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.
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. During the late 1950s and 1960s, The Southgate Sentinel, a Mellus newspaper, was published.
Contents |
[edit] History
There are two accounts of the city's name: Southgate is described in local guides as being the "South Gate" or entrance to the Metro Detroit area. "A metropolitan daily picture story" in late 1956 also gave this explanation. [1]
However, Southgate's first mayor Thomas J. Anderson stated the name originated from the newly-built Southgate Shopping Center in the middle of the city. "We were trying to get a separate post office for our community, and were advised that it would help our cause if the township board passed a resolution creating an unincorporated village," Anderson explained. "The name Southgate was chosen because of the shopping center then under consideration, and the board agreed that it was an appropriate name. The resolution was adopted at a regular meeting in the early summer of 1953." [2]
Thomas Anderson became the city's first mayor in 1958 after having been Ecorse Township's supervisor for the previous five years. [3]
[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 census² 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.
[edit] References
- ^ "'Schaferson' Suggested for Township City." Wyandotte Tribune, December 6, 1956.
- ^ "'Southgate' Name Favored in Poll." Wyandotte News-Herald, November 29, 1956.
- ^ "Southgate Becomes New City." The Detroit News, October 1, 1958.
| Cities, Townships, and Villages of Wayne County, Michigan (County Seat: Detroit) |
|
|---|---|
| Cities Population over 75,000 | Dearborn • Detroit• Livonia • Westland |
| Cities Population 25,000 – 75,000 | Allen Park • Dearborn Heights • Garden City • Inkster • Lincoln Park • Romulus • Southgate • Taylor • Wyandotte |
| Cities Population under 25,000 | Belleville • Ecorse • Flat Rock • Gibraltar • Grosse Pointe • Grosse Pointe Farms • Grosse Pointe Park • Grosse Pointe Woods • Hamtramck • Harper Woods • Highland Park • Melvindale • Northville • Plymouth • River Rouge • Riverview • Rockwood • Trenton • Wayne • Woodhaven |
| Townships Population over 25,000 | Canton Township • Plymouth Township • Redford Township |
| Townships Population under 25,000 | Brownstown Township • Grosse Ile Township • Grosse Pointe Township • Huron Township • Northville Township • Sumpter Township • Van Buren Township |
| Villages | Grosse Pointe Shores |
| Other neighborhoods and communities | Downriver |
