Community Overview

The City of Northville is a distinctive community of approximately 6500 residents located on the western fringe of the Detroit Metro area. The City was incorporated as a village in 1867 and as a city in 1955.  The 2.2 square mile area is equally divided between Wayne and Oakland Counties and is about 30 minutes from downtown Detroit and 25 minutes from downtown Ann Arbor. The major thoroughfares of I-275 and M-14 are nearby.

The Northville area is known for its rolling hills and attractive countryside. The City retains a small-town atmosphere with stately Victorian-era architecture in its Historic District and well-kept older homes built before the 1930s. The housing mixture includes single-family residences, condominiums, and multi-family complexes. A "walk to" downtown boasts of old-fashioned street lamps, benches, specialty shops, galleries, theaters, restaurants, businesses, and preserved landmarks.

The City is part of the award winning Northville School District that has six elementary, two middle, and one senior high school. The math and reading MEAP scores for the Northville Public Schools district run about 35% above state averages.

The City of Northville offers the following services: Community Senior Center, District Library, Joint City/Township Recreation Program, four bank/savings and loan/credit unions, an active Chamber of Commerce, senior citizen housing, nearby Maybury State Park, a post office, 11 churches, a weekly newspaper, full time police department, the Northville Downs Racetrack, Northville Cider Mill, Mill Race Historical Village, art festivals, the Victorian Festival, and organized holiday celebrations.

The City’s major employers are the Northville Downs Racetrack, Belanger Inc., Jack Doheny Supplies, and Michigan Gift Mart.

For current tax rates read more in our Tax and Assessing Department. 

The City of Northville is a home rule Charter City with the Council/Manager form of government. The City Council is comprised of a Mayor, who is elected at large for a two-year term, and four Council members who are elected at large with four-year staggered terms. The City Manager, appointed by the City Council, is the chief administrative officer of the City.