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Novi, Michigan

Novi is a city in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. A northwestern suburb of Detroit, Novi is located roughly 25 mi northwest of downtown Detroit. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 66,243, an increase of 20% from the 2010 census.

The city is located within the boundaries of the survey township of Novi Township, which now also includes portions of the cities of Northville and Walled Lake. The remaining unincorporated township is only a tiny fraction of 0.11 sqmi surrounded by the city.

History
Novi was organized as a township in 1832, on land taken from Farmington Township. The name Novi was offered by resident Dr. J. C. Emery, at the suggestion of his wife. Residents were reportedly looking for a shorter name than Farmington.

A local account has said that it was named after the sixth toll gate (No. VI) on the Grand River Road. However, the township was named in 1832 and the toll road was not constructed until the 1850s. Another account said that it was the sixth stagecoach stop outside Detroit. Similarly, the township was said to be stop six (or VI) on the railroad, but the Holly, Wayne & Monroe Railway (now CSX Transportation) was not constructed through the township until 1870–71, almost 40 years after the organization and naming of the township.

Novi was incorporated as a city in 1969 after the approval of a city charter on February 18, 1969, by Village of Novi voters. Charter approval followed an election on May 20, 1968, in which voters approved the incorporation of the city: the vote was 694 in favor and 283 votes against. The charter became effective on February 24, 1969. There had been several previous attempts by organizers to incorporate as a city. The city was incorporated along the boundaries of the existing Village of Novi, and grew quickly in the latter half of the 20th century as second- and third-stage waves of white flight from the City of Detroit and older suburbs resulted in more extensive urban sprawl in the region.

Historic sites

 * The historic Township Hall was originally located on Novi Road, south of Grand River. It was moved to the Novi Library property in the 1980s. It was recently relocated again onto the property that was the site of the Jacob and Rebecca Fuerst Farmstead.
 * Tollgate Farm is a 160-acre (650,000m2) farmstead and educational center.
 * The Colonel Samuel White Homestead site is identified by a Michigan Historical Marker.
 * A portion of the original Novi Depot was constructed in 1871 for the Holly, Wayne and Monroe Railroad (now absorbed by CSX Transportation).
 * The Jacob and Rebecca Fuerst Farmstead was a historic site listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The City of Novi demolished the Fuerst Farmstead in order to develop the site for other historic uses. The north barn was destroyed on July 16, 2008. The farm house was demolished in August 2008. The south and east barns were dismantled and removed from the site. None of the original buildings of the Farmstead was preserved on the site. But the historic Township Hall was relocated to this site.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 31.29 sqmi, of which 30.25 sqmi is land and 1.04 sqmi (3.32%) is water.

The city is located on Walled Lake which lies mainly within Novi and is the largest lake in the city. It also serves as the headwaters of the Middle Branch of the Rouge River. Shawood Lake is southwest of Walled Lake. Several smaller lakes within the city were created by gravel pit mining or as stormwater retention areas. Most of the city lies within the Rouge River watershed. Some areas on the north and west side of the city are part of the Huron River watershed.

Three major freeways converge in Novi. The city's location provides direct access to several major freeways including I-96, I-696, I-275, and M-5.

Economy

Novi continues to be one of the fastest-growing cities in Michigan. The construction of Twelve Oaks Mall in 1977 made the city a major shopping destination in the Detroit metropolitan area and is often credited with ushering in an era of growth that lasted for 40 years (although, in fact, the community had been growing rapidly since the 1950s). This growth has led to substantial increases in the city's population, as well as commercial and industrial developments in the city. Novi was ranked #48 on Money magazine's list of the Top 100 Best Places to Live in 2008. As of January 2009 Novi has over 1,600 businesses.

Novi's economy includes international corporations with local and regional offices as well as owner-operated businesses serving the local area. While Novi is recognized for its large concentration of retail businesses clustered at the Novi Road and I-96 interchange, there are several large retail centers in the city as well as many individual retail businesses. Novi has car dealerships along Haggerty Road and Grand River Avenue. The city's industrial and office parks are home to companies in high tech research and development, health care, transportation and logistics, manufacturing and domestic and foreign automotive-related suppliers. Energy-related companies are one of the fastest-growing sectors in the city. These companies include the headquarters for ITC Transmission, Novi Energy and offices of Patrick Energy Services.

The business community in Novi is represented by the Novi Chamber of Commerce.

Kroger operates its Michigan regional offices at 40399 Grand River Avenue in Novi. The Japan Auto Parts Industries Association, North America has its offices in Novi. Toyota Boshoku America opened in a Novi office in 2002, with 10 employees. As of April 2013 the company has two office buildings in Novi with 210 total employees, with about 30 of them being Japanese assignees. Ted Schafer, the vice president of the Technical Center, said that Novi was selected due to the community and schools friendly to Japanese people, and the proximity to General Motors offices, Toyota offices, and Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport. In December 2009 American Mitsuba Corp. moved to Novi, and as of April 2013 the office employs 32 people, and increase from when it was first established. The senior vice president, David Martin Stevens, said that the location was chosen due to the quality of the office building.

Novi ranks among the top Oakland County communities for research, technology and service companies. To manage growth and to continue to attract commerce with its accessible location, Novi partners with local, state and federal agencies to enhance infrastructure. Novi has a Neighborhoods and Business Relations Group to attract and retain businesses and streamlined many of its planning and approvals processes to encourage new business and development, as well as redevelopment. The enhancements speed the process, allowing businesses to move ahead with plans for relocation or expansion. Novi has been able to attract several smaller, innovative international firms that have been able to incubate and expand into a larger facility, such as Howa USA Holdings, a Japanese auto supplier with a new research and development center in Novi specializing in interior components for vehicles.

Ryder System Inc. constructed a new regional headquarters, representing a $22 million investment in the community. ITC Transmission Company, the nation's largest independent electrical transmission company, made Novi its national headquarters. In 2008, St. John Providence Park opened a 200-bed hospital on a 200 acre total, health campus. In addition to the full-service hospital, the campus provides an array of services in a beautiful wooded setting, complete with walking and cycling paths and 18 acre devoted to health-related retail establishments.

Over the last few years, Novi has focused its economic development efforts on the telematics and car connectivity industries. Within the telematics industry, more than 5,000 firms employ approximately 70,000 people in Oakland County, many of them employed in Novi. Those firms in Novi include Cooper-Standard Automotive, NXP, Elektrobit, and Harman/Becker Automotive. Tognum, based in Germany, is scheduled to relocate its headquarters to Novi on Haggerty Road, between 13 and 14 Mile Roads.

Around 2008 the median house price was in the upper $260,000s.

Top employers
According to the city's 2023 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top public and private sector employers in the city are:

Health care
Novi is home to some of the region's largest health care systems. St. John Providence Health System operates the Providence Park Hospital off of Interstate 96 and Beck Road. It has a capacity for fewer than 400 patients, and it is located on a 64 acre site that also includes medical office building and neuroscience institute, a hotel with 100 rooms, and an orthopedic center that houses an ambulatory surgical center. Construction on the hospital began in 2005 and lasted for three years. The total cost was about $220 million. The architecture firm that designed the hospital was NBBJ and the engineering firm was Korda. The hospital design includes a six-story atrium that allows natural sunlight. It opened in September 2008.

Henry Ford Health System operates the Henry Ford Medical Center - Columbus. It is the system's largest facility in Oakland County. Services at the location include primary care, behavioral health services, cancer treatment, diabetes care, endoscopy, infusion services, lymphedema services, MOHs surgery, MRIs, and rehabilitation services and travel clinic. Botsford has two speciality facilities in Novi.

Parks and recreation
Most of the farmland and open spaces present in the mid-20th century have been developed. The exceptions include the Tollgate Farm located at the northwest corner of the intersection of Twelve Mile and Meadowbrook Roads. This farmstead is owned by the Americana Foundation and is currently leased and operated by Michigan State University as an agricultural extension. Lakeshore Park is another prominent natural area. The park is located between Walled Lake and Twelve Mile Road, west of Novi Road. While portions of the park were turned over to a developer to settle a lawsuit, it remains one of the largest municipal parks in southeast Michigan. Ella Mae Power Park, located behind the Novi Civic Center, hosts softball and baseball games and tournaments.

In 2004, the City of Novi negotiated for the donation of several parcels of parkland on the west side of the city. These properties, along with several adjoining parcels owned by the city, preserve 253 acre of environmentally sensitive areas in the Huron River watershed. In 2005, the City of Novi was awarded a Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund (MNRTF) grant to acquire 54 acre two areas of environmentally sensitive property in southeast Novi within the Rouge River watershed. The properties were acquired in 2009. In 2007, the city was awarded a second MNRTF grant to acquire 16 acre of natural area in southwest Novi within the headwaters of the Huron River watershed. The property was acquired in 2010. In 2010, the city was awarded a third MNRTF grant to develop the city-owned property on the south end of Walled Lake, once the site of the Walled Lake Casino and Amusement Park, into a public park. That property is now the Pavilion Shore Park.

Each year in October, the Japan Festival is held in the city. It is the largest Japan festival in the state.

Current City Council members
Novi operates under the council-manager system of government with an appointed city manager and elected city council. The city manager oversees the day-to-day operations of the city, manages staff operations, recommends the annual budget and makes policy recommendations to the council. The city council consists of the mayor, elected to a two-year term, and six at-large council members elected to four-year terms. The mayor is the presiding officer of the council with the same voting powers as the other council members. The mayor also has ceremonial duties. The council is responsible for hiring the city manager. The city council approves the city budget and sets city policies and ordinances. The City of Novi is represented in the 21st District of the Michigan House of Representatives by State Representative Kelly Breen.

The City Manager is Victor Cardenas. The city has 249 full-time employees and a total budget of $63.1 million. The Novi Civic Center is located at 45175 West Ten Mile Road between Novi and Taft Roads.

The first city charter was adopted by the voters in 1969. The last major charter revision was in 1977.

The Novi Public Library opened a new 55000 sqft library west of the previous library in June 2010. The old library was demolished to provide a parking area for the new library.

The Novi Fire Department was formed in 1929 to serve Novi Township. The Novi Police Department was formed in 1954 to serve Novi Township. Prior to 1954, Novi contracted with the Oakland County Sheriff's Office for police protection.

2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 55,224 people, 22,258 households, and 14,599 families residing in the city. The population density was 1825.0 PD/sqmi. There were 24,226 housing units at an average density of 800.6 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 73.0% White, 8.1% African American, 0.2% Native American, 15.9% Asian, 0.7% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 3.0% of the population.

There were 22,258 households, of which 35.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.1% were married couples living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 34.4% were non-families. 29.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.11.

The median age in the city was 39.1 years. 25.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 28% were from 25 to 44; 28.6% were from 45 to 64; and 11.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.4% male and 51.6% female.

2000 census
In 2000, there were 18,726 households, out of which 36.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.2% were married couples living together, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.2% were non-families. 28.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.17.

In the city, 27.6% of the population was under the age of 18, 6.7% was from 18 to 24, 35.7% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 8.1% was 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city in 2000 was $71,918, and the median income for a family was $91,369 (These figures had risen to $78,151 and $101,286 respectively according to a 2007 estimate ). Males had a median income of $65,590 versus $38,432 for females. The per capita income for the city was $35,992. About 1.6% of families and 2.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.4% of those under age 18 and 2.7% of those age 65 or over.

Japanese population

As of 2011, 15.9% of its residents were Asian, and Novi had 2,438 Japanese residents, giving it the largest Japanese population of any Michigan municipality. By 2011, the Japanese population experienced an increase of 53% from 2003, when the city had 1,417 Japanese residents. The economic director of the City of Novi, Ara Topouzian, said "We've been told often by the consulate-general's office or other Japanese officials that they refer to Novi as Little Tokyo because we've been very warm and welcoming and accommodating." Many Japanese in Novi are in the United States on temporary visas which last for three to five years. According to Dr. Andrew Vosburgh of the St. John Providence Health System, many Japanese in Novi work in development, engineering, and research. Their workplaces are located in and around several cities including Novi, Ann Arbor, and Springfield Township. As of April 2013 there are 2,666 Japanese nationals who live in Novi.

The Novi Public Library has Japanese content in the adult and children's sections. The Novi Community School District has enrollment information and other documents available in Japanese. The websites of the City of Novi, the Novi Public Library, and St. John Providence Park Hospital have Japanese welcome messages. The Novi Kroger and the Staybridge Suites extended stay hotel cater to Japanese customers. The hotel stated in 2011 that Japanese make up 30% of its customers, and had increased in a two-year span ending in 2011. The city also has Japanese cultural activities and cultural activities offered in Japanese, including horseback riding lessons conducted in the Japanese language and a Japanese movie night. The hospital offers cultural awareness training for employees, documents translated in Japanese, Japanese translators, and yoga classes conducted in Japanese.

In the 1990s, several Japanese automobile firms had opened offices along M-14. Nissan Motor Co. opened its Farmington Hills office in November 1991. In addition, Toyota established a technical center in Ann Arbor. Novi had gained several Japanese restaurants by the mid-1990s. In summer 2011, the Japanese School of Detroit moved to Novi from Birmingham.

Indian/ South Asian population

The 2008 CNN/Money "Best Places to Live" stated that the city had a significant Asian Indian population. According to the 2000 U.S. Census, there were 1,278 ethnic Asian Indians in Novi.

The 25000 sqft Sri Venkateswara Temple and Cultural Center (SVTCC), built from $10 million, opened in 2013. It is the first Michigan Hindu temple to be named after a southern Indian deity. It had a temporary location for five years before it opened its permanent facility. As of 2013, the temple has a devotee base of about 3,000 people. The community operating the temple mostly comprises Indians who speak Telugu. Many of them originate from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

Primary and secondary schools
Novi includes all or part of four public school districts including Novi Community Schools, Northville Public Schools, South Lyon Community Schools, and Walled Lake Consolidated School District. All Novi Community Schools schools, including six elementary schools, a middle school, and a high school, are in the city limits. The Hickory Woods and Meadowbrook elementary schools from Walled Lake district are in the city limits. Thornton Creek Elementary from Northville schools is in the city limits.

All five Novi Community schools elementary schools and Novi Middle School serve the Novi Community Schools portion. Of the South Lyon portion, Dolsen and Hardy Elementary Schools, and Centennial Middle School serve the portion. Of the Walled Lake portion, Hickory Woods and Meadowbrook elementaries, and James R. Geisler Middle School serve that portion. Schools serving the Northville section include Amerman, Moraine, and Thornton Creek elementary schools, and Hillside Middle School.

Public high schools serving Novi include:
 * Novi High School (Novi Community Schools) - within the city limits
 * Northville High School (Northville Schools)
 * South Lyon East High School
 * Walled Lake Western High School (Walled Lake Schools)

Private schools include:
 * Detroit Catholic Central High School
 * Novi Christian Academy

The Catholic K-8 school Our Lady of Victory School in Northville belongs to the Our Lady of Victory Parish, which designated the two Novi Catholic churches (Holy Family and Saint James) as "collaboration partner parishes". St. William Church, which includes sections of Novi in its service area, also operates a Catholic K-8 school, St. William Catholic School, in Walled Lake. The Catholic schools belong to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit.

Public libraries
The Charles and Myrtle Walker Novi Public Library serves Novi. It first opened in 1960 in a former bank building. An addition, installed in 1964, made the library two times its original size. In 1975, the groundbreaking ceremonies for a 23190 sqft new library facility were held, and the library opened in 1976. The project to construct the "Dorothy Flattery Wing", the eastern wing, began in 1988. The wing was dedicated on April 22, 1989. The current facility had its groundbreaking in 2008, opening to the public on June 1, 2010.

Miscellaneous education
The Japanese School of Detroit (JSD), a supplementary Japanese school, offers Saturday Japanese classes. It moved to Novi from Birmingham in the summer of 2011.

The Sundai Michigan International Academy (駿台ミシガン国際学院 Sundai Mishigan Kokusai Gakuin), affiliated with the Sundai Center for International Education (駿台国際教育センター Sundai Kokusai Kyōiku Sentā, see 駿台予備学校), is located in Novi. The school's purpose is to prepare Japanese children who have lived in the United States for a long time for a return to Japan, and to assist newly arrived Japanese children who have no fluency of English.

Religion
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit operates Catholic churches in Novi: St. William Catholic Church in Walled Lake includes a portion of Novi in its service area.
 * Holy Family Church - The congregation opened in September 1974. People initially used Orchard Hills School as a worship site. The current name of the parish was established on November 12 of that year, and the permanent building opened on November 5, 1977.
 * Saint James Church - Opened in 1989 and occupied its current facility in fall 1993. The Parish/Family Life Center opened in 2006.

Sri Venkateswara Temple and Cultural Center (SVTCC) is an area Hindu temple.

Notable people
Novi is home to six Swedish Detroit Red Wings. Mike Babcock, the former coach of the team, called Novi "Little Sweden" due to the concentration of Swedish Red Wings players.

 * Jessica Chobot (1977–), on-camera host of IGN Strategize, Weekly Wood, and Nerdist News
 * Madison Chock (1992–), ice dancer, 2014 Olympian, 2013 and 2014 U.S. silver medalist, and 2009 World Junior Champion
 * Bryan Dechart (1987–), actor and Twitch streamer
 * Craig DeRoche (1970–), former speaker of the House, State of Michigan
 * Jonathan Ericsson (1984–), defenseman, Detroit Red Wings
 * Johan Franzén (1979–), center, Detroit Red Wings
 * Dustin Gazley - winger, Hershey Bears
 * Dr. Sanjay Gupta (1969–), chief medical correspondent for CNN, graduate of Novi High School
 * Ernie Harwell (1918–2010), MLB radio announcer
 * Tomas Holmström (1973–), winger, Detroit Red Wings
 * Jumpsteady (1970–), rapper signed to Psychopathic Records, born Robert Bruce
 * Niklas Kronwall (1981–), defenseman, Detroit Red Wings
 * Matīss Kivlenieks (1996–2021), goalie, played for the Columbus Blue Jackets, died from a fireworks accident
 * Nicklas Lidström (1970–), captain, Detroit Red Wings, a Novi street is named in his honor
 * Andreas Lilja (1975–), defenseman, Philadelphia Flyers
 * Bryan Rust (1992–), winger, Pittsburgh Penguins
 * Emily Samuelson (1990–), ice dancer, 2010 Olympian, 2009 U.S. silver medalist, and 2008 World Junior Champion
 * Paul Whelan (security director)
 * Damien Woody (1977–), guard, New York Jets

Sister cities

 * [[Image:Flag of Japan.svg|border|20px]] Owani, Japan

title: Novi, Michigan


text:
Novi Township, Michigan

Novi Township is a civil township of Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. At the 2020 census, the township had a population of 160. Of the original 36 sqmi survey township, only a small portion of 0.11 sqmi remains unincorporated from the surrounding city of Novi. Novi Township is the smallest township in the state by total land area and the third-smallest municipality after the villages of Ahmeek and Copper City.

The township consists solely of the Brookland Farms #1 subdivision and is served by the Northville 48167 ZIP Code. Students within Novi Township attend Northville Public Schools.

History
Novi Township was organized in 1832 from Farmington Township. The name was offered by resident Dr. J.C. Emery, at the suggestion of his wife. Residents were reportedly looking for a shorter name than Farmington. Several popular but historically inaccurate explanations have been suggested for the origin of the name Novi. One version is that it was named after the 6th tollgate on the Grand River toll road (No. VI). However, the township was named in 1832 and the toll road wasn't constructed until the 1850s. A similar claim is made about the township being stop number 6 on the railroad. However, the railroad was not constructed through the township until 1870 - 1871, almost 40 years after it was named.

Annexation and incorporation
Only a small portion of the original Township of Novi remains unincorporated. The majority of the township incorporated first as the Village of Novi in 1958 and later into the City of Novi in 1969. Before the incorporation of the Village of Novi, the northwest portion of the township was incorporated as part of the Village of Wixom, which later incorporated as the City of Wixom. Portions of the township were annexed into the Village of Northville in the early 1900s (the Oakwood Subdivision north of Baseline Road) and the City of Northville in the 1950s. In the 1970s, several areas of the township which had been detached from the Village of Novi were annexed into the City of Novi following a long legal battle between the city and township. These areas include the Hometown Novi Mobile Home Park and land that now includes portions of Chase Farm subdivision, Maples of Novi, and Island Lake of Novi. Some of the legal disputes over the annexations were not resolved until 1984.

Political
The remaining area of the township is a legally separate entity from the surrounding City of Novi and has all the powers granted under Michigan state law to general law townships. The township has no township hall and township board meetings and township elections are held at the homes of the township board members. Most of the township services are provided through contracts with the City of Novi including fire protection and library services. The historic township hall was once located on the west side of Novi Road, south of Grand River Avenue. Moved to the civic center campus in the late 1980s, the building was restored by volunteers. The historic township hall is currently located on Ten Mile Road in the City of Novi, just west of the Novi Public Library and adjacent to the site of the former historic Fuerst Farmstead. The historic township hall is owned by the City of Novi. , the Township Supervisor is John Juntunen (elected 2004).

Geography and land use
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 0.11 sqmi, all land. The township has a gently rolling topography. Most of the township is covered by light to heavy woodland cover and has been developed for single-family homes. The remaining land consists of road right-of-way and a few undeveloped platted lots. At approximately 70 acre, Novi Township is the smallest township in area in the State of Michigan.

Demographics
The 2010 Census population for the township was 150 people. As of the 2000 census, there were 193 people, 66 households, and 59 families residing in the township. The population density was 1,397.8 PD/sqmi. There were 68 housing units at an average density of 492.5 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the township was 94.82% White, 0.52% Native American, 3.63% Asian, and 1.04% from two or more races.

As of the 2000 census, there were 66 households, out of which 42.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 87.9% were married couples living together, 1.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 10.6% were non-families. 10.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.92 and the average family size was 3.15. Despite its small size, there are other townships in Michigan with a smaller population.

As of the 2000 census, in the township the population was spread out, with 30.1% under the age of 18, 3.1% from 18 to 24, 19.7% from 25 to 44, 37.8% from 45 to 64, and 9.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.9 males.

As of the 2000 census, the median income for a household in the township was $105,172, and the median income for a family was $114,146. Males had a median income of $85,606 versus $46,750 for females. The per capita income for the township was $36,985. None of the population or families were below the poverty line.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Novi Township, Michigan


text:
Oak Park, Michigan

Oak Park is a city in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. An inner-ring suburb of Detroit, Oak Park borders Detroit to the north, roughly 14 mi northwest of downtown Detroit. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 29,560.

History
This area was designated as within Royal Oak Township; it was first settled by European Americans in 1840, but remained sparsely populated for many decades following. The first major housing development was constructed in 1914 at the time of World War I, when the township sold land to the Majestic Land Company to be developed as the Oak Park subdivision. The subdivision was incorporated as a village on May 3, 1927. Two petition drives during the Great Depression to dissolve the village government and return it to the township, citing "excessively high cost of village government," failed in 1931 and 1933. The village incorporated as a city on October 29, 1945, following the end of World War II.

Stimulated by the GI Bill which aided veterans in buying new housing, highways to improve commuting, and planned developments in the late 1950s, Oak Park from 1950 to 1960 was named as "America's Fastest Growing City". Its population increased sevenfold, from 5,000 to more than 36,000. Much of its population was second- and third-generation children of European immigrants who had settled in Detroit in the early 20th century. These included many Jewish Americans, many of whom are of the Orthodox faith. Major civic improvements in this period included construction of an outdoor swimming pool and an ice rink in Major Park (now known as Shepherd Park, after former mayor David Shepherd, but long known informally as Oak Park Park).

In 1995, Detroit-based window manufacturer WeatherGard moved its headquarters to Oak Park.

In 2002 and 2004, the city annexed portions of neighboring Royal Oak Township to expand its land and tax base.

On November 8, 2011, the citizens of Oak Park elected a new mayor, Marian McClellan. She was the city's first new mayor in 22 years, replacing the long-serving Jerry Naftaly.

In April 2015, the city approved the development of a new FedEx distribution center which will be located on a 60-acre plot of land at the site of the former Detroit Artillery Armory. The facility opened on March 31, 2017.

On May 5, 2015, the citizens of Oak Park voted to allow mixed drinks to be sold at businesses within city limits, in addition to beer and wine, which were previously allowed.

On November 3, 2015, the citizens of Oak Park re-elected McClellan, who was running against Aaron Tobin.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.16 sqmi, all of it land.

Oak Park is adjacent to the cities of Detroit to the south, Southfield to the west, Pleasant Ridge, Ferndale, and Royal Oak Township to the east, Huntington Woods to the northeast, and Berkley to the north.

Oak Park is bordered to the south by 8 Mile Road (M-102), to the north by 11 Mile Road, to the Northeast by Coolidge Highway and 10 Mile Road/I-696, to the west by Greenfield Road, to the east by Sherman Street and Forest Street, and to the southeast by 9 Mile Road, Republic Street, Northend Avenue, and Meyers Avenue.

Major highways

 * passes through the northernmost part of the city and forms its northern border with Huntington Woods. The Detroit Zoo is located on the opposite side of the freeway in Huntington Woods and Royal Oak.
 * is the Oakland-Wayne county line and forms Oak Park's entire southernmost border with the city of Detroit.
 * is a major thoroughfare near the city.

2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 29,319 people, 11,719 households, and 7,533 families residing in the city. The population density was 5682.0 PD/sqmi. There were 12,782 housing units at an average density of 2477.1 /mi2. The racial makeup of the city was 57.4% African American, 37.4% White, 1.4% Asian, 0.2% Native American, 0.5% from other races, and 3.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 1.4% of the population.

There were 11,719 households, of which 35.7% were non-families, 35.4% were married couples living together, 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 23.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 5.1% had a male householder with no wife present. 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.16.

The median age in the city was 37.5 years. 24.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.7% were from 25 to 44; 26.9% were from 45 to 64; and 12.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 45.1% male and 54.9% female.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 29,793 people, 11,104 households, and 7,595 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,291.5 /km2. There were 11,370 housing units at an average density of 874.5 /km2. The racial makeup of the city was 46.95% White, 45.95% African American, 2.18% Asian, 0.17% Native American, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.60% from other races, and 4.13% from two or more races. 1.28% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 11,104 households, out of which 44.0% were married couples living together, 34.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 31.6% were non-families, and 19.5% had a female householder with no husband present. 26.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.29.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 28.2% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $48,697, and the median income for a family was $54,786. Males had a median income of $40,922 versus $35,968 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,677. 9.4% of the population and 7.8% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 10.9% of those under the age of 18 and 13.9% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Education
Oak Park's educational history began with the Clinton School, a one-room schoolhouse on property donated by Barney Clinton in the early 20th century. As the population grew rapidly, Clinton School was expanded and more elementary schools were built, particularly beginning in the 1950s.

Clinton School was made a junior high school and another was built in the mid-1960s, then named for the poet Robert Frost. At that time, one school in Oak Park had a special education department for children with learning disabilities: Lessenger Elementary School on Albany St. at Sunset St. Consequently, many families with such special children gravitated to the neighborhood surrounding Lessenger, creating a "cluster" of such families rarely found elsewhere.

Educational achievement was the long consistent pattern in Oak Park. Over 85% of Oak Park High School graduates continued their education immediately after high school, whether in college, or in trade or vocational schools. In the 1950s and 1960s the school system was renowned statewide due to the efforts of progressive and dedicated teachers and community support which liberally allocated tax dollars to fund education through voter approved bond issues.

The high school had an average score of 3.8 on the state's MEAP test in 2011. This was one of the lowest scores in Oakland County.

Students residing between 10 Mile Rd. and 11 Mile Rd. are in the Berkley School District. A square mile on the east end of Oak Park is in the neighboring Ferndale School District; the majority of the city is in Oak Park Schools.

Controversy
In July 2011, Oak Park gained national attention when the city charged Julie Bass, a homeowner, for growing vegetables in her front yard.

In March 2015, Stephanie Sumner and Michael Sumner were fired from their positions as city employees after the city had discovered that they had stolen $433,000 from the city over the course of two years. Several months after the story broke, the city announced that the stolen funds had been replaced through the city's insurance policy. However, many residents voiced their concerns regarding the potential insurance rate hikes that would occur after insurance claims to replace the stolen money.

Notable people

 * Jamie Arnold, American-Israeli professional basketball player with Hapoel Holon
 * Jeff Bass, record producer; born and raised in Oak Park; brother of Mark Bass
 * Mark Bass, record producer; born and raised in Oak Park; brother of Jeff Bass
 * Maxine Berman, educator and politician
 * Bob Black, anarchist theorist; author of the widely disseminated essay "The Abolition of Work"; grew up in Oak Park and graduated from its high school
 * Norm Cash, baseball player for the Detroit Tigers 1960–1974; lived a few blocks from his teammate Al Kaline, on Sloman Street between Jerome and Saratoga
 * Vincent Chin, Chinese American victim of a racially motivated killing
 * Marcella Detroit, vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter
 * Larry Downes, co-author of Unleashing the Killer App: Digital Strategies for Market Dominance; writer for Forbes; was raised in Oak Park
 * Robert Ettinger, "father of cryonic human preservation"; lived in Oak Park for decades
 * Doug Fieger, musician, lead singer of the group The Knack; his hit songs included "My Sharona" and "Good Girls Don't"
 * Geoffrey Fieger, attorney who represented Jack Kevorkian; grew up in Oak Park and graduated from Oak Park High School in 1969
 * Ben Forta, prolific tech author; authority on edtech
 * Les Gold, owner of American Jewelry and Loan; star of the TV show Hardcore Pawn; lived in Oak Park for several years during his childhood
 * Al Kaline, Detroit Tiger baseball legend and Hall of Fame member; lived on Morton Street in the late 1950s
 * John Kelly, football running back
 * Carrie Keranen, voice actress
 * Marty Lederman, Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the Department of Justice's Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) during Obama and Biden administrations.
 * Stephen Markman, justice of Michigan Supreme Court
 * Paul Milgrom, Nobel Prize winning economist
 * Dan and Tracee Miller, musicians in the band Blanche; currently reside in Oak Park; Dan has acted in film and Tracee is also a visual artist
 * James Rosen, author and political reporter
 * Royce da 5'9", Detroit rapper known for his association with Eminem as Bad Meets Evil and Slaughterhouse
 * Jeffrey Sachs, noted economist of Harvard University and currently at Columbia University; graduate of Oak Park High School
 * Jeffrey Seller, Broadway producer and Tony Award winner; known for his work on Rent, Avenue Q, In the Heights and Hamilton
 * Shaggy 2 Dope (real name Joseph Utsler), member of Insane Clown Posse; met Violent J in Oak Park
 * Curt Sobel, composer, film music editor and supervisor; grew up in Oak Park and lived on Northfield and Harding
 * Ron Suresha, author and editor; attended grade school in Oak Park and graduated from OPHS
 * Violent J (real name Joseph Bruce), member of Insane Clown Posse; met Shaggy 2 Dope in Oak Park
 * David Was (real name David Weiss), musician from the group Was (Not Was); grew up with Don Fagenson in Oak Park
 * Don Was (real name Don Fagenson), musician from the group Was (Not Was); grew up with David Weiss in Oak Park
 * Peter Werbe, radio talk show host, DJ, and political activist; has lived in Oak Park for 37 years; hosted NightCall on Detroit's WRIF 1970–2016, the longest running phone-in talk show in U.S. radio history; staff member of the 56-year-old magazine The Fifth Estate Author, Summer on Fire: A Detroit Novel 2021.

title: Oak Park, Michigan


text:
Oakland Charter Township, Michigan

The Charter Township of Oakland is a charter township on the north Oakland County outskirts of Metro Detroit, in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is colloquially referred to as "Oakland Township". The population was 20,067 at the 2020 census.

Oakland Township is less densely populated than neighboring townships to the west, south, and east; and retains many elements of a rural, wooded residential bedroom community. Local ordinances and zoning laws are aimed at limiting commercial and industrial development while maintaining a cap on population density by way of a master plan.

Oakland Township's northern half has its own zip code, "Oakland, Michigan, 48363", while the southern portion of the township shares zip code 48306 with the northernmost portion of adjacent Rochester Hills. "Oakland", "Goodison", “Rochester”, and "Rochester Hills" are other city names recognized for addresses for residents in this township.

Communities
The Township has unincorporated communities: Former Communities:
 * Campbells Corner is on the northern border with Addison Township at 42.79972°N, -83.13361°W.
 * Goodison (also historically known as Goodison Station) is located within the township at Collins, Territorial/Orion and Gallagher/Tower Roads (42.73278°N, -83.1625°W Elevation: 840 ft./256 m.). Goodison is named for William Goodison and his family who ran the local grist mill after immigrating from England. The mill was established in 1835, and a post office began operations in 1874. Goodison was a named station on the Michigan Central Railroad on a north–south track between Bay City and Detroit. One of the Oakland Township Master Plan objectives is to "Establish Goodison as a central gathering place". To this end township officials are attempting to restore water to the water wheel at the current old mill site and draw small retail businesses to the area.
 * Oakland (also known as Kline Settlement and Alert) is located within the township at Stoney Creek and Rochester Roads. This was the original settlement in the township. In its prime it had two churches and a school house. It contained the first post office in the township as well. It is now a Ghost town with only a graveyard left in the area where the town once stood. The town was established in 1822 when the post office was built. In 1894 the town changed names from Oakland to Alert and in 1902 the Alert post office closed its doors. The Paint Creek Methodist Church was moved from this town to Goodison somewhere in the 1870s. This is the last remaining building of the town. With the construction on the Michigan Central Railway which established Goodison Station, the town of Oakland was bypassed and this led to its ultimate fate.

History
Oakland Township has the distinction of being one of the Michigan's oldest townships, and was first named in surveys using the guidelines set by the Land Ordinance of 1785. A United States General Land Office opened in 1818, bringing the first permanent settlers to the area. It was one of the original 25 townships in the Territory of Michigan when counties were further divided into townships in 1827. Township boundaries and area (36 sq mi) were finalized in 1837 when Michigan gained statehood.

A grist mill and mill race was built on Paint Creek in 1835. Later named Goodison Mill, it operated for more than 100 years before being dismantled in the late 1940s. The former site of the mill is the current location of Paint Creek Cider Mill.

Goodison Station was a flag station built in 1872 on the Detroit and Bay City Railroad. Another branch of track served the Detroit United Railway. In 1926, a head-on collision between a passenger train and freight train near the Goodison depot resulted in one death and 36 injuries. Passenger service on the lines had ceased by 1950.

Paint Creek Trail opened in 1983 as the first rail trail in Michigan. The trail is in the right-of-way of the former Detroit and Bay City Railroad, Michigan Central Railroad and Penn Central Railroad lines; linking the village of Lake Orion with the city of Rochester and passing through the unincorporated village of Goodison. The original rail line was in service until the track was removed when Penn Central's railroad operations were taken over by Conrail in 1976 The property was purchased by the trail commission representing local governments in 1983 for $450,000.

Oakland Township is one possible location of the final resting place of former Teamsters president Jimmy Hoffa, who has been missing since 1975. A specific piece of property came under scrutiny in January 2013 after Tony Zerilli, 85, the son of reputed former Detroit Partnership boss Joseph Zerilli, told investigators that Hoffa was buried there. It was reported that the property had at one time been owned via land contract and intermediate businesses by Jack Tocco, a convicted mobster who also had legitimate real estate holdings in Metro Detroit, including Oakland Township. On June 17, 2013, FBI investigators arrived to conduct a thorough search of the area. On June 19, 2013 authorities concluded the search after no evidence was discovered.

Geography
Oakland Charter Township is bordered to the north by Addison Township, to the west by Orion Township, to the south by the city of Rochester Hills, and to the east by Washington Township in Macomb County. According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 36.7 sqmi, of which 36.3 sqmi is land and 0.4 sqmi, or 1.15%, is water.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 13,071 people, 4,341 households, and 3,772 families residing in the township. The population density was 358.8 PD/sqmi. There were 4,529 housing units at an average density of 124.3 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the township was 94.14% White, 2.00% African American, 0.09% Native American, 2.62% Asian, 0.19% from other races, and 0.96% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.19% of the population.

There were 4,341 households, out of which 45.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 80.2% were married couples living together, 4.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 13.1% were non-families. 11.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.01 and the average family size was 3.26.

In the township the population was spread out, with 30.5% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 29.1% from 45 to 64, and 7.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.5 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $102,034, and the median income for a family was $107,268. Males had a median income of $80,354 versus $41,208 for females. The per capita income for the township was $42,616. About 1.7% of families and 2.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.5% of those under age 18 and 1.7% of those age 65 and over.

Government
Oakland Township is a Charter township. Similar to a civil township found elsewhere in the United States, a charter township in Michigan is unique in that it is exempt from annexation by neighboring cities and carries home rule responsibility. The township provides clerk, building, park, and firefighting services. Library service is provided under contract by nearby Rochester Hills Public Library. The township is primarily governed by:
 * Board of Trustees (7 elected members)
 * Park Commission (7 elected members)
 * Planning Commission (7 appointed members)
 * Zoning Board of Appeals (5 appointed members)
 * Historical District Commission (7 appointed members)

The Board of Trustees is responsible for the hire of a Township Manager (similar to a city manager) who manages the day-to-day operations of the local government. Dale Stuart is the township manager. All of these groups have regular meetings that are open to the public and documented with written minutes and videotape available at the township website.

Police protection for the township is provided through a contract with the Oakland County Sheriff's Office, who also provides emergency dispatch services.

Fire protection and emergency medical services is provided by the Oakland Township Fire Department - a "combination" fire department primarily staffed by paid-on-call personnel and one full-time firefighter/paramedic at each fire station. The Oakland Township Fire Department is an advanced life support transporting agency that responds to approximately 900 calls/year, with a majority being medical emergencies.

Schools
Rochester Community Schools serves a majority of the township following a school district consolidation in 1952. Lake Orion Community Schools and Romeo Community Schools serve the remaining areas of the township. Previously, schools within township borders were autonomous. Baldwin School is a former one room schoolhouse in the Goodison area that now serves local students as Baldwin Elementary, a Rochester Community Schools K-5 elementary school.

Notable people

 * Luther Elliss, former professional football player, former resident
 * Joe Henry, musician
 * Ted Lindsay, former professional hockey player
 * Eminem, Grammy-winning rapper, songwriter, producer, actor; former resident.
 * Joey Sturgis, record producer, currently resides in Oakland Township
 * Peter Vanderkaay, Olympic swimmer, grew up in Oakland Township and graduated from Rochester Adams High School in Rochester Hills in 2002; won gold medal at 2004 Summer Olympics in 4x200 free style relay; in 2008 Beijing Olympics, won bronze medal in 200m freestyle and gold in 4 × 200 m freestyle relay

title: Oakland Charter Township, Michigan


text:
Orchard Lake Village, Michigan

The City of Orchard Lake Village is a city in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. A northern suburb of Detroit, Orchard Lake Village is located roughly 27 mi from downtown Detroit, and about 3 mi southwest of Pontiac. The city is mostly surrounded by West Bloomfield Township, with a small northeast border with Keego Harbor. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 2,375.

About 40% of the city's total area is water, with the main geographic feature being Orchard Lake, which occupies about 30% of the city's total area. Orchard Lake Village is home to St. Mary's Preparatory and SS. Cyril and Methodius Seminary, in addition to the Orchard Lake Country Club and Pine Lake Country Club. It is also the home of Orchard Lake St. Mary's Preparatory and Orchard Lake Schools, formerly Michigan Military Academy.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.12 sqmi, of which 2.44 sqmi is land and 1.68 sqmi (40.78%) is water.

Orchard Lake, Cass Lake, and Upper Straits Lake are all within or partially within the city limits. Terrain is rolling and high. Orchard Lake Village surrounds Orchard Lake, the third-largest lake in Oakland County (after Cass Lake, which is also partially in Orchard Lake Village, and Kent Lake). The city is surrounded by West Bloomfield Township, except for the northeast boundary along Keego Harbor.

2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 2,375 people, 802 households, and 665 families living in the city. The population density was 973.4 PD/sqmi. There were 869 housing units at an average density of 356.1 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 83.9% White, 6.4% African American, 7.4% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.1% of the population.

There were 802 households, of which 33.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 75.7% were married couples living together, 4.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 17.1% were non-families. 14.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.78 and the average family size was 3.08.

The median age in the city was 46.9 years. 23.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 16.1% were from 25 to 44; 35.7% were from 45 to 64; and 17.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 53.6% male and 46.4% female.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,215 people, 750 households, and 648 families living in the city. The population density was 855.7 PD/sqmi. There were 805 housing units at an average density of 311.0 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 91.87% White, 3.84% African American, 0.14% Native American, 2.66% Asian, 0.09% from other races, and 1.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.90% of the population.

8.8% of Orchard Lake's population reported ancestries that were characterized as "Assyrian/Chaldean/Syriac" by the U.S. Census, making Orchard Lake Village the community with the highest percentage of people in that category of any place in the United States.

There were 750 households, out of which 40.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 79.7% were married couples living together, 3.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 13.5% were non-families. 9.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 2.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.95 and the average family size was 3.18.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.9% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 21.7% from 25 to 44, 34.4% from 45 to 64, and 11.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 104.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 107.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $121,126, and the median income for a family was $126,058. Males had a median income of $83,680 versus $41,250 for females. The per capita income for the city was $67,881. About 0.6% of families and 0.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under the age of eighteen or sixty-five or over.

Education
Almost all of Orchard Lake Village is within the West Bloomfield School District.

One portion is instead in Walled Lake Consolidated Schools.

Also, there is another school called St. Mary's Preparatory, which is a Catholic Preparatory for boys.

Notable people

 * J. Sumner Rogers, founder of Michigan Military Academy
 * Bob Seger, American rock musician

title: Orchard Lake Village, Michigan


text:
Orion Township, Michigan

Orion Charter Township is a charter township of Oakland County, Michigan, United States. The population was 38,206 as of the 2020 census.

The official motto of the township and village is "Where living is a vacation". "Lake Orion" is often used to describe both the village and the township. The township hosts General Motors' Orion Assembly plant which produces small cars and EV pickup trucks.

History
Orion Township was established in 1835 as a popular destination along the Detroit United Railway for those looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Visitors come to enjoy Park Island Amusement Park and Dance Hall and some to learn more about the famous dragon on the lake.

LEGEND OF THE DRAGON

Excerpts reprinted from "The Legend of a Dragon" written by S. April Wuest, published in "Orion Township Sesquicentennial 150 Years 1835-1985" In 1894, there was a dragon. He took up dwelling in Lake Orion and though seemingly quite a friendly fellow, struck terror in the hearts of residents who sighted him. He grew with each sighting (dragons do this - growing and aging fast, but .... living forever) and increased in size from 18 feet to an outstanding length of 80 feet. He was described by witnesses as green with black spots. He was covered with scales and arose from the deep carrying slime and seaweed.

The fact is that two Orion ladies fishing from a dock in the lake, probably did see the wretched creature rise from the water. This encounter was enough to provoke numerous sightings, some of them undoubtedly real.

The Review newspaper reported an encounter which Mrs. Vincent Brown had while fishing from a rowboat with her two young nieces. When the creature appeared, the brave Mrs. Brown fought him off by beating him on the head with a board. This did not discourage the dragon and she rowed frantically to shore amid the screaming terrors of two frightened girls.

People were afraid to swim in the lake and used the creature as a scapegoat for all sorts of mishaps such as tipped boats and even missing livestock. Some people even claimed to have seen fire breathed from his nostrils.

It is not recorded when the first explanatory statements came out, but there does seem to be an explanation - and a most amusing one.

In those days, the Miller family, who had two mischievous boys named John Lawson and "Tut", lived at 312 S. Broadway. The boys were said to be responsible for the dragon. John swore it was his younger brother's doing and that the latter worked laboriously, sewing cloth that would cover wire rings which attached to the wooden base of a sea serpent. The base was fixed with wheels and the monster was lowered into the lake with a wire leash attached.

There are those who doubt that explanation and credit the sightings with nothing more than a shadow cast on the lake by an old tree. Whether myth, fancy, or fact, the story will be retold for years to come.

Communities
The Township has three unincorporated communities: Former places include:
 * Lake Orion is an incorporated village located within Orion Township.
 * Eames began as a station on the railroad in 1874. It was given a post office in 1883.
 * Lake Orion Heights is located between Lake Orion, Square Lake and Elkhorn Lake(42.77028°N, -83.26417°W Elevation: 1007 ft./307 m.).
 * Gingellville, also Gingleville, is located at Baldwin and Gregory Roads (42.72167°N, -83.30778°W Elevation: 1017 ft./310 m.).
 * Rudds Mill (also known as Rudds Station) is located at Kern and Clarkston Roads (42.76778°N, -83.21833°W Elevation: 945 ft./288 m.).
 * Cole was a station on the Pontiac, Oxford and Northern Railroad. It had a post office from 1884 until 1907.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 35.9 sqmi, of which 33.3 sqmi is land and 2.6 sqmi, or 7.18%, is water. The Township boasts more than 4,200 acres or parks and open spaces, including 42 lakes larger than five acres, more than 10 square miles of recreation, and more than 50 miles of safety path and trail ways.

Orion Township Is bordered to the east by Oakland Township, to the west by Independence Township, to the south by Auburn Hills and to the north by Oxford Township.

Parks & Trails
Friendship Park - 3380 Clarkston Road

With 134.97 acres of land, Friendship Park is the largest Township owned property. It is located at the intersection of Baldwin and Clarkston Roads with access from Clarkston Road. The park's building houses summer camps, preschool classes, yoga, tai chi, and safety classes, along with private rentals. The park incorporates the following facilities:

 * 4 Baseball Fields (4 lighted fields)
 * 8 Soccer Fields
 * 2 Pickleball Courts Rules for Courts
 * 1 Tennis Court
 * ADA Accessible Miracle Field
 * Andrea Yatooma Home Plate Concession Stand and Restrooms
 * ADA Accessible Playground (Dragons Den)
 * 1 Wheelchair Accessible Playground
 * Park building with restrooms (indoor and outdoor access), indoor multi-purpose meeting room, small kitchen (45 people at tables or 75 seats) and covered outdoor portions (75 people at tables)
 * Restrooms in the northern area of the parks
 * Wedding Gazebo/Shelter (150-200 people in area)
 * Historic Howarth School House and Porritt Barn
 * Fishing Pond
 * Limestone surface park trails
 * Community Garden
 * Walking Trails
 * Mountain Bike Trails
 * Parking Areas

Camp Agawam - 1301 W. Clarkston Road

Camp Agawam is located in the heart of Orion Township, Michigan. The camp was previously owned and operated by the Boy Scouts of America, until 2014 at which point Orion Township took ownership. Camp Agawam offers a wide variety of opportunities for all ages. With roughly 140 acres, numerous campsites, rental facilities, walking trails, a chapel, a state-of-the-art playground, disc golf course, and beautiful Tommy's Lake with public beach access, this is truly a picturesque park in the middle of suburban life.

Civic Center Park - 2525 Joslyn Road Civic Center Park is a 78.86 acre community park located on Joslyn Road north of Waldon Road with access from both roadways.

 * 3 Baseball Fields (2 lighted)
 * 7 Soccer Fields
 * 2 Basketball Courts
 * Ice Rink (open seasonally)
 * Fitness Course
 * 2 Volleyball Courts
 * Sheardy Pavilion (60 people at tables) with attached restrooms
 * 1 ADA accessible play structure
 * Limestone surface park trails
 * Wildwood Amphitheater
 * 2 access points to the Polly Ann Trail
 * Parking Areas

Jesse Decker Park - 4080 N. Squirrel Road

With 24.65 acres of land, Jesse Decker Park is the newest Orion Township community park constructed in 2009. It is located in the southeast corner of the Township on Squirrel Road south of Silverbell Road. The park includes the following facilities:

 * 3 Youth Baseball Fields
 * 1 Multipurpose Sports Field
 * 2 Tennis/Pickleball Courts
 * 1 Playground
 * Sledding Hill
 * Picnic Shelter (40 people at tables)
 * Asphalt and limestone surface park trails
 * Heron Springs Nature Area
 * Portable Restrooms
 * Parking Area

Wildwood Amphitheater - 2700 Joslyn Court

This outdoor amphitheater is home to the Free Concerts in the Park series that takes place on Tuesdays, Free Movies in the Park series that takes place on Wednesdays throughout the summer. This venue also hosts outdoor film festivals, music festivals, outdoor movies and other public events. The Wildwood Amphitheater is available for private rentals.

Paint Creek Trail

The Paint Creek Trail is an 8.9 mile recreational trail located in northeast Oakland County. It traverses through Rochester, Rochester Hills, Oakland Township, Orion Township, and the Village of Lake Orion. Most of the trail is surfaced with crushed limestone, and is 8 feet wide. A 1/4 mile segment at the northern terminus in Lake Orion is paved with asphalt.

The trail is built on a former railroad bed. The Paint Creek Trailways Commission is an intergovernmental agency that owns and manages the trail and trail right-of-way. The Commission right-of-way is generally 100 feet wide. The trail is not always in the center of the right-of-way. The Paint Creek is a designated trout stream that intertwines with the trail at many points, and provides great fishing opportunities.

The Paint Creek Trail – Michigan's Millennium Legacy Trail

In 1999, the Paint Creek Trail received a special honor. The Southeast Michigan Greenways Trail, a conceptual network of inter-connected trails and greenways throughout the 7-county area of Southeast Michigan, was proclaimed Michigan's Millennium Legacy Trail by the White House on October 21, 1999. The Paint Creek Trail carried the honor of being the physical representative of the trail system since it serves as an excellent physical and operational example for other trails. As part of the designation, the Trailways Commission was given a $10,000 grant for a Millennium Legacy Trail Art Project. The grant, along with other matching funds, paid for our Prairie Restoration Art Project – a gazebo-like structure located on the Trail north of Gallagher, that commemorates our Prairie Restoration Project south of Silver Bell Road.

The Paint Creek Trail – a National Recreation Trail

On June 1, 2006, the Paint Creek Trail received the honor of being named a National Recreation Trail by the U.S. Department of the Interior. The National Recreation Trails program recognizes exemplary trails of local and regional significance that provide for numerous outdoor recreation activities in a variety of urban, rural, and remote areas. Over 900 Trails in every state have received this designation. The NRT Program is jointly administered by the National Park Service and the U.S. Forest Service in cooperation with American Trails. As a National Recreation Trail, the Paint Creek Trail will benefit from the prestige and increased visibility of being part of the 10,000 mile National Trail System. The Trailways Commission received a letter and certificate signed by the Secretary of the Interior, as well as logo signs to be placed along the Trail. Additionally, the Trailways Commission receives access to technical assistance and unique funding opportunities. As part of this designation, the Paint Creek Trail is included in the on-line National Registry of Trails, and is given its own NRT webpage. The webpage includes descriptive information, pictures, and facts about the Paint Creek Trail. You can access it here: Paint Creek Trail – a National Recreation Trail.

The Paint Creek Trail – A Pure Michigan Trail

Paint Creek Trail Recognized as Pure Michigan Trail at Annual Governor's Conference on Tourism

The Paint Creek Trail was designated a Pure Michigan Trail at the Pure Michigan Governor's Conference on April 11, 2023. The Trail was honored with an award for its example of the state's natural beauty and the outdoor recreation and alternative transportation opportunities it provides to the local area and visitors alike. The trail will be featured in the Pure Michigan travel campaigns from now on as an example of what makes Michigan the #1 trail state in the nation.

Polly Ann Trail

The Polly Ann Trail is a major non-motorized trail in Oakland County extending north from Orion Township in suburban Detroit on a former Pontiac, Oxford, and Northern Railroad corridor. The Oakland County Polly Ann ends on Bordman Road at the Lapeer/Oakland County border. The Oakland County segment connects the Townships of Orion, Oxford and Addison and the Villages of Oxford and Leonard. The Orion Township pathway system connects the trail to the popular Paint Creek Trail.

Both portions are owned by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The trail is managed separately by groups in Lapeer County and by the Polly Ann Trail Management Council, Inc. (PATMC) in Oakland County, The portion of the trail in Oakland County has a crushed stone surface and runs for 14.2 miles from Orion Township to the Oakland–Lapeer county line.

Certain sections of the trail in urban areas have an improved asphalt surface. Along the way, trail users pass through the communities of Orion Township, Oxford Township, the Village of Oxford, Addison Township and the Village of Leonard.

In Lapeer County, the Polly Ann Trail continues north with a much rougher ballast surface for 20 miles to North Branch Township. The trail is clear and maintained in Dryden Township, Dryden Village, and Imlay City, with the latter community featuring a paved stretch. The rest of the trail is largely unimproved and may be rough, uneven and wet in spots. For this reason, mountain bikers, hikers and horseback riders will generally have the best experience along the Polly Ann Trail in Lapeer County.

Recognition

 * A Michigan Best City for Fit Lifestyles - #11
 * A Michigan Safest City - #27
 * Better City for Pets
 * eCities 5-Star Community
 * Michigan Green Communities - Gold Certified
 * Tree City USA
 * Pure Michigan Trail Town
 * Water Town
 * America In Bloom - Level 3 Community

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 33,463 people, 12,246 households, and 8,976 families residing in the township. The population density was 1,003.3 PD/sqmi. There were 12,837 housing units at an average density of 384.9 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the township was 95.42% White, 1.26% African American, 0.27% Native American, 1.18% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.61% from other races, and 1.23% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.56% of the population.

There were 12,246 households, out of which 39.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.0% were married couples living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.7% were non-families. 20.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.19.

In the township the population was spread out, with 28.5% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 36.4% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 6.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.5 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $71,844, and the median income for a family was $83,514. Males had a median income of $61,562 versus $36,481 for females. The per capita income for the township was $30,299. About 2.0% of families and 3.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.5% of those under age 18 and 4.1% of those age 65 and over.

Education
The majority of students attend Lake Orion Community Schools. A small portion is in the Pontiac School District. Another portion of students also attend Clarkston, Rochester and Oxford Community School Districts.

St. Joseph Catholic School is located in the township.

Notable people
This list includes people from Orion Township and the Village of Lake Orion

 * Scott Amedure, The Jenny Jones Show murder victim
 * Matthew Blackmer, American pair skater
 * Christopher Bowman, World Medalist champion figure skater
 * William Broomfield, former congressman
 * Pat Caputo, sportswriter for The Oakland Press
 * Rolla C. Carpenter, engineer, academic, writer
 * Dave Collins, former professional baseball player
 * Barbara Ann Crancer, daughter of Jimmy Hoffa
 * Matthew Dear, musician
 * Andrew J. Feustel, NASA astronaut
 * Frontier Ruckus, art-folk band
 * Tom Gillis, professional golfer
 * Jeff Heath, professional football player
 * Frederick Henderson, former CEO of General Motors
 * James P. Hoffa, son of Jimmy Hoffa
 * Jimmy Hoffa, former Teamsters President
 * Zak Keasey, former professional football player
 * Mickey Lolich, former professional baseball player
 * James Marcinkowski, politician, attorney
 * Chris Michels, syndicated radio show host
 * Jamie Milam, professional hockey player
 * Troy Milam, professional hockey player
 * Frank Novak, former NFL coach
 * Raymond Plouhar, staff sergeant, USMC
 * William Edmund Scripps, newspaper magnate
 * Rich Strenger, former professional football player
 * Rod Taylor, former professional hockey player
 * Ron Tripp, World Sambo and Judo champion
 * Cynthia Watros, actress
 * Mike Weger, former professional football player
 * Louis George Carpenter, College Professor, known for scientific irrigation

title: Orion Township, Michigan


text:
Ortonville, Michigan

Ortonville is a village in north Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The village is within Brandon Township, although some development near the village lies within adjacent Oakland County, Groveland township and Lapeer County, Hadley township. The population was 1,291 as of the 2021 Census estimate. Ortonville lies on the northern edge of Metro Detroit and is approximately 41 miles (66 km) north of Downtown Detroit.

Overview
Ortonville, a northern rural village in Oakland County, was founded in 1848 by Amos Orton, who built a dam across Kearsley Creek to furnish water power for his gristmill. The town was platted in 1866 and incorporated as a village in 1902. It is located about halfway between Pontiac and Flint.

According to the census of 2010 the population of the village of Ortonville is 1,422. The population of Brandon Township is 15,175, and nearby Groveland Township is 5,476.

Surrounding towns include Goodrich to the north, Oxford to the east, Clarkston to the south, and Holly to the west.

Public school system
Ortonville's primary public schools are Brandon Schools, in Brandon Township. Students are mostly Brandon, Groveland Township and Hadley Township residents with a few from surrounding areas of northern Clarkston and western Oxford. Brandon High School is the home of the Blackhawks. The athletic teams compete in the Flint Metro League.

The schools in the district are:
 * Brandon High School (grades 9–12)
 * Brandon Middle School (grades 6–8)
 * Oakwood Elementary (grades JK–5)
 * Harvey Swanson Elementary (grades JK–5)

Former Schools:
 * H.T. Burt Elementary School
 * H.T. Burt Lifelong Learning Center
 * Belle Ann Elementary School
 * Brandon Fletcher Intermediate School
 * Sherman Lifelong Learning Center

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 0.98 sqmi, all land.

2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 1,442 people, 511 households, and 376 families living in the village. The population density was 1471.4 PD/sqmi. There were 574 housing units at an average density of 585.7 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the village was 95.5% White, 0.6% African American, 0.5% Native American, 1.2% Asian, 0.4% from other races, and 1.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.6% of the population.

There were 511 households, of which 40.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.3% were married couples living together, 17.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 26.4% were non-families. 21.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.76 and the average family size was 3.18.

The median age in the village was 37.5 years. 27.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.8% were from 25 to 44; 30.3% were from 45 to 64; and 7.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 48.7% male and 51.3% female.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,535 people, 537 households, and 400 families living in the village. The population density was 1,546.2 PD/sqmi. There were 572 housing units at an average density of 576.2 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the village was 98.24% White, 0.07% African American, 0.46% Native American, 0.39% Asian, 0.46% from other races, and 0.39% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.69% of the population.

There were 537 households, out of which 45.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.2% were married couples living together, 14.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.5% were non-families. 22.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.29.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 32.4% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 35.5% from 25 to 44, 17.5% from 45 to 64, and 7.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.0 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $60,972, and the median income for a family was $72,443. Males had a median income of $59,083 versus $31,250 for females. The per capita income for the village was $24,110. About 3.3% of families and 4.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.0% of those under age 18 and 5.2% of those age 65 or over.

title: Ortonville, Michigan


text:
Oxford, Michigan

Oxford is a village in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,436 at the 2010 census. The village is located within Oxford Township. Located about 30 mi north of Detroit, it is a northern suburb of the Metro Detroit region.

History

During the early 19th century the northeast Oakland County area was largely avoided by the early settlers because it was believed to be nothing but impenetrable swamp land. The area was, at that time, nicknamed "The Barren Plains of Oxford." It was called this primarily because of a report made in 1812 by the U.S. Surveyor General that described the area as a poor, barren, sandy land, on which scarcely any vegetation could grow with the exception of some very small scrubby oaks. It was concluded in the surveyors' report that there was one acre out of one hundred that appeared to be eligible for cultivation. Any hope for crop production was thought to be preposterous. At this point, the area was deemed worthless, and discouragement of any hope for development by forthcoming settlers was inevitable.

Purchase of public land in what is now called Oxford was in 1823 by a man named Elbridge G. Deming. Soon after, the first person to settle in Oxford was a wolf trapper named Avery Brown. He made use of the land and gave some credibility to its value. It wasn't long after that the first area post office was officially established in what was then known as Demingsburgh on May 2, 1834. Five years later, the name was officially changed to Oxford on January 15, 1839. Elbridge D. Deming was the first postmaster for Oxford, as the post office was located in his log home near the intersection of M-24 and Metamora Road.

On November 30, 2021, a mass shooting occurred at Oxford High School. Four people were killed, and seven others were injured, including an injured teacher. School attendance was very low that day, as rumors had spread earlier that week of a shooting being about to occur. Most of the students escaped into a nearby Meijer. The suspect, a 15-year-old sophomore student, reportedly fired between 15 and 20 bullets in a chemistry room and did not resist arrest.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 1.46 sqmi, of which 1.26 sqmi is land and 0.20 sqmi (1.37%) is water.

2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 3,436 people, 1,335 households, and 889 families residing in the village. The population density was 2748.8 PD/sqmi. There were 1,468 housing units at an average density of 1174.4 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the village was 95.1% White, 1.9% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.7% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.4% of the population.

There were 1,335 households, of which 33.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.5% were married couples living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 33.4% were non-families. 29.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.09.

The median age in the village was 38.5 years. 25% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27.5% were from 25 to 44; 28.9% were from 45 to 64; and 10.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 49.3% male and 50.7% female.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,540 people, 1,402 households, and 918 families residing in the village. The population density was 2,873.5 PD/sqmi. There were 1,476 housing units at an average density of 1,198.1 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the village was 97.23% White, 0.59% African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.51% Asian, 0.31% from other races, and 1.05% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.66% of the population.

There were 1,402 households, out of which 35.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.4% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.5% were non-families. 29.6% 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 2.51 and the average family size was 3.15.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 28.2% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 34.4% from 25 to 44, 21.2% from 45 to 64, and 8.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.7 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $53,885, and the median income for a family was $72,875. Males had a median income of $50,179 versus $29,938 for females. The per capita income for the village was $24,811. About 3.0% of families and 5.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.1% of those under age 18 and 10.5% of those age 65 or over.

Arts and culture

The village center consists of shops, restaurants, and taverns stretching for two blocks. Local happenings such as athletic events, downtown fairs, scarecrow competitions, school plays, the annual Steamback golf outing at Oxford Hills and concerts garner a large turnout throughout the year and are reported in the weekly newspaper of record since 1898, The Oxford Leader.

The area's public high school, Oxford High School, was newly expanded in 2003–2004.

Education

The village of Oxford is home to the school district of Oxford Community Schools. The district has nine schools which include:
 * Two high schools (Oxford High School and Oxford Bridges High School, the latter an alternative school )
 * One middle school (Oxford Middle School)
 * Five elementary schools (Clear Lake, Daniel Axford, Lakeville, Leonard, and Oxford Elementary). All five elementary schools earned an A on their EducationYes! Report cards for the 2010–2011 school year.
 * One adjudicated youth school (Crossroads for Youth)

The primary mascot for Oxford Schools is the Wildcat. Both the high school and the middle school have sports teams which are referred to as Oxford Wildcats. The Oxford Wildcat logo is visible around the town, prominently on one of the three water towers.

In 2009 and in 2010, Oxford Community Schools was featured as one of the "Best Schools In Michigan". Two of the elementary schools Leonard Elementary and Lakeville Elementary both won Michigan Blue Ribbon Awards, making all Oxford elementary schools Michigan Blue Ribbon Schools. In the 2010–2011 year, Oxford High School moved from the Flint Metro League to the Oakland Activities Association.

Notable people

 * Ethan Robert Crumbley,(age 15 in 2021) the Oxford school shooter, shot and killed 4 students and injured 7. Convicted. His parents (Jennifer and James Crumbley) have also been charged with involuntary manslaughter for their participation in aiding Ethan's ownership of the weapon used.
 * Brace Beemer, actor who played the Lone Ranger on radio from 1941 to 1953, retired and raised thoroughbred horses on his 300-acre ranch Paint Creek Acres, until his death in 1965
 * George H. Durand, U.S. Representative, lived in Oxford
 * Nathan Gerbe, former NHL player born in Oxford
 * Eric Ghiaciuc, NFL player for the New England Patriots, was born in Oxford on May 28, 1981
 * Mike Lantry, NFL player, (University of Michigan / Dallas Cowboys)
 * Chris Gambol, NFL player, (University of Iowa / Indianapolis Colts)
 * Dave Rayner NFL player, (Michigan State University / Indianapolis Colts)
 * Jim Bates (1964), NFL coach, from University of Tennessee, longtime NFL defensive coach (Packers, Broncos, Dolphins and Bucs) as well as Miami's head coach for eight games in 2004
 * Zach Line, NFL player, played for Southern Methodist University, retired from New Orleans Saints roster as a fullback, currently head coach of Oxford football varsity team
 * William R. Reed, commissioner of the Big Ten Conference from 1961 to 1971, was born in Oxford
 * Albert J. Campbell, United States Representative from Montana, lived in Oxford
 * Ralph Gilles, an automotive designer currently serving as Head of Design for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles
 * Josh Norris, NHL player was born in Oxford and currently plays for the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League

title: Oxford, Michigan


text:
Oxford Township, Michigan

Oxford Township, officially the Charter Township of Oxford, is a charter township in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 22,419 at the 2020 census.

Communities
The Township has three unincorporated communities:
 * The village of Oxford is located within the township. Like all villages in Michigan, it is geographically and politically part of the township, and residents pay both village and township taxes.
 * Oakwood straddles the western border with Brandon Township at Baldwin and Oakwood Roads (42.8675°N, -83.33667°W Elevation: 1099 ft./335 m.).
 * Thomas is located at the north end of the Township at M-24 and Thomas Road (42.87944°N, -83.29722°W Elevation: 1086 ft./331 m.). A railroad station and facilities were necessary near the northern edge of the township, and so the second community, Thomas, was developed. The place was platted by John Thomas in 1871.
 * Waterstone is located on Granger Road/Market Street between Dunlap and M-24 (42.83639°N, -83.285°W Elevation: 1040 ft./317 M).

History
Prior to the 1820s, what is now Oxford Township was known to be a hunting ground of the Nepessing Tribe of the Chippewa Indians, who inhabited large areas of what became Oakland, Lapeer, and St. Clair counties. Between 1810 and the early 1820s, numerous settlers visited the Oxford area, primarily to hunt and trap. The first documented sale of public land in this area was recorded in 1823 to Elbridge Deming, who later built a log cabin on land in section 9 (in the area of M-24 and Metamora Road) of the township, around the spring of 1832.

Oxford Township was not officially created until after Michigan became a state in 1837. It was originally part of Oakland Township, as were Addison Township and Orion Township; Oxford Township was split away and separately organized in 1837. The 1830s saw an influx of settlers to the area, originally known as Demingsburgh, Demings Corners, and Oxford Corners, before becoming known as Oxford in 1836. The family names of many early settlers to the area are evident today in names of streets and buildings, such as Powell, Hovey, Burdick, and Axford.

New residents continued the trek to Oxford Township, many settling in sections 22 and 27 of what was to become the village of Oxford in 1876. Along with residents came commerce and industry. A downtown area was built in the village, but much of the area south of Burdick Street and west of Washington Street burned to the ground in 1878. When rebuilt, most of the buildings were of brick and masonry construction and are still in use today. The 1850s, 1860s, and 1870s found Oxford a prospering commercial center, with such businesses as Oxford Carriage Factory, Oxford Machine Works, Oxford Valley Mills, Oxford Brewery and several furniture and cabinetry shops.

In addition to the village of Oxford, two other smaller communities developed in other areas of the township. The first developed near Baldwin and Oakwood roads, on the boundary with Brandon Township; the community of Oakwood reached a population of nearly 200 people by 1876 with a foundry and "the usual shops and stores".

A railroad station and facilities were necessary near the northern edge of the township, and so the second community, Thomas, was developed. The place was platted by John Thomas in 1871. Thomas had a store, hotel, grain elevator and gristmill by the late 1870s.

Thomas and Oakwood continued to prosper until May 1896, when they were largely devastated by a monster tornado which traveled across the entire north end of Oakland County. The tornado killed 41 people and injured 46 others in northern Oakland and southern Lapeer counties. Seventeen of the fatalities were in the northern portion of Oxford Township, from the Oakwood village area to Thomas. While many of the homes in Oakwood and Thomas were rebuilt, the two communities were never again centers of commerce. Railroads were largely responsible for change and continued growth in the Oxford area. No longer isolated from Detroit, and now joined with communities to the north, Oxford's commerce thrived. In addition to its businesses and factories, agriculture was a mainstay for the community. At one time in the 1880s, Oxford earned the nickname, Bagatown, from the large number of rutabagas shipped out by train.

The early 1880s saw a second railroad constructed from the Pontiac area, through Oxford to Port Austin. Known as the Pontiac, Oxford, and Port Austin Railroad, the "P.O. and P.A.", it later became the Pontiac, Oxford, and Northern (the "P.O. and N."), and finally the Grand Trunk Western Railroad. With the expansion of the second rail line through town, it now became possible to travel to the tip of Michigan's thumb in one day. By 1900, a third, all electric powered passenger rail line known as the Detroit United Railway (D.U.R.) was extended through Oxford from Detroit to Flint and was noted for maintaining limited cars daily, both north and southbound. Over the years, the D.U.R. was involved in many collisions with automobiles, often resulting in death or injury to those whose automobiles tangled with the interurban cars at grade crossings. As automobile transportation became more reliable and roads improved, a growing percentage of the populace chose to travel by these means, forcing the demise of the D.U.R. in 1931.

On November 30, 2021, a mass shooting occurred at Oxford High School. Four students were killed, and eight other people were injured. The suspected shooter is a 15-year-old sophomore student who was taken into custody. His parents were charged on December 3 with involuntary manslaughter for failing to secure the handgun used in the shooting.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 35.2 sqmi, of which 33.9 sqmi is land and 1.3 sqmi, or 3.78%, is water.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 16,025 people, 5,787 households, and 4,317 families residing in the township. The population density was 472.9 PD/sqmi. There were 6,151 housing units at an average density of 181.5 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the township was 96.83% White, 0.45% African American, 0.26% Native American, 0.51% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.62% from other races, and 1.31% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.19% of the population.

There were 5,787 households, out of which 40.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.7% were married couples living together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.4% were non-families. 20.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.21.

In the township the population was spread out, with 29.2% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 35.0% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 7.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.9 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $63,494, and the median income for a family was $75,216. Males had a median income of $52,083 versus $32,258 for females. The per capita income for the township was $26,601. About 2.1% of families and 4.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.9% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 and over.

Notable people
One of the most recognizable voices throughout the nation in the 1940s and 1950s was that of Brace Beemer, the radio voice of the Lone Ranger. Beemer lived in Oxford Township on a 300-acre ranch on Drahner Road. There is a street named for him in the southwest part of the township, where he lived. His collection of Lone Ranger items is on display in the Northeast Oakland Historical Museum in Oxford.

Education
Most of Oxford Township is in Oxford Community Schools, while a section to the south is zoned to Lake Orion Community Schools. The former's zoned high school is Oxford High School while the latter's high school is Lake Orion High School.

title: Oxford Township, Michigan