What if I told you Westland was once the world’s largest township? That’s right. Before it became the city we know today, Westland was a bustling hub known as Nankin Township. It held that title due to a population boom after World War II.
Westland is a city in Wayne County Michigan. It sits about 16 miles west of downtown Detroit. Today Westland is the 10th largest city in Michigan. It is also the 12th largest municipality.
Let’s rewind to the 18th century. This land was home to the Potawatomi people. Their village thrived here. Other Algonquian tribes used it as hunting grounds. White settlers trickled in around 1824.
The area juggled a few names before landing on Westland. Initially it was part of Bucklin Township in 1827. Bucklin was a massive area. It included present-day Westland and several other cities. Later there was talk of splitting Bucklin. Lima and Richland were proposed. Lima would eventually become Westland.
A name conflict arose under territorial law. Lima couldn’t be used due to post office name duplication. So Lima was renamed Nankin Township. It was named after the Chinese city of Nanking. Nankin Township remained largely rural until after World War II.
The Norwayne subdivision holds a special place in Westland’s history. It is one of the oldest parts of the city. Built right after World War II it provided temporary housing. It sheltered returning soldiers who worked in nearby factories. In 2009 Westland received money to restore this historic district.
By 1960 Nankin’s population exploded. It reached 70000 residents. This made it the largest township in the world. The city of Livonia eyed a piece of Nankin. They wanted to annex the land where Westland Shopping Center was planned.
The Westland Shopping Center opened in 1965. It joined other malls in the region. In response to Livonia’s annexation attempts Nankin took action. On May 16 1966 the people voted to become the City of Westland. At the time it was the fourth largest city in Wayne County.
Westland boasts a full-time police and fire department. The fire department offers advanced EMS. They also provide fire protection, prevention and specialized rescue teams.
The city is known for its parks. Hines Park stretches through Westland’s northern region. Residents often spot deer fox and hummingbirds. Bike paths provide easy access for all. Westland also owns many neighborhood parks.
Westland shares a school district with the city of Wayne. It is called the Wayne-Westland Community School District. There are four high schools. John Glenn High School is in Westland. Perrinsville School a historical site stands on Warren Road.
Westland offers automated recycling services. Black bins are for garbage. Blue bins are for recycling. Recycle bins are collected every other week. Trash is picked up weekly.
Notably Westland is connected to hockey history. Mike Modano lived in Westland during his minor hockey career. The city even renamed their ice rink the Mike Modano Ice Arena.
So the next time you pass through Westland remember its journey. From a Potawatomi village to the world’s largest township to a thriving city. Westland’s story is one of transformation. It is a testament to the spirit of its people.