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Hamtramck, Michigan

Hamtramck is a city in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. An enclave of Detroit, Hamtramck is located roughly 5 mi north of downtown Detroit, and is surrounded by Detroit on most sides. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 28,433, and was by far the most densely populated municipality in Michigan. It is notable as the only Muslim-majority city in the United States.

Known in the 20th century as a vibrant center of Polish-American life and culture, Hamtramck has attracted new immigrants in the 21st century, especially from Yemen, Bangladesh and Pakistan. In 2013, it reportedly became the first Muslim-majority city in the U.S. In 2015, Hamtramck became the first city to have a Muslim-majority city council in the history of the United States, with four of the six council members being Muslim.

Etymology
Hamtramck is named for the French-Canadian soldier Jean-François Hamtramck, who was the first American commander of Fort Shelby, the fortification at Detroit. It was originally known as Hamtramck Township.

History
Hamtramck was originally settled by German farmers, but Polish immigrants moved into the area when the Dodge Brothers plant opened in 1914. Poles previously made up a large proportion of the population. It is sometimes confused with Poletown, a traditional Polish neighborhood, which used to lie mostly in the city of Detroit and includes a small part of Hamtramck. As of the 2010 American Community Survey, 14.5% of Hamtramck's population is of Polish origin whereas in 1970 it was 90% Polish.

Circa the 1920s and 1930s, people had bars active and publicly made them visible, which was against Prohibition.

Over the past thirty years, a large number of immigrants from the Middle East (especially Yemen), India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal, and Southeastern Europe (especially Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo) have moved to the city. As of the 2010 American Community Survey, the city's foreign born population stood at 41.1%, making it Michigan's most internationally diverse city (see more at Demographics below). The population was 43,355 in the 1950 Census and 18,372 in 1990.

Hamtramck was primarily farmland, although the Detroit Stove Works employed 1,300 workers to manufacture stoves. In 1901, part of the township incorporated as a village to gain more control over the settlement's affairs, and by 1922 the village was reincorporated as a city to fend off annexation attempts by the neighboring city of Detroit. By the mid-1920s, 78% of the residents of Hamtramck owned their own houses or were buying their houses. Around that time, the factory workers made up 85% of Hamtramck's heads of households. Of those factory workers, about 50% were categorized as not skilled workers. In 1910, the newly founded Dodge Main assembly plant created jobs for thousands of workers and led to additional millions of dollars in the city. Dodge Main quickly expanded and became important to Hamtramck. Before the construction of Dodge Main, Hamtramck was a largely rural town. The establishment of the Dodge Main assembly plant led to a large influx of Polish immigrants who pushed out the incumbent German politicians. It was after this that Hamtramck was considered a Polish-American town.

By the end of the 20th century and the closing of Dodge Main, followed closely by General Motors razing of key parts of the Polish neighborhoods, the ethnicity of the region quickly shifted from traditionally Polish descendants to new Middle Eastern, Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Nepali immigrants. By the elections of 2015, the city is suggested to have been the first to elect a Muslim-majority council in the country.

In November 2021, Hamtramck elected a completely Muslim-American city council and a Muslim mayor, becoming the first municipality in the United States to be governed entirely by Muslim-Americans. In June 2023, the city drew scrutiny for its ban of the rainbow flag and perceived homophobia.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.090 sqmi, all land.

Hamtramck is mostly surrounded by Detroit except for its small common border with the city of Highland Park, which is in turn also mostly surrounded by Detroit. Hamtramck lies about 5 mi from the center of Detroit. The I-75 freeway roughly runs along this city's western border, and I-94 runs near its southern border.

According to Keith Maheney of the Detroit Free Press, the urban layout assists recent immigrants who do not yet have the credentials to drive an automobile, as Hamtramck is "uniquely walkable" and a "tight size".

Culture
Hamtramck flourished from 1910 to 1920 as thousands of European immigrants, particularly Poles, were attracted by the growing automobile industry. The city has grown increasingly ethnically diverse in subsequent years but still bears many reminders of its Polish ancestry in family names, street names and businesses. A 2018 survey found that 16 native languages were spoken by Hamtramck schoolchildren. A motto often associated with the city is "A League of Nations". Neal Rubin of The Detroit News wrote in 2010 that despite the demographic changes, "In a lot of ways, Hamtramck still feels like a Polish enclave."

In 1987, Detroit television station WDIV ran one episode of a local sit-com called Hamtramck which featured former Detroit Tigers pitcher Dave Rozema and a cameo by manager Sparky Anderson. It was met with poor reviews and protests by many Polish Americans, and was canceled before airing a second episode.

After six decades of double-digit percentage declines in population between 1930 and 1990, Hamtramck finally started to grow in recent years, with population blossoming almost 55% by the 2020 census, surpassing 28,000 residents. These large population gains were despite a small decrease in households in the past 40 years.

The 8000 sqft Hamtramck Historical Museum and the Polish Art Center are next door to one another.

In 1997, the Utne Reader named Hamtramck one of "the 15 hippest neighborhoods in the U.S. and Canada" in part for its punk and alternative music scene, its Buddhist temple, its cultural diversity, and its laid-back blue-collar neighborhoods. In May 2003, Maxim Blender selected Hamtramck as the second "Most Rock N' Roll City" in the U.S., behind Williamsburg in Brooklyn, New York City. Hamtramck is home of several of Michigan's most distinguished music venues.

In January 2004, members of the Al-Islah Islamic Center requested permission to use loudspeakers for the purpose of broadcasting the Islamic call to prayer. This request set off a contentious debate in the city, about the noise that would be caused by the call to prayer, eventually garnering national attention. Ultimately Hamtramck amended its noise ordinance in July 2004, allowing for the prayer calls to be made.

Hamtramck Disneyland is an art installation in the city built on two garages out of metal.

Pączki Day
Polish immigrants and residents of Hamtramck and southeastern Michigan celebrate Tłusty Wtorek (Fat Tuesday), known locally as Pączki Day, by lining up at the city's numerous Polish bakeries to purchase pączki. On Pączki Day, several local bars host parties with live entertainment and free pączki.

Hamtramck Music Festival
The "Hamtramck Music Festival" is an annual Independent music festival held in March in Hamtramck. It is currently sponsored by Bens Encore and the local Artist Community. In 2011, almost 200 bands played the Blowout at 14 venues over four days.

St. Florian Strawberry Festival
Held annually in the first weekend in May at grounds at St. Florian Church.

Hamtramck Labor Day Festival
The Hamtramck Labor Day Festival is held on Labor Day weekend, ending with the Polish Day Parade on Labor Day. The festival includes live music on two stages, a carnival area, beer, and food tents extending the half-mile (1 km) stretch of Joseph Campau Street, from Caniff to Carpenter.

Pride 365 Launch and Protest
In response to a decision by the city council to ban pride flags on city flagpoles, multiple LGBT activist groups organized into a coalition. The founding group consisted of individual activists, AntiTransphobe Detroit, Michigan General Defense Committee, and the Hamtramck Queer Alliance. Notable speakers at the event were Dana Nessel, Rev. Strickland, Grace of AtA, and Josh of HQA. The launch triggered further acts of civil disobedience including a raising of the Progressive Pride flag by Russ Gordon.

Planet Ant Film & Video Festival in Hamtramck
Held at the Planet Ant Theater, the festival celebrates independent movies and the people who make them, featuring comedies, dramas, documentaries, animation and music videos.

Economy
General Motors' Detroit/Hamtramck Assembly plant, one of the automaker's premiere facilities, produced the Chevrolet Volt, the Cadillac CT6, the Chevrolet Impala and the Buick Lacrosse; it was closed in March 2019, and retooled as Factory ZERO to build the upcoming GMC Hummer EV.

In April 2009, American Axle announced that it planned to close its plant at the Hamtramck/Detroit border, thus eliminating several hundred jobs in the area. As of February 2014, most of the 1.9 million-square-foot former facility has been demolished.

The Polish Art Center, at 9539 Joseph Campau Street, is a local institution in Hamtramck. The center promotes the preservation of Polish heritage through its display of cultural artifacts, often exhibited at festivals, schools and libraries. The center also hosts lectures, book signings, workshops, folk-art demonstrations, and pisanki-making classes.

The Ukrainian American Archives & Museum of Detroit is located at 9630 Joseph Campau Ave. It was formerly at 11756 Charest Street. The Museum's purpose is "to educate and inform the general public about the culture, art, and history of Ukrainians, their immigration to the United States and the contributions of Americans of Ukrainian descent to America; to engage in research in these areas; to maintain archives for the deposit of documents and other records relating to these topics; to acquire, preserve, exhibit artifacts of artistic, historical, and scientific value relating to these subjects; to sponsor public programs in order to study and preserve the heritage of Ukrainian Americans."

For more than 85 years, Kowalski Sausage Co. has manufactured meat products at 2270 Holbrook Street, which are distributed in the metropolitan Detroit area.

Notwithstanding the statement in the credits that it was filmed "in Detroit, Michigan", the 1998 Indie film Polish Wedding was filmed mainly in Hamtramck, particularly at a house on Wyandotte Street. Theresa Connelly, who wrote and directed the film, had spent her childhood in Hamtramck.

In December 2010, citing general budget woes and the city of Detroit withholding a portion of shared revenue for the Detroit/Hamtramck Assembly plant straddling the border of both cities, Hamtramck requested that the State of Michigan allow it to declare bankruptcy. The request was denied. Receivership was avoided when a deal was struck between the city and Detroit which required Detroit to pay $3.2 million in collected taxes to Hamtramck in exchange for Hamtramck paying Detroit nearly the same amount for a water and sewage bill that was in arrears.

The United States Postal Service operates the Hamtramck Post Office at 2933 Caniff Street. The post office annex is located at 14600 Dequindre Street in the City of Detroit.

Sports
Hamtramck is home to Detroit City FC (DCFC), a professional American soccer club that plays in United Soccer League Championship (USLC), the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid. The club plays their home matches at Keyworth Stadium, which is owned by Hamtramck Public Schools. The club, which was mainly managed by Trevor James, who was a former Ipswich Town F.C. player who later was an assistant coach and scout under Bobby Robson, is now managed by Danny Dichio, who was a former Toronto FC player who later was an assistant coach for Sacramento Republic FC, another USLC team.

2020 census
As of the 2020 census, there were 28,433 people, 8,139 households, and 5,661 families residing in the city. The population density was 13604.3 PD/sqmi. There were 8,911 housing units. The racial makeup of the city was 55.9% White (people of European, Middle Eastern and North African descent), 10.0% African American, 0.1% Native American, 26.9% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 1.0% from some other races and 6.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.1% of the population. 32.6% of residents were under the age of 18, 9.1% were under 5 years of age, and 7.4% were 65 and older.

2010 census
As of the 2010 census, there were 22,423 people, 7,063 households, and 5,115 families residing in the city. The population density was 10751.0 PD/sqmi. There were 8,693 housing units at an average density of 4159.3 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 53.5% White, 19.2% African American, 0.2% Native American, 21.5% Asian, 0.6% from other races, and 4.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.4% of the population.

There were 7,063 households, of which 43.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.3% were married couples living together, 18.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 7.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 34.7% were non-families. 28.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.09 and the average family size was 3.98.

The median age in the city was 28.8 years. 31.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 12.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27.9% were from 25 to 44; 20.7% were from 45 to 64; and 7.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 51.6% male and 48.4% female.

2000 census
As of the 2000 census, there were 22,976 people, 8,033 households, and 4,851 families residing in the city. The population density was 10900.5 /sqmi, making it the most densely populated city in Michigan. There were 8,894 housing units at an average density of 4219.6 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 60.96% White (which includes people of Middle Eastern ancestry), 15.12% African American, 0.43% Native American, 10.37% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 1.14% from other races, and 11.89% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.31% of the population.

In the 2000 census, major ancestry groups reported by Hamtramck residents were as follows:
 * Bangladeshi 19.7%
 * Pakistani 11.0%
 * Polish 10.9%
 * Arab (excluding Iraqi and Lebanese) 9.2%
 * Macedonian 5.5%
 * Indian 5.4%
 * Black or African American 5.1%
 * Ukrainian 3.2%
 * Albanian 2.8%
 * Irish 2.2%
 * German 1.9%
 * Italian 1.8%
 * Russian 1.4%
 * English 1.1%
 * French (excluding the Basques) 0.8%
 * Lebanese 0.7%
 * Scottish 0.7%
 * Iraqi 0.5%
 * Yugoslav 0.5%
 * Mexican 0.2%

3.1% of Hamtramck's population reported Albanian ancestry. This made it the second most Albanian place in the United States by percentage of the population, second only to Fairview, North Carolina.

There were 8,033 households, out of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.3% were married couples living together, 16.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.6% were non-families. 32.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.59.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 27.8% under the age of 18, 10.8% 18 through 24, 31.9% 25 through 44, 17.7% 45 through 64, and 11.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 110.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 109.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $26,616, and the median income for a family was $30,496. Males had a median income of $29,368 versus $22,346 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,691. About 24.1% of families and 27.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 36.9% of those under age 18 and 18.1% of those age 65 or over.

From the 1990 census to the 2000 census, the city's population increased by 25%. Sally Howell, author of "Competing for Muslims: New Strategies for Urban Renewal in Detroit", wrote that this was "overwhelmingly" due to immigration from majority Muslim countries.

From 1990 to 2000, of all of the municipalities in Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties, Hamtramck had the highest percentage growth in the Asian population. It had 222 Asians according to the 1990 U.S. Census and 2,382 according to the 2000 U.S. Census, an increase of 973%.

Ethnic groups
Historically, Hamtramck received a lot of immigration from Eastern Europe. In the 20th century, Hamtramck was mostly Polish. George Tysh of the Metro Times stated that "In the early days of the auto industry, Hamtramck's population swelled with Poles, so much so that you were more likely to hear Polish spoken on Joseph Campau than any other tongue." Later waves of immigration brought Albanians, Bosnians, Macedonians, Ukrainians, and Yemenis. By 2001 many Bangladeshis, Bosnians, and Iraqi Chaldeans were moving to Hamtramck. As of 2011 almost one in five Hamtramck residents was Asian (excluding those from South-west Asia). As of 2003, over 30 languages are spoken in Hamtramck and more than four religions are present. The four principal religions are, Islam, Christianity, Hinduism and Buddhism.

In June 2013, the city's Human Relations Commission facilitated the raising of flags of 18 countries from which Hamtramck residents emigrated. They are displayed on Joseph Campau Street, with an American flag flying at either end.

Bangladeshi-Bengali people
In the 1930s, the first group of Bengalis came to Detroit and Hamtramck. The first significant population of Bengalis began arriving in the late 1980s and the Bengalis became a large part of the city's population in the 1990s. The largest growth occurred in the 1990s and 2000s. By 2001 many Bangladeshi Americans had moved from New York City, particularly Astoria, Queens, to Hamtramck and the east side of Detroit. Many moved because of lower costs of living, larger amounts of space, work available in small factories, and the large Muslim community in Metro Detroit. Many Bangladeshi Americans moved into Queens, and then onwards to Metro Detroit.

In 2002, over 80% of the Bangladeshi population within Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties lived in Hamtramck and some surrounding neighborhoods in Detroit. That area overall had almost 1,500 ethnic Bangladeshis. Almost 75% of Bangladeshi Michiganders live in Hamtramck.

By 2002, a Bengali business district formed along Conant Avenue and some residents called it "Little Bengal". The district, along Caniff and Conant streets, included markets, stores, mosques, and bakeries owned by Bangladeshis, Indians, and Pakistanis. By 2008 the Bengali business district, between Davison and Harold Street, and partially within the city limits of Detroit, received the honorary title "Bangladesh Avenue" and was to be dedicated as such on November 8, 2008. Akikul H. Shamin, the president of the Bangladesh Association of Michigan, estimated that Bangladeshi people operate 80% of the buildings and businesses in the portion of Conant Avenue. As of February 2008 the city planned to erect signage reading "Bangladesh Town" in the business district.

In 2002, the estimate of Hamtramck inhabitants of origins from South Asia was from 7,000 to 10,000. As of 2001, 900 registered students who spoke Bengali and Urdu attended Hamtramck Public Schools.

As of 2014, there are over 13 Bengali clothing shops in the city.

Yemeni people
As of 2006, most of the Middle Eastern population in Hamtramck is Yemeni. Hakim Almasmari wrote in 2006 that "Several streets seem to be populated exclusively by Yemeni Americans, and Yemeni culture pervades the city's social, business, and political life." Many Yemeni restaurants are in Hamtramck, and the Yemeni community operates the Mu'ath bin Jabal Mosque (مسجد معاذ بن جبل), which was established in 1976. In 2005 the mosque, located just outside the southeastern border of Hamtramck, was the largest mosque out of the ten within a three-mile radius. Sally Howell, author of "Competing for Muslims: New Strategies for Urban Renewal in Detroit", wrote that the mosque "has been credited" by public officials and area Muslims "with having turned around one of Detroit's roughest neighborhoods at the height of the crack cocaine epidemic of the 1980s, making its streets safe, revitalizing a dormant housing market, attracting new business to the area, and laying the foundation for an ethnically mixed, highly visible Muslim population in Detroit and Hamtramck."

According to Almasmari, some of the first Yemenis to have arrived in Hamtramck said that Yemeni people first arrived in Hamtramck in the 1960s. The "Building Islam in Detroit: Foundations/Forms/Futures" project of the University of Michigan stated that Yemenis began arriving in the 1970s.

In 2013 Dasic Fernandez, a Chilean artist, created a 90 ft by 30 ft mural on the Sheeba restaurant celebrating the Yemeni population. The mural depicts a girl in a veil decorated with the blue sky, a farmer wearing a turban, and a woman in a hijab. The Arab American and Chaldean Council and the coalition OneHamtramck commissioned the mural.

Religious and political issues
In the 2000s, a Bengali mosque named the Al-Islah Jamee Masjid asked for permission to broadcast the adhan, the Islamic call to prayer, from loudspeakers outside of the mosque, and requested permission to do so from the city government. It was one of the newer mosques in Hamtramck. Sally Howell, author of "Competing for Muslims: New Strategies for Urban Renewal in Detroit", wrote that the request "brought to a head simmering Islamophobic sentiments" in Hamtramck. Muslims and interfaith activists supported the mosque. Some anti-Muslim activists, including some from other states including Kentucky and Ohio, participated in the controversy. In 2004, the city council voted unanimously to allow mosques to broadcast the adhan on public streets, making it one of a few U.S. cities to do so. Some individuals had objected to the allowing of the adhan due to noise concerns.

In 2023, the Hamtramck city council approved animal slaughtering in households for Muslim religious purposes.

Government
Hamtramck is governed under a council-manager form of government in which the elected mayor of the city is the chief executive officer. The city council consists of six seats. Though part of the council, the mayor is elected separately and votes only in the case of a tie and on ordinances and contracts. The city council hires a city manager, who becomes the city's chief administrative officer. The city manager has the vested powers and responsibility to appoint and remove all city employees and department heads, prepare the city's budget, and other city functions.

The current Hamtramck City Hall is a former hospital building. In 1927, the Hamtramck Municipal Hospital, housed in a Georgian Revival building, opened. The mayor of Hamtramck asked the Sisters of Saint Francis to operate the hospital. In 1931, the religious order began leasing the hospital from the city government for $1 per year. The hospital was renamed the Saint Francis Hospital. During its lifetime it offered services to Polish speakers. In 1969, the hospital closed and the building became the city's city hall.

In November 2015, Hamtramck became the first American city to elect a Muslim-majority city council. In 2022, it became the first American city to have an all-Muslim government. It also now has an all male elected government which has been said to "not reflect the city's makeup." The Wayne County Jail Division operates the William Dickerson Detention Facility in Hamtramck. The city levies a city income tax of 1 percent on residents and 0.5 percent on nonresidents.

Public schools
Hamtramck is served by Hamtramck Public Schools. Hamtramck High School is the public high school of Hamtramck. In addition Hanley International Academy, Frontier International Academy, Hamtramck Academy, Bridge Academy (of the Global Educational Excellence (GEE) company), Caniff Liberty Academy and Oakland International Academy are all charter schools, in Hamtramck. Frontier International Academy, a charter school operated by GEE, is in nearby Detroit.

Private schools
Hamtramck was historically a Polish Catholic community, so it housed Catholic schools by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit. One of the buildings once used by Hanley charter school was previously St. Florian Elementary School. The other Catholic primary schools included Our Lady Queen of Apostles and St. Ladislaus Elementary School. The city also housed St. Florian High School, a Catholic high school which opened in 1940 and was located in another wing of the same building as St. Florian.

The parishes that established St. Florian, Our Lady Queen of Apostles, and St. Ladislaus had been built after 1909. In 1925 2,217 students attended St. Florian, making it the largest Catholic elementary school in the city. That year, St. Ladislaus had 1,540 students, and Our Lady Queen of Apostles had 1,316 students. JoEllen McNergney Vinyard, author of For Faith and Fortune: The Education of Catholic Immigrants in Detroit, 1805-1925, wrote that the classrooms were "more crowded than most any Polish parish school in Detroit." In the Catholic schools in Hamtramck there were often 70 students per classroom compared to 45 students per classroom in Hamtramck public schools. It was common for children to attend religious schools selectively during certain periods so they could absorb religious ideals, but go to public school for preschool and later stages. In the 1920s Hamtramck had no Catholic high school and the majority of parents sent their children to public high school. Felician Academy and St. Josephat's Polish Catholic High School, two schools in Detroit, were located several blocks away from the Hamtramck border. Some parents sent their children to those schools.

In 1992 Dickinson West Elementary School opened in the former St. Ladislaus building. In the fall of 2002, St. Florian High and Bishop Gallagher High School in Harper Woods merged to form Trinity Catholic High School in Harper Woods. At that point, St. Florian Elementary remained open. In 2005 the archdiocese announced that St. Florian Elementary would close. After St. Florian Elementary's closing, no Catholic schools are located within the city limits of Hamtramck. During the same year, the archdiocese announced that Trinity High School would close.

History of education
In the 1920s Hamtramck families often sent their children to public school for kindergarten due to convenience, then moved their children to parochial schools for the years with the most important religious instruction. Therefore, the age group 7 to 12 had the largest Catholic school enrollment. After the critical period ended, many students returned to public school. In 1925 the public schools had 1,467 students aged 14–15 while the non-public schools had 217 students aged 14 and 15. In the early 1920s the annual growth rate of Hamtramck Public Schools buildings were 27% while non-public schools had an annual growth rate of 6% in that period.

In the 1920s there was a high level of school dropout in Hamtramck. During the decade Hamtramck had three 12th-grade students per 100 5th-grade students while the City of Detroit had 21 12th-grade students per 100 5th-grade students. In the 1920s 58% of 16-year-olds and 85% of 17-year-olds in Hamtramck were no longer attending high school. One public school survey stated that in 1924-1925 65% of male school dropouts began working in factories.

Public libraries
Hamtramck Public Library Albert J. Zak Memorial is located at 2360 Caniff. The Tau Beta Association founded the library in November 1918. The library opened at its second location, the second floor of a professional building, on November 14, 1938. In 1951 the City Hall branch opened in the first floor of the municipal building; it was dedicated on January 22, 1952. The current library received its groundbreaking ceremony on July 5, 1955. It was completed on May 31, 1956, and dedicated on July 1, 1956.

Timeline
In 1910 Hamtramck, then a village, had 3,559 residents. Between 1910 and 1920 Hamtramck's population grew by 1,266 percent. The growth of Hamtramck and neighboring Highland Park broke records for increases of population; both municipalities withstood annexation efforts from Detroit.
 * 1796: Colonel Jean François Hamtramck took possession of Detroit after British troops evacuated.
 * 1798: The Township of Hamtramck was established.
 * 1901: Hamtramck was established as a village.
 * 1908: Saint Florian Roman Catholic Church parish is the first Catholic church in Hamtramck.
 * 1910: Dodge Brothers Motor Car Company break ground for an automotive plant in Hamtramck; rapid influx of European immigrants begins.
 * 1914: Dodge Brothers plant begins operations.
 * 1922: Hamtramck is incorporated as a city to protect itself from annexation by Detroit; Peter C. Jezewski is the first mayor.
 * 1926: St. Florian's present edifice is built. It has a 1928 Austin Organ Opus #1528 that contains 3 Manuals and 40 ranks, which was newly refurbished in 2008.
 * : Won the Little League World Series of Baseball. Hamtramck was a hotbed of baseball activity at the time, and was the first Michigan team to win the title; the next time a team from Michigan won the title was Taylor in.
 * 1996: In November, voters pass the Ordinance to Preserve Parkland in Hamtramck  by a 64% vote, after a year-long campaign, marking the first time an ordinance was ever enacted in the city by a referendum vote of the population.
 * 2000: Hamtramck goes into Emergency Financial Status after running million dollar deficits and political in-fighting. Gov. Engler appoints Louis Schimmel as Emergency Financial Manager.
 * 2005: Hamtramck voters ratify a new City Charter
 * 2007: Hamtramck emerges from emergency financial management.
 * 2010: Hamtramck asked the state of Michigan permission to file for bankruptcy protection.
 * 2013: Hamtramck becomes the first Muslim-majority American city.
 * 2014: Hamtramck reenters emergency management.
 * 2015: Hamtramck becomes the first American city to elect a Muslim-majority city council.
 * 2018: The city is released from emergency management for the second time.
 * 2022: Hamtramck becomes the first American city with an all-Muslim government.
 * 2023: Hamtramck City Council enacts flag restrictions and approves animal sacrifices for religious purposes.

Notable people

 * Jane Bartkowicz, tennis player and girls single winner at The Championships, Wimbledon, was born in Hamtramck, and her skills were developed under the tutelage of the Hoxies.
 * Albert M. Bielawski, Michigan State Representative, lived in Hamtramck.
 * Mike Blyzka, Major League Baseball pitcher, born in Hamtramck.
 * Danny Brown, rapper
 * Matt Feazell, cartoonist.
 * Bob Franke, singer-songwriter, born in Hamtramck.
 * Steve Gromek, Major League Baseball pitcher, born in Hamtramck.
 * John Hodiak (1914–1955), actor, raised in Hamtramck.
 * Jean Hoxie, Hamtramck tennis player and coach inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 1965.
 * Gail Kobe, actress, born and raised in Hamtramck.
 * Truth Martini, pro wrestling manager for Ring of Honor.
 * Warith Deen Mohammed (1933–2008), son of Elijah Muhammad, leader of American Society of Muslims, born in Hamtramck.
 * Bill Nahorodny, Major League Baseball catcher.
 * Lucien Nedzi, Former US Representative
 * Tom Paciorek, Major League Baseball player, member of the 1961 Hamtramck team that won the Pony League World Series championship; Paciorek is enshrined into the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame.
 * Wally Palmar (born Volodymyr Palamarchuk on April 27, 1954, in Hamtramck), singer for The Romantics.
 * Mitch Ryder, singer, The Detroit Wheels, born in Hamtramck.
 * Kat Timpf, comedian, columnist, Fox News personality
 * Rudy Tomjanovich, professional basketball player and coach of Croatian descent for the Houston Rockets, born in Hamtramck; member of the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame.
 * Tom Tyler (1903–1954), actor, retired to and died in Hamtramck.
 * Doug Wozniak, Michigan state representative
 * Roger Zatkoff (1931-2021), NFL player for the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions.
 * Bob Zurke (1912–1944), pianist, composer, arranger and bandleader
 * Raymond Zussman (1917–1944), recipient of the Medal of Honor.
 * Toi Derricotte, (born 1941), poet.

title: Hamtramck, Michigan


text:
Highland Park, Michigan

Highland Park is a city in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. An enclave of Detroit, Highland Park is located roughly 6 mi north of Downtown Detroit, and is surrounded by Detroit on most sides. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 8,977.

History
The area that became Highland Park began as a small farming community, on a large ridge at what is now Woodward Avenue and Highland, 6 mi north of Detroit. In 1818, prominent Detroit judge Augustus B. Woodward bought the ridge, and platted the village of Woodwardville in 1825. The development of the village failed. Another Detroit judge, Benjamin F. H. Witherell, son of Michigan Supreme Court justice James Witherell, attempted to found a village platted as Cassandra on this site in 1836, but this plan also failed.

By 1860, the settlement was given a post office under the name of Whitewood. After a succession of closures and reopenings of the rural post office, the settlement was finally incorporated as a village within Greenfield Township and Hamtramck Township under the name of Highland Park in 1889.

In 1907, Henry Ford purchased 160 acre just north of Manchester Street between Woodward Avenue and Oakland Street to build an automobile plant. Construction of the Highland Park Ford Plant was completed in 1909, and the area's population dramatically increased in 1913, when Henry Ford opened the plant's first assembly line. The village of Highland Park was incorporated as a city in 1918 to protect its tax base, including its successful Ford plant, from Detroit's expanding boundaries.

In 1910, Highland Park, then a village, had 4,120 residents. Between 1910 and 1920 during the boom associated with the automobile industry, Highland Park's population grew to about 46,500, an increase of 1,081 percent, reaching its peak around 1927. The growth of Highland Park and neighboring Hamtramck broke records for increases of population; both municipalities withstood annexation efforts from Detroit. In 1925, Chrysler Corporation was founded in Highland Park. It purchased the city's Brush-Maxwell plant, which would eventually expand to 150 acres and serve as the site of the company's headquarters for the next 70 years.

Arthur Lupp of Highland Park founded the Michigan branch of the Black Legion in 1931; it was a secret vigilante group related to the Ku Klux Klan, which had been prominent in Detroit in the 1920s. The Legion had a similar nativist bent and its members were opposed to immigrants, Catholics, Jews, blacks, labor organizers, etc. Many public and business officials of Highland Park, including the chief of police, a mayor, and a city councilman, joined this group. Lupp and others were among the 48 men indicted and convicted following the murder of Charles Poole in May 1936; eleven were convicted in that murder. Investigations revealed the Legion had been involved in many other murders or conspiracies to murder during the previous three years, for which another 37 men were convicted. These convictions ended the reign of the Legion.

In 1944, the Davison Freeway was opened as the country's first modern depressed urban freeway, running through the center of the city. It was completely reconstructed and widened in 1996 and 1997 to improve its safety.

Ford Motor Company demolished large sections of its Highland Park plant in the late 1950s. With the loss of industrial jobs, the city suffered many of the same difficulties as Detroit: declines in population and tax base accompanied by an increase in street crime. White flight from the city accelerated after the 1967 Detroit 12th Street Riot. Ford's last operation at the factory, the production of tractors at its Model T plant, was discontinued in 1973, and in 1981 the entire property was sold to a private developer for general industrial usage. The city population was majority black and impoverished by the 1980s. Chrysler, the city's last major private sector employer, moved its corporate headquarters from Highland Park to Auburn Hills between 1991 and 1993, paying the city $44 million in compensation. The move dislocated a total of 6,000 jobs over this period.

On June 19, 1982, drafter Vincent Chin was beaten to death in Highland Park by two automotive workers in retaliation for Japan's success in the automotive industry. The killing was considered a racially-motivated hate crime.

Known as "The City of Trees", the town was thickly forested until the 1970s. The spread of Dutch elm disease required many old trees to be cut down.

From 2001 to 2009, the city was controlled by an emergency financial manager appointed by the State of Michigan due to mounting financial stress.

In August 2011, more than two-thirds of the street lights in Highland Park's residential neighborhoods and alleys were removed by the city, due to an inability to pay a $60,000 per month electric bill. The street lights were not only turned off, but decommissioned, or removed from their posts. The city advised residents to keep porch lights on to deter crime. The following year, a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Soulardarity, was formed to restore streetlighting to the city's residential neighborhoods and alleyways in the form of solar street lights.

On November 20, 2013, the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department filed a lawsuit against the City of Highland Park regarding unpaid sewage services and water totaling $17.7 million. In 2020, the two cities settled out of court for an unspecified amount.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of 2.971 sqmi, all land.

Highland Park is approximately 6 mi north-northwest from Downtown Detroit. It is bounded by McNichols Road (6 Mile Road) to the north, Grand Trunk Western Railroad Holly Subdivision tracks to the east, the alleys of Tuxedo and Tennyson streets to the south, and the Lodge Freeway and Thompson Street to the west.

2020 census
As of the 2020 census, there were 8,977 people, 3,917 households, and 1,845 families residing in the city. The population density was 3021.5 PD/sqmi. There were 5,137 housing units. The racial makeup of the city was 5.7% White, 88.2% African American, 0.5% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.8% from some other races and 4.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.9% of the population. 19.3% of residents were under the age of 18, 5.0% were under 5 years of age, and 23.8% were 65 and older.

2010 census
As of the 2010 census, there were 11,776 people, 4,645 households, and 2,406 families residing in the city. The population density was 3963.9 PD/sqmi. There were 6,090 housing units at an average density of 2050.5 /sqmi. The racial makeup was 3.2% White, 93.5% African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.4% from other races, and 2.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.3% of the population.

There were 4,645 households, of which 28.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 13.0% were married couples living together, 32.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 48.2% were non-families. 43.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 3.30.

Highland Park had the highest percent of single people, 87%, of any city in Michigan.

The median age in the city was 40.5 years. 23.7% of the city's population was under age 18; 10% was between age 18 and 24; 21.9% was from age 25 to 44; 30% was from age 45 to 64; and 14.4% was age 65 or older. The populace was 49.2% male and 50.8% female.

2000 census
As of the 2000 census, there were 16,746 people, 6,199 households, and 3,521 families residing in the city. The population density was 5622.9 PD/sqmi. There were 7,249 housing units at an average density of 2434.1 /sqmi. The racial makeup was 4.11% White, 93.44% African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.25% from other races, and 1.67% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.57% of the population.

There were 6,199 households, of which 27.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 17.0% were married couples living together, 33.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.2% were non-families. 38.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.43.

29.1% of the city's population was under the age of 18, 8.6% was from age 18 to 24, 27.5% was from age 25 to 44, 20.2% was from age 45 to 64, and 14.5% was 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.6 males.

The city's median household income was $17,737, and the median family income was $26,484. Males had a median income of $31,014 versus $26,186 for females. The city's per capita income was $12,121. About 32.1% of families and 38.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 47.1% of those under age 18 and 30.8% of those age 65 or over.

Between the 1990 Census and the 2000 Census, the population fell by 17%.

Municipal services
Highland Park is governed under the council-mayor form of government. The mayor is the executive and administrative head of the city, and appoints city officers such as the city clerk, city treasurer, city attorney, and finance director as well as other department heads. The city council consists of five members, two members who are elected at large and three who are elected from the city's three electoral districts. The at-large member who receives the most votes becomes council president for that term. The mayor and city council members are limited to four consecutive four-year terms in office, though are eligible to run for office again one year after the conclusion of their fourth consecutive term. The city levies an income tax of 2 percent on residents and 1 percent on nonresidents.

However, using the Public Act 72 of 1990, Governor John Engler appointed an emergency financial manager to take over the city's financial operations in December 2000, effectively relegating the mayor, city council, and other elected public officers to advisory roles. Ramona Henderson-Pearson was appointed the city's first emergency financial manager. In 2002, Henderson-Pearson laid off most city workers. She shuttered several city buildings including the McGregor public library and the old Civic Center buildings on Gerald Street. Her successor, Arthur Blackwell, was appointed in 2005 and fired in April 2009 for over-payments that he received. The third and final emergency financial manager, Robert Mason, returned the city to local control in July 2009.

The city administration works out of the Robert B. Blackwell Municipal Building at 12050 Woodward Avenue.

The old Municipal Building at 28‒30 Gerald Street was opened in 1927. Designed by Marcus Burrowes and Frank Eurich, Jr. in the Classical Revival style, it was the final element of the Highland Park Civic Center ensemble located on both sides of Gerald Street near Woodward Avenue. It remains as a monument to the rapidly growing and wealthy Highland Park of the 1910s and 1920s. From 1999 to 2001, it also housed the police department, then fell into disuse. As of 2020, it continues to await redevelopment as part of a wider regeneration of downtown Highland Park by means of a Tax increment financing district, or potential listing in the National Register of Historic Places.

Police Department
The Highland Park Police Department was headquartered in a building opened at 25 Gerald Street in 1917. In 1984 the police and fire departments were merged into a Public Safety Department. The former police and then public safety headquarters building was vacated in 1999. All operations moved across the street into the old Municipal Building, which in turn was vacated in 2001 with all functions moving to the Robert Blackwell Municipal Building. In December 2001, the city police department was formally disbanded, at which time the Wayne County Sheriff Department took over policing the city. The Highland Park Police Department was re-established on July 1, 2007.

The police administrative offices are located in the Robert Blackwell Municipal Building, and the patrol station is in a mini-station in the Model-T Plaza strip mall. It has occupied that facility since 2007. The jail facility there is a makeshift chain-link cage. The police department has a business liaison office in the Woodward Place Plaza.

Fire Department
The village of Highland Park's fire department was established in 1911. It was housed in the first municipal building at 20 Gerald Street, designed by Albert E. Williams and opened in 1911. Given Highland Park's rapid growth and industrialization in the 1910s and 1920s, the police and the municipal government moved to purpose-built buildings in 1917 and 1927, respectively. The first municipal building was expanded and altered several times until it became the headquarters of the Highland Park Fire Department (HPFD), established in 1917.

At its peak, the fire department employed about 84 firefighters and had four fire stations across the city. One of them was Engine 4, Ladder 3 at 19–21 Sturtevant Street, near Hamilton Avenue (demolished in 2013).

Highland Park's shrinking population and tax base took its toll. In 1984 the police and fire departments were merged into a Public Safety Department. The fire department again became a separate entity in 2005. By that time, the headquarters building on Gerald Street was deemed uninhabitable. The department moved to an old, 40000 sq. ft. warehouse at 12900 Oakland Park Boulevard, near Oakland Avenue and the Davison Freeway at the edge of the city, where it remained until 2013.

A $2.7 million Federal Emergency Management Agency grant made available by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act enabled construction of a new, purpose-built station. It was built on the site of the old police headquarters, demolished in 2012, at 25 Gerald Street, across the street from the condemned Fire Department headquarters. The new fire station was opened on September 3, 2013.

Economy
Chrysler was headquartered in Highland Park. In 1992 the company announced it would move its headquarters to its technology center in Auburn Hills, approximately 25 mi north of the original headquarters site. The company planned to accomplish the move by 1995. In 1992 Chrysler had 25% of Highland Park's tax base and contributed 50% of the city's budget. Chrysler had about 5,000 employees in Highland Park when it moved.

In 2009 Magna International announced plans to start an automotive seat production operation in the former Chrysler headquarters. The plant on the site of the former Chrysler headquarters opened in June 2010.

The gear-reduction starter Chrysler used from the early 1960s through the late 1980s garnered the nickname "Highland Park Hummingbird" after Chrysler's hometown and the starter's distinctive cranking sound.

Despite Chrysler's departure, the city remains associated with Chrysler in the minds of auto enthusiasts.

Primary and secondary schools
Highland Park is served by Highland Park Schools, which was reorganized in 2012 as the Highland Park Public School Academy System, a public school academy district. The academy operates one school, Barber Preparatory Academy, a K-8 school. For high school education, students are zoned to Northwestern High School in the Detroit Public Schools Community District. Highland Park Community High School of Highland Park Schools closed in 2015.

George Washington Carver Academy is a K-8 charter school that was originally authorized by academy. The school's 2008 mathematics and English standardized test scores for 4th grade students were invalidated after cheating had been discovered. In 2013 the school participated in the "Students for Peace" competition in order to reduce the amount of fighting on campus; in 2012 91% of the students had received suspensions because they participated in fighting. In 2016 it had 560 students, and it is managed by Midwest Management Group. That year it changed its authorizer to Bay Mills Community College out of concern that the Highland Park school district may collapse.

Colleges and universities
Lawrence Technological University was founded in 1932 in Highland Park, MI by the Lawrence brothers as the Lawrence Institute of Technology and adopted its current name in 1989. Lawrence Tech moved to Southfield, Michigan from its site in Highland Park, Michigan in 1955.

Highland Park Community College was in Highland Park before its 1996 closing. It had been known as Highland Park Junior College.

Public library
In 1918 Katherine and Tracy McGregor, wealthy individuals, deeded the property of a facility for "homeless, crippled, and backward children." The McGregor Public Library opened on that site in 1924. The library closed in 2002. Around 2007 the city began efforts to re-open the library. However, little action has taken place to re-open the building.

Parks and recreation
The Ernest T. Ford Recreation Center serves as a recreation center for the community. The center has a basketball court, exercise equipment, pool tables, table games, and televisions. After a renovation, it re-opened in February 2008. In 1993 Highland Park Community College won the MCCAA Division 1 Men's Basketball Championship against Macomb Community College.

In popular culture

 * 122 Beresford Street in Highland Park served as the filming location for a scene in the 2002 film 8 Mile where several of the movie's characters burn down an abandoned home. While the film company agreed to make a donation to the municipality, there were still protests in Highland Park given the city went through an arson spree that same year.
 * Highland Park is featured in the 2005 film Four Brothers, where it is the site of an armed convenience store robbery.
 * The 2007 documentary The Water Front chronicled the community's struggle against water privatization.
 * The 2008 film Gran Torino, starring and directed by Clint Eastwood, is primarily filmed in Highland Park.
 * A movie about a fictional lottery winner's attempt to reopen the McGregor Library, entitled Highland Park, starring Danny Glover, was filmed in October 2009 and released on video on demand in 2013.
 * Highland Park Ford Plant was one of the locations for the 2011 film Real Steel.
 * Highland Park was featured in an episode of American Diner Revival where they refurbished Red Hots Coney Island diner.
 * Highland Park serves as one of the stages in Deus Ex: Human Revolution. Set in 2027, it serves as a front for a FEMA internment camp and as a temporary base of operations for both Belltower Spec-ops soldiers and the Tyrants.

Notable people

 * Ross Andru (1927–1993), comic book artist
 * Pepper Adams (1930–1986), jazz saxophonist
 * Edwin Baker (born 1991), football player
 * Ed Budde (1940–2023), football player
 * Rex Cawley (1940–2022), athlete
 * John Conyers (1929–2019), former U.S. Representative
 * Todd Cruz (1955–2008), baseball player
 * Ike Delock (1929–2022), baseball pitcher
 * Terry Duerod (1956–2020), basketball player
 * Lee Gordon (1923–1963), entrepreneur, rock and roll promoter
 * Bill Haley (1925–1981), rock and roll musician, born in Highland Park
 * Butch Hartman (born 1965), animator
 * Brad Havens (born 1959), baseball pitcher
 * Bobby Joe Hill (1943–2002), basketball player, 1966 national champion point guard for Texas Western, the first all-black starting lineup in NCAA history.
 * Telma Hopkins (born 1948), actress, singer
 * Doc Kimmel (1926–2022), physician and Florida state legislator
 * Dick Lane (1927–2018), baseball player
 * Joan Leslie (1925–2015), actress
 * Adele Mara (1923–2010), actress
 * Keith McKenzie (born 1973), football player
 * Reggie McKenzie (born 1950), football player
 * Tim Meadows (born 1961), actor
 * Elvis Mitchell (born 1958), film critic and author
 * Moodymann, DJ and music producer
 * Billy Pierce (1927–2015), baseball player
 * Ted Simmons (born 1949), baseball player
 * Johnny Werhas (born 1938), baseball player and minister
 * Jackie Wilson (1934–1984), soul singer
 * James C. Turner (born 1946), filmmaker

Additional sources

 * Binelli, Mark. Detroit City is the Place to Be. Metropolitan Books, Henry Holt and Company (New York). First Edition, 2012. ISBN 978-0-8050-9229-5 (hardback version).
 * Howell, Sally. "Competing for Muslims: New Strategies for Urban Renewal in Detroit". Located in: Shryock, Andrew (editor). Islamophobia/Islamophilia: Beyond the Politics of Enemy and Friend. Indiana University Press, June 30, 2010. ISBN 0253004543.
 * Boscarino, Timothy and Webb, Michael. "Description and History, Highland Park Civic Center". Prepared for the Steven C. Flum, Inc. and the City of Highland Park, November 2013.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Highland Park, Michigan


text:
Huron Charter Township, Michigan

Huron Charter Township is a charter township of Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 16,944 at the 2020 census. Huron Charter Township is named after the Huron River, which flows southeast through the township. The township is home to three divisions of the Huron–Clinton Metroparks system: Lower Huron, Oakwoods, and Willow.

Communities

 * New Boston is an unincorporated community located within the township at 42.16278°N, -83.40278°W. New Boston contains its own post office that uses the 48164 ZIP Code, which serves most of the township and a small portion of Sumpter Township to the west and Brownstown Charter Township to the east.
 * Waltz is an unincorporated community located just west of Interstate 275 along Waltz Road at 42.10028°N, -83.39222°W.
 * Willow is an unincorporated community located along Willow Road just west of Interstate 275 at 42.10028°N, -83.39556°W.

History
Huron Township was organized in 1827 and originally included the land that now contains the cities of Romulus and Belleville as well as the townships of Van Buren and Sumpter. In the 1830s, a settlement was platted on the banks of the Huron River. The first post office opened with the name Huron, but soon closed. In 1860 a new post office was opened with the name Catville but changed its name to New Boston by 1868. Other early settlements included Belden, platted in 1857 by Frances J. Belden and now known as Willow, and Waltz, platted in 1872 by Joseph Waltz.

On March 17, 1835 the northeastern portion of Huron Township was set off and organized as Romulus Township. Within a few weeks, on April 6, 1835, the northwestern portion of the township became Van Buren Township. On April 6, 1840 the western half of the remaining portion of Huron Township organized as the township of Sumpter, creating the current boundaries of township.

The Waltz Road–Huron River Bridge, first constructed in 1924 and later replaced in 2017, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 35.83 sqmi, of which 35.35 sqmi is land and 0.48 sqmi (1.34%) is water.

Major highways

 * runs south–north through the center of the township. The highway has three access points within the township: exit 8 (Will Carleton Road) at the county line with Monroe County, exit 11 (South Huron Road), and exit 13 (Sibley Road).

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 13,737 people, 4,745 households, and 3,796 families residing in the township. The population density was 386.2 PD/sqmi. There were 4,888 housing units at an average density of 137.4 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the township was 95.96% White, 1.08% African American, 0.64% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.52% from other races, and 1.43% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race were 2.50% of the population.

There were 4,745 households, out of which 39.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.3% were married couples living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.0% were non-families. 15.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.88 and the average family size was 3.19.

In the township 28.4% of the population was under the age of 18, 7.7% was from 18 to 24, 31.7% from 25 to 44, 24.4% from 45 to 64, and 7.7% was 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.8 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $59,890, and the median income for a family was $63,003. Males had a median income of $49,356 versus $31,140 for females. The per capita income for the township was $23,497. About 3.4% of families and 5.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.9% of those under age 18 and 4.9% of those age 65 or over.

Education
Huron Township contains its own school district, Huron School District, which serves most of the township and very small portions of Ash Township to the south in Monroe County. The southeastern corner of the township is served by Flat Rock Community Schools, and the northeastern portion of the township is served by Woodhaven-Brownstown School District.

title: Huron Charter Township, Michigan


text:
Inkster, Michigan

Inkster is a city in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. A western suburb of Detroit, Inkster is located about 14 mi southwest of downtown Detroit. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 26,088.

History
The area was originally inhabited by Native Americans. It was settled by non-indigenous people in 1825. A post office named "Moulin Rouge" was established there in December 1857. Robert Inkster, a Scotsman born March 27, 1828, in Lerwick, Shetland, operated a steam sawmill on present-day Inkster Road near Michigan Avenue in the early 1860s.

The post office was renamed "Inkster" in July 1863. The village had a station on the Michigan Central Railroad by 1878. It incorporated as a village in 1926 from parts of Nankin Township and Dearborn Township. After much legal wrangling by the city of Dearborn, Dearborn Township, and the village of Inkster to sort out final borders for these communities, Inkster was incorporated as a city in 1964.

In the 1920s and 1930s, African-Americans working in Henry Ford's Dearborn factories settled in Inkster, as it was closer to their work than Detroit, while they were not allowed to live in Dearborn itself.

As a result of the police beating of Floyd Dent in January 2015, which was caught on a police vehicle's dash cam and released to the public, the victim was awarded $1.4 million. A special assessment of Inkster residents will pay for the settlement, on their July 1, 2015, property tax bill.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.25 sqmi, all land.

2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 25,369 people, 9,821 households, and 6,175 families residing in the city. The population density was 4059.0 PD/sqmi. There were 11,647 housing units at an average density of 1863.5 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 73.2% African American, 20.5% White, 0.3% Native American, 1.6% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.7% from other races, and 3.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.6% of the population.

There were 9,821 households, of which 35.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 25.7% were married couples living together, 30.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 7.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 37.1% were non-families. 31.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.24.

The median age in the city was 34.2 years. 27.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 10.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.4% were from 25 to 44; 24.8% were from 45 to 64; and 11.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.8% male and 53.2% female.

2000 census
At the 2000 census, there were 30,115 people, 11,169 households and 7,460 families residing in the city. The population density was 4,808.1 PD/sqmi. There were 12,013 housing units at an average density of 1,918.0 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 67.51% African American, 28.7% White, 0.41% Native American, 3.42% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.74% from other races, and 2.76% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.60% of the population.

There were 11,169 households, of which 33.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.0% were married couples living together, 26.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.2% were non-families. 27.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.26.

Age distribution was 29.8% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 30.3% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 10.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.2 males.

The median household income was $35,950, and the median family income was $41,176. Males had a median income of $37,986 versus $26,567 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,711. About 15.2% of families and 19.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.8% of those under age 18 and 13.4% of those age 65 or over.

Government and infrastructure
The city had 63 police officers in 2010. In 2013 it had 25 police officers. Inkster Justice Center, which is to house the Inkster Police Department and the 22nd District Court, was scheduled to be opened in Spring 2014. Financed with bond funds, it had a cost of $7.7 million and had a shortfall of about $400,000 in the construction fund.

Police brutality lawsuit settlements
In 2017, it was reported that a one-time property tax assessment of nearly $200 was levied on Inkster residents to cover settlements in police brutality cases. The largest individual settlement was to Floyd Dent for $1.4 million after the 57-year-old man was pulled over and badly beaten as evidenced by the police officer's dashboard camera.

Education
Portions of Inkster are within the Wayne-Westland Community Schools, Westwood Community Schools, Taylor School District, and the Romulus School District.

Westwood operates Daly Elementary School and the Tomlinson Middle School in Inkster. Robichaud High School in Dearborn Heights is the district high school.

Wayne-Westland operates David Hicks Elementary School in Inkster. The portions of Inkster that are located in the Wayne-Westland district are zoned to Hicks. One portion of the Hicks zone is assigned to Marshall Upper Elementary School, Stevenson Middle School in Westland, John Glenn High School, all in Westland. Another portion of the Hicks zone is assigned to Adams Upper Elementary School in Westland, Franklin Middle School in Wayne, and Wayne Memorial High School in Wayne.

Portions of Inkster that had been in the Taylor School District prior to the dissolution of the Inkster School District are assigned to Taylor Parks Elementary School, Hoover Middle School, and Taylor High School in Taylor.

Romulus Senior High School is the Romulus district's secondary school.

Burger Baylor School for Students with Autism of the Garden City School District is located in Inkster, in the former Baylor-Woodson Elementary School.

Education history
Previously most of Inkster was within the Inkster Public Schools district. As of summer 2013, the Inkster Public Schools District was entirely dissolved. The remaining students were split up among the Taylor, Romulus, Wayne-Westland and Westwood districts. Inkster High School, the high school of the Inkster district, closed in 2013. Areas were given to the new districts by quadrants. Students north of Michigan Avenue and west of Middlebelt were rezoned to Wayne-Westland. Students north of Michigan Avenue and east of Middlebelt were rezoned to Westwood. Students south of Michigan Avenue and west of Middlebelt were rezoned to Romulus. Students south of Michigan and east of Middlebelt were rezoned to Taylor.

Areas of Inkster in the Taylor district were zoned to Harry S. Truman High School, until it merged into Taylor High in 2018.

Notable people

 * Vern Buchanan, U.S. Representative of Florida, grew up in Inkster and graduated from Inkster High in 1969
 * Geraldine Doyle, woman who might have served as model for iconic "We Can Do It!" poster
 * Marcus Fizer, professional basketball player
 * Wade Flemons, noted R&B singer, musician and songwriter, wrote "Stand By Me" sung by The Platters; member of Earth, Wind, and Fire, until 1973
 * Earl Jones, middle-distance runner, bronze medalist in 1984 Olympics
 * Jewell Jones, youngest person in Michigan to be elected councilman and then elected state representative
 * J'Leon Love, professional boxer
 * Keshawn Martin, professional football player
 * Jeralean Talley, the world's oldest living person until her death
 * Tyrone Wheatley, professional football player, MVP of 1993 Rose Bowl for Michigan, born in Inkster
 * The Marvelettes, R&B singing trio in Vocal Group Hall of Fame
 * Katherine Anderson
 * Gladys Horton
 * Georgeanna Tillman
 * Wanda Young
 * Juanita Cowart

title: Inkster, Michigan


text:
Melvindale, Michigan

Melvindale is a city in Wayne County of the U.S. state of Michigan. At the 2020 census, the city population was 12,851.

History
Melvindale began as the unincorporated settlement of Oakwood Heights in the northwestern part of Ecorse Township in the early 1920s. The subdivision was designed to house workers from the nearby Ford River Rouge Plant in the city of Dearborn. The city was named after one of the original developers of the settlement, Melvin Wilkinson. The eastern part of Oakwood Heights was annexed by the city of Detroit in 1922, and the remainder was incorporated as the village of Melvindale the same year. In 1933, the village incorporated as a city.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.76 sqmi, of which 2.72 sqmi is land and 0.04 sqmi is water.

Melvindale serves an important role for railroad traffic in Metro Detroit. The Norfolk Southern Railway Oakwood Yard, located along its Detroit District, divides the city into northwest and southeast sides. The Canadian National Railway Dearborn Subdivision serves as the city's western boundary, and the Conrail Shared Assets Lincoln Secondary, serving as a direct route between Detroit and Toledo, Ohio for CSX Transportation trains, passes through industrial areas in the far southeast corner of the city, which is also the location of the remnants of the Conrail Lincoln Yard.

2020 census
As of the census of 2020, there were 12,851 people living in Melvindale, this was an increase from the city's population of 10,715 in the 2010 census, and the first time since the 1970 census that the city's recorded population increased. The population density was 4673.1 PD/sqmi.

2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 10,715 people, 4,420 households, and 2,601 families living in the city. The population density was 3939.3 PD/sqmi. There were 4,918 housing units at an average density of 1808.1 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 76.8% White (66.6% non-Hispanic white), 11.3% African American, 0.7% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 6.4% from other races, and 3.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 18.3% of the population.

There were 4,420 households, of which 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.4% were married couples living together, 17.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 6.5% had a male householder with no wife present. 35.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.17.

The median age in the city was 36.5 years. 24.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27.2% were from 25 to 44; 26.6% were from 45 to 64; and 11.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.1% male and 51.9% female.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 10,735 people, 4,499 households, and 2,694 families living in the city. The population density was 3,876.9 PD/sqmi. There were 4,760 housing units at an average density of 1,719.0 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 87.40% White, 5.26% African American, 0.75% Native American, 1.29% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 2.39% from other races, and 2.88% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.90% of the population.

There were 4,499 households, out of which 28.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.6% were married couples living together, 14.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.1% were non-families. 34.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 3.07.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.4% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 31.6% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $37,954, and the median income for a family was $46,759. Males had a median income of $38,048 versus $28,026 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,011. About 7.6% of families and 11.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.3% of those under age 18 and 9.2% of those age 65 or over.

Education
Melvindale-Northern Allen Park Public Schools serves Melvindale. Melvindale High School is the district's high school.

In 2005 the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit announced that St. Mary Magdalen Elementary School in Melvindale would close.

Notable people

 * Al Cicotte, baseball player
 * Mickey Goodwin, light-heavyweight boxer
 * Raymond Kalisz, Roman Catholic bishop
 * Mike Jolly, played football at the University of Michigan and for the Green Bay Packers
 * Jessica Smith, 2014 Olympic speed skater

title: Melvindale, Michigan


text:
Northville Charter Township, Michigan

Northville Township is a charter township in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. A western suburb of Detroit, Northville Township is located roughly 27 mi northwest of downtown Detroit, and 20 mi northeast of Ann Arbor. As of the 2020 census, the township had a population of 31,758. It is independent of the neighboring city of Northville.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 16.57 sqmi, of which 16.19 sqmi is land and 0.38 sqmi (2.29%) is water.

Portions of Northville Township were incorporated into the Village of Northville, which later incorporated as the City of Northville. Portions of the township have also since been annexed to the city. The most recent annexation was property owned by the City of Northville as part of the Rural Hill Cemetery. The entire township is served by the Northville District Library and by its own police and fire departments.

History
While the village of Northville developed within the borders of Plymouth Township from the 1820s, Northville Township itself did not exist until 1898. At that time, local residents, allegedly feeling slighted by Plymouth Township officials being more focused on Plymouth Village, decided to split off into a separate township. In this way, the former Plymouth "SuperTownship" (which formerly included all of Canton, Plymouth, and Northville Townships) became split into Plymouth Township and Northville Township.

Northville Township later became a charter township in 1985.

1907 Salem Train Crash

The 1907 Salem Train Crash occurred in what is now Northville Township, approximately a quarter mile east of Napier Road and a quarter mile north of Five Mile Road. 34 individuals lost their lives in the deadliest passenger train crash in Michigan history.

ZIP code
In response to the rapid growth of the township, a new 48168 ZIP code was introduced in June 2005 to those living south of Seven Mile Road. Those living on or north of the road (as well as those living in the city of Northville) kept the 48167 zip code, as well as any residents with a 48170 ZIP code (Plymouth).

2009 budget crisis and proposed public safety layoffs
In late September 2009, just more than a month after the hospital property purchase, the Northville Township Board of Trustees stated that they were operating with a budget deficit. The Board began the process of asking department heads and directors to find ways to cut their budgets. One of the proposed cuts was the laying off of 5 police officers and 2 public safety dispatchers, roughly a 15-20% reduction in police manpower. The Northville Township police union went door-to-door passing out flyers to educate the public on the board proposed cuts and to invite the public to voice their opinions on the issue to the township Board of Trustees.

On October 1, 2009, Northville Township residents voiced their displeasure over proposed public safety cuts on the 2010 budget. Several of the residents in attendance criticized the Township Board of Trustees for not doing more to maintain the public safety department. Board members came under scrutiny for supporting the August ballot initiative to buy the 414 acre of the former Northville Regional Psychiatric Hospital property, knowing that there was a budget shortfall. Several residents argued that the Board should have asked for a millage to support their current level of service, instead of asking voters to support the land purchase. Township trustees stated that the two issues were unrelated.

On October 15, 2009, a little more than two months after the Psychiatric Hospital property vote, the Northville Township Board of Trustees approved the 2010 fiscal budget. The budget, as approved, authorized the laying off of 5 police officers and 2 public safety dispatchers. The budget also required many of the township's non-union employees to take mandatory furlough days. In an attempt to prevent police layoffs, a local lottery winner proposed to give Northville Township the money necessary to make up for the alleged public safety budget deficit, approximately $640,000. The Board of Trustees turned down the offer stating that one of its conditions, the maintenance of current public safety staffing, was not a condition they could legally accept. The Board of Trustees stated that if the police officers’ union were to agree to concessions, then the layoffs would be avoided. Residents continued to publicly voice their displeasure with the Board's decision, with some residents even suggesting a possible campaign to recall the members of the township board.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 21,036 people, 8,119 households, and 5,569 families residing in the township. The population density was 1,278.5 PD/sqmi. There were 8,480 housing units at an average density of 515.4 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the township was 89.31% White, 4.39% African American, 0.28% Native American, 4.30% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.44% from other races, and 1.25% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.77% of the population.

There were 8,119 households, out of which 28.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.5% were married couples living together, 6.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.4% were non-families. 26.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the township the population was spread out, with 21.4% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 28.8% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.2 males.

According to a 2007 estimate the median income for a household in the township was $98,054, and the median income for a family was $123,509. Males had a median income of $76,460 versus $43,198 for females. The per capita income for the township was $40,258. About 1.4% of families and 2.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.3% of those under age 18 and 3.3% of those age 65 or over.

Between 2000 and 2010, the Asian American population in Northville Township increased from 891 to 3,205, a 260% increase.

Economy
ZF Group North American Operations is based in Northville Township.

Government and infrastructure
The Michigan Department of Corrections operated the Western Wayne Correctional Facility in the township. It closed on December 20, 2004. Northville Township's local government is made up of an elected Township Supervisor, Clerk, Treasurer and four Trustees.

Highways

 * / (concurrent highways)
 * , travels just south of the township in neighboring Plymouth Township
 * , named locally as Eight Mile Road; roadway does not carry the M-102 state designation through Northville Township

Northville Regional Psychiatric Hospital
The Northville Regional Psychiatric Hospital (NRPH) was located on a large (400+ acres) property on 7 Mile Road on the eastern side of the township. It was built in 1952, closed in 2003, and was demolished from 2018 to 2023.

2002–2006
It was announced that the NRPH was to be closed by the Department of Community Health (DCH) on November 18, 2002. By May 2003 all patients had been transferred to a community setting or another state run psychiatric facility. Due to ineffective controls and oversight of the NRPH's closing in 2003, and purchasing, receiving, and payment processes, there is still much unused and used equipment left in the buildings that lost all value during storage. The hospital was closed because of several reasons. First, a declining number of patients in the statewide mental health system. Second, a decline in the workforce, resulting from an early retirement rate, caused the hospital to be shut down. At the time of the closing NPH had 536 employees and 239 patients. The property was sold in a May 2005 auction to REI/Schostak (REIS) for $31.5 million.

2007–2008
In October 2007, the sale of the property to REIS was closed. REIS planned to develop the property into an $800 million, mixed-use residential, office, and retail development called 'Highwood'. Due to the fact that Northville Township would only allow a scaled-down version of Highwood, REIS moved employees to the property in mid-October 2007 for security and to vote to annex the property into neighboring Livonia on August 5, 2008, which approved the original plans for Highwood. Northville and Northville Township residents largely opposed the annexation, which was possible without their consent. Only residents of the area being annexed and the city/township trying to annex the area could vote in the annexation. Residents of the Township started an organization known as 'Stop Annexation'. On August 5, 2008, the residents of the property and Livonia voted against annexation.

2009
On August 4, 2009, residents of Northville Township voted to purchase a majority of the 414 acre property for $23.5 million. REIS will retain 68 acre to develop into 475000 sqft or less of retail. An owner of a house worth $300,000 would see a tax increase of $144 (per year). Using REIS tax dollars, Northville Township will clean the property extensively. The property will become open, natural space with trails.

The main building of the hospital is being demolished by Adamo Demolition but due to higher level of asbestos, the demolition was delayed. However, this was quickly resolved and the buildings were razed without issue on Friday, November 30, 2018.

Education
A majority of the township is served by Northville Public Schools. A small portion of the township is served by Plymouth-Canton Community Schools.

Schools within the township from the former district include Moraine, Ridge Wood, Silver Springs, and Winchester elementary schools, as well as Meads Mill Middle School and Northville High School. Additionally, sections of the township are zoned to Hillside Middle School in Northville.

Tanger Elementary of Plymouth-Canton is in the township. The latter school district operates the Plymouth-Canton Educational Park for high school.

title: Northville Charter Township, Michigan


text:
Plymouth, Michigan

Plymouth is a city in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. A western suburb of Detroit, Plymouth is located roughly 27 mi northwest of downtown Detroit, and 18 mi northeast of Ann Arbor. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 9,370. It is surrounded by, but independent of, Plymouth Township.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.22 sqmi, of which 2.21 sqmi is land and 0.01 sqmi is water. It is located just south of the M-14 highway and west of Interstate 275.

Culture
Plymouth has a variety of shops, restaurants, and other cultural activities.

The Plymouth Ice Spectacular, the largest and oldest ice carving festival in North America, is held every year in Plymouth in late January. Founded in 1982 by then 25-year-old Scott Lorenz, the weekend-long event draws an average of 500,000 people to Plymouth each year and has helped establish ice carving as a world-class competitive event.

Since 2008, Plymouth has been home to the Green Street Fair, held over a weekend each May. Featuring green-themed exhibitors and activities, the event has become a yearly tradition. In 2011, the event was attended by about 90,000 visitors.

Plymouth's "Art in the Park" is an art fair held annually since 1980.

History
Plymouth was first settled in 1825, incorporated as a village in 1867, and became a city in 1932.

Foundation
In 1825, Luther Lincoln was granted two land patents in what is now Plymouth by the federal government. Lincoln built his place of business, his saw mill, and abode, near the eastern boundary of his land, along the Rouge River. His actual abode and saw mill was always outside the city limits. Another early settler was William Starkweather. William and his wife Keziah brought their firstborn son Albert to the area and built the first home in Plymouth, at what is now the southwest corner of Main Street and Ann Arbor Trail. The first home was a lean-to, and was later replaced by a log cabin, which has since been destroyed.

Growth
In 1831, William Starkweather sold his land in downtown Plymouth and in 1831 purchased an 80 acre parcel of land in what was then called "North Village" (now called "The Historic Old Village"). In 1844, William died and the land in Old Village was then passed to William's son, George A Starkweather. George felt that the railroad coming to North Village would give it a commercial advantage over the Kellogg Park area. In the 1860s, he convinced the Detroit and Howell Railroad Company to build through the town. Starkweather was responsible for cutting Oak Street North through his farm in order to reach his new store and the train station. After his death in 1907, Oak Street was renamed Starkweather in his honor.

Notable streets in Plymouth are named after some Starkweather family members, including Blanche (after Blanche Starkweather, daughter of George Starkweather), Karmada (after the grandchildren of George Starkweather – Karl, Max and Davis), Davis – after Davis B Hillmer – youngest grandson of George Starkweather, Starkweather (formerly Oak Street), Amelia (after Lydia Amelia Heywood – Davis - Starkweather) – George Starkweather's wife, and Rose – after Rose Hillmer, eldest grand daughter of George Starkweather. Starkweather Elementary School was named after George Anson Starkweather of Plymouth, which was converted to an adult education center.

Daisy Manufacturing Company, now Daisy Outdoor Products, started in 1882 in Plymouth as the Plymouth Iron Windmill Company. In 1886 Plymouth inventor Clarence Hamilton introduced a new idea to the windmill company. It was a combination of metal and wire, vaguely resembling a gun that could fire a lead ball using compressed air. Lewis Cass Hough, then president of the firm, gave it a try and, after his first shot, enthusiastically exclaimed, "Boy, that's a daisy!" The name stuck, and the BB gun went into production as a premium item given to farmers when they purchased a windmill. The gun was such a huge success that Plymouth Iron Windmill soon began manufacturing the Daisy BB gun in place of windmills. On January 26, 1895, the company's board of directors officially voted to change the name to Daisy Manufacturing Company, Inc.

Recent history
Much to the dismay of Plymouth residents, Daisy moved its corporate offices and manufacturing facilities from Plymouth to Rogers, Arkansas in 1958.

In 2003 the former Daisy factory was converted to Daisy Square Condominiums despite being situated next to an active freight rail line. The front wall of the Daisy factory was left standing to be built into the apartment building. The wall has since been demolished.

In 2009 Plymouth Township was named 28th Best Place to Live in the United States by CNN Money Magazine.

2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 9,132 people, 4,314 households, and 2,218 families residing in the city. The population density was 4132.1 PD/sqmi. There were 4,652 housing units at an average density of 2105.0 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 94.2% White, 1.6% African American, 0.3% Native American, 2.2% Asian, 0.4% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.8% of the population.

There were 4,314 households, of which 25.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.6% were married couples living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 48.6% were non-families. 42.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.08 and the average family size was 2.93.

The median age in the city was 39.2 years. 21.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 31.8% were from 25 to 44; 27% were from 45 to 64; and 14% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.0% male and 52.0% female.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,022 people, 4,322 households, and 2,277 families residing in the city. The population density was 4,048.6 PD/sqmi. There were 4,498 housing units at an average density of 2,018.4 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 96.42% White, 0.57% African American, 0.35% Native American, 1.05% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.30% from other races, and 1.24% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.31% of the population. 20.4% were of German, 13.2% Irish, 12.4% English, 10.7% Polish and 7.9% Italian ancestry.

There were 4,322 households, of which 22.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.5% were married couples living together, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 47.3% were non-families. 41.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.04 and the average family size was 2.81.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 18.7% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 37.5% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 16.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $51,535, and the median income for a family was $76,369. Males had a median income of $52,188 versus $37,113 for females. The per capita income for the city was $33,222. About 1.9% of families and 3.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.8% of those under age 18 and 3.6% of those age 65 or over.

Government and infrastructure
In 1995, the City of Plymouth and Plymouth Township consolidated their fire departments with the township controlling fire services. The township receives $1 million from the city, making up 25% of the consolidated fire department's budget.

Primary and secondary
The Plymouth-Canton Community School District consists of three high schools, five middle schools, and sixteen elementary schools. The district has the only educational park in Michigan, the Plymouth-Canton Educational Park (P-CEP).

Other schools:
 * Spiritus Sanctus Academy Catholic School (private)
 * New Morning School (private)
 * Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic School (private)
 * Ivywood Classical Academy (public/charter)

Colleges and universities
Plymouth is home to a campus of Moody Bible Institute. While the campus offers an option for an undergraduate degree completion program, the majority of the programs offered fall under Moody's Theological Seminary and Graduate School. Graduate certificates, master's and doctoral degrees focus on Bible, theology, and practical ministry training. In addition, they offer programs in counseling psychology and clinical mental health counseling. The Mayhew Graduate Library on the campus is widely known as a premiere theological library for the school and community.

Notable people

 * Edward Samuel Corwin, author and former president of the American Political Science Association
 * Margaret Dunning, philanthropist
 * Ron Egloff, NFL football player
 * Kathryn O. Galbraith
 * Tom Hulce, actor
 * Aidan Hutchinson, defensive end for the Detroit Lions, former player for Michigan
 * Jackie Johnson, television weather forecaster
 * Russell Kirk, political theorist, influential of American conservatism
 * Mel Larson, racing driver
 * Jeremy Porter, musician
 * Alex Shelley, professional wrestler
 * Rufus Thayer, Judge of the United States Court for China
 * Paul Warren, musician

title: Plymouth, Michigan


text:
Redford, Michigan

Redford Township is a charter township in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. An inner-ring suburb of Detroit, Redford borders Detroit to the west, roughly 15 mi northwest of downtown Detroit. As of the 2020 census, the township had a population of 49,504.

History
Springwells Township and Bucklin Township were formally organized and laid out by gubernatorial act on April 12, 1827. Postal regulations prohibiting two post offices having the same name required—when a township was subdivided—unique names to be found. The Bucklin name was extinguished when it was split on October 29, 1829, along what is now Inkster Road into Nankin Township (west half) and Pekin Township (east half), named as a result of a wave of interest in China. In March 1833, Pekin was renamed Redford and the southern half became Dearborn Township on April 1. The name Redford was chosen because natives and colonial European immigrants forded the River Rouge where the river runs through Redford. "Rouge" is French for "red."

The township used to go all the way to Greenfield Road, but in the 1920s the eastern portions of the township were annexed by Detroit. This annexation ceased in 1926 when the township was given "charter" status by the Michigan legislature. In 1918 there was a post office named "Five Points" operating between 6 Mile Road and 7 Mile Road along the road of that name.

Redford is the site of Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church and School, whose hiring practices spurred the 2012 Supreme Court Case Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church and School v. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Geography
Redford Township is a western suburb of Detroit. According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 11.2 sqmi, all land. The middle branch of the River Rouge flows through the Lola Valley Park in the township. Ashcroft Creek, another branch of the Rouge River, flows for about a half mile in the southeastern corner of the township before entering Detroit's Rouge Park, and then into the main branch of the Rouge. Tarabusi Creek of the Bell Branch, another branch of the Rouge River, flows through Western Golf Club and Bell Creek Park.

2020 Census
In 2020, Redford Township had a population of 48,492. The ethnic and racial makeup of the population was 44.1% white, 50.2% African-American, 0.4% Asian, 3.0% reporting more than one race, 5.5% Hispanic. White alone non Hispanic accounted for 41.5 % of the population.

2010 census
In 2010, Redford Township had a population of 48,362. The ethnic and racial makeup of the population was 64.7% white, 28.7% African-American, 0.8% Asian, 2.3% reporting more than one race, 0.6% reporting other races (apparently including those who reported being Native American and being Pacific Islander as well as those who just marked the other box) and 2.9% Hispanic or Latino of any race. The African-American population increased by about 200% between 2000 and 2010, while the overall population of the township declined by 6%.

Population trends
The U.S. Census Bureau also defined Redford Township as a census-designated place (CDP) in the 2000 Census so that the community would appear on the list of places (like cities and villages) as well on the list of county subdivisions (like other townships). The final statistics for the township and the CDP were identical.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 51,622 people, 20,182 households, and 13,582 families living in the township. The population density was 4,597.4 PD/sqmi. There were 20,605 housing units at an average density of 1,835.1 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the township was 87.98% White, 8.54% African American, 0.43% Native American, 0.76% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.57% from other races, and 1.70% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.02% of the population.

There were 20,182 households, out of which 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.4% were married couples living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.7% were non-families. 27.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.12.

In the township the population was spread out, with 25.3% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 34.0% from 25 to 44, 18.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.9 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $49,522, and the median income for a family was $56,461. Males had a median income of $41,923 versus $29,987 for females. The per capita income for the township was $22,263. About 3.2% of families and 5.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.0% of those under age 18 and 5.2% of those age 65 or over.

As of the census of 2010, there were 48,362 people, 19,148 households, and 12,387 families living in the township. The population density was 4,597.4 PD/sqmi. There were 20,739 housing units at an average density of 1,835.1 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the township was 66.4% White, 28.9% African American, 0.5% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.8% from other races, and 2.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.9% of the population.

Schools
The public schools are operated by the Redford Union School District, South Redford School District and Clarenceville School District.

Public high schools include:
 * Redford Union High School
 * Thurston High School

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit used to operate Bishop Borgess High School and Academy (closed in 2005 ) and Detroit Catholic Central High School (relocated to Novi, Michigan in 2005) in Redford Township.

Public library
Redford Township Library is located on West Six Mile Road. The library service began in the 1920s, with a bookmobile providing service to the citizens of Redford Township. By the 1950s, the library operated out of a small store front on Beech-Daly Rd. about a block south of Fenkel. A larger, newly constructed and more modern Redford Township District Library operated from 1962 until August 23, 2004, when the library moved again to another newly constructed, even larger, technologically updated building. In a $4.5 million project, the old library building was turned into an open-air market, amphitheater (the Redford Marquee) and public green space. The Redford Marquee opened in July 2008. The construction of the new library was facilitated by an $8.5 million community bond. The 65000 sqft facility is situated on a 2.6 acre site that is being leased for $1 for 99 years. The library's collection consists of 100,000 books and periodicals, 2,500 CDs, records, cassettes and other audio materials, in addition to 2,500 video items.

Highways

 * (Telegraph Road)
 * (West Grand River Avenue)
 * (Eight Mile Road)
 * (Eight Mile Road)

Notable people
Redford is the birthplace of musician Ted Nugent (December 13, 1948), arena football player Stephen Wasil (April 14, 1984), NFL player Eric Wilson (September 26, 1994), and Paul Waterman, businessman and CEO (July 24, 1964).

References in popular culture

 * Folk musician and songwriter Sufjan Stevens' song "Redford (For Yia-Yia & Pappou)," which appeared on his 2003 album Michigan, mutely chronicles Stevens' childhood experiences in Redford Township, where his grandparents lived.

Sister cities

 * 🇦🇹 St. Johann in Tirol, Austria
 * 🇩🇪 Gau-Algesheim, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany

title: Redford, Michigan