Neighborhoods in Detroit, Michigan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The following is a list of current and historic neighborhoods in Detroit, Michigan:
[edit] Neighborhoods
[edit] Bagley
The Bagley community is an area in Northwest Detroit whose boundaries are West Outer Drive to the north, Livernois Avenue to the east, West McNichols (Six Mile Road) to the south, and Wyoming Avenue to the west. The community's name is likely derived from Bagley Elementary School, which is the lone public school within the community. This community is situated just west of the Palmer Woods/Sherwood Forest/University District areas of Detroit.
It is a mostly African-American community of tidy, 1930's era four-square brick homes and has thriving businesses along Livernois, Wyoming, Seven Mile Road and West McNichols Road.
[edit] Black Bottom/Paradise Valley
See main article at Black Bottom, Detroit
[edit] Bricktown
Bricktown separates the Renaissance Center from Greektown. The area contains an eclectic mix of late 19th century architecture and early 20th century industrial buildings and warehouses. Bricktown is home to St. Peter and Paul’s Catholic Church, the oldest standing church in Detroit, and the Italian Renaissance style Wayne County Building (which was saved from demolition in the early 80’s). The Wayne County Courthouse, (which used to be located in the Wayne County Building), was the place where Mae West was once a defendant on a charge of public indecency. The Bricktown area is now seeing resurgence with the creation of lofts and the addition of the Greektown casino. Though physically it's a tiny area, Bricktown is notable for its live music venues. Jacoby's provides a small performance space for up & coming acts. Around the corner, St. Andrew's Hall is a venue for nationally touring acts, as is the Shelter in the basement of St. Andrew's.
[edit] Brightmoor
Brightmoor stretches from Puritan and Schoolcraft Roads (north/south) between Telegraph Road and Evergreen (east/west). Brightmoor was created in the early 1900's by Henry Ford as a neighborhood for his factory workers. The area has been affected economically by the overall reduction in automotive industry jobs in the region. Consequently, the poverty rate is 44% in the neighborhood, compared to a 32% average for the rest of Detroit.
This neighborhood is depicted in the novel Warpath by Jeffry Scott Hansen.
[edit] Chaldean Town
Chaldean Town runs along 7 Mile road from Woodward Avenue east to John R. road. The area was designated in 1999 as an economic district featuring Chaldean owned businesses, but it has a longer history of residential settlement by Chaldean immigrants dating back to the 1960s. Chaldean Town is often seen as a "staging area" for new immigrants to settle before moving on to other ethnic enclaves in the northern suburbs of Detroit, though many retain the ownership of businesses in the area after moving to the suburbs.
[edit] Conant Gardens
Conant Gardens is located on the East Side of Detroit along east 7 Mile Road. The neighborhood is unusual in that it was originally built and owned by African Americans, starting in the 1910s. The original owner of the property, Schubael Conant, was an abolitionist. In the 1840s, he removed the racially restrictive covenants which prevented land from being sold to African Americans. Similar covenants prevented African Americans from buying land in much of the rest of the city until the late 1940s. Nonetheless, the neighborhood was originally intended as an area for white collar employees of the Ford Motor Company to settle. This plan was never put into action, and a large influx of African Americans after World War I helped make the neighborhood primarily black.
[edit] Corktown
See main article at Corktown, Detroit
[edit] Cultural Center
The Cultural Center is a district that includes a number of museums and attractions. Located about two miles (3 km) north of downtown, the Cultural Center is roughly bounded by Woodward Avenue to the west, Interstate 75 to the east, Interstate 94 to the north and Warren Avenue to the south. Attractions include the Detroit Institute of Arts, the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, the Scarab Club, the Detroit Historical Museum, the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit, the main library of the Detroit public library system and the Detroit Science Center. The College for Creative Studies is located adjacent the Scarab Club and opposite the East face of the Detroit Institute of Arts. The main campus of Wayne State University is located adjacent to the area, on the opposite side of Woodward.
[edit] Delray
See main article at Delray, Detroit
[edit] Downtown
The primary business district for the city of Detroit. Features most of Detroit's skyscapers including the Renaissance Center.
In recent years the downtown area has seem a tremendous amount of growth and development. Since 2000 a number of major construction projects have been completed including the new Compuware headquarters at Campus Martius Park and two new stadiums: Comerica Park and Ford Field. Also in this time General Motors has moved their headquarters into the once mostly vacant Renaissance Center, and the Detroit Lions have relocated from Pontiac, MI to Detroit. High-profile events like the 2005 MLB All-Star Game, Super Bowl XL, and the 2006 World Series have taken place in downtown, generating income for local businesses and spurring more growth[1]. As result new residents are moving into Detroit in the assortment of new lofts that are opening up, while condemned buildings and homes are being razed to make land available for yet more development.
[edit] East English Village
East English Village is among the most integrated communities in the highly segregated greater Detroit area. The tree-lined streets of East English Village feature a variety of homes ranging from small bungalows to large, luxurious older homes. The housing stock also includes a large number of two-family homes. An active neighborhood association enhances community life.
[edit] Eastern Market
Eastern Market is a historic commercial district in Detroit. It is located approximately one mile (1.6 km) northeast of the city's downtown and is bordered on the south by Gratiot Avenue. First open in 1841, the district was expanded significantly in 1921 and presently covers 43 acres (174,000 m²). Eastern Market is a selling point for a wide variety of produce, meat, spice and other products. It is particularly busy on Saturdays, when farmers tend to bring in their poultry and livestock, along with fresh produce, for sale.
[edit] Greektown
Greektown is located less than half a mile (0.8 km) from the Renaissance Center in the downtown area. It is comprised of only a few city blocks, with Monroe Street at the center. The neighborhood is a popular restaurant and entertainment district, having many restaurants that serve authentic Greek cuisine, as well as one of the city's three casinos, Greektown Casino. Certain buildings on Monroe Street are themed to resemble the Parthenon, Pegasus, and other forms of Greek architecture. Greek music is also played on Monroe Street throughout the day. Well known restaurants include Cyprus Taverna, New Hellas Café, Pegasus Taverna, and Pizza Papalis. The Detroit People Mover has a station at the Greektown Casino on Beaubien Street between Monroe Street and Lafayette Boulevard.
[edit] Indian Village
See main article at Indian Village, Detroit
[edit] Krainz Woods
Krainz Woods stretches from 7 Mile Road and Ryan Road to 7 Mile and Mound Road. The Sojourner Truth Homes housing project is located there. The neighborhood was named after Captain John Krainz, a World War II hero from Detroit.
[edit] Lafayette Park
See main article at Lafayette Park
[edit] Mexicantown
Mexicantown is located in Southwest Detroit, near Porter and Bagley. It is located one block north of the Ambassador Bridge. It is known for good Mexican cuisine at restaurants such as Mexican Village, Evie's Tamales, El Zocalo and Xochimilco. Restaurants, bakeries, and shops are located on Bagley, both the east and west sides of the Interstate 75 service drive.
Mexicantown has had a thriving economy in recent years, as evidenced by new housing, increased business openings and the forthcoming Mexicantown International Welcome Center. Musician Jack White grew up in Mexicantown.
[edit] Midtown
Midtown Detroit is an area roughly two square miles between Downtown Detroit to the south and New Center to the north. Its boundaries are the Ford, Chrysler, Fisher, and Lodge Freeways. It includes the Art Center and the Medical Center in the northeast quadrant, Wayne State University's campus, the Detroit Public Library, and the Detroit Historical Museum in the northwest, and the Cultural Center including various restaurants, galleries, and nightlife venues along Woodward in the center, among other things. As of the census of 2000, there were 16,877 residents living in the area; 19 % of whom were white, considerably more than the 12 % in Detroit as a whole. Asians made up 7.6 % compared to less than one percent in the city of Detroit. The area has experienced a renaissance in the past few years as billions of dollars have been invested Wayne State and others and thousands of new homes constructed or rehabilitated. The daytime population surpasses fifty thousand and includes tens of thousands of Wayne State students, teachers, and doctors at the Medical Center.
This area includes Brush Park and the Cass corridor.
[edit] New Center
The New Center is a commercial district located approximately three miles (4.8 km) north of the city's downtown, and one mile (1.6 km) north of the Cultural Center, around the intersection of Woodward Avenue and Grand Boulevard (which is sometimes referred to as The Boulevard). Developed in the 1920s, it was designed to create a business hub that would offer convenient access to both downtown resources and outlying factories. Some historians believe that the New Center may be the original edge city - a sub-center remote from but related to an urban core. From 1923 to 1996, General Motors maintained its world headquarters in the New Center (in what is now Cadillac Place) before relocating downtown to the Renaissance Center. Cadillac Place is now occupied by State of Michigan government offices. The descriptor "New Center" derived its name from the New Center News, an automotive-focused free newspaper begun in 1933 that continues to operate under the name Detroit Auto Scene.
The Tastefest, a five-day street festival held around Independence Day, takes place on the streets of New Center.
The Fisher Building, considered an Art Deco masterpiece, sits in the New Center.
[edit] North End
Detroit's North End neighborhood was one of the few places middle class African-Americans could live in early 20th century Detroit. The neighborhood flourished until the 1950s, that's when the construction of I-75 and suburban flight lead to the decline of the neighborhood and the neighborhood became badly blighted. Despite the construction of I-75 and the effects of urban decay, the North End still has a nice stock of early 20th housing, including several dozen rowhouses and apartment buildings. The North End is also starting to see new housing being built for the first time in several decades.
[edit] Old Redford
A neighborhood that stretches from Five Points east to Greenfield Road and from 8 Mile Road to Schoolcraft Road, Old Redford encompasses approximately 8 to 10 square miles of land. It was originally a township outside of the city limits, but was annexed in 1926. Much of the housing stock near the center of the area is a mixture of early 1900s to 1940s homes. The area was serviced by a streetcar until the end of the Detroit street railway system in the 1950s. the main commercial intersecton is at Grand River Avenue and Lahser Road. Near this intersection is the Redford Theater, which is now over 75 years old and still showing movies with the accompaniment of the original Barton theater organ.
[edit] Palmer Woods
Known for its elm-lined streets, large brick homes, and Tudor style architecture, Palmer Woods is located on the west side of Detroit. It is bordered by 7 mile, 8 mile, Woodward, and the Sherwood Forest neighborhood . The area was developed from farmland in the 1920s as an exclusive enclave for the business class. Some of its famous residents have included John Salley and several musical legends. Like adjacent neighborhoods of Sherwood Forest, University District, and the private gated communities nearby, Palmer Woods has its own security service and an active voluntary neighborhood association.
Lots are large, with ample room for trees, play equipment, and a good expanse of grass. Stonework unlike that found in houses built today, adorns homes quite uniquely. There may be Scottish Coats of Arms, lead and stained glass windows, and other features, such as elevators in some of the homes. Some of the properties boast more than one structure:such as a house and guest house, or maids quarters. Part of the neighborhood overlooks Palmer Park.
While urban flight after the riots of the late 60's, as well as an outbreak of Dutch Elm disease in the 1970s, took some of the luster off the fashionable community, it is still the home of physicians, politicians, business owners, artists, executives and their families.
[edit] Pilgrim Village
Located south of the University of Detroit-Mercy campus and bounded by Livernois, Idaho, Puritan and Fenkell, Pilgrim Village was developed during the 1920s. Like many other nearby neighborhoods Pilgrim Village was a stable middle class neighborhood for years. During the 1970s and 1980s, Pilgrim Village started to go into a decline. Pilgrim Village is also the birthplace of the Honey Baked Ham Company, which started on Fenkell in 1957.
[edit] Poletown
see main article at Poletown, Detroit
[edit] Rosedale Park
Located in Northwest Detroit, Rosedale Park includes North Rosedale Park, [2], a historic Detroit neighborhood of 1694 homes was annexed by the City of Detroit on September 18, 1925. Its homes date to the 1920s and consist of English Tudors, French Normandy Revivals, American colonials, Dutch, Georgian, Spanish Revivals and Cape Cods and bungalows. There is a civic association, club house and park. In a unique situation, the club house, built prior to annexation, is owned and maintained by the civic association/residents. The Park lot was deeded by the sub-divider to the North Rosedale Park Civic Association, and is the only privately owned neighborhood recreation facility in the city of Detroit. Year round traditions in Rosedale Park include Art Shows and Fairs, Concerts, home tours, neighborhood block parties and the city's largest block/garage sale encompassing 30 blocks within the community.
The Rosedale Park club house is also home to the Jim Dandy Ski Club.[3]. Founded in 1958, JDSC is the oldest (and possibly the only remaining) African-American ski club in the world.
[edit] Warrendale
Warrendale is one of Detroit's largest neighborhoods. Warrendale is with approximate borders of Joy Road to the north, Ford Road to the south, Southfield Freeway to the east and the River Rouge to the west. Warrendale borders the communities of Dearborn and Dearborn Heights. Warrendale is composed of bungalows dating from the 1930s to the 1950s. Warrendale has become more diverse as large numbers of African Americans, Arabs and Latinos have moved into the neighborhood. Warrendale is still a busy strip, although most of its Polish-style markets, bakeries and restaurants are gone or have changed ownerships.
River Rouge Park run through part of Warrendale. Located on each side of the River Rouge, the park has a huge picnic area, a playground and swimming pool.
[edit] Woodbridge
Detroit's The Woodbridge neighborhood is located about 2 miles northwest of downtown Detroit. The neighborhood was primarily developed between 1870 and 1920 with a large number of single and two family residences. The primary commercial districts in the neighborhood were located along Grand River, Trumbull, 12th and 14th. The main architectural style prevalent throughout Woodbridge is Queen Anne, as well as Colonial Revival, Georgian Revival, and 'cottage' type architecture. Today, Woodbridge is one of Detroit's up and coming neighborhoods as a diverse mix of people have moved into the new and renovated homes in the area.
[edit] Springwells Village
Springwells Village in southwest Detroit is near the Ford Motor Company River Rouge Plant. Springwells Village is largely residential, and in 2002, part of Springwells Village was recognized as a national historic district.[4]
Racial breakdown per 2000 United States Census: [5] [6]
- White 75.1
- Black 12.3
- Native American 0.9
- Asian 3.6
- Native Hawaiian 0.1
- Some other race 5.5
- Hispanic 12.5.
[edit] Vernor Junction
The Vernor Junction neighborhood is considered the epicenter of Southwest Detroit's large Latino community. Just as in other Southwest Detroit neighborhoods such as Springwells Village, West Vernor Highway here is a thriving commercial thoroughfare. Though all of Southwest Detroit maintains a decent level of diversity, Vernor Junction is a predominately Latino neighborhood and is home to the Holy Redeemer Catholic Church.
[edit] Other neighborhoods
- Boston-Edison
- Brush Park
- Dexter-Linwood Area
- Eliza Howell
- Elmwood Park
- Grandmont
- Oakwood Heights
- Petosky-Otsego
- Regent Park
- Morningside
- Riverdale
- Russell Woods
- Rivertown
- West Village
- Zone 8 (West Grand Blvd)
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061106/NEWS05/611060337/-1/BUSINESS07
- ^ North Rosedale Park
- ^ Jim Dandy Ski Club
- ^ Weekly listing of actions taken on properties 12/09/02 through 12/13/02
- ^ Zip Code Tabulation Area 48209 U.S. Census Bureau
- ^ map of the ZCTA U.S. Census Bureau
