Taylor, Michigan: Named in Honor of President Taylor

President Zachary Taylor: A Brief Historical Profile

• Early Life & Background
  Born November 24, 1784, in Virginia, Zachary Taylor moved with his family to Kentucky. He was raised on frontier plantations and received modest formal education, gaining early experience in farming, horsemanship, and marksmanship.(Let’s Detroit, Wikipedia)
• Military Career
  Taylor was commissioned into the U.S. Army in 1808. Over four decades of service, he earned distinction in multiple conflicts, including the War of 1812, Black Hawk War, Second Seminole War, and most notably the Mexican–American War—where his leadership at battles like Palo Alto, Resaca de la Palma, Monterrey, and Buena Vista earned him the moniker “Old Rough and Ready.”(Wikipedia)
• Presidency (1849–1850)
  Riding his wartime popularity, Taylor was elected the 12th U.S. President as a Whig in 1849. Despite being a slaveholder, he opposed the expansion of slavery into the newly acquired western territories and favored preserving the Union, even by force if needed. Unfortunately, his presidency was cut short—he died of a sudden stomach ailment just 16 months into his term, on July 9, 1850.(Wikipedia)

Taylor, Michigan: Named in Honor of President Taylor

• Origins & Naming
  The area that is now the City of Taylor was originally part of Ecorse Township. In 1847, residents petitioned to form a separate township due to the difficulty of participating in civic matters because of the distance to the Township’s center. Their petition was approved, and in March 1847, they established “Taylor Township”—named to honor General Zachary Taylor, then a celebrated Mexican War hero who would later become President.(City of Taylor)
• Development Over Time
  The area remained largely agricultural throughout the 19th century. Notable developments included the establishment of a train station (known as Hand Station) in 1876 and the construction of West Mound United Methodist Church by German settlers in 1882—both of which are preserved today at Heritage Park.(Wikipedia)
• Transition to City Status
  On November 8, 1966, residents voted to adopt a city charter, and on March 6, 1968, Taylor officially became a city following gubernatorial approval.(storage.googleapis.com, Wikipedia)
• Modern-Day Profile
  As of the 2020 census, Taylor had a population of around 63,409, making it the fifth-largest city in Wayne County and 17th in Michigan. Today, Taylor boasts shopping centers (like Southland Shopping Center), Heritage Park, educational institutions including a local campus of Wayne County Community College, and is the birthplace of Hungry Howie’s Pizza. Its proximity to Detroit—about 5 miles west of Detroit’s southern border—makes it a significant part of the Downriver region.(Wikipedia)

Summary Table