Southgate, Michigan

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Southgate is a city in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 30,136 at the 2000 census.

Southgate was the last city to incorporate from the former Ecorse Township, gaining city status in October 1958. The city is bounded by Goddard Road to the north; M-85/Fort Street on the east, Pennsylvania Road to the south, and Allen Road to the west.

There are two accounts of the city's name: although described in local guides as being the "South Gate" or entrance to the Metro Detroit area, the first mayor Thomas Anderson stated the name could have originated from the newly-built Southgate Shopping Center in the middle of the city.

Although Southgate does not have its own newspaper, it houses the headquarters and processing plant of The News-Herald, a local Downriver newspaper which covers over twenty surrounding communities.

[edit] Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 17.8 km² (6.9 mi²), all land.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census ² of 2000, there were 30,136 people, 12,836 households, and 8,048 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,696.1/km² (4,395.8/mi²). There were 13,361 housing units at an average density of 752.0/km² (1,948.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.66% White, 2.11% African American, 0.50% Native American, 1.67% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.85% from other races, and 1.18% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.98% of the population.

There were 12,836 households out of which 26.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.2% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.3% were non-families. 32.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the city the population was spread out with 21.5% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 30.6% from 25 to 44, 23.3% 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 93.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $46,927, and the median income for a family was $56,710. Males had a median income of $45,829 versus $28,549 for females. The per capita income for the city was $23,219. About 2.6% of families and 4.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.4% of those under age 18 and 8.5% of those age 65 or over.