=24&item=1363 |accessdate=2007-04-01 ]

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 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.

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 Taylor, Belleville, Woodhaven,Westland, Canton & Sumpter Township 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.

CSX Train Incident

In January 2003 at 2:00am, a CSX Transportation train crashed into a car on Tobine Road & Shook Road. The train dragged the car from Tobine Road to Van Born Rd, about 1 to 2 miles down the Northbound track. The driver of the vehicle was rushed to Oakwood Annapolis Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 3:00am. The passenger was airlifted to University of Michigan Hospital and they suffered from major injuries. The engineer of the train stated that they did not feel the impact of the train crashing in the car. Alcoholic Beverages took a role in the incident. The passenger says that the driver did not see or hear the train approaching or the crossing signals. Today, a makeshift marker is placed at the site of the incident. The signal first didn't have gates. In 2005, CSX came and placed gates of the signals, that way no vehicles can beat the train when the signal rings.

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.

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

* Detroit Free Press
* The Detroit News
* The News-Hearld (Downriver area paper)
* "The Little Paper" (formerly the Romulus News)
* "The Romulus Roman"
* "The Wingspan" -- Official Paper of Romulus High School

Transportation

The SMART bus system come through the City of Romulus taking riders Eureka Road, down South Wayne Road or in the Detroit Metro Airport

Education

Romulus Community Schools

Romulus Community School District, Summit Academy Schools & National Heritage Schools serve and provide education for the children of the City of Romulus and other communities.

Michigan Blue Ribbon Schools

* In 2004, Barth Elementary was awarded the Michigan Blue Ribbon School Award by the Michigan Department of Education.
* In 2007, Wick Elementary received this award as well.

References

External links

* [http://www.romulusgov.com/ City of Romulus, Michigan]
* [http://www.romulus.net/ Romulus Community Schools]
* [http://www.summit-academy.com/index.htm/ Summit Academy Schools]
* [http://www.metroairport.com/ Detroit Metro Airport]