Oct 12, 2026, 4:45 AMSenior Mackinac Island Trip
Livonia · The City of Livonia is running a senior trip to Mackinac Island from Monday, October 12, to Friday, October 16, with the first day starting at 4:45 a.m. in Livonia.
Metro Detroit Wayne County City
Livonia
The big west-side suburb that became a city because of a racetrack
- People (2025 estimate)
- 92,603
- Land area
- 35.7 sq mi · 92.4 km²
- From downtown
- 17.3 miles · 28 km · west
- Incorporated
- 1950
01 / Why it matters
Why Livonia matters
Livonia is Detroit's western neighbor, sitting right below 8 Mile. For about a century it was farm country: sheep, dairy cows, vegetables and grain. Then General Motors and Ford showed up in the late 1940s and the place never slowed down again.
How it became a city is a very American story. On May 23, 1950, the whole township voted itself into a city, because that was the only way to get a cut of the new Detroit Race Course. The track opened two days later and ran horses until 1998.
Today Livonia is one of the big, tidy hubs of the western suburbs: Laurel Park Place mall, Madonna University, Schoolcraft College, and the green ribbon of Hines Park winding along the Middle Rouge on the south side. Every late June the city throws itself a week-long birthday party, the Livonia Spree, with rides, live music and fireworks.
02 / Known for
What Livonia is known for
Becoming a city in 1950 so residents could share in the Detroit Race Course revenue
The 1953 Hydra-Matic fire, when GM's transmission plant here burned down in one of the most destructive industrial fires in US history
Greenmead, Joshua Simmons' pioneer farm with its 1841 farmhouse and the township's first barn, built in 1829
The Livonia Spree, the city's week-long birthday bash every late June
Madonna University, founded by the Felician Sisters in 1937
03 / What’s on
What’s on in Livonia
Oct 12, 2026, 4:45 AM
Oct 15, 2026, 6:00 PMTurning Loss Into Light: A Night of Names
30330 Schoolcraft RoadLivonia · The City of Livonia hosts a community evening on Thursday, October 15, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at 30330 Schoolcraft Road in Livonia.
Oct 20, 2026, 7:00 PMHuman Relations Commission Meeting
15100 HubbardLivonia · Livonia's Human Relations Commission meets on Tuesday, October 20, at 7 p.m. at 15100 Hubbard in Livonia, organized by the City of Livonia.
Oct 21, 2026, 8:00 AMSenior Toledo Zoo Trip
32001 Five Mile RoadLivonia · The City of Livonia is taking seniors to the Toledo Zoo on Wednesday, October 21. The bus leaves the Livonia Senior Wellness Center at 9 a.m. sharp; the trip costs $25 for residents and $27 for non-residents.
Oct 21, 2026, 5:30 PMCivil Service Commission Meeting
33000 Civic Center Drive Livonia · The City of Livonia's Civil Service Commission meets on Wednesday, October 21, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at 33000 Civic Center Drive in Livonia.
Oct 21, 2026, 6:30 PMLibrary Commission Meeting
32777 Five Mile RdLivonia · The City of Livonia's Library Commission meets on Wednesday, October 21, at 6:30 p.m. at 32777 Five Mile Rd in Livonia.
04 / Places
43 places on our site in Livonia
Apple Spice37477 Schoolcraft Rd, Livonia, MI 48150
Courtyard by Marriott Detroit Livonia17200 North Laurel Park Drive, Livonia, MI 48152
Days Inn by Wyndham Livonia/Canton/Detroit36655 Plymouth Road, Livonia, MI 48150
Detroit Marriott Livonia17100 Laurel Park Drive North, Livonia, MI 48152
First Light Roasters37055 Industrial Rd, Livonia, MI 48150
Livonia Pride18600 Haggerty Rd. (Schoolcraft College, green space between Liberal Arts and Forum buildings), Livonia, MI
Residence Inn by Marriott Detroit Livonia17250 Fox Drive, Livonia, MI 48152
Stables Bar & Grill14950 Middlebelt Rd, Livonia, MI 48154
TownePlace Suites by Marriott Detroit Livonia17450 Fox Drive, Livonia, MI 48152
Travelodge by Wyndham Livonia/Canton/Novi Detroit Area36655B Plymouth Rd, Livonia, MI 48150
Wingate by Wyndham Livonia29235 Buckingham St, Livonia, MI 4815405 / What to do
If you’re in Livonia
Greenmead Historical Park
Livonia's own time machine at Eight Mile and Newburgh: Joshua Simmons' 1841 farmhouse, the 1829 barn, a historic village of relocated old buildings, gardens and a nature trail.
Official site ↗Hines Park (Newburgh Lake)
The long county park along the Middle Rouge runs through Livonia's south end. Newburgh Lake has a fishing pier, and the path beside Hines Drive takes walkers and bikers all the way from Northville to Dearborn.
Official site ↗Laurel Park Place
The mall at Six Mile and Newburgh, open since 1989, with a Von Maur, restaurants and a movie theater, just off I-275.
Official site ↗
06 / History
Livonia through the years
- 1835
On March 17, the Michigan Territory legislature sets the boundaries of Livonia Township.
- 1950
On May 23, the entire township incorporates as a city; the Detroit Race Course opens two days later.
- 1953
On August 12, GM's Hydra-Matic plant on Plymouth Road burns down; production moves to the former Willow Run bomber plant.
- 1976
The city buys the Greenmead farm and turns it into a history park.
- 1989
Laurel Park Place mall opens.
- 1998
The Detroit Race Course closes and the land is sold for redevelopment.
07 / Born here
7 people in our lexicon were born here
08 / People
Famous names from here
- Alfred Noble civil engineer born here in 1844 who worked on the Soo Locks and the Panama Canal
- Dana Schutz painter, born here in 1976 and raised in town, a Stevenson High School graduate
- Judy Greer actress who grew up in Redford and Livonia and went through Churchill High's performing arts program
Sources
Population and area are Census Bureau figures (Livonia city).
- 2020 Census, Michigan (PL 94-171)
- Census Bureau population estimates: cities and towns
- livonia.gov/1418/History
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Livonia,_Michigan
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detroit_Race_Course
- assemblymag.com/articles/95000-americas-most-destructive-industrial-fire
- macsmotorcitygarage.com/the-disaster-that-shook-the-motor-city-the-1953-hydra-matic-fire
- livonia.gov/1774/About-Us
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenmead_Farms
- livoniaspree.com
- livonia.gov/CivicSend/ViewMessage/message/263303
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madonna_University
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_N._Hines_Park
- waynecountymi.gov/Parks-Recreation/Pick-A-Park/Hines-Park
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laurel_Park_Place
- laurelparkplace.com
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Noble_(engineer)
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dana_Schutz
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judy_Greer
- livonia.gov
Change since 2020, per the Census Bureau estimate: −3.1 percent.
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