Most of the first pioneers came from New York by steamship across Lake Erie, disembarking in Detroit in the 1820s. From Detroit, it would take three days of treacherous travel through dense forests, thick brush, and swampy countryside to reach their destination—a hilly region in the northwest corner of Plymouth Township that would come to be called Northville. In the nearly 200 years since the first pioneers cleared the land and established their homesteads, Northville has distinguished itself as one of southeast Michigan's most desirable communities. Its rich historical heritage and small-town charm are evident in the stately Victorian architecture of the city's vibrant downtown and tree-lined neighborhoods. Surrounded by the rolling hills of adjoining Northville Township, the community has been shaped by generations of stakeholders committed to creating and maintaining Northville's picturesque and prosperous identity. Throughout its storied history, Northville has been home to the world's largest manufacturer of school furniture, the site of aviation pioneer Eddie Stinson's aircraft company, and the location for one of automotive legend Henry Ford's first village industries, the Northville Valve Plant.