Walkway Clearing in
Wyandotte, MI

In the 18th century, this area was a small village of the Wyandot (or Wendat) called Maquaqua. Local French colonists called it Monguagon, a transliteration of its pronunciation in French.

The Wyandot were Iroquoian-speaking and part of the Huron nation from the Georgian Bay area of Canada. They generally lived peacefully with the few white French farmers, exchanging products and favors.

During the French and Indian War (part of the Seven Years’ War in Europe), the Wyandot were allied with the Potawatomi and the French. English had taken control of the garrisoned Fort of Detroit. Near here, Chief Pontiac plotted his attack against the British fort in 1763 but failed.

The center of the village was nearly parallel to Biddle Avenue between Oak Street and Eureka Road near the river and its sandy beach, which was a welcome feature to the local tribesmen, as their main mode of transportation to the fort in Detroit was by birch bark canoe. The tribe was considered peaceable and friendly with the British, the remaining French in the area, and the newly arrived Americans.

In 1818, after the United States had gained independence and then control over this area from the British, the Wyandot signed a treaty with the U.S. government ceding this land. Some Wyandot moved to an area near Flat Rock, Michigan, then to Ohio, and Indian Territory, in Kansas and finally Oklahoma.

Most of the Wyandot moved across the Detroit River to Canada and what is now Anderdon, Windsor, Ontario. Many of their descendants live there today. The name somewhat lives on as Wyandotte County, Kansas.

The Anglo-Americans later credited Major John Biddle as the first white settler in Wyandotte, but French colonists had lived in the area for more than a century before he settled there.

After the War of 1812 and the Wyandot cession, Major Biddle purchased 2,200 acres (9 km) of land from the federal government in 1818. He developed a farm and a summer estate. The buildings were completed around 1835, and he named his estate “Wyandotte” after the Indians who were still living in the area.

John S. Van Alstyne, general manager for Eber Ward of both the Eureka Iron & Steel Works and the associated Wyandotte Rolling Mills, laid out the master plan for the city. This plan was frequently called the “Philadelphia Plan”, as streets were laid out on a north–south and east–west grid, similar to those in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. That plan was made by colonial founder William Penn.

In Wyandotte, the focal point was the Detroit River, and the first street parallel became Front Street. This street was eventually extended and renamed Van Alstyne Boulevard in 1921. Streets running parallel to Front Street were named according to numbers, from First to the extent of the territory involved. Streets running horizontal to the numbered streets were named for trees and plants.

Founded as a village of Ecorse Township in 1854, Wyandotte was incorporated as a city, and granted a charter by the State of Michigan, on December 12, 1866. It held its first city election in April 1867, making it the oldest incorporated city in Wayne County after Detroit. On April 8, 1867, the Village of Wyandotte was incorporated as a home rule city.

A community named New Jerusalem, consisting of immigrants from multiple nations, was founded nearby in the 1890s. It has since been absorbed by Wyandotte. It was incorporated as a village with the name of Glenwood in 1900. In 1901 a post office was established here with the name of Bacon since there was already a Glenwood post office in Wayne Township, Cass County, Michigan. Wyandotte annexed the community in 1905.

The community of Ford City was founded as a village in 1902. It was named for John B. Ford who ran the Michigan Alkali Company there. In 1922 it merged with Wyandotte. On April 14, 1924, Wyandotte annexed a large section of Ecorse Township.

Since settlement by eastern Americans, Wyandotte has been influenced by immigrants from many nations. Ethnic German, Polish, Irish and Italian communities have contributed much from their cultures. The city attracted African Americans for industrial jobs, but had a discriminatory past as a sundown town. It refused to allow them as residents.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.01 square miles (18.16 km), of which 5.27 square miles (13.65 km) is land and 1.74 square miles (4.51 km) is water.

The city is 10 miles (16 km) southwest of Downtown Detroit. The Detroit River forms the eastern boundary of the city, and the uninhabited Grassy Island is administered by the city. The Ecorse River also forms a small northern boundary of the city.

As of the census of 2010, there were 25,883 people, 10,991 households, and 6,727 families residing in the city. The population density was 4,911.4 inhabitants per square mile (1,896.3/km). There were 12,081 housing units at an average density of 2,292.4 per square mile (885.1/km). The racial makeup of the city was 94.7% White, 1.3% African American, 0.7% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.9% from other races, and 1.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.1% of the population.

There were 10,991 households, of which 28.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.6% were married couples living together, 13.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 38.8% were non-families. 33.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.99.

The median age in the city was 40.4 years. 21.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.4% were from 25 to 44; 29.9% were from 45 to 64; and 13.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.9% male and 51.1% female.

As of the census of 2000, there were 28,006 people, 11,816 households, and 7,420 families residing in the city. The population density was 5,278.1 inhabitants per square mile (2,037.9/km). There were 12,303 housing units at an average density of 2,318.7 per square mile (895.3/km). The racial makeup of the city was 96.32% White, 0.52% African American, 0.49% Native American, 0.33% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.72% from other races, and 1.59% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.91% of the population.

There were 11,816 households, out of which 27.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.3% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.2% were non-families. 31.9% 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 2.36 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 22.6% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 31.6% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.5 males.

As of 2000, residents were predominantly of Polish descent, with the following ancestry distribution: Polish (22.5%), German (21.9%), Irish (17.5%), English (9.0%), French (8.5%), Italian (8.4%).

The median income for a household in the city was $43,740, and the median income for a family was $54,106. Males had a median income of $42,469 versus $27,261 for females. The per capita income for the city was $22,185. About 4.7% of families and 6.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.7% of those under age 18 and 4.0% of those age 65 or over.

Wyandotte Public Schools operates the city’s public schools. Since 1901, all schools are named for former US presidents.

• Elementary and middle schools include:
  • Garfield Elementary School, built in 1932
  • James Monroe Elementary School, built in 1954
  • George Washington Elementary School, built in the 1930s
  • Thomas Jefferson Elementary School, built in 1950
• Middle schools include:
  • Woodrow Wilson Middle School, built in 1956

Wyandotte’s public high school is Theodore Roosevelt High School, which began construction in 1921, was completed in 1923, and has since been expanded four times.

Currently there are no Catholic schools open in Wyandotte. These are the schools that were formerly open: Our Lady of Mount Carmel Elementary and High School, St. Stanislaus Kostka Elementary School, St. Patrick Elementary and High School, St, Elizabeth Elementary School, St. Joseph Elementary School, and St. Helena Elementary School; also, Wyandotte Catholic Consolidated School (After the consolidation of Sts. Elizabeth, Patrick, and Joseph) were previously in the community. They were a part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit.

Wyandotte Consolidated formed in 1970 from the merger of St. Elizabeth, St. Joseph, and St. Patrick Schools. It closed in 2011 after a downturn in the economy.