Romulus, Michigan

Romulus is a suburban city of Metro Detroit, located in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 23,989 at the 2010 census, an increase from 22,979 in 2000. Romulus is home to Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport and a General Motors plant (Romulus Engine) that opened in 1976. The city is the westernmost community in the Downriver area in Wayne County.

As of the census of 2000, there were 22,979 people, 8,439 households, and 5,941 families residing in the city. The population density was 639.9 per square mile (247.1/km²). There were 8,943 housing units at an average density of 249.0 per square mile (96.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 65.36% White, 29.99% African American, 0.54% Native American, 0.59% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 0.81% from other races, and 2.63% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.01% of the population.

There were 8,439 households out of which 36.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.5% were married couples living together, 18.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.6% were non-families. 23.8% 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 2.70 and the average family size was 3.19.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 35.9 square miles (93.0 km²), of which, 35.9 square miles (93.0 km²) of it is land and 0.03% is water. The City of Romulus is bound to the North by Van Born Road, to the South by Pennsylvania Road, to the East by Inkster Road, and to the West by Hannan Road.

The first Euro-American settler in Romulus was Samuel Polyne, a French-Canadian, who located on section 2 in 1826, though he left soon after the township was organized in 1835.

The first settler in the area that was the village of Romulus prior to the 1965 annexation of the whole village and township into one city was Samuel McMath, who moved from New York state to the area in 1827. He inproved land and planned to bring his family to settle there, but he died before he could carry out this plan.

Solomon Whitaker, Charles and Joseph Pulcifer located in the area in 1830, and in 1833, Jenks Pullen and his six sons settled at what became known as "Pullen's Corners" (located in section 19 at the intersection that is now commonly called "Five Points"). Pullen's Corners was platted in 1836. The community later took on the name of the Township.

Samuel Kingsley Home is a famous historic landmark in Romulus. During slave times, Samuel L. Kingsley lived in a house on Ozga Rd near Pullens Corners, what is today known as Five Points. He hid slaves in an underground cellar. Today, the house is located on Hunt Street across from the Romulus Historical Museum. The address to the house was 37426 S. Huron River Drive.

The White Church at the Pullens Corner / Five Points was also an underground railroad stop. Today, the church, which is now called Romulus Wesleyan Church, still sits at the corner.

On August 9, 2005 at approximately 9:30 p.m., the EQ Recovery Plant caught fire. Citizens within 1 to 1⅓ mile radius were forced to evacuate their homes. Romulus and Wayne fire crews and crews from neighboring communities managed to put out the fire after letting it burn down a little bit. Chemical-filled smoke filled the sky, causing respiratory problems. Many citizens from both Romulus and Wayne were taken to Oakwood Annapolis Hospital, about two miles from the explosion site. No one was injured.

The Romulus Community School District serves and educates the children in the City of Romulus and other communities, which it has been fulfilling for decades. The district is made up of a high school (Romulus Senior High School), a middle school (Romulus Middle School), and 4 elementary schools (Barth, Halecreek, Romulus, and Wick). The Summit Academy Schools and the Metro Charter Academy(NHA) also educate children.

Pop culture

Released on his 2003 album entitled "Michigan", Sufjan Stevens recorded a single titled "Romulus". The song has a country and easy listening rhythm.