Farmington Hills, Michigan
Encyclopedia
Farmington Hills is a community in southeastern Michigan
. It is the largest city in Oakland County
in the U.S. state
of Michigan
. Its population was 79,740 at the 2010 census. It is an upscale suburb of Metropolitan Detroit
and is also 33 miles (53.1 km) northeast of downtown Ann Arbor
.
Oakland County is recognized as one of the wealthiest counties in the Midwestern United States
, with Farmington Hills being one of the county's top family income areas. In 2007, CNNMoney.com listed the Farmington Hills area its 55th "Best Place to Live." Farmington Hills consistently ranks as one of the safest cities in the United States
, as well as in the state of Michigan. In 2010, the area ranked as the 30th safest city in America.
Although the two cities have separate services and addresses, Farmington
and Farmington Hills are often thought of as the same community. Features of the community include a recently renovated downtown, boutiques, a vintage cinema, numerous restaurants, exotic car dealerships, art galleries, and one of Oakland County's largest public parks, Heritage Park. There are many historical sites, such as the Longacre House and the Governor Warner
Mansion. Both cities are served by Farmington Public Schools
, which is one of the top rated public school systems in the state. Farmington Hills serves as a major business center for the greater Detroit area, and possesses the largest business campus in the county outside of Troy
. Due to its shared city borders with some of the wealthiest communities in the region such as West Bloomfield
, Franklin Village
, Orchard Lake Village
, and Novi
, the community's real estate market has seen a boom in upscale residential development over several years.
, the city has a total area of 33.3 square miles (86.2 km²), all land.
, named Arthur Power. He purchased land in 1823 and returned in 1824 with a group of family and associates to clear the land. The settlement became known as Quakertown. A post office was established in January 1826 with the name of Farmington. The township of Farmington was organized in 1827. The settlement incorporated as the village of Farmington
in the winter of 1866-67. A fire on October 9, 1872, destroyed many buildings in the center of the village. Farmington incorporated as a city in 1926.
A small settlement also developed in Clarenceville, in the extreme southeast corner of the township on the boundary with Livonia
in Wayne County
. Stephen Jennings built a tavern and general store to accommodate travelers on the plank road between Detroit and Howell. The name remains in the Clarenceville School District
. Even though the school buildings for Clarenceville are in Livonia in Wayne County, the school district serves a portion of Farmington Hills.
In 1847, a post office named North Farmington was established a mile south of the township line as Wolcott's Corners. After the death of postmaster Chauncey D. Walcott in 1865, the office moved to the township line in the northeast quarter of section
4 (near the intersection of 14 Mile Road and Farmington Road). The post office operated until September 1902.
Before the remainder of Farmington Township incorporated as the city of Farmington Hills, there were two other incorporated entities within the boundaries. The first began as a subdivision named Quaker Valley Farms that incorporated as the village of Quakertown in 1959. The other was Wood Creek Farms, developed in 1937 as a subdivision by George Wellington of Franklin, who named it after a New England
estate. It incorporated as a village in 1957. The villages together with the remainder of Farmington Township incorporated into the City of Farmington Hills in 1973.
In 1964 the city of Farmington started a tradition that became known as the Founders Festival. The festival is always held in mid-July each summer and is a fair gathering held in the downtown Farmington area. It's filled with arts and crafts, entertainment shows, good food, friends and family, and a fun atmosphere.
of 2000, there were 82,111 people, 33,559 households, and 21,813 families residing in the city. The population density
was 2,466.4 per square mile (952.3/km²). There were 34,858 housing units at an average density of 1,047.0 per square mile (404.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 82.95% White, 6.94% African American, 0.17% Native American, 7.54% Asian (6.3% Indian, 0.6% Pakistani, 1.0% Chinese, 0.7% Japanese, 0.7% Korean, 0.4% Filipino)
, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.46% from other races
, and 1.93% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.47% of the population. 12.6% were of German
, 9.1% Polish, 8.3% Irish
, 7.1% English
and 5.5% Italian
ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 33,559 households out of which 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.0% were married couples
living together, 6.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.0% were non-families. 29.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.1% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 31.3% from 25 to 44, 24.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 93.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.2 males.
According to a 2007 estimate, the median income for a household in the city was $73,274, and the median income for a family was $93,136. Males had a median income of $61,757 versus $39,540 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $36,134. About 2.4% of families and 4.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.2% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.
In 2010 Farmington Hills had a population of 79,740. The racial and ethnic composition of the population was 68.3% non-Hispanic white, 17.4% black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 10.1% Asian, 0.2% non-Hispanic reporting some other race, 2.2% reporting two or more races and 1.9% Hispanic or Latino.
consisting of a Mayor
(currently: Jerry Ellis) and six council members. The city council appoints a City Manager
(currently: Steve Brock), who manages the day-to-day operations of the city.
Farmington Hills is neighbor to Farmington, Michigan
. Together, the two cities form a district represented in Michigan's State Government by Democrat Vicki Barnett
, who is a former mayor of Farmington Hills. Farmington Hills is part of state senate District 14, and is represented by Democrat Vincent Gregory
.
The Mayor's Youth Council is an active teen committee/council who work under the city to help address teen problems and issues. This council is run by the youth, for the youth, and is helping to build the Riley Skate Park (the largest skate park in the Midwest), sends delegates to the National League of Cities
(NLC) conferences, has articles published in the local newspaper, helps run city wide events, organizes battle of the bands, and hosts their own talk show.
The Commission for Children, Youth and Families - operated in partnership with neighboring Farmington - is dedicated to creating a welcoming community for individuals of all ages and backgrounds. With a special emphasis on volunteerism, community service and education, the Commission partners with the Multi-Racial Multi-Cultural Commission (MRMC), the Commission on Aging, Farmington Public School District and the Farmington Public Library to inform residents on a variety of quality-of-life issues designed to promote wellness, access and knowledge. Currently chaired by Robert Blumenfeld, the Commission has promoted efforts that include depression awareness for teens, "Take Your Kids to Vote," and TV Turn-off Week, and is currently engaging in a revitalization of the community volunteer center.
On Monday, December 18, 2006, a public meeting was held in Farmington Hills to discuss the possible merger of the two cities. This has been an ongoing discussion for years but there had not been any recent formal meetings on the subject. Officials are touting it mainly as a money saving venture, and also as a way to keep the two communities vibrant. Farmington and Farmington Hills already share several services, such as a school district, a library system and a district court, however, both cities utilize their own fire departments, and Farmington has a public safety department rather than a police station.
had its headquarters in Farmington Hills. Compuware moved its headquarters and 4,000 employees to downtown Detroit
in 2003. Gale
, an educational publishing company owned by Cengage Learning
, and the auto loan company Chrysler Financial are located in Farmington Hills. There are also many branches of large corporations in the office campuses recently built. The Nissan Technical Center North America is located in Farmington Hills. Mango Languages, a language learning software company, is also headquartered here.
Farmington Hills and neighboring Farmington share a school system, Farmington Public Schools
. It is home to Farmington High School, North Farmington High School, and Harrison High School. Harrison High School's football team, the Hawks, are known for excelling at football led by Coach John Herrington who has been the coach since the opening of the school in 1970.
Farmington Hills also encompasses parts of the West Bloomfield School District
, the Clarenceville School District
, and the Walled Lake Consolidated School District.
The city includes several private school
s, including two parochial Catholic schools, Our Lady of Sorrows and St. Fabian, run by the Archdiocese of Detroit, an all-girls Catholic high school, Mercy High School
, and a non-denominational Jewish day school, Hillel Day School
.
The city also contains a branch of the Oakland Community College
system, as well as a suburban center for Wayne State University
, which is based in Detroit.
(SMART) operates local and regional bus transit.
The major thoroughfares in the city are Grand River (M-5
), Orchard Lake Road, 12 Mile Road, 8 Mile Road, Northwestern Highway, I-696
and I-275
. The city contains several freeway interchanges connecting local roads to the two interstates.
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. It is the largest city in Oakland County
Oakland County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the 2010 Census, there were 1,202,362 people, 471,115 households, and 315,175 families residing in the county. The population density as of the 2000 census was 1,369 people per square mile . There were 492,006 housing units at an average density of 564 per square mile...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. Its population was 79,740 at the 2010 census. It is an upscale suburb of Metropolitan Detroit
Metro Detroit
The Detroit metropolitan area, often referred to as Metro Detroit, is the metropolitan area located in Southeast Michigan centered on the city of Detroit which shares an international border with Windsor, Ontario. The Detroit metropolitan area is the second largest U.S. metropolitan area...
and is also 33 miles (53.1 km) northeast of downtown Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2010 census places the population at 113,934, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan. The Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 344,791 as of 2010...
.
Oakland County is recognized as one of the wealthiest counties in the Midwestern United States
Midwestern United States
The Midwestern United States is one of the four U.S. geographic regions defined by the United States Census Bureau, providing an official definition of the American Midwest....
, with Farmington Hills being one of the county's top family income areas. In 2007, CNNMoney.com listed the Farmington Hills area its 55th "Best Place to Live." Farmington Hills consistently ranks as one of the safest cities in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, as well as in the state of Michigan. In 2010, the area ranked as the 30th safest city in America.
Although the two cities have separate services and addresses, Farmington
Farmington, Michigan
Farmington is a city in Oakland County of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a northern suburb of Detroit and is part of the Metro Detroit area. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 10,372. It is fully surrounded by Farmington Hills, except for a small portion bordered by Livonia to the...
and Farmington Hills are often thought of as the same community. Features of the community include a recently renovated downtown, boutiques, a vintage cinema, numerous restaurants, exotic car dealerships, art galleries, and one of Oakland County's largest public parks, Heritage Park. There are many historical sites, such as the Longacre House and the Governor Warner
Fred M. Warner
Fred Maltby Warner was an American politician. He served as the 26th Governor of Michigan from 1905 to 1911.-Birth in England and early life in Michigan:...
Mansion. Both cities are served by Farmington Public Schools
Farmington Public Schools
Farmington Public Schools is a public school district located in southeastern Michigan, in southern Oakland County. The school district serves more than 12,000 students from Farmington Hills, Farmington, and a portion of West Bloomfield. The district is led by superintendent Susan Zurvalec, who...
, which is one of the top rated public school systems in the state. Farmington Hills serves as a major business center for the greater Detroit area, and possesses the largest business campus in the county outside of Troy
Troy, Michigan
Troy is a city in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan, and is a suburb of Detroit. The population was 80,980 at the 2010 census, making it the 11th-largest city in Michigan by population, and the largest city in Oakland County...
. Due to its shared city borders with some of the wealthiest communities in the region such as West Bloomfield
West Bloomfield Township, Michigan
West Bloomfield Charter Township is an affluent charter township in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan, within the Detroit metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, the township had a population of 64,690. As of 2008, West Bloomfield Township was ranked the 8th highest income city in the...
, Franklin Village
Franklin, Michigan
Franklin is a village in Southfield Township, Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,150 at the 2010 census. The community is known for large, estate-style homes situated on ravines, as well as its vintage downtown and cider mill....
, Orchard Lake Village
Orchard Lake Village, Michigan
Orchard Lake Village is a city in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan and a small, exclusive suburb on the outskirts of Metro Detroit. The population was 2,375 at the 2010 census....
, and Novi
Novi, Michigan
Novi is a city in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the population was 55,224, an increase over the 2000 census count of 47,386. The city is located approximately northwest of the center of Detroit, and northeast of the center of Ann Arbor. The city is located...
, the community's real estate market has seen a boom in upscale residential development over several years.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 33.3 square miles (86.2 km²), all land.
History
The first white settler in what became Farmington Township was a Quaker from Farmington, New YorkFarmington, New York
Farmington is a town located in the northern part of Ontario County, New York, United States. The population was 10,585 at the 2000 census. Farmington is about twenty-five miles southeast of Rochester, New York...
, named Arthur Power. He purchased land in 1823 and returned in 1824 with a group of family and associates to clear the land. The settlement became known as Quakertown. A post office was established in January 1826 with the name of Farmington. The township of Farmington was organized in 1827. The settlement incorporated as the village of Farmington
Farmington, Michigan
Farmington is a city in Oakland County of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a northern suburb of Detroit and is part of the Metro Detroit area. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 10,372. It is fully surrounded by Farmington Hills, except for a small portion bordered by Livonia to the...
in the winter of 1866-67. A fire on October 9, 1872, destroyed many buildings in the center of the village. Farmington incorporated as a city in 1926.
A small settlement also developed in Clarenceville, in the extreme southeast corner of the township on the boundary with Livonia
Livonia, Michigan
Livonia is a city in the northwest part of Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. Livonia is a very large suburb with an array of traditional neighborhoods connected to the metropolitan area by freeways. The population was 96,942 at the 2010 census, making it Michigan's 9th largest...
in Wayne County
Wayne County, Michigan
-History:Wayne County was one of the first counties formed when the Northwest Territory was organized. It was named for the American general "Mad Anthony" Wayne. It originally encompassed the entire area of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, as well as small sections that are now part of northern...
. Stephen Jennings built a tavern and general store to accommodate travelers on the plank road between Detroit and Howell. The name remains in the Clarenceville School District
Clarenceville School District
-Overview:All of the buildings have received the highest level of accreditation provided by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, as well as adequate yearly progress....
. Even though the school buildings for Clarenceville are in Livonia in Wayne County, the school district serves a portion of Farmington Hills.
In 1847, a post office named North Farmington was established a mile south of the township line as Wolcott's Corners. After the death of postmaster Chauncey D. Walcott in 1865, the office moved to the township line in the northeast quarter of section
Section (United States land surveying)
In U.S. land surveying under the Public Land Survey System , a section is an area nominally one square mile, containing , with 36 sections making up one survey township on a rectangular grid....
4 (near the intersection of 14 Mile Road and Farmington Road). The post office operated until September 1902.
Before the remainder of Farmington Township incorporated as the city of Farmington Hills, there were two other incorporated entities within the boundaries. The first began as a subdivision named Quaker Valley Farms that incorporated as the village of Quakertown in 1959. The other was Wood Creek Farms, developed in 1937 as a subdivision by George Wellington of Franklin, who named it after a New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
estate. It incorporated as a village in 1957. The villages together with the remainder of Farmington Township incorporated into the City of Farmington Hills in 1973.
In 1964 the city of Farmington started a tradition that became known as the Founders Festival. The festival is always held in mid-July each summer and is a fair gathering held in the downtown Farmington area. It's filled with arts and crafts, entertainment shows, good food, friends and family, and a fun atmosphere.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 82,111 people, 33,559 households, and 21,813 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 2,466.4 per square mile (952.3/km²). There were 34,858 housing units at an average density of 1,047.0 per square mile (404.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 82.95% White, 6.94% African American, 0.17% Native American, 7.54% Asian (6.3% Indian, 0.6% Pakistani, 1.0% Chinese, 0.7% Japanese, 0.7% Korean, 0.4% Filipino)
, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.46% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.93% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.47% of the population. 12.6% were of German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
, 9.1% Polish, 8.3% Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
, 7.1% English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
and 5.5% Italian
Italian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 33,559 households out of which 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.0% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 6.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.0% were non-families. 29.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.1% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 31.3% from 25 to 44, 24.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 93.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.2 males.
According to a 2007 estimate, the median income for a household in the city was $73,274, and the median income for a family was $93,136. Males had a median income of $61,757 versus $39,540 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $36,134. About 2.4% of families and 4.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.2% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.
In 2010 Farmington Hills had a population of 79,740. The racial and ethnic composition of the population was 68.3% non-Hispanic white, 17.4% black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 10.1% Asian, 0.2% non-Hispanic reporting some other race, 2.2% reporting two or more races and 1.9% Hispanic or Latino.
Government
Farmington Hills utilizes the Council-Manager form of government, and thus is governed by a City CouncilCity council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
consisting of a Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
(currently: Jerry Ellis) and six council members. The city council appoints a City Manager
City manager
A city manager is an official appointed as the administrative manager of a city, in a council-manager form of city government. Local officials serving in this position are sometimes referred to as the chief executive officer or chief administrative officer in some municipalities...
(currently: Steve Brock), who manages the day-to-day operations of the city.
Farmington Hills is neighbor to Farmington, Michigan
Farmington, Michigan
Farmington is a city in Oakland County of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a northern suburb of Detroit and is part of the Metro Detroit area. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 10,372. It is fully surrounded by Farmington Hills, except for a small portion bordered by Livonia to the...
. Together, the two cities form a district represented in Michigan's State Government by Democrat Vicki Barnett
Vicki Barnett
Vicki Barnett is a Democratic member of the Michigan State House of Representatives, and a former mayor of Farmington Hills, located in Oakland County. In 2008, she was overwhelmingly elected to represent the 37th State House District, located in Oakland County and covering the cities of...
, who is a former mayor of Farmington Hills. Farmington Hills is part of state senate District 14, and is represented by Democrat Vincent Gregory
Vincent Gregory
Vincent Gregory is a politician from the state of Michigan. In 2008, he was elected as a Democrat to the Michigan State House of Representatives. Taking office in 2009, he represents the 35th State House District, which is located in Oakland County and includes the cities of Southfield, Lathrup...
.
The Mayor's Youth Council is an active teen committee/council who work under the city to help address teen problems and issues. This council is run by the youth, for the youth, and is helping to build the Riley Skate Park (the largest skate park in the Midwest), sends delegates to the National League of Cities
National League of Cities
The National League of Cities is an American advocacy organization representing 19,000 cities, towns, and villages, and encompassing 49 state municipal leagues....
(NLC) conferences, has articles published in the local newspaper, helps run city wide events, organizes battle of the bands, and hosts their own talk show.
The Commission for Children, Youth and Families - operated in partnership with neighboring Farmington - is dedicated to creating a welcoming community for individuals of all ages and backgrounds. With a special emphasis on volunteerism, community service and education, the Commission partners with the Multi-Racial Multi-Cultural Commission (MRMC), the Commission on Aging, Farmington Public School District and the Farmington Public Library to inform residents on a variety of quality-of-life issues designed to promote wellness, access and knowledge. Currently chaired by Robert Blumenfeld, the Commission has promoted efforts that include depression awareness for teens, "Take Your Kids to Vote," and TV Turn-off Week, and is currently engaging in a revitalization of the community volunteer center.
On Monday, December 18, 2006, a public meeting was held in Farmington Hills to discuss the possible merger of the two cities. This has been an ongoing discussion for years but there had not been any recent formal meetings on the subject. Officials are touting it mainly as a money saving venture, and also as a way to keep the two communities vibrant. Farmington and Farmington Hills already share several services, such as a school district, a library system and a district court, however, both cities utilize their own fire departments, and Farmington has a public safety department rather than a police station.
Economy
At one time CompuwareCompuware
Compuware Corporation is a software company with products aimed at the information technology departments of large businesses. The company's services also include testing, development, professional services automation, project and portfolio management, cloud-based collaboration and performance...
had its headquarters in Farmington Hills. Compuware moved its headquarters and 4,000 employees to downtown Detroit
Downtown Detroit
Downtown Detroit is the central business district and a residential area of Detroit, Michigan, United States. Downtown is bordered by the Lodge Freeway to the west, the Fisher Freeway to the north, Interstate 375 to the east, and the Detroit River to the south.Downtown contains much historic...
in 2003. Gale
Gale (publisher)
Gale is an educational publishing company based in Farmington Hills, Michigan, the United States, in the western suburbs of Detroit. It was part of the Thomson Learning division of the Thomson Corporation, a Canadian company, but became part of Cengage Learning in 2007.The company, formerly known...
, an educational publishing company owned by Cengage Learning
Cengage Learning
Cengage Learning is a publisher of print and digital information services for the academic, professional and library markets, and delivers customized learning solutions for colleges, universities, professors, students, libraries, government agencies, corporations and professionals around the...
, and the auto loan company Chrysler Financial are located in Farmington Hills. There are also many branches of large corporations in the office campuses recently built. The Nissan Technical Center North America is located in Farmington Hills. Mango Languages, a language learning software company, is also headquartered here.
Top employers
According to the City's 2009 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:| # | Employer | # of Employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Botsford Hospital Botsford Hospital Botsford Hospital is a 330-bed health care facility serving communities in southern Oakland and western Wayne Counties including Farmington, Farmington Hills, Livonia, Redford, Dearborn Heights, Detroit, Southfield, West Bloomfield, Novi, Northville, Plymouth, Lyon Township and Wixom.- History :Dr... |
2,000 |
| 2 | Farmington Area School District Farmington Public Schools Farmington Public Schools is a public school district located in southeastern Michigan, in southern Oakland County. The school district serves more than 12,000 students from Farmington Hills, Farmington, and a portion of West Bloomfield. The district is led by superintendent Susan Zurvalec, who... |
1,700 |
| 3 | Bosch Robert Bosch GmbH Robert Bosch GmbH is a multinational engineering and electronics company headquartered in Gerlingen, near Stuttgart, Germany. It is the world's largest supplier of automotive components... |
1,600 |
| 4 | Quicken Loans Quicken Loans Quicken Loans Inc., headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, is the largest online mortgage lender and the 5th largest retail mortgage lender overall in the USA. The company consists of the QuickenLoans.com online lending site, the Rock Financial brand in southeast Michigan, One Reverse Mortgage, based... |
1,000 |
| 5 | Gale Gale (publisher) Gale is an educational publishing company based in Farmington Hills, Michigan, the United States, in the western suburbs of Detroit. It was part of the Thomson Learning division of the Thomson Corporation, a Canadian company, but became part of Cengage Learning in 2007.The company, formerly known... |
850 |
| 6 | TD Auto Finance | 800 |
| 7 | Aditya Birla Aditya Birla Group The Aditya Birla Group is an Indian multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Mumbai, India. It operates in 33 countries with more than 133,000 employees worldwide... Minacs |
700 |
| 8 | TRW Automotive TRW Automotive TRW Automotive , headquartered in Livonia, Michigan, USA, is a major global supplier of automotive systems, modules and components to automotive original equipment manufacturers and related aftermarkets.... Electronics |
600 |
| 9 | ACO Hardware | 500 |
| 10 | Nissan Technical Center North America | 500 |
Education
Farmington Public Schools
Farmington Public Schools is a public school district located in southeastern Michigan, in southern Oakland County. The school district serves more than 12,000 students from Farmington Hills, Farmington, and a portion of West Bloomfield. The district is led by superintendent Susan Zurvalec, who...
. It is home to Farmington High School, North Farmington High School, and Harrison High School. Harrison High School's football team, the Hawks, are known for excelling at football led by Coach John Herrington who has been the coach since the opening of the school in 1970.
Farmington Hills also encompasses parts of the West Bloomfield School District
West Bloomfield School District
West Bloomfield School District is located in West Bloomfield, Michigan. It was formed in 1949 and covers approximately sixteen square miles. As of May 2011, its superintendent is Dr. JoAnn Andrees who succeeded Dr. Gary Faber in 2008...
, the Clarenceville School District
Clarenceville School District
-Overview:All of the buildings have received the highest level of accreditation provided by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, as well as adequate yearly progress....
, and the Walled Lake Consolidated School District.
The city includes several private school
Private school
Private schools, also known as independent schools or nonstate schools, are not administered by local, state or national governments; thus, they retain the right to select their students and are funded in whole or in part by charging their students' tuition, rather than relying on mandatory...
s, including two parochial Catholic schools, Our Lady of Sorrows and St. Fabian, run by the Archdiocese of Detroit, an all-girls Catholic high school, Mercy High School
Mercy High School (Farmington Hills, Michigan)
Mercy High School is a private, Roman Catholic, all-girls high school in Farmington Hills, Michigan. It is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit and is recognized as a national Exemplary Private High School by the United States Department of Education.-Background:Mercy was...
, and a non-denominational Jewish day school, Hillel Day School
Hillel Day School
Hillel Day School is a private, Jewish day school in Farmington Hills, Michigan which was founded in 1958. It provides both secular and Judaic studies instruction for students from preschool through eighth grade...
.
The city also contains a branch of the Oakland Community College
Oakland Community College
Oakland Community College is a community college established June 8, 1964 in Oakland County, Michigan. It opened September 1965 with two campuses - Highland Lakes, a renovated hospital in Union Lake, and Auburn Hills, a former Army Nike missile site in Auburn Hills.OCC is the largest of Michigan's...
system, as well as a suburban center for Wayne State University
Wayne State University
Wayne State University is a public research university located in Detroit, Michigan, United States, in the city's Midtown Cultural Center Historic District. Founded in 1868, WSU consists of 13 schools and colleges offering more than 400 major subject areas to over 32,000 graduate and...
, which is based in Detroit.
Transportation
Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional TransportationSuburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation
The Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation ' is the public transit operator serving suburban Greater Detroit. Beginning operations in 1967 as the "SouthEastern Michigan Transportation Authority" or "SEMTA", it operates 44 "linehaul" and three "park-and-ride" bus routes in Wayne,...
(SMART) operates local and regional bus transit.
The major thoroughfares in the city are Grand River (M-5
M-5 (Michigan highway)
M-5 is a highway in the metro Detroit area of the US state of Michigan.-Route description:M-5's eastern terminus is at the junction of Grand River Avenue and Interstate 96 in western Detroit...
), Orchard Lake Road, 12 Mile Road, 8 Mile Road, Northwestern Highway, I-696
Interstate 696
Interstate 696 is an intrastate Interstate Highway entirely within the US state of Michigan. I-696 is also known as the Walter P. Reuther Freeway, named for a prominent figure in early automobile factory labor union activity. I-696 is a spur route, partially circling the city of Detroit, but...
and I-275
Interstate 275 (Michigan)
Interstate 275 in the US state of Michigan is an Interstate Highway that functions as a western bypass of the Detroit metropolitan area. The Michigan Department of Transportation maintains it as a component of the larger state trunkline highway system. The freeway runs through the western suburbs...
. The city contains several freeway interchanges connecting local roads to the two interstates.
Notable residents
Notable current and former residents include:- Steve BallmerSteve BallmerSteven Anthony "Steve" Ballmer is an American business magnate. He is the chief executive officer of Microsoft, having held that post since January 2000. , his personal wealth is estimated at US$13.9 billion, ranking number 19 on the Forbes 400.-Early life:Ballmer was born in Detroit, Michigan to...
, CEO of Microsoft - Keith BensonKeith BensonKeith A. Benson, Jr. is a professional basketball player for the Atlanta Hawks of the NBA. He previously played for the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Oakland Golden Grizzlies men's basketball team. Benson plays center and is the current The Summit League player of the year...
, NBANational Basketball AssociationThe National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
basketball player for the Atlanta Hawks - Elizabeth BerkleyElizabeth BerkleyElizabeth Berkley is an American television, film, and theatre actress. Berkley's most notable roles were in the television series Saved by the Bell, as brainy feminist Jessie Spano, and the 1995 Paul Verhoeven film Showgirls, as exotic dancer Nomi Malone.-Early life:Berkley was born and raised...
, known for her roles on Saved by the BellSaved by the BellSaved by the Bell is an American television sitcom that aired between 1989 and 1993. The series is a retooled version of the 1988 series Good Morning, Miss Bliss, which was itself later folded into the history of Saved by the Bell...
(Jessie) and ShowgirlsShowgirlsShowgirls is a 1995 American drama film directed by Paul Verhoeven and starring former teen actress Elizabeth Berkley, Kyle MacLachlan, and Gina Gershon... - Angela Corsi, winner of Miss MichiganMiss MichiganThe Miss Michigan competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Michigan in the Miss America pageant. Michigan has won the Miss America crown on five occasions.- Winners :- External links :*...
2006 - Pam DawberPam DawberPam Dawber is an American actress best known for her lead television sitcom roles as Mindy McConnell in Mork & Mindy and Samantha Russell in My Sister Sam .-Life and career:...
, known for her role as Mindy on Mork and MindyMork and MindyMork & Mindy is an American science fiction sitcom broadcast from 1978 until 1982 on ABC. The series starred Robin Williams as Mork, an alien who comes to Earth from the planet Ork in a small, one-man egg-shaped spaceship. Pam Dawber co-starred as Mindy McConnell, his human friend and roommate... - Cam FowlerCam FowlerCam Fowler is a Canadian-American professional ice hockey defenseman currently playing for the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League . He was selected twelfth overall by the Ducks in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft...
, NHL hockey player for the Anaheim DucksAnaheim DucksThe Anaheim Ducks are a professional ice hockey team based in Anaheim, California, USA. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League... - Kirsten HaglundKirsten HaglundKirsten Lora Haglund is a beauty queen from Farmington Hills, Michigan who was Miss America 2008.-Biography:Haglund graduated from Walled Lake Western High School in 2006 and spent one year pursuing a BFA in Musical Theatre at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music in...
, winner of Miss MichiganMiss MichiganThe Miss Michigan competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Michigan in the Miss America pageant. Michigan has won the Miss America crown on five occasions.- Winners :- External links :*...
(2007) and Miss AmericaMiss AmericaThe Miss America pageant is a long-standing competition which awards scholarships to young women from the 50 states plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands...
(2008) - Ernie HarwellErnie HarwellWilliam Earnest "Ernie" Harwell was an American sportscaster, known for his long career calling play-by-play of Major League Baseball games. For 55 years, 42 of them with the Detroit Tigers, Harwell called the action on radio and/or television...
, former radio announcer for the Detroit Tigers - Al JeanAl JeanAl Jean is an award-winning American screenwriter and producer, best known for his work on The Simpsons. He was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan and graduated from Harvard University in 1981. Jean began his writing career in the 1980s with fellow Harvard alum Mike Reiss...
, known for his work on The SimpsonsThe SimpsonsThe Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie... - Bill JoyBill JoyWilliam Nelson Joy , commonly known as Bill Joy, is an American computer scientist. Joy co-founded Sun Microsystems in 1982 along with Vinod Khosla, Scott McNealy and Andy Bechtolsheim, and served as chief scientist at the company until 2003...
, co-founder of Sun MicrosystemsSun MicrosystemsSun Microsystems, Inc. was a company that sold :computers, computer components, :computer software, and :information technology services. Sun was founded on February 24, 1982... - Marta KristenMarta KristenMarta Kristen is an American actress.The naturally blonde-haired Kristen is best-known for her role as Guy Williams's and June Lockhart's beautiful daughter, Judy Robinson, in the television series Lost in Space...
, who played teenage daughter Judy Robinson on television's Lost in SpaceLost in SpaceLost in Space is a science fiction TV series created and produced by Irwin Allen, filmed by 20th Century Fox Television, and broadcast on CBS. The show ran for three seasons, with 83 episodes airing between September 15, 1965, and March 6, 1968... - Jaime Ray NewmanJaime Ray NewmanJaime Ray Newman is an American actress and singer. Newman is best known for starring as Kristina Cassadine in soap opera General Hospital, as Kat Gardener in ABC's Eastwick, and as Dr. Tess Fontana in Syfy's Eureka....
, known for her work on Related and Stargate AtlantisStargate AtlantisStargate Atlantis is a Canadian-American adventure and military science fiction television series and part of MGM's Stargate franchise. The show was created by Brad Wright and Robert C. Cooper as a spin-off series of Stargate SG-1, which was created by Wright and Jonathan Glassner and was itself... - Eren OzkerEren OzkerEren Ozker was a Turkish American Puppeteer. She was one of the original performers during the first season of Jim Henson's popular television series, The Muppet Show....
, puppeteer and MuppeteerThe MuppetsThe Muppets are a group of puppet characters created by Jim Henson starting in 1954–55. Although the term is often used to refer to any puppet that resembles the distinctive style of The Muppet Show, the term is both an informal name and legal trademark owned by the Walt Disney Company in reference... - Neal RubinNeal RubinNeal Rubin was born in 1955 in Southern California. He is a columnist for The Detroit News and currently writes the nationally syndicated comic strip Gil Thorp....
, columnist for The Detroit NewsThe Detroit NewsThe Detroit News is one of the two major newspapers in the U.S. city of Detroit, Michigan. The paper began in 1873, when it rented space in the rival Free Press's building. The News absorbed the Detroit Tribune on February 1, 1919, the Detroit Journal on July 21, 1922, and on November 7, 1960,... - Barry SandersBarry SandersBarry Sanders is a former American football running back who spent all of his professional career with the Detroit Lions in the NFL. Sanders left the game just short of the all-time rushing record...
, Hall of Fame running back for the Detroit LionsDetroit LionsThe Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and... - Drew StantonDrew StantonDrew Emeric Stanton is a quarterback for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League. He played collegiately for the Michigan State Spartans.-Early life:...
, NFL quarterback for the Detroit LionsDetroit LionsThe Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
, and previous Michigan State player - Fred Toucher, Boston radio DJ for 98.5 The Sports Hub
- Fred M. WarnerFred M. WarnerFred Maltby Warner was an American politician. He served as the 26th Governor of Michigan from 1905 to 1911.-Birth in England and early life in Michigan:...
, governor of Michigan - Psychopathic RecordsPsychopathic RecordsPsychopathic Records, also known as "The Hatchet", is an American independent record label based in Farmington Hills, Michigan that specializes in hip hop music. The label was founded in 1991 by Alex Abbiss and hip hop group Insane Clown Posse....
, horrorcore record label and founders (see: JuggaloJuggaloJuggalo or Juggalette is a name given to fans of Insane Clown Posse or any other Psychopathic Records hip hop group. Juggalos have developed their own idioms, slang, and characteristics.-History:...
)
See also
- Farmington Community LibraryFarmington Community LibraryFarmington Community Library is a public library system in Farmington Hills, Michigan. The main library is in Farmington Hills and one of the branches is in Farmington, Michigan.-Locations:The Main Library is located at 32737 West 12 Mile Road...
- FarmingtonFarmington, MichiganFarmington is a city in Oakland County of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a northern suburb of Detroit and is part of the Metro Detroit area. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 10,372. It is fully surrounded by Farmington Hills, except for a small portion bordered by Livonia to the...
- Metropolitan Detroit