WYOMING, MICHIGAN

'Wyoming' is a city in Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 69,368.
The first permanent white settlers arrived in the area in 1832, making it one of the first-settled areas of the county, and indeed the whole Western Michigan region. Initially, the area was part of Bryon Township. 'Wyoming Township' was organized out of Byron Township in 1848. The entire remaining township incorporated as the City of Wyoming in 1959 to protect against further annexation of land by the cities of Grand Rapids and Grandville. Wyoming is named for Wyoming County, New York, from which many early settlers came. The city's residents are a unique mix of working class /blue collar residents to middle class suburban residents.
Wyoming is home to the headquarters of the Gordon Food Service.

Contents

Geography

Demographics

Government

Major highways

External links

Geography

The city is situated southwest of Grand Rapids and south of the Grand River. Grandville and Georgetown Township in Ottawa County are to the west. Bryon Township is to the south and the city of Kentwood to the east. U.S. Highway 131 runs along the eastern side of the city and Interstate 196 runs southwest-northeast along the Grand River. The newly completed Paul B. Henry Freeway runs along the south side of the city and connects I-196 with US-131 and Interstate 96. M-11 runs east-west through the north of the city, also connect I-196, US-131, and I-96.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 63.5 km² (24.5 mi²). 63.2 km² (24.4 mi²) of it is land and 0.2 km² (0.1 mi²) of it (0.37%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there were 69,368 people, 26,536 households, and 17,540 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,096.8/km² (2,840.1/mi²). There were 27,506 housing units at an average density of 434.9/km² (1,126.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 84.32% White, 4.85% African American, 0.59% Native American, 2.92% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 4.70% from other races, and 2.59% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.66% of the population.
There were 26,536 households out of which 35.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.6% were married couples living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.9% were non-families. 26.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.19.
In the city the population was spread out with 28.0% under the age of 18, 10.9% from 18 to 24, 33.7% from 25 to 44, 18.0% from 45 to 64, and 9.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 97.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $43,164, and the median income for a family was $50,002. Males had a median income of $35,772 versus $25,482 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,287. About 5.1% of families and 7.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.8% of those under age 18 and 6.9% of those age 65 or over.

Government

The city has an council-manager government with both an elected mayor and an appointed city manager. Currently, Carol Sheets serves as Wyoming's Mayor after defeating former mayor and long-time Republican politician Harold Voorhees in 2005. The city council is composed of six members: three at-large and a representative from each of the three wards. The current council members are: Kent Vanderwood, Spencer Betram, Sam Bolt, William Ver-Hulst (Mayor Pro-Tem)(1st Ward), Richard Pastoor (2nd Ward), and Roger Haynes (3rd Ward). Meetings are held at the City Hall on the first and third Mondays of every month. Work sessions are held the second monday of each month.

Major highways

★ Interstate 196

★ Interstate 196 Business Spur

★ M-11

★ US 131

External links

★ City of Wyoming Michigan Official Website

★ Interactive map from GRNow