The History of Novi, MI
The Ingersoll family founded Novi in 1825 and in 1832, Novi was organized as a township. The land was taken from Farmington Township but the residents looked for a shorter name, which led to the name “Novi.” There is an ongoing debate around how the city’s name actually originated; therefore, its name remains a mystery.
In 1969, voters in the Village approved a city charter, which led to the incorporation of Novi City along the boundaries of the existing Village of Novi.
The city of Novi mainly consisted of a farming community, including apple orchards and family farms. The farmers also kept a fair amount of livestock. Furthermore, there was a steam sawmill during that time, a few churches, and some general stores for the community.
One of the largest farm properties was owned by the Fuerst family, which their daughters sold later on. These 160 acres of land were subsequently used to build a high school, police station, city hall, and the Powers Park as seen today.
One of the oldest farms in the Novi area was Bassett Homestead, which was settled around 1832. The Meyer family that bought the farm operated it as a livestock farm. Later on, the MSU Tollgate Education Center was formed here to teach about farming and natural science. Today, several fall festivals are held here for the community of Novi.
Another large farm property that spread over 150 acres was the Simon residence. Here, they mainly focused on fruit production. This farm was opened in 1866 and is part of the historical landmarks around the town.