Plymouth, Michigan

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.22 sqmi, of which 2.21 sqmi is land and 0.01 sqmi is water. It is located just south of the M-14 highway and west of Interstate 275.

Culture

Plymouth has a variety of shops, restaurants, and other cultural activities.

The Plymouth Ice Spectacular, the largest ice carving festival in North America, is held every year in Plymouth in late January. Founded in 1982 by then 25-year-old Scott Lorenz, the weekend-long event draws an average of 500,000 people to Plymouth each year and has helped establish ice carving as a world-class competitive event.

Since 2008, Plymouth has been home to the Green Street Fair, held over a weekend each May. Featuring green-themed exhibitors and activities, the event has become a yearly tradition. In 2011, the event was attended by about 90,000 visitors.

Plymouth's "Art in the Park" is an art fair held annually since 1980.

History

Plymouth was first settled in 1825, incorporated as a village in 1867, and became a city in 1932.

Foundation

In 1825, Luther Lincoln was granted two land patents in what is now Plymouth by the federal government. Lincoln built his place of business, his saw mill, and abode, near the eastern boundary of his land, along the Rouge River. His actual abode and saw mill was always outside the city limits. Another early settler was William Starkweather. William and his wife Keziah brought their firstborn son Albert to the area and built the first home in Plymouth, at what is now the southwest corner of Main Street and Ann Arbor Trail. The first home was a lean-to, and was later replaced by a log cabin, which has since been destroyed.

Growth

In 1831, William Starkweather sold his land in downtown Plymouth and in 1831 purchased an 80 acre parcel of land in what was then called "North Village" (now called "The Historic Old Village"). In 1844, William died and the land in Old Village was then passed to William's son, George A Starkweather. George felt that the railroad coming to North Village would give it a commercial advantage over the Kellogg Park area. In the 1860s, he convinced the Detroit and Howell Railroad Company to build through the town. Starkweather was responsible for cutting Oak Street North through his farm in order to reach his new store and the train station. After his death in 1907, Oak Street was renamed Starkweather in his honor.

Notable streets in Plymouth are named after some Starkweather family members, including Blanche (after Blanche Starkweather, daughter of George Starkweather), Karmada (after the grandchildren of George Starkweather – Karl, Max and Davis), Davis – after Davis B Hillmer – youngest grandson of George Starkweather, Starkweather (formerly Oak Street), Amelia (after Lydia Amelia Heywood – Davis - Starkweather) – George Starkweather's wife, and Rose – after Rose Hillmer, eldest grand daughter of George Starkweather. Starkweather Elementary School was named after George Anson Starkweather of Plymouth, which was converted to an adult education center.

Daisy Manufacturing Company, now Daisy Outdoor Products, started in 1882 in Plymouth as the Plymouth Iron Windmill Company. In 1886 Plymouth inventor Clarence Hamilton introduced a new idea to the windmill company. It was a combination of metal and wire, vaguely resembling a gun that could fire a lead ball using compressed air. Lewis Cass Hough, then president of the firm, gave it a try and, after his first shot, enthusiastically exclaimed, "Boy, that's a daisy!" The name stuck, and the BB gun went into production as a premium item given to farmers when they purchased a windmill. The gun was such a huge success that Plymouth Iron Windmill soon began manufacturing the Daisy BB gun in place of windmills. On January 26, 1895, the company's board of directors officially voted to change the name to Daisy Manufacturing Company, Inc.

Recent history

Much to the dismay of Plymouth residents, Daisy moved its corporate offices and manufacturing facilities from Plymouth to Rogers, Arkansas in 1958.

In 2003 the former Daisy factory was converted to Daisy Square Condominiums despite being situated next to an active freight rail line. The front wall of the Daisy factory was left standing to be built into the apartment building. The wall has since been demolished.

In 2009 Plymouth Township was named 28th Best Place to Live in the United States by CNN Money Magazine.

Demographics

2020 Census

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 9,132 people, 4,314 households, and 2,218 families residing in the city. The population density was 4132.1 PD/sqmi. There were 4,652 housing units at an average density of 2105.0 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 94.2% White, 1.6% African American, 0.3% Native American, 2.2% Asian, 0.4% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race were 1.8% of the population.

There were 4,314 households, of which 25.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.6% were married couples living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 48.6% were non-families. 42.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.08 and the average family size was 2.93.

The median age in the city was 39.2 years. 21.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 31.8% were from 25 to 44; 27% were from 45 to 64; and 14% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.0% male and 52.0% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 9,022 people, 4,322 households, and 2,277 families residing in the city. The population density was 4,048.6 PD/sqmi. There were 4,498 housing units at an average density of 2,018.4 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 96.42% White, 0.57% African American, 0.35% Native American, 1.05% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.30% from other races, and 1.24% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.31% of the population. 20.4% were of German, 13.2% Irish, 12.4% English, 10.7% Polish and 7.9% Italian ancestry.

There were 4,322 households, of which 22.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.5% were married couples living together, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 47.3% were non-families. 41.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.04 and the average family size was 2.81.

In the city, 18.7% of the population was under the age of 18, 5.8% was from 18 to 24, 37.5% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 16.2% was 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $51,535, and the median income for a family was $76,369. Males had a median income of $52,188 versus $37,113 for females. The per capita income for the city was $33,222. About 1.9% of families and 3.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.8% of those under age 18 and 3.6% of those age 65 or over.

Government and infrastructure

In 1995, the City of Plymouth and Plymouth Township consolidated their fire departments with the township controlling fire services. The township receives $1 million from the city, making up 25% of the consolidated fire department's budget.

Schools

Primary and secondary

The Plymouth-Canton Community School District consists of three high schools, five middle schools, and sixteen elementary schools. The district has the only educational park in Michigan, the Plymouth-Canton Educational Park (P-CEP).

Other schools:

• Spiritus Sanctus Academy Catholic School (private)
• New Morning School (private)
• Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic School (private)
• Ivywood Classical Academy (public/charter)

Colleges and universities

Plymouth is home to a campus of Moody Bible Institute. While the campus offers an option for an undergraduate degree completion program, the majority of the programs offered fall under Moody's Theological Seminary and Graduate School. Graduate certificates, master's and doctoral degrees focus on Bible, theology, and practical ministry training. In addition, they offer programs in counseling psychology and clinical mental health counseling. The Mayhew Graduate Library on the campus is widely known as a premiere theological library for the school and community.

Notable people

• Edward Samuel Corwin, author and former president of the American Political Science Association
• Margaret Dunning, philanthropist
• Ron Egloff, NFL football player
• Kathryn O. Galbraith
• Tom Hulce, actor
• Aidan Hutchinson, defensive end for the Detroit Lions, former player for Michigan
• Jackie Johnson, television weather forecaster
• Russell Kirk, political theorist, influential on American conservatism
• Mel Larson, racing driver
• Jeremy Porter, musician
• Alex Shelley, professional wrestler
• Rufus Thayer, Judge of the United States Court for China
• Paul Warren, musician

References

Bibliography

• Hillmer, Mary K. Starkweather. My People: Some Ancestors of the Starkweather – Heywood – Hillmer Family From Earliest Known Beginnings to 1948.
• Hudson, Samuel. The Story of Plymouth, Michigan: A Midwest Microcosm. Plymouth, Mich.: Plymouth Historical Society, 1976.
• Kerstens, Elizabeth Kelley. Plymouth's First Century: Innovators and Industry. Chicago: Arcadia Publishing, 2002.
• Kerstens, Elizabeth Kelley. Plymouth in Vintage Postcards. Chicago: Arcadia Publishing, 2003.
• Starkweather, Carlton Lee. A brief genealogical history of Robert Starkweather of Roxbury and Ipswich. Auburn, N.Y.: Knapp, Peck and Thomson, 1904.

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