Robin Kay Cooke

Farmington Hills, MI Area Guide

Farmington Hills is the largest city in Oakland County with a population of approximately 82,000 reported in the 2000 census.  This upscale, affluent city is a suburb on Detroit and is included in the Detroit Metropolitan Statistical Area.  This diverse city is considered to be a desirable place to live due to its award-winning public services and the Gold Medal designation it received for ranking nationally in the top 16 percent of all school districts.

Farmington Hills has a thriving business community which is emphasized by its low vacancy rate for corporate real estate.  The city consistently ranks among the safest cities in Michigan and is currently the 19th safest city in the United States.  The prosperous business community also provides an inviting place for employees to live and boasts a high satisfaction rate among the residents who live and work here.  The city government provides a variety of public services such as recreational, cultural, and athletic programs for children and adults of all ages.  Excellent housing options, top-notch educational opportunities, and high government involvement make Farmington Hills the ideal place to live, work and grow.

Farmington Hills History

The first settler, in what was later to become Farmington Township, was a Quaker from Farmington, New York named Arthur Power.  He purchased land here in 1823 and brought family and friends here to help clear the land and establish a settlement known as Quakertown.  A post office named Farmington was established in 1826, and the township of Farmington was organized in 1827.  The settlement was incorporated as the Village of Farmington in 1867, but a fire in 1872 destroyed many of the original homes and buildings in the village.  Farmington was finally incorporated as a city in 1926. 

Farmington Hills Parks and Recreation

The Recreation Division strives to offer a wide variety fun and educational activities through out the year.  Programs are offered in many of the beautiful parks here, the William Costick Activities Center, many public schools and several private sector locations as well.  Some of the most popular activities include afterschool programs such as dance, cheerleading, and physical education, pre-school programs like “Safety Town”, “Pee Wee Playtime”, and “Junior Scientists” and adult and youth sports programs.  The Recreation Division also offers Summer Camps, specialty classes, and special events like hayrides, cookouts and holiday festivities.

Ice Arena
http://www.ci.farmington-hills.mi.us/Community/IceArena/IceArena.asp

The Ice Arena has 70,000 square feet of space and contains two ice surfaces.  The Arena seats 1,200 people and offers concessions, lockers, meeting and party rooms and administrative offices.  The facility offers recreational and competitive skating opportunities including a youth and an adult hockey program, public skating, figure skating and skating lessons.

Farmington Hills Golf Club and Driving Range
http://www.ci.farmington-hills.mi.us/Community/FHGolfCourse/FHGolfClub.asp
The old San Marino Gold Course opened in 1963 and was acquired by the City in 1978.  The City expanded the Golf Course by building a new nine holes, a new clubhouse and completely renovating the original San Marino Course.  A tunnel under Halstead Road was also built connecting the two nines and the new park maintenance campus.

For more information about the parks in this community, please click here:
http://www.ci.farmington-hills.mi.us/Community/Parks.asp

Farmington Hills Events

Farmington Hills offers many excellent events that will keep you and your family busy throughout the year. Come participate in one of the many festivals and make memories that will last a lifetime!

Art on the Grand
http://www.ci.farmington-hills.mi.us/Services/CulturalArts/ArtOnTheGrand.asp
Art on the Grand is a fine arts fair presented by the Special services Department in cooperation with the Farmington Area Founders Festival.  The fair is held Friday-Sunday during the third week of July and features the work of many artists specializing in painting, sculpture, fiber, ceramic, glass, photography and more.  The fair also includes live music, interactive children’s activities, free face painting and other activities.

Festival of the Arts
The annual Festival of the Arts is a community-wide celebration sponsored by the Special Services Department, the Farmington Community Arts Council, and the Farmington Public Schools.  The festival features a variety of activities through the week including paintings for sale by the Farmington Artists Club, educational displays by local cultural organizations, and student work on display.  Other special events include Art After Dark (a popular wine and jazz event) and the Free Family Festival (a day that offers hands-on art activities for all ages).

Multicultural/Multiracial Heritage Festival
http://www.mcmr.org/index.html
The Heritage Festival is held every October at the Costick Activities Center and includes educational conferences and a new citizen swearing-in ceremony to celebrate diversity in our community.  The Main Festival features a variety of ethnic foods, fine arts, live entertainment, and cultural displaces and is free for everyone.