Wixom

History

The settlement of Wixom dates back to 1831. In the beginning, Wixom was named Sibley's Corners after the first settler, 20 year old philanthropist Alonzo Sibley. Sibley settled in what is today called Commerce Township, where he purchased approximately 80 acres of land. Over time, Sibley purchased about 350 more acres of land. In 1837 Sibley donated a portion of his property for a local cemetery; which was called South Commerce Burial Ground; however, was later changed to Wixom Cemetery. Sibley then became the president of the cemetery association. The establishment of Wixom began in 1871 when Willard Clark Wixom (son of Ahijah C. Wixom and Lucy Clark) granted a right of way through his property for the Holly, Wayne and Monroe Railway. Willard platted land on both sides of the railroad near the Novi and Commerce Township border. In 1883, Willard opened his property up to become an important railroad junction for the Michigan Air Line Railway and the Grand Trunk Western Railroad. With the new junction, Willard located the railroad station, union depot (called Wixom Station) and mail drop at the intersection of his property. The construction of the railroad junction attracted many new business investments, stores, a lumber yard, and a cider mill, ultimately turning the small village into Michigan's largest grain produce handling point. The name of the town was then changed from Sibley's Corners to Wixom. On December 24, 1901, Willard was struck and killed by a passenger train while crossing the tracks in his horse and buggy. Wixom was incorporated as a village in 1957 following the announcement of plans to construct the Wixom Assembly Plant in Novi Township. Prior to that time, Wixom was an unincorporated place. The village borders included portions of both Novi and…

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and is water.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  32,430
• Black-capped Chickadee

  Poecile atricapillus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  32,375
• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  32,149
• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  30,896
• Mourning Dove

  Zenaida macroura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  28,767
• Red-winged Blackbird

  Agelaius phoeniceus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  24,595
• White-breasted Nuthatch

  Sitta carolinensis Latham, 1790 · Aves
  24,486
• Red-bellied Woodpecker

  Melanerpes carolinus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  24,332