Allen Park, Michigan
Encyclopedia
Allen Park is a city in Wayne County
in the U.S. state
of Michigan
. As of the 2010 census, the population was 28,210. The suburb of Detroit was recognized in Money Magazine's list of America's Best Small Cities. Allen Park is part of the collection of communities known as Downriver
Ford Motor Company
is an integral part of the community. Many of the company's offices and facilities lie within the city limits. Since 2002, Allen Park is the practice home of the Detroit Lions
and is also the site of the team's headquarters.
, the city has a total area of 7 square miles (18.1 km²), all land.
) included holdings in what are now Allen Park and Melvindale
. Hubert Champaign and Edward Pepper were two other early residents of the area.
In 1950 Allen Park did not include the part of the city directly west of Melvindale
, Michigan
. This area was still part of Ecorse Township
.
of 2000, there were 29,376 people, 11,974 households, and 8,202 families residing in the city. The population density
was 4,189.7 per square mile (1,618.0/km²). There were 12,254 housing units at an average density of 1,747.7 per square mile (674.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.6% White, 0.7% African American, 0.36% Native American, 0.81% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.21% from other races
, and 1.27% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.73% of the population. There were 11,974 households out of which 27.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.0% were married couples
living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.5% were non-families. 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.99.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.2% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 20.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 91.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $51,992, and the median income for a family was $63,350. Males had a median income of $50,143 versus $31,168 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $24,980. About 1.9% of families and 3.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.3% of those under age 18 and 4.5% of those age 65 or over.
Allen Park's population declined 2.1% to 28,762 by 2003. A 2006 estimate said 27,616 people were living there.
In 2010 the population of Allen Park was 28,210. The racial and ethnic makeup of the population was 87.4% Non-Hispanic white, 2.1% black or African-American, 0.5% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 0.1% Non-Hispanics reporting some other race, 1.6% reporting two or more races, 2.0% Two or more races and 8.1% Hispanic or Latino.
A new mayor and council were elected in November 2011. Bill Matakas won the race for the top seat. The council members elected were Bob Keenan, Angelo DeGuilo, Dennis Hayes, Harry Sisko, Larry Templin and Tina Gawercki.
, and Allen Park Community School.
Northern Allen Park is within the Melvindale-Northern Allen Park Public Schools
. Rogers Early Elementary School is within Allen Park.
Allen Park is home to a roadside attraction
, the "Uniroyal Tire", the world's largest sculpture of a tire. Previously a ferris wheel at the 1964 New York World's Fair
, the structure was moved to Allen Park in 1966. It is 80 feet (24.4 m) tall and weighs 12 tons.
(PBA) announced that Thunderbowl Lanes in Allen Park would be the primary site for the inaugural PBA World Series of Bowling. This unique event featured the first seven tournaments of the PBA's 2009-10 season all contested in the same area. One tournament (Motor City Open) was contested in nearby Taylor, MI, while the other six (including the PBA World Championship
) took place at Thunderbowl. The 2009 events ran August 2-September 6, with the televised finals being taped by ESPN
on September 5–6.
Wayne County, Michigan
-History:Wayne County was one of the first counties formed when the Northwest Territory was organized. It was named for the American general "Mad Anthony" Wayne. It originally encompassed the entire area of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, as well as small sections that are now part of northern...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. As of the 2010 census, the population was 28,210. The suburb of Detroit was recognized in Money Magazine's list of America's Best Small Cities. Allen Park is part of the collection of communities known as Downriver
Downriver
Downriver is the unofficial name for a collection of 18 suburban cities and townships in Wayne County, Michigan south of Detroit along the western shore of the Detroit River....
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
is an integral part of the community. Many of the company's offices and facilities lie within the city limits. Since 2002, Allen Park is the practice home of the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
and is also the site of the team's headquarters.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 7 square miles (18.1 km²), all land.
History
Allen Park was incorporated as a village in 1927, and as a city in 1957. It was named after Lewis Allen, a well-to-do lawyer and lumberman whose 276½ acres of land (primarily in Ecorse TownshipEcorse Township, Michigan
Ecorse Township is a defunct civil township in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan.-Description:The township consisted of 54 mi² , which included two small islands in the Detroit River. It was bordered to the north by Springwells Township with the boundary being the River Rouge...
) included holdings in what are now Allen Park and Melvindale
Melvindale, Michigan
Melvindale is a city in Wayne County of the U.S. state of Michigan and a downriver suburb of Detroit. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 10,715. Melvindale's slogan is "The Little City with a Big Heart."-History:...
. Hubert Champaign and Edward Pepper were two other early residents of the area.
In 1950 Allen Park did not include the part of the city directly west of Melvindale
Melvindale, Michigan
Melvindale is a city in Wayne County of the U.S. state of Michigan and a downriver suburb of Detroit. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 10,715. Melvindale's slogan is "The Little City with a Big Heart."-History:...
, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. This area was still part of Ecorse Township
Ecorse Township, Michigan
Ecorse Township is a defunct civil township in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan.-Description:The township consisted of 54 mi² , which included two small islands in the Detroit River. It was bordered to the north by Springwells Township with the boundary being the River Rouge...
.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 29,376 people, 11,974 households, and 8,202 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 4,189.7 per square mile (1,618.0/km²). There were 12,254 housing units at an average density of 1,747.7 per square mile (674.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.6% White, 0.7% African American, 0.36% Native American, 0.81% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.21% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.27% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.73% of the population. There were 11,974 households out of which 27.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.0% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.5% were non-families. 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.99.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.2% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 20.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 91.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $51,992, and the median income for a family was $63,350. Males had a median income of $50,143 versus $31,168 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $24,980. About 1.9% of families and 3.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.3% of those under age 18 and 4.5% of those age 65 or over.
Allen Park's population declined 2.1% to 28,762 by 2003. A 2006 estimate said 27,616 people were living there.
In 2010 the population of Allen Park was 28,210. The racial and ethnic makeup of the population was 87.4% Non-Hispanic white, 2.1% black or African-American, 0.5% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 0.1% Non-Hispanics reporting some other race, 1.6% reporting two or more races, 2.0% Two or more races and 8.1% Hispanic or Latino.
Politics
Former Mayor Gary Burtka resigned unexpectedly on May 31, 2011 due to a recently diagnosed cancer. The former mayor had been under criticism for the failed attempt at securing a movie studio for Allen Park, the purchase of land for the failed studio, and the announcement of a dismantling of the Allen Park Fire Department. As of his departure the APFD has remain unchanged due to overwhelming support from the community.A new mayor and council were elected in November 2011. Bill Matakas won the race for the top seat. The council members elected were Bob Keenan, Angelo DeGuilo, Dennis Hayes, Harry Sisko, Larry Templin and Tina Gawercki.
Education
Most of Allen Park is within the Allen Park School District. The district has has three elementary schools: Arno, Lindemann, and Bennie. Allen Park Middle School, Allen Park High SchoolAllen Park High School
Allen Park High School is a secondary school in Allen Park, Michigan, United States. It is operated by Allen Park Public Schools.The principal is Janet P. Wasko.-External links:* official school home page*...
, and Allen Park Community School.
Northern Allen Park is within the Melvindale-Northern Allen Park Public Schools
Melvindale-Northern Allen Park Public Schools
Melvindale-Northern Allen Park Public Schools is a school district in Wayne County, Michigan, headquartered in Melvindale. It serves Melvindale and northern Allen Park.-Schools:* Melvindale High School * Strong Middle School...
. Rogers Early Elementary School is within Allen Park.
World's largest tire
42.27057°N 83.20907°WAllen Park is home to a roadside attraction
Roadside attraction
A roadside attraction is a feature along the side of a road, that is frequently advertised with billboards to attract tourists. In general, these are places one might stop on the way to somewhere else, rather than being a final or primary destination in and of themselves. The modern...
, the "Uniroyal Tire", the world's largest sculpture of a tire. Previously a ferris wheel at the 1964 New York World's Fair
1964 New York World's Fair
The 1964/1965 New York World's Fair was the third major world's fair to be held in New York City. Hailing itself as a "universal and international" exposition, the fair's theme was "Peace Through Understanding," dedicated to "Man's Achievement on a Shrinking Globe in an Expanding Universe";...
, the structure was moved to Allen Park in 1966. It is 80 feet (24.4 m) tall and weighs 12 tons.
World Series of Bowling
In 2009, the Professional Bowlers AssociationProfessional Bowlers Association
The Professional Bowlers Association is the major sanctioning body for the sport of professional ten-pin bowling in the United States. Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, the PBA membership consists of almost 4,300 members worldwide...
(PBA) announced that Thunderbowl Lanes in Allen Park would be the primary site for the inaugural PBA World Series of Bowling. This unique event featured the first seven tournaments of the PBA's 2009-10 season all contested in the same area. One tournament (Motor City Open) was contested in nearby Taylor, MI, while the other six (including the PBA World Championship
PBA World Championship
The PBA World Championship is one of the four major PBA bowling events. Prior to 2002, the tournament was called the PBA National Championship. The PBA National Championship was first contested in 1960, then called the First Annual National Championship...
) took place at Thunderbowl. The 2009 events ran August 2-September 6, with the televised finals being taped by ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
on September 5–6.