Metro Detroit Wayne County City
Romulus
Where you land: Detroit's airport, Underground Railroad history and a pumpkin fest
- People (2025 estimate)
- 24,547
- Land area
- 35.6 sq mi · 92.2 km²
- From downtown
- 18.0 miles · 29 km · southwest
- Incorporated
- 1970
Nothing on our calendar here this week yet.
01 / Why it matters
Why Romulus matters
Fly into Detroit and you'll most likely touch down in Romulus: this is home to Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, DTW for short. It was dedicated on September 4, 1930; the airlines moved over from Willow Run in 1958; the McNamara Terminal opened in 2002 and the Evans Terminal in 2008. McNamara's Concourse A runs about a mile, with the ExpressTram gliding overhead and a pedestrian tunnel lit by a light show synced to music.
Behind the runways is a much older town. Romulus Township was organized on March 17, 1835, two years before Michigan became a state, and it became a city in 1970. In the 1800s it was a stop on the Underground Railroad: freedom seekers hid in the cellar of the Samuel Kingsley home, and the White Church at Five Points, today's 5 Points Church, helped too.
In the downtown Historical Park you can still see the 1839 first schoolhouse, now the local history museum, and the 1855 Kingsley House. Every September the same park hosts the Romulus Pumpkin Festival, running since 1997, with a Parade of Lights where everything from bikes to cement trucks glows, plus a classic car show and a craft fair.
02 / Known for
What Romulus is known for
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW), with the McNamara and Evans terminals and Delta as the dominant carrier
Two surviving Underground Railroad stops: the Kingsley House and 5 Points Church
The Romulus Pumpkin Festival every September since 1997
The Romulus Athletic Center, an 88,000-square-foot city complex with a lazy river, splash pool and basketball courts
03 / What’s on
What’s on in Romulus
Nothing on our calendar in Romulus right now. Try the neighbors:
04 / Places
2 places on our site in Romulus
05 / What to do
If you’re in Romulus
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport
On a layover, walk the McNamara light tunnel: a color show with its own soundtrack.
Official site ↗Romulus Historical Park & Museum
The 1839 schoolhouse museum, the 1855 Kingsley House, a 1923 windmill, the Wabash freight house and a 1949 caboose on Hunt Street.
Official site ↗Romulus Pumpkin Festival
A three-day harvest festival on the third weekend of September; the 28th edition ran September 18–20, 2026.
Official site ↗
06 / History
Romulus through the years
- 1835
Romulus Township is organized on March 17.
- 1930
The Wayne County airport, today's DTW, is dedicated on September 4.
- 1958
American Airlines moves over from Willow Run, with Northwest and Delta following within months.
- 1970
Romulus incorporates as a city.
- 1987
On August 16, Northwest Airlines Flight 255 crashes just after takeoff near Middlebelt Road and I-94, killing 156; the only survivor is a four-year-old girl. A memorial has stood near the site since 1994.
- 2002
The McNamara Terminal opens.
07 / People
Famous names from here
- John Long the basketball player was born in Romulus in 1956, went to Romulus High and won the 1989 title with the Pistons; his nephews Grant Long and Terry Mills also made the NBA
Sources
Population and area are Census Bureau figures (Romulus city).
- 2020 Census, Michigan (PL 94-171)
- Census Bureau population estimates: cities and towns
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romulus,_Michigan
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detroit_Metropolitan_Airport
- metroairport.com
- romulusgov.com/291/Downtown-Historical-Park
- romulusgov.com/207/Pumpkin-Festival
- romulusgov.com/399/Culture-Recreation
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northwest_Airlines_Flight_255
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Long_(basketball_player)
- romulusgov.com
Change since 2020, per the Census Bureau estimate: −2.5 percent.
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