Harper Woods, Michigan

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Harper Woods is a city in Wayne County of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 14,254. It was incorporated in 1951 from Gratiot Township and renamed for its being in a heavily wooded area and from its then main thoroughfare. Harper Avenue, which begins in Detroit, was named for Walter Harper, founder of Harper Hospital in Detroit.

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 Race relations
4 Schools
5 External links

[edit] Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.7 km² (2.6 mi²), all land.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census ² of 2000, there were 14,254 people, 6,292 households, and 3,756 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,133.1/km² (5,521.1/mi²). There were 6,514 housing units at an average density of 974.8/km² (2,523.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 85.92% White, 10.24% African American, 0.34% Native American, 1.70% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.40% from other races, and 1.39% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.57% of the population.

There were 6,292 households out of which 27.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.1% were married couples living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.3% were non-families. 35.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the city the population was spread out with 22.4% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 32.8% from 25 to 44, 18.8% from 45 to 64, and 19.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 86.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $46,769, and the median income for a family was $55,065. Males had a median income of $46,747 versus $34,138 for females. The per capita income for the city was $24,900. About 2.9% of families and 5.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.0% of those under age 18 and 7.1% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Race relations

As a largely white community bordering the predominantly black city of Detroit, race relations in Harper Woods have sometimes been tense. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the Harper Woods police department was frequently accused of racial profiling against black motorists.