Inkster, Michigan

Inkster is a city in Wayne County of the U.S. state of Michigan. At the 2010 census, the city population was 25,369.^[3] It is one of several suburbs in Metro Detroit whose population is majority or plurality African American.

History

The area was first 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,^[4] 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^[5][6]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.25 square miles (16.2 km²), all land.

Demographics

At the 2010 census^[1], there were 25,369 people, 9,821 households and 6,175 families residing in the city. The population density was 4,057.1 per square mile (1,566.4/km²). There were 11,647 housing units at an average density of 1,862.6 per square mile (719.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 20.5% White, 73.2% African American, 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 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.

Notable natives and residents

• Geraldine Doyle, the woman whose image served as a model for an iconic Rosie the Riveter poster
• Marcus Fizer, professional basketball player
• The Marvelettes, R&B singing trio
  • Katherine Anderson
  • Gladys Horton
  • Georgeanna Tillman
  • Wanda Young
• Tyrone Wheatley, professional football player
• Wade Flemons, noted R&B singer, musician and song writer. Wrote song "Stand By Me" which was sung by the Platters. Early member of Earth, Wind, and Fire, until 1973.

Education

Most of Inkster is within the Inkster Public Schools district. A large portion is within the Wayne-Westland Community Schools district^[7] The remaining areas are served by Westwood Community Schools and the Taylor School District.

References

External links

• City of Inkster official website
• Inkster Public Library