Welcome to Wayne County, Michigan

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Facts About Wayne County & Michigan


 

  1. Wayne County was established in 1796, with Detroit as the county seat and forty-three communities spread over 623 square miles.
     
  2. Wayne County is the home of the Henry Ford Museum & Greenfield Village, the nation's largest indoor/outdoor museum complex, was founded in Dearborn, Michigan by Henry Ford in 1929 and has more than 1 million visitors a year.
     
  3. In 1899, the first commercial automobile factory in the world was opened in Detroit. Thus began Detroit and Wayne County's eventual claim to international fame as the world's automobile manufacturing center.
     
  4. Although Michigan is often called the "Wolverine State" there are no longer any wolverines in Michigan.
     
  5. The oldest county in Michigan [based on date of incorporation] is Wayne County, in 1815.
     
  6. The Detroit Zoo was the first zoo in America to feature cageless, open-exhibits that allowed the animals more freedom to roam.
     
  7. The first state police radio system in the world was established in 1929 by the Michigan State Police.
     
  8. Michigan ranks first in state boat registrations.
     
  9. The first soda pop made in the U.S., Vernor's ginger ale, was created by accident in 1866 in Detroit.
     
  10. Detroit is the only place in the world with a floating post office - The J.W. Westcott II is the only boat in the world that delivers mail to ships while they are still underway - They have been operating for 125 years.
     
  11. Wayne County Executive, Robert A Ficano was a “stand out” baseball player at Stevenson High School in Livonia.
     
  12. In 1915 the country’s first traffic light was installed in Downtown Detroit.
     
  13. Wayne County is the potato chip capital of the world in terms of per capita consumption.
     
  14. Wayne County is home to the oldest state fair in the nation, held first in 1849.
     
  15. Wayne County has the largest Arab American population in the United States and is home to the Arab American National Museum.
     
  16. In 1942, the nation’s first urban freeway was built – The Davison Freeway.
     
  17. Wayne County is the birthplace of the Motown sound, founded by Berry Gordy.
     
  18. The Detroit Public Library is the fifth-largest library system in the country.
     
  19. Wayne County is a partner in the first auto traffic tunnel between two nations, the Detroit – Windsor tunnel.
     
  20. The Detroit Marriott Renaissance hotel is the second tallest hotel in North America.
     
  21. Wayne County is home to the largest NAACP membership in the country.
     
  22. Wayne County is host to the largest free jazz festival in North America, the Detroit International Jazz Festival.
     
  23. In 1901, the world’s first concrete road was built in Detroit, Woodward Avenue.
     
  24. In 1879, Detroit was the first city in the nation to assign individual telephone numbers.
      
  25. In 1839 the Detroit Boat Club was organized. It is the oldest boat club in the U.S.
     
  26. Bell Isle, along the Detroit River, is the largest island park in the United States.
     
  27. Wayne County is home to the annual Detroit Electronic Music Festival.
     
  28. Detroit, the seat of Wayne County, has the most registered bowlers in the United States.

 
 










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