Community Profile

Welcome to Livonia

Location

Livonia, Michigan, is a safe, well-planned community of 36 square miles in southeast Michigan. City boundaries are Inkster Road on the east, Eight Mile Road on the north, EcklLivonia City monument signes and Haggerty Roads on the west, and Joy Road on the south.

Livonia enjoys a strategic location second-to-none in the region, with easy access to the I-96 and the I-275 expressways. Our main roads fan out in every direction providing convenient drive times across the metropolitan area.

Population

With a population a little below 100,000 in the 2020 Census, Livonia is listed as the third-largest city in Wayne County and the eighth largest city in Michigan.

State Equalized Value

At $5.2 billion, Livonia has one of the highest totals of State Equalized Value in Michigan. At the same time, Livonia taxpayers pay the lowest overall tax rate among cities in Wayne County.

Families firstCornhole players outside City Hall

Close-knit neighborhoods and strong community spirit have long been hallmarks of Livonia. The City’s motto proclaims "Families First," and Livonia has successfully maintained its friendly, hometown atmosphere while keeping a strong emphasis on public safety, parks and public services. Speaking of services, Livonia still runs a popular curbside leaf pick-up program every fall.

Community Accolades

Livonia is always among the safest cities in Michigan, based on FBI statistics. Over the years, Livonia has earned many other accolades:

  • Among the 25 Safest U.S. Cities (Reviews.com, 2019)
  • In the Top 100 Best Cities in which to Raise Kids in the country (National Council for Home Safety and Security, 2017)
  • Among the Top 50 in the nation among Best Small Cities for Retirement (SmartAsset.com, 2021)
  • Home to one of the Hottest Real Estate Markets in the Nation for millennial homebuyers (48154 Zip Code for 2018 and 2019, Realtor.com) 
  • 10th Happiest Mid-Sized City in the Country (2016)

Education

Livonia’s students benefit from two quality public school systems, Livonia Public Schools and the Clarenceville School District, as well as several non-public schools. The City is home to several institutions of higher education, including the main campuses of Madonna University and Schoolcraft Community College. Livonia also maintains three municipal libraries.

Industry & Workforce

A superior education system produces a skilled workforce. There are more than 4,000 businesses in Livonia. Major local employers include:

  • Ford Motor Company
  • Trinity Health
  • McLaren Performance Technologies
  • NYX Inc.
  • Roush Enterprises
  • St. Mary Mercy Hospital
  • United Parcel Services (UPS)
  • Amazon

Livonia's industrial and manufacturing heart is largely concentrated in a 6-square-mile corridor, combining major railroad and highway access to across the metropolitan region.

Parkland

Livonia is a great place to play! Recreational options abound, with an array of parks serving as a great place for families and groups to gather for picnics and outdoor fun. The City of Livonia has more than 1,389 acres of recreational open space in which there are 60 parks (36 developed and 24 undeveloped). The parks also offer:

  • Fitness clustersKids play at Rotary Park
  • Grill areas and pavilions
  • Universally accessible play structure at Rotary Park
  • Play structures at 22 neighborhood parks for all ages
  • Many miles of nature trails
  • A dog park at Bicentennial Park

City parkland also includes:

  • Three 18-hole public golf courses
  • New outdoor Splash Zone
  • Archery range
  • Baseball diamonds (43)
  • Two ice arenas with three sheets of ice
  • Inline skating courts (7)
  • Two outdoor swimming pools 
  • Sand volleyball courts (10)
  • Soccer fields (25)
  • Tennis courts (32)
  • Walking paths (6)

Jack E. Kirksey Community Recreation Center

Livonia also boasts a state-of-the-art Community Recreation Center, which offers these amenities and more:

  • Aerobics roomLeisure pool play
  • Climbing wall
  • Competitive pool
  • Fitness hub with training equipment
  • Giant play structure
  • Giant pool slide
  • Gymnasiums (2)
  • Indoor track
  • Leisure pool with water sprays
  • Multi-activity courts (2)
  • Party rooms

Outdoor offerings include:

  • Inline skate rink
  • Sand volleyball courts (2)
  • Skateboard park
  • Soccer fields (4)
  • Walking path
  • Water spray ground

Entertainment

Livonia offers many entertainment venues, including upscale restaurants and movie theaters including a 20-screen state-of-the-art facility. There are several major shopping centers, including Laurel Park Place Mall, Wonderland Village and Livonia Marketplace.

Spree Festival

Livonia celebrates its annual birthday party at Spree, a six-day festival and carnival at Ford Field, Farmington Road at Lyndon Street. There are amusement rides, many free activities for the whole family, and a grand fireworks display that draws tens of thousands of viewers. The Spree Board and many volunteers help raise funds for the City of Livonia and for many non-profit projects and programs in the community, including annual Spree scholarships.

Historical Sites

Greenmead Grounds with a House in the BackgroundGreenmead Historical Park and the Wilson Barn preserve the past for both residents and visitors. The Farm Site at Greenmead is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This jewel in the community features a collection of Livonia’s original buildings from as early as the 1820s and the key buildings from the Newburg Intersection of the 1920s. Greenmead hosts the annual Scottish Highland Games, Irish Festival, Summer and Fall Flea Markets, Specialty Teas and other unique events. Sunday tours begin in June; weekday tours are available by appointment. The Historic Newburg Church can be rented for weddings and the Alexander Blue House is available to rent for receptions, private parties, business meetings or classes . For more details, call (248) 477-7375.

The Wilson Barn is a nearly 100-year-old structure on the site of a dairy farm that was founded in 1847. The Barn hosts community events on the nearby grounds.

Arts & Culture

The cultural fiber of Livonia is alive and thriving. Music and the Arts are celebrated and embraced. The Livonia Symphony Orchestra (LSO) was formed (then cLivonia Symphony Orchestraalled the Oakway Symphony Orchestra) in 1973 and is still going strong. The LSO performs a full concert series and special events including the classics, Broadway and movie musicals, and a pop repertoire.

The Livonia Civic Chorus is also an active group in the community. In addition to various performances throughout the City, the Chorus stages annual spring and winter holiday performances, much to the delight of their enthusiastic fans.

Music From the Heart, our Summer Concert Series, runs Thursdays through July and August on the lawn of the Kirksey Recreation Center. Visitors are invited to put on their dancing shoes , bring a chair/blanket and enjoy the music! Call (734) 466-2900 for dates and times. Brown Bag Lunch concerts are performed in the atrium at the Robert and Janet Bennett Civic Center Library.

City Hallcity hall 4 sept. 9, 2014

Livonia City Hall, dedicated on October 27, 1979, stands as a distinctive symbol for the City and its people. Located near the intersection of Five Mile and Farmington Roads, the building is a five-story architectural landmark of concrete, steel, and bronze glass windows. Also located in the Civic Center complex are the 16th District Courthouse, Livonia Police Department Headquarters, Livonia Fire Department Headquarters and Station Number 1, Robert and Janet Bennett Civic Center Library, and the Civic Park Senior Center.