Plymouth, Michigan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Plymouth is a city in Wayne County of the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 9,022 at the 2000 census. The city is located within Plymouth Township, but is politically independent.
[edit] Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.8 km² (2.2 mi²). 5.8 km² (2.2 mi²) of it is land and 0.45% is water.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there were 9,022 people, 4,322 households, and 2,277 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,562.1/km² (4,048.6/mi²). There were 4,498 housing units at an average density of 778.8/km² (2,018.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.42% White, 0.57% African American, 0.35% Native American, 1.05% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.30% from other races, and 1.24% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.31% of the population.
There were 4,322 households out of which 22.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.5% were married couples living together, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 47.3% were non-families. 41.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.04 and the average family size was 2.81.
In the city the population was spread out with 18.7% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 37.5% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 16.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 88.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $51,535, and the median income for a family was $76,369. Males had a median income of $52,188 versus $37,113 for females. The per capita income for the city was $33,222. About 1.9% of families and 3.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.8% of those under age 18 and 3.6% of those age 65 or over.
Actor Tom Hulce was raised in Plymouth.
[edit] History
The first settlers to come to what is now known as Plymouth, Michigan, were Keziah (Benjamin) and William Starkweather. Farmers from Ct., they purchased 240 acres of land from the United States Government on March 11, 1825, for $1.25 an acre. Mr. and Ms Starkweather came from Preston, CT., where the Starkweather family had lived at least as early as 1694, according to a land gift record in which Captain John Masons gave land to Robert Starkweather, Williams GG Grandfather. William, ninth born of 11 siblings, and his wife Keziah brought their first born son Albert to the area, and built the first home in Plymouth, at the South West Corner of Main Street and Ann Arbor Trail. The first home was a rustic lean to, and was later replaced by a log cabin which has since been lost to time. William's eldest Son Albert died at age 20 while attending the newly formed University of Michigan as a Sophomore. George Anson Starkweather, Williams Second born, was the first non native American born within the boundaries of what is now known as the City of Plymouth. His father William died at 44 years of age, from Typhoid, and his mother Keziah two years later, leaving their eldest son George at 20 years of age. He studied law in New York State, then went on to become in what is now known as the City of Plymouth a merchant, schoolteacher, lawyer, farmer, greenhouse owner, banker, Plymouth Village President, Plymouth Township Supervisor, philanthropist, and served one term in the Michigan State Legislature in the 1850's representing Plymouth. George was the leading community member primarily responsible for bringing the railroad to Plymouth (much to the chagrin of present day residents of Plymouth), through what is now known as Old Village or Lower Town. Later in life George Anson Starkweather donated the land on which the old downtown plymouth high school is now situated - land which was once part of the family farm. He was a firm believer in education.
Some basic info about Williams immediate family. Williams father was revolutionary war veteran Sgt John Starkweather, who fought at the battle of Bunker Hill in 1775 in Capt Nathan Peters Company. Williams older brother Erastus Starkweather was one of the early farming pioneers in Northville, MI. The youngest brother of William and Erastus, William Austin Starkweather, was a lawyer in Canton, OH, Tennessee and later Cleveland, a judge in Stark County Ohio, an Ohio state Senator and also served as United States Minister to Chili in 1854 - 1857. Eldest Brother Leonard Starkweather came to Michigan and built and owned a tavern in Battle creek for many years. Brother Samuel Starkweather was a prominent lawyer in New York City, brother John Starkweather was a veteran of the War of 1812, and Williams older brother George Anson Starkweather (whom William named his son George of Plymouth after), was also a lawyer, worked in his brother Samuel's NYC law office, was later elected to Congress as democrat in 1847. The elder George's son, was General John Converse Starkweather, the Civil War Hero from Wisconsin who later became a Washington DC attorney; this same John Converse Starkweather was William Starkweather's (of Plymouth) nephew.
George's Grandson, Karl Hillmer Starkweather (who changed his name from Karl Starkweather Hillmer to carry on his mother's maiden name, which did not work out as planned because Karl had all female offspring), was a respected and lifelong Plymouth resident and local historian, and Ford Motor Company employee at the Wilcox Lake Tap Plant in which he was shop steward, passed away on May 1, 1969. His father, Lewis Hillmer also served as Village President for a time. Notable streets in Plymouth are named after some Starkweather family members including Blanch, Karmada (after the brothers Karl - Max and Davis), Davis, Starkweather (formerly Oak Street), Ameila and Rose. Starkweather Elementary School was named after George Anson Starkweather of Plymouth, which has been recently converted to an adult education center. It was the first elementary school built in Plymouth largely through the efforts of grandson Karl Starkweather, who promoted the need for a ward school in Plymouth to local residents. He was also instrumental in the establishing of the Plymouth Historical Society Museum, and his mother, George's Daughter Mary K Starkweather - Hillmer, was a charter member of such. Karl's youngest brother, Davis B. Hillmer, was a respected Commercial Photographer in Detroit and the primary freelance photographer for the J L Hudson company and also did work for the Automotive industry, and brother Max Hillmer was president of both Delco Remy and Saginaw Steering Gear Divisions of General Motors.
| Wayne County, Michigan |
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| Cities Population over 75,000: Dearborn • Detroit (County seat) • Livonia • Westland |
