Lyon Township, Oakland County, Michigan

Lyon Charter Township is a charter township of Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 23,271 at the 2020 census.[3]

Lyon Township, Michigan
Lyon Charter Township
Lyon Township Municipal Center
Lyon Township Municipal Center
Location within Oakland County
Location within Oakland County
Lyon Township is located in Michigan
Lyon Township
Lyon Township
Location within the state of Michigan
Coordinates: 42°29′03″N 83°37′19″W / 42.48417°N 83.62194°W / 42.48417; -83.62194
CountryUnited States
StateMichigan
CountyOakland
Established1834
Government
 • SupervisorJohn Dolan
Area
32.0 sq mi (82.8 km2)
 • Land31.3 sq mi (81.2 km2)
 • Water0.6 sq mi (1.7 km2)
Elevation
942 ft (287 m)
Population
 (2020)
23,271
 • Density730/sq mi (280/km2)
 • Metro
4,296,250 (Metro Detroit)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code(s)
48165, 48167, 48178, 48381, 48393
Area code(s)248
FIPS code26-49820[1]
GNIS feature ID1626650[2]
WebsiteOfficial website

Geography

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According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 32.0 square miles (83 km2), of which 31.3 square miles (81 km2) is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6 km2), or 2.00%, is water.

Communities

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The city of South Lyon is located on the west side of the township.

Within the township proper there are two unincorporated communities. New Hudson, centered around the junction of Grand River Avenue, Pontiac Trail, and S. Milford Road, just south of exit 155 on I-96 at 42°30′39″N 83°36′56″W / 42.51083°N 83.61556°W / 42.51083; -83.61556.[4] In 1830, Russell Alvord and Daniel Richards, from the state of New York, obtained 40 acres (160,000 m2) of land with the deed signed by U.S. President Andrew Jackson. In 1831, they opened an inn called the "Old Tavern" (still in existence as the New Hudson Inn). This served as a changing point on the stage coach line known as the New Hudson Station. A stage line post office was established in 1834. A U.S. government post office was established in June 1852. The community was platted by Russell Alvord in 1837.[5] Kensington, a former village that is now Kensington Metropark.

Demographics

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As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 11,041 people, 3,887 households, and 3,055 families residing in the township. The population density was 352.3 inhabitants per square mile (136.0/km2). There were 4,065 housing units at an average density of 129.7 per square mile (50.1/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 97.10% White, 0.35% African American, 0.41% Native American, 0.61% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.45% from other races, and 1.04% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.47% of the population.

 
Fire Station #1, Grand River Ave.

There were 3,887 households, out of which 41.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.2% were married couples living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.4% were non-families. 16.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.83 and the average family size was 3.21.

In the township the population was spread out, with 28.8% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 34.1% from 25 to 44, 23.1% from 45 to 64, and 6.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.4 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $67,288, and the median income for a family was $76,045. Males had a median income of $56,418 versus $31,565 for females. The per capita income for the township was $27,414. About 3.4% of families and 4.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.8% of those under age 18 and 11.4% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

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Testek Inc. is located in the Quadrants Research Park. Established in 1969 by engineers, the company designs and builds custom test equipment for the aerospace, industrial and alternative energy industries. Testek is a large defense supplier to the US military.

Bielomatik, Inc. is located in the Lyon Industrial Research Park. The company designs and builds plastic welding machinery, primarily for the automotive market. Specialties include hotplate fuel tank welding, linear vibration welding and traditional hotplate welding on a variety of scales.

Pratt Miller Engineering is located in New Hudson and, in addition to an arms division that was established in 2013, is best known as the operators of the Corvette Racing motorsports team.

Arts and culture

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Man in the City was a large public sculpture erected atop a hill in Atchison Park in 2011. Visible from westbound I-96, the 20-foot tall (6.1 m), 1,500-to-2,000-pound metal sculpture (680 to 910 kg) depicted the silhouette of a nondescript man in a suit and fedora. The Lyon Township Parks and Recreation Master Plan was revised in 2014 and the concept of Art in the Park was deleted. A pair of garden lights were added in 2023 when the structure was repainted.[6] Around July 4, 2024, the sculpture lay where it fell after being cut off at the supporting base.[7] After initial news reports describe the toppling as vandalism, the artist, John Sauve, received a letter from an attorney representing the township informing him that they were responsible.[6] Due to ongoing maintenance and certain other concerns, they had made the decision to have the maintenance crew cut it down and have it removed from their property.[8]

Education

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South Lyon East High School

Sections of the township attend South Lyon Community Schools.[9] South Lyon East High School is located within Lyon Township.[10][11]

A portion of the township is zoned to Northville Public Schools.[12] Residents of that section are zoned to Thornton Creek Elementary School (Novi), Hillside Middle School (Northville),[13] and Northville High School (Northville Township).

The William K. Smith Community Center houses the Lyon Township Public Library.[14]

Post Office Service

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The New Hudson Office, ZIP code 48165, serves an area in the north central part of the township.[15]

  • South Lyon Office, ZIP code 48178, serves much of the southern and western parts of the township.[16]
  • Northville Office, ZIP code 48167, serves areas in the southeast portion of the township.[17]
  • Wixom Office, ZIP code 48393, serves areas in the northeast portion of the township.[18]
  • Milford Office, ZIP code 48381, serves a narrow band along the northern part of the township.[19]

References

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  1. ^ a b "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  2. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Lyon Township, Oakland County, Michigan
  3. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  4. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: New Hudson, Michigan
  5. ^ Romig, Walter (1986) [1973]. Michigan Place Names. Detroit, Michigan: Wayne State University Press. ISBN 0-8143-1838-X.
  6. ^ a b King, Jon (July 31, 2024). "Michigan artist says Lyon Township's decision to cut down landmark sculpture was 'vandalism'". Michigan Advance. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
  7. ^ Francis, Jacqueline (July 17, 2024). "Iconic I-96 orange man sculpture cut down by vandal in Oakland County". WDIV. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
  8. ^ Langton, Charlie (July 31, 2024). "Familiar 'Man in the City' sculpture off I-96 removed by Lyon Township officials". FOX 2 Detroit. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
  9. ^ Woodards, Shantee. "School district pushes $109 million bond." The Detroit News. September 3, 2004. Metro 3D. Retrieved on April 29, 2011. "Northville Schools are seeing an additional 300 students a year as more homes are built in the area. The district encompasses all or parts of Northville and Novi, along with Northville Township, Salem Township and the city of South Lyon."
  10. ^ "Zoning Map." Lyon Township. Retrieved on March 2, 2014.
  11. ^ "Welcome." South Lyon East High School. Retrieved on March 2, 2014. "South Lyon East High School 52200 Ten Mile Road South Lyon, MI 48178"
  12. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Oakland County, MI" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 4, 2021. Retrieved June 22, 2022.
  13. ^ "2022 Northville Public Schools Attendance" (PDF). Northville Public Schools. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 22, 2022. Retrieved June 22, 2022. - Linked from the school district website, and this page explains how the zoning works
  14. ^ "Library." Lyon Township. Retrieved on March 2, 2014.
  15. ^ 48165 5-Digit ZCTA, 481 3-Digit ZCTA - Reference Map - American FactFinder[permanent dead link], U.S. Census Bureau, 2000 census
  16. ^ 48178 5-Digit ZCTA, 481 3-Digit ZCTA - Reference Map - American FactFinder[permanent dead link], U.S. Census Bureau, 2000 census
  17. ^ 48167 5-Digit ZCTA, 481 3-Digit ZCTA - Reference Map - American FactFinder[permanent dead link], U.S. Census Bureau, 2000 census
  18. ^ 48393 5-Digit ZCTA, 483 3-Digit ZCTA - Reference Map - American FactFinder[permanent dead link], U.S. Census Bureau, 2000 census
  19. ^ 48381 5-Digit ZCTA, 483 3-Digit ZCTA - Reference Map - American FactFinder[permanent dead link], U.S. Census Bureau, 2000 census
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