Web Design in Wayne, MI

Wayne, Michigan

Wayne is in Wayne County, with approximately 17,000 residents.

Well-Known Places in Wayne

Wayne Historical Museum, Goudy Park, Veterans Memorial Park.

Wayne Business Districts

• Michigan Avenue Corridor
• Wayne Road Business District

Major Employers in Wayne

Wayne-Westland Schools, City of Wayne.

About Wayne, Michigan

Wayne is a working-class city on Michigan Avenue about 18 miles southwest of downtown Detroit, defined by more than a century of transportation manufacturing that runs from horse-drawn carriages to Ford's modern assembly line. Founded along the old Sauk Trail (Chicago Road) as Derby's Corners, it once claimed the title of the largest carriage and sleigh maker in the country before pivoting to automobiles and aircraft.

History of Wayne

• First settled in 1824 when George M. Johnson built a log-cabin tavern along the Sauk Trail (later Chicago Road / Michigan Avenue).
• Stephen G. Simmons, who bought that tavern, murdered his wife Levana in a drunken rage and was publicly hanged in Detroit on September 24, 1830 — the last person executed under Michigan law; the disturbing spectacle helped push Michigan to abolish the death penalty for ordinary crimes, the first English-speaking government to do so.
• Ezra Derby established the settlement (sawmill, store, blacksmith shop) around 1832-1834, recorded on the plat as 'Derby's Corners.'

Landmarks and Places in Wayne

• Downtown Wayne / Michigan Avenue historic commercial corridor

The Wayne Economy

• The Prouty and Glass Carriage Factory (established 1888) made Wayne the largest carriage and sleigh producer in the country.
• Early automotive and aviation manufacturing included the Harroun motor car (1916-1921), Graham-Paige vehicles (1928-1936), and Stinson Aircraft (1926-1948).
• Ford Motor Company remains the dominant employer, operating both the Michigan Assembly Plant (formerly the Michigan Truck Plant) and Wayne Stamping & Assembly.

Community Life in Wayne

• The State Wayne Theater opened in 1946; the city bought and restored it in 1991, splitting it into three screens plus a live stage (now Phoenix Theatres State-Wayne, 35310 Michigan Avenue).

Local reference: en.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org, www.executedtoday.com