About the Novi, Northville and Farmington Hills, Michigan Area
 

Novi 

Novi is a fast growing town with a caring community committed to quality of life. Families and friends work together to create safe neighborhoods and enjoyable community events. Better Homes and Gardens gave their "Home of the Year" award to Autumn Park, and Expansion Management Magazine declared the Novi Community School District a Gold Medal District. 

LOCATION
Novi is in Oakland County, Michigan near the Wayne County border. I-96 runs through town on its east/west journey, and meets I-695 and I-275 at an interchange just east of Novi. I-96 journeys east to Detroit and west to Grand Rapids; I-695 leads northeast through Farmington Hills (about seven miles away) to London, Ontario, and I-275 runs south to Dearborn and into Ohio. I-695 meets I-75 about 20 miles east of Novi; I-75 runs north to Pontiac, Flint, and beyond. 

Detroit is 26 miles to the south and Pontiac is about 15 miles north. Farmington Hills is the nearest large city and is 7 miles west on I-96. Northville is about 15 miles southwest of Novi. 

TRANSPORTATION/AIRPORTS
The closest airports to Novi are the Oakland County International in Waterford; Willow Run and Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County are both in Detroit.  

JR Charter Service run the local bus service in Novi and Amtrak links cities along Michigan's primary rail passenger corridors; Grand Rapids/Chicago, Grand Rapids/Port Huron, Flint and Lansing/Chicago, Flint and Lansing/Toronto.  

BRIEF HISTORY
Novi’s Grand River Road was first surveyed in 1832, as a link between Detroit and Lake Michigan. Built over an old Indian trail, the road was an important east-west highway throughout the nineteenth century. The small village of Novi grew up along the road and remained a small farming community until the 1950s, when the Michigan State Highway Department greatly developed the highways and interstates in the region making Novi much more accessible to Detroit. The village began to grow rapidly until it had become a “bedroom community” of commuters to the big city. At this point, residents began lobbying for city-hood. After two unsuccessful attempts in 1959 and 1962, Novi was incorporated in 1969.  

ABOUT EDUCATION
Novi Community School District administers two kindergartens, six elementary, one middle, and one high school. The district’s proven level of commitment to successful learning has earned accolades, and a nationally recognized “Gold Medal District” rating. Highlights of the graduating class of 2004 included six National Merit Scholarship finalists and six National Merit Commended students; 182 U.S. Department of Education Presidential Excellence Awards; 126 students recognized by Phi Beta Kappa; and high school seniors receiving offers of over $5 million in academic scholarships. The Novi district consists of the following:

Novi High School: 9th, 10th, 11th, & 12th grade
Novi Middle School: 7th & 8th grade
Novi Meadows Elementary: 5th & 6th grade
Deerfield Elementary: K thru 4th grade
Novi Woods Elementary: K thru 4th grade
Orchard Hills Elementary: K thru 4th grade
Parkview Elementary: K thru 4th grade
Village Oaks Elementary: K thru 4th
 

Northville 

The citizens of Northville take pride in their community, and it shows in the welcoming small-town atmosphere and in the beauty of the Victorian-era buildings and architecture, preserved landmarks, and the well-maintained Historic District. The downtown area is reminiscent of the past with old-fashioned street lamps and walkway. Inside the shops, galleries, restaurants, and businesses in the area you will find contemporary, interesting, and unique goods and services.  

Northville offers something for everyone: a community center, library, recreation programs, parks, a racetrack, an historic village, and holiday festivals and events put on by the Northville Arts Commission. In the winter you can enjoy their Winter Concert Series featuring top-notch performers from throughout the area, and throughout the year, local art historian Michael Ferrell educates adults in art and architecture through his lecture series.  

LOCATION
Northville is just over two square miles, divided between Wayne and Oakland counties on the western end of the Detroit Metro area. The city of Detroit is only about 30 minutes away, downtown Anne Arbor about 25 minutes, and Novi is about 15 miles to the north. Interstate-275 and M-14 are the major thoroughfares used by those who travel to and from the area. 

TRANSPORTATION/AIRPORTS
Open 24 hours a day, the Oakland County International Airport in Waterford, Michigan, services corporate air travel including charter and contract passengers and air freight, along with fuel and aircraft services and maintenance. It is the sixth busiest general aviation airport in the nation used by nearly all the Fortune 500 companies. 

For nationwide and international commercial air travel, the Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW), located in Romulus, Michigan near Detroit, is easily accessible for Northville's residents. In 2003, DTW was the sixteenth busiest airport in the world, and is a major hub for Northwest Airlines. 

For local travel, Northville offers a senior bus service in a five-mile radius surrounding the Northville Senior Community Center. Reservations can be made in advance for seniors needing transportation for appointments, shopping, or other errands.
 

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, and in 1867 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. 

Today, Northville’s approximate 6500 residents run its many unique businesses—including boutiques, galleries, restaurants, theaters, and professional services.  

ABOUT EDUCATION
Northville’s students attending public school go to one of six elementary, two middle, one senior high school, or two special education schools in the award-winning Northville School District. The district supports a strong curriculum for core subjects, as well as offering gifted students the opportunity to explore advanced studies in the arts, sciences, and technology. 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. Over 90% of high school seniors go on to two- or four-year colleges.  

Higher education in the area is plentiful. Schools within commuting distance include Schoolcraft College, Oakland Community College, Washtenaw Community College, Mercy College, Madonna University, St. Mary's College, Lawrence Technological University, Eastern Michigan University, Wayne State University, Michigan State University, and The University of Michigan.
 

Farmington Hills 

A diverse population, more than 600 acres of parkland, top-ranked schools, community and cultural activities, and peaceful, comfortable neighborhoods make Farmington Hills the perfect place to call home. The nearby historic city of Farmington adds to the cultural charm of the area, with a beautiful downtown district and five city parks. 

The largest city in Oakland County, Farmington Hills is a great place to do business. Its location, easily accessible to Detroit, yet in an affordable location, has made it a prime location for national and international companies to set up offices, warehouses, and headquarters. The business opportunities in the area have made Oakland County the most prosperous county in Michigan, and the third most prosperous county in the U.S. 

LOCATION
Located at the crossroads of south Oakland County, Farmington Hills is 22 miles (or about a half-hour’s drive) from downtown Detroit. I-696 connects to I-96 to the west and intersects at the north end of I-275; I-275 runs south past Plymouth and on to Canton. I-696 east intersects with I-75 which runs south to Detroit. 

To the west of Farmington Hills is Novi, one of the fastest growing areas in metropolitan Detroit, to the east is Southfield, to the south is Livonia, and to the north West Bloomfield Township. 

TRANSPORTATION/AIRPORTS
Detroit Metropolitan International Airport offers air travel for individuals in the metro Detroit area. It is the 16th busiest airport in the world, with over 500,000 flights arriving or departing each year. Over 70% of the flights are for Northwest Airlines, which transports over 9 million passengers per year.  

Amtrak runs trains between Detroit and Chicago, with stops in Ann Arbor, Dearborn, Battle Creek, and Jackson, among others.  

BRIEF HISTORY
Farmington and Farmington Hills trace its native ancestors to the Potawatomi Indians, who inhabited the land of lower Michigan and northwestern Ohio and Indiana, and northern Illinois. In 1820, this land was taken over by the U.S. government and was sold to settlers for $1.25 per acre. Arthur Power of Farmington, New York, couldn't resist such a bargain, and purchased the land between what is now Eleven Mile Road and Power to Alameda Road.  

Power and his two sons, together with friends and hired laborers, arrived in the area on March 8, 1824, ready to settle down. They began by building a small log cabin and cleared some acres of land to plant wheat and corn. The next settlers to the area were George and Cynthia Collins, who also built a log cabin and later opened the general store. Over time, more and more settlers came to the area and the agriculture and business for the area continued to expand. Historic businesses of note include the Steele Mill on the Rouge, which was a center of activity for the region with a soap factory, cooper's shop, and saw and grist mills. 

In 1867, the area now known as the Historic District became incorporated as the village of Farmington, and in 1926 this area became an official city. Over time adjoining lands were annexed to increase the area, and various different villages were formed. In 1972 the original village of Farmington and other villages in the area combined to form the City of Farmington Hills. 

ABOUT EDUCATION
Students from Farmington, Farmington Hills, and part of West Bloomfield attend the top-ranked Farmington Public Schools. High Schools include Farmington, Harrison, North Farmington, and Farmington Alternative; middle schools include Dunckel, East, Power, and Warner; and the 13 elementary schools include Beechview, Eagle, Flanders, Forest, Gill, Highmeadow Common Campus, Hillside, Kenbrook, Lanigan, Longacre, William Grace, Wood Creek, and Wooddale. 

The school district also supports the three early childhood centers of Alameda, Fairview, and Farmington Community School. 

In 2004, the Farmington Public Schools Superintendent, Dr. C. Robert Maxfield, was awarded the Michigan Association of School Administrators’ Superintendent of the Year. Also in 2004, the Farmington Public Schools were named by leading music and educational organizations as one of the “Best 100 Communities for Music Education in America”.  

Private schools in the area include a mix of Montessori, religious, and specialty schools, while colleges are plentiful and include the Center for Humanistic Studies Graduate School, Oakland Community College’s Orchard Ridge Campus, Wayne State University’s Oakland Center, and William Tyndale College.
 

Please visit the following websites:
City of Northville
City of Novi
City of Farmington
City of Farmington Hills 

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