Editing Wyandotte, Michigan (section)

==History==
===18th century===
In the 18th century, this area was a small village of the [[Wyandot people|Wyandot]] (or Wendat) called ''Maquaqua''. Local French colonists called it ''Monguagon'', a transliteration of its pronunciation in French.

The Wyandot were Iroquoian-speaking and part of the Huron nation from the [[Georgian Bay]] area of Canada. They generally lived peacefully with the few white French farmers, exchanging products and favors.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-07-01 |title=Wyandotte, Michigan |url=https://www.discoverdownriver.com/wyandotte-michigan/wyandotte-michigan/ |access-date=2020-12-29 |website=Discover Downriver |language=en-US}}</ref>

During the [[French and Indian War]] (part of the [[Seven Years' War]] in Europe), the Wyandot were allied with the [[Potawatomi]] and the French. English had taken control of the garrisoned Fort of Detroit. Near here, [[Chief Pontiac]] plotted his attack against the British fort in 1763 but failed.

The center of the village was nearly parallel to Biddle Avenue between Oak Street and Eureka Road near the river and its sandy beach, which was a welcome feature to the local tribesmen, as their main mode of transportation to the fort in Detroit was by [[birch bark]] canoe. The tribe was considered peaceable and friendly with the British, the remaining French in the area, and the newly arrived Americans.

===19th century===
In 1818, after the United States had gained independence and then control over this area from the British, the Wyandot signed a treaty with the U.S. government ceding this land. Some Wyandot moved to an area near [[Flat Rock, Michigan]], then to [[Ohio]], and Indian Territory, in [[Kansas]] and finally [[Oklahoma]].

Most of the Wyandot moved across the Detroit River to Canada and what is now Anderdon, [[Windsor, Ontario]]. Many of their descendants live there today. The name somewhat lives on as [[Wyandotte County, Kansas]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=History of the City of Wyandotte |url=http://www.angelfire.com/mi/WYMUSEUM/page8.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070203161701/http://www.angelfire.com/mi/WYMUSEUM/page8.html |archive-date=February 3, 2007 |access-date=2009-01-06}}</ref>

The Anglo-Americans later credited [[John Biddle (Michigan)|Major John Biddle]] as the first white settler in Wyandotte, but French colonists had lived in the area for more than a century before he settled there.

After the War of 1812 and the Wyandot cession, Major Biddle purchased 2,200 acres (9&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>) of land from the federal government in 1818. He developed a farm and a summer estate. The buildings were completed around 1835, and he named his estate "Wyandotte" after the Indians who were still living in the area.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Major John Biddle {{!}} Biographies |url=https://www.elmwoodhistoriccemetery.org/biographies/major-john-biddle/ |access-date=2020-12-29 |website=www.elmwoodhistoriccemetery.org}}</ref>

John S. Van Alstyne, general manager for Eber Ward of both the Eureka Iron & Steel Works and the associated Wyandotte Rolling Mills, laid out the master plan for the city. This plan was frequently called the "Philadelphia Plan", as streets were laid out on a north–south and east–west grid, similar to those in [[Philadelphia]], Pennsylvania. That plan was made by colonial founder [[William Penn]].

In Wyandotte, the focal point was the [[Detroit River]], and the first street parallel became Front Street. This street was eventually extended and renamed Van Alstyne Boulevard in 1921. Streets running parallel to Front Street were named according to numbers, from First to the extent of the territory involved. Streets running horizontal to the numbered streets were named for trees and plants.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Downriver Pioneers |url=http://www.downriverthings.com/downriver-pioneers.html |access-date=2020-12-29 |website=Downriver History & Facts |language=en}}</ref>

Founded as a village of [[Ecorse Township, Michigan|Ecorse Township]] in 1854, Wyandotte was incorporated as a city, and granted a charter by the State of Michigan, on December 12, 1866. It held its first city election in April 1867, making it the oldest incorporated city in Wayne County after [[Detroit]]. On April 8, 1867, the Village of Wyandotte was incorporated as a [[home rule]] city.

===20th century===
A community named '''New Jerusalem''', consisting of immigrants from multiple nations, was founded nearby in the 1890s. It has since been absorbed by Wyandotte.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Evolution of a Township |url=http://www.downriverthings.com/evolution-of-a-township.html |access-date=2020-12-29 |website=Downriver History & Facts |language=en}}</ref> It was incorporated as a village with the name of '''Glenwood''' in 1900. In 1901 a post office was established here with the name of '''Bacon''' since there was already a Glenwood post office in [[Wayne Township, Cass County, Michigan]]. Wyandotte annexed the community in 1905.{{sfn|Romig|1986|page=226}}

The community of Ford City was founded as a village in 1902. It was named for [[John B. Ford (businessman)|John B. Ford]] who ran the Michigan Alkali Company there. In 1922 it merged with Wyandotte.{{sfn|Romig|1986|page=201}} On April 14, 1924, Wyandotte annexed a large section of [[Ecorse Township, Michigan|Ecorse Township]].

Since settlement by eastern Americans, Wyandotte has been influenced by immigrants from many nations. Ethnic [[German people|German]], [[Polish people|Polish]], [[Irish people|Irish]] and [[Italian people|Italian]] communities have contributed much from their cultures. The city attracted African Americans for industrial jobs, but had a discriminatory past as a [[sundown town]]. It refused to allow them as residents.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wexler |first=Reviewed Laura |date=2005-10-23 |title=Darkness on the Edge of Town |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/entertainment/books/2005/10/23/darkness-on-the-edge-of-town/e55c4c78-a32e-44cf-a5fe-f25916de02fd/ |access-date=2020-12-29 |work=[[The Washington Post]] |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Cooper |first=Desiree |date=2007-02-15 |title=Shining a Light on Wyandotte |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/29372664/detroit-free-press/ |access-date=2020-12-29 |work=[[Detroit Free Press]] |pages=17 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>