Novi
is a home rule city in Oakland County
, Michigan
, in the Detroit metropolitan area
, approximately 25 miles northwest from the center of Detroit
. The population was 47,386 at the 2000 census. The city is located within the boundaries of the geographic Township of Novi
.
Novi is one of the fastest growing cities in Michigan. The construction of Twelve Oaks Mall
in the mid-1970s at the interchange of Novi Road and I-96 is often credited with ushering in the growth that the city has experienced. But even before Twelve Oaks, the city experienced consistent growth since the 1950s, leading to substantial increases in the city's population, as well as commercial and industrial developments in the city.
Novi is also home to the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America
, which opened in 1989. Inductees receive the "Horsepower Award" on the Wednesday before the June NASCAR
race at Michigan International Speedway
.
History
The City of Novi was incorporated in 1969 along the boundaries of the then-existing Village of Novi after the approval of a city charter. The approval of incorporation and the city charter followed several previous attempts at incorporation that were rejected by Novi voters. In the 1970s, the city annexed portions of Novi Township that had been detached from the Village of Novi after the village incorporated in 1958. A lengthy legal battle ensued between the city and the township which ultimately was decided by the Michigan Supreme Court in favor of the city. The legal disputes around the annexation battle were not fully resolved until 1984.
Historic Sites
- Fuerst Farmstead: Listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
- Tollgate Farm: 160 acre (650,000 m²) farmstead
- Colonel Samual White Homestead: Site includes a Michigan Historical Marker
- Novi Depot: Portion of the original railroad depot constructed in 1871 for the Holly, Wayne and Monroe Railroad (currently CSX railroad).
- Historic Township Hall: Located adjacent to Furest Farmstead
The name Novi was taken from the township, which was organized in 1832 from Farmington Township
. The name was offered by resident Dr. J.C. Emory, at the suggestion of his wife. Residents were reportedly looking for a shorter name than Farmington. Several popular but historically inaccurate explanations have been given 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 was not 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.
External links
Equal Housing Opportunity