Phoenix Theatres State Wayne35310 Michigan Avenue, Wayne, MI 48184
Metro Detroit Wayne County City
Wayne
A Michigan Avenue tavern stop turned Ford town, where the Bronco gets built
- People (2025 estimate)
- 17,065
- Land area
- 6.0 sq mi · 15.6 km²
- From downtown
- 17.9 miles · 29 km · west
- Incorporated
- 1960
Nothing on our calendar here this week yet.
01 / Why it matters
Why Wayne matters
Wayne grew up along the old Chicago Road, today's Michigan Avenue: in 1824 George M. Johnson built a log tavern here for travelers. A later owner, Stephen Simmons, killed his wife in a drunken rage, and on September 24, 1830, he became the last person executed under Michigan law. The public hanging disturbed so many onlookers that it helped push Michigan to abolish the death penalty in 1846.
Then industry moved in. The Prouty and Glass carriage works arrived in 1888, Ray Harroun, winner of the first Indianapolis 500, started a car company here in 1916, and Graham-Paige cars and Stinson airplanes were built here too. Ford's Michigan Assembly Plant opened in 1957, built the original Bronco from 1966 to 1996, and in 2024 was turning out the new Bronco and the Ranger.
Downtown still revolves around Michigan Avenue. There's the State Wayne theater from 1946 with its art deco front, and the 1878 village hall that has housed the city's history museum since 1964. The Lower Rouge River cuts right through the middle of town.
02 / Known for
What Wayne is known for
Ford's Michigan Assembly Plant, home of the Bronco and Ranger (as of 2024)
Tavern keeper Stephen Simmons, the last person executed under Michigan law, in 1830
The State Wayne, a 1946 art deco movie house still showing first-run films
Early car and plane building: Harroun, Graham-Paige and Stinson
03 / What’s on
What’s on in Wayne
Nothing on our calendar in Wayne right now. Try the neighbors:
04 / Places
5 places on our site in Wayne
Phoenix Theatres State Wayne35310 Michigan Avenue, Wayne, MI 4818405 / What to do
If you’re in Wayne
Wayne Historical Museum
The city museum in the 1878 village hall on Town Square, with more than 100 exhibits from the horse-and-buggy days. The building has served as village offices, police station and firehouse.
Official site ↗State Wayne Theater
A three-screen movie house with a live stage on Michigan Avenue since 1946, run by Phoenix Theatres.
Official site ↗
06 / History
Wayne through the years
- 1824
George M. Johnson builds a log tavern on the Chicago Road.
- 1830
On September 24, tavern keeper Stephen Simmons is hanged in Detroit, the last execution under Michigan law.
- 1869
Wayne incorporates as a village within Nankin Township.
- 1888
The Prouty and Glass carriage company moves in from Detroit, the town's first big factory.
- 1957
Ford's plant, today's Michigan Assembly Plant, opens, building station wagons at first.
- 1960
Wayne becomes a city.
07 / Born here
2 people in our lexicon were born here
08 / People
Famous names from here
- Ray Harroun winner of the first Indianapolis 500, founded the Harroun Motor Car Company here in 1916; a Wayne street carries his name
- Mike Kelley artist born here in 1954, whom The New York Times called in 2012 one of the most influential American artists of the past quarter century
Sources
Population and area are Census Bureau figures (Wayne city).
- 2020 Census, Michigan (PL 94-171)
- Census Bureau population estimates: cities and towns
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne,_Michigan
- waynecountymi.gov/Government/Departments/Economic-Development/Our-Communities/City-of-Wayne
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michigan_Assembly_Plant
- wardsauto.com/news/archive-auto-ford-adjusts-bronco-production-michigan-reassigns-400-workers-uaw/733539
- wsupress.wayne.edu/9780814331330
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_Wayne_Theater
- phoenixmovies.net/theatres/state-wayne/003
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Harroun
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stinson_Aircraft_Company
- cityofwayne.com/323/Wayne-Historical-Museum
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Kelley_(artist)
- cityofwayne.com
Change since 2020, per the Census Bureau estimate: −3.7 percent.
Save the plan. Share the moment.
