Boynton–Oakwood Heights (Detroit)
Encyclopedia
Boynton and Oakwood Heights are the two southernmost neighborhoods
of the city of Detroit, Michigan
. According to the United States Census Bureau
, the two neighborhoods occupy a total of 2.80 square miles (7.3 km²). Boynton and Oakwood Heights had a combined population of 8,832 at the 2010 census, which was a 21.9% decrease from its population of 10,516 in 2000 census. The two occupy the entirety of the 48217 ZIP code
.
Located in the heavily industrialized southwestern portion of Detroit, Boynton and Oakwood Heights are densely populated yet highly polluted by industries in and around the neighborhoods. In several articles published in July 2010, the Detroit Free Press
ranked the neighborhoods of Boynton and Oakwood Heights as the most polluted ZIP code in the state of Michigan.
. It extends as far down as Outer Drive
on the border of Lincoln Park
. Boynton is the southernmost of the two neighborhoods, stretching from the Outer Drive–Interstate 75
exit 42 southeast along Outer Drive until approximately Bassett Street, which enters the city of Ecorse
. Interstate 75 serves as the Detroit border with the city of Melvindale
from exits 42 to 43 (Schaefer Highway). Oakwood Heights occupies the area northwest of the Interstate 75–Schaefer Highway junction, while Boynton occupies the Detroit city limit east of Interstate 75.
The Boynton and Oakwood Heights neighborhoods share their borders with the city of Lincoln Park
on the south, Ecorse
and River Rouge
on the east, Melvindale
on the west, and Dearborn
on the northwest. Across the River Rouge
, Boynton and Oakwood Heights connect to the rest of Detroit—bordering the neighborhoods of Carbon Works and Delray
on the opposite side of the river.
Oakwood Heights connects to Fordson Island in the River Rouge via Riverside Drive, although Fordson Island is under the jurisdiction of Dearborn. The small island has no residents.
According to 2009 estimates, the racial makeup of the two neighborhoods was 10.38% White, 74.80% African American, 0.67% Native American, 0.46% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 0.01% from other races, and 2.60% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.94% of the population. 2009 estimates were off significantly from official counts later recorded at the 2010 census. While there was estimated to be 12,129 residents in 2009, the census officially accounted for only 8,832. The majority of the population lives in Boynton.
The median income for a household in these neighborhoods was $26,316, and the median income for a family was $28,789. About 27.3% of the population was below the poverty line
.
, known locally as the Fisher Freeway, runs north through the Boynton and Oakwood Heights neighborhoods and has two exits: Outer Drive (#42) and Schaefer Highway (#43). Outer Drive
represents the southernmost border of the Boynton neighborhood and the southernmost city limit of Detroit. The Schaefer Highway (also referred to as the Coolidge Highway at various points along its route) runs northwest through the neighborhoods. Fort Street
(formerly U.S. Route 25
) runs north through the middle of the neighborhoods and crosses the River Rouge
. Several Norfolk Southern Railway
lines runs through the Oakwood Heights section.
Oakwood Heights has one property listed on the National Register of Historic Places
: the Fort Street – Pleasant Street and Norfolk & Western Railroad Viaduct, which was constructed in 1928. The 2,800 foot (850 m) long bridge carries six lanes of Fort Street over Pleasant Street and four railway lines before Fort Street crosses the River Rouge.
The Detroit Department of Transportation
operates two bus routes that travel through Boynton and Oakwood Heights. Route #41 travels along Schaefer Highway all the way from the city of River Rouge (where it is called Coolidge Highway), through parts of Dearborn, and to the northern limits of Detroit at 8 Mile Road
at Oak Park
. Route #19 travels along Fort, Schaefer, and Bassett in the Boynton area and connects to Downtown Detroit
.
. Students in grades kindergarten through fifth grade are zoned to Mark Twain School & Academy at 12800 Visger Street just off of Fort Street
. Boynton students in grades 6–8 also attend Mark Twain, while some—mostly those in Oakwood Heights—attend the Phoenix Multicultural Academy at 7735 Lane Street in the Springwells
neighborhood. Mark Twain is the only public school located within the Boynton–Oakwood Heights neighborhoods. Formerly known as the Frances G. Boynton School, it was built in 1926. In the 2011–12 school year, Mark Twain enrolled 277 students, of which 254 (91.7%) were African American and 251 (90.6%) total received free lunch
. High school students in these two neighborhoods attend Southwestern High School
at 6921 West Fort Street on the other side of the River Rouge.
The only other school located within these neighborhoods is the Pierre Toussaint Academy, which is a charter school
located at 2450 South Beatrice Street in Boynton. Managed by The Leona Group
, it enrolls approximately 400 students in grades K–8.
While the two neighborhoods contain no public libraries, the nearest Detroit Public Library
is the Campbell Branch at 8733 West Vernor Highway in the Springwells neighborhood. Also, the Lincoln Park Library is about one mile south of Boynton at 1381 Southfield Road
in Lincoln Park
.
in June 2010, they reported, "For the past six months, a rain of mysterious sparkly dust of unknown origin has landed on their homes and gardens. Odd odors and clouds of dark particles float overhead." Residents often report the material accumulates like "snow" and has led to a number of health problems, especially in younger children. A worker at a local auto scrapyard
mentioned that it consists of "a layer of dust so impenetrable that only toilet bowl cleaner removes it" from the cars in preparation for reselling. This dust pollution has been shown to contain high levels of harmful metals, such as lead.
The Detroit Free Press stated that the 48217 ZIP code—occupied solely by Boynton and Oakwood Heights—is "Michigan's most polluted [zip code], according to analysis by environmental scientists from the University of Michigan
." But, they also pointed to several reasons why this rampant pollution and growing industrialism has not been yielded. Halting the growing industries could discourage job growth to an already downtrodden economy, and, because of a reduced budget, the state is issuing permits for air pollutant industries without full evaluations. Conversely, no single industry within Boynton–Oakwood Heights emits more pollution than allowed by state and federal regulations. However, the high congestion of industries in the neighborhoods—specifically Oakwood Heights—has a cumulative effect.
The largest of these industries is the Marathon Petroleum Company LP refinery located at 301 South Fort Street in Oakwood Heights. While contributing heavily to the pollutants in the area, the refinery received the Energy Star Award
in 2007 and 2008 from the Environmental Protection Agency
for reducing energy usage and protecting the environment through energy efficiency. The refinery has also received permission for an expansion of its facilities, much to the chagrin of residence of Oakwood Heights. Other massive industries, such as the Detroit Wastewater Treatment Plant, located on the other side of the River Rouge in the Delray
neighborhood (48209 ZIP code), incarcerates its waste, and the extremely foul odors spreads throughout the Boynton–Oakwood Heights neighborhoods.
Neighborhoods in Detroit
This article provides brief highlights of some of the city's many notable neighborhoods along with areas designated as historic districts in Detroit, Michigan by geographic area...
of the city of Detroit, 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"....
. According to the United States Census Bureau
United 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 two neighborhoods occupy a total of 2.80 square miles (7.3 km²). Boynton and Oakwood Heights had a combined population of 8,832 at the 2010 census, which was a 21.9% decrease from its population of 10,516 in 2000 census. The two occupy the entirety of the 48217 ZIP code
ZIP Code
ZIP codes are a system of postal codes used by the United States Postal Service since 1963. The term ZIP, an acronym for Zone Improvement Plan, is properly written in capital letters and was chosen to suggest that the mail travels more efficiently, and therefore more quickly, when senders use the...
.
Located in the heavily industrialized southwestern portion of Detroit, Boynton and Oakwood Heights are densely populated yet highly polluted by industries in and around the neighborhoods. In several articles published in July 2010, the Detroit Free Press
Detroit Free Press
The Detroit Free Press is the largest daily newspaper in Detroit, Michigan, USA. The Sunday edition is entitled the Sunday Free Press. It is sometimes informally referred to as the "Freep"...
ranked the neighborhoods of Boynton and Oakwood Heights as the most polluted ZIP code in the state of Michigan.
Geography
Boynton and Oakwood Heights occupy the southernmost 2.80 square miles (7.3 km²) of the city of Detroit. It is the only area of the Detroit city limits that fall south of the River RougeRiver Rouge (Michigan)
The River Rouge, also known as the Rouge River, is a river in the Metro Detroit area of southeastern Michigan. It flows into the Detroit River at Zug Island, which is the boundary between the cities of River Rouge and Detroit....
. It extends as far down as Outer Drive
Outer Drive
Outer Drive is a bypass road which encircles both the eastern and western portions of the Metro Detroit area. It resembles a jagged horseshoe and was not originally intended to move traffic as much as to provide a pleasurable drive around Detroit. This drive would include travel through beautiful...
on the border of Lincoln Park
Lincoln Park, Michigan
Lincoln Park is a city in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It lies in an area of cities and communities known as Downriver. The population was 38,144 at the 2010 census . The settlement was organized as a village in 1921, and reorganized as a city in 1925. The area was originally home to...
. Boynton is the southernmost of the two neighborhoods, stretching from the Outer Drive–Interstate 75
Interstate 75 in Michigan
Interstate 75 is a part of the Interstate Highway System and runs from Miami, Florida to Sault Ste. Marie in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. I-75 enters the state from Ohio in the south, just to the north of Toledo. It runs generally north through Detroit, Pontiac and Bay City, crossing the...
exit 42 southeast along Outer Drive until approximately Bassett Street, which enters the city of Ecorse
Ecorse, Michigan
Ecorse is a city in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan, named for the Ecorse River. The population was 9,512 at the 2010 census.-History:...
. Interstate 75 serves as the Detroit border with the city 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:...
from exits 42 to 43 (Schaefer Highway). Oakwood Heights occupies the area northwest of the Interstate 75–Schaefer Highway junction, while Boynton occupies the Detroit city limit east of Interstate 75.
The Boynton and Oakwood Heights neighborhoods share their borders with the city of Lincoln Park
Lincoln Park, Michigan
Lincoln Park is a city in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It lies in an area of cities and communities known as Downriver. The population was 38,144 at the 2010 census . The settlement was organized as a village in 1921, and reorganized as a city in 1925. The area was originally home to...
on the south, Ecorse
Ecorse, Michigan
Ecorse is a city in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan, named for the Ecorse River. The population was 9,512 at the 2010 census.-History:...
and River Rouge
River Rouge, Michigan
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,917 people, 3,640 households, and 2,504 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,713.9 per square mile . There were 4,080 housing units at an average density of 1,528.0 per square mile...
on the east, 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:...
on the west, and Dearborn
Dearborn, Michigan
-Economy:Ford Motor Company has its world headquarters in Dearborn. In addition its Dearborn campus contains many research, testing, finance and some production facilities. Ford Land controls the numerous properties owned by Ford including sales and leasing to unrelated businesses such as the...
on the northwest. Across the River Rouge
River Rouge (Michigan)
The River Rouge, also known as the Rouge River, is a river in the Metro Detroit area of southeastern Michigan. It flows into the Detroit River at Zug Island, which is the boundary between the cities of River Rouge and Detroit....
, Boynton and Oakwood Heights connect to the rest of Detroit—bordering the neighborhoods of Carbon Works and Delray
Delray, Detroit
Delray is a neighborhood and former incorporated village, located on the south side of Detroit, Michigan. It is isolated from other areas of Detroit by industrial warehouses and Interstate 75...
on the opposite side of the river.
Oakwood Heights connects to Fordson Island in the River Rouge via Riverside Drive, although Fordson Island is under the jurisdiction of Dearborn. The small island has no residents.
Demographics
According to data from the 2010 census, the areas of Boynton–Oakwood Heights had 8,832 people and 3,126 occupied households for an average density of 5,428.4 people per square mile (2,095.9/km²). There were 716 vacant units.According to 2009 estimates, the racial makeup of the two neighborhoods was 10.38% White, 74.80% African American, 0.67% Native American, 0.46% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 0.01% from other races, and 2.60% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.94% of the population. 2009 estimates were off significantly from official counts later recorded at the 2010 census. While there was estimated to be 12,129 residents in 2009, the census officially accounted for only 8,832. The majority of the population lives in Boynton.
The median income for a household in these neighborhoods was $26,316, and the median income for a family was $28,789. About 27.3% of the population was below the poverty line
Poverty thresholds (United States Census Bureau)
For statistical purposes , the United States Census Bureau uses a set of annual income levels, the poverty thresholds, slightly different than the federal poverty guidelines...
.
Transportation
Interstate 75Interstate 75 in Michigan
Interstate 75 is a part of the Interstate Highway System and runs from Miami, Florida to Sault Ste. Marie in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. I-75 enters the state from Ohio in the south, just to the north of Toledo. It runs generally north through Detroit, Pontiac and Bay City, crossing the...
, known locally as the Fisher Freeway, runs north through the Boynton and Oakwood Heights neighborhoods and has two exits: Outer Drive (#42) and Schaefer Highway (#43). Outer Drive
Outer Drive
Outer Drive is a bypass road which encircles both the eastern and western portions of the Metro Detroit area. It resembles a jagged horseshoe and was not originally intended to move traffic as much as to provide a pleasurable drive around Detroit. This drive would include travel through beautiful...
represents the southernmost border of the Boynton neighborhood and the southernmost city limit of Detroit. The Schaefer Highway (also referred to as the Coolidge Highway at various points along its route) runs northwest through the neighborhoods. Fort Street
M-85 (Michigan highway)
M-85, also known as Fort Street or Fort Road for its entire length, is a state highway route in the U.S. state of Michigan.In Detroit proper, M-85 consists of West Fort street and South Fort street...
(formerly U.S. Route 25
U.S. Route 25
U.S. Route 25 is a north–south United States highway that runs for from Brunswick, Georgia to the Ohio state line in Covington, Kentucky.-Georgia:...
) runs north through the middle of the neighborhoods and crosses the River Rouge
River Rouge (Michigan)
The River Rouge, also known as the Rouge River, is a river in the Metro Detroit area of southeastern Michigan. It flows into the Detroit River at Zug Island, which is the boundary between the cities of River Rouge and Detroit....
. Several Norfolk Southern Railway
Norfolk Southern Railway
The Norfolk Southern Railway is a Class I railroad in the United States, owned by the Norfolk Southern Corporation. With headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia, the company operates 21,500 route miles in 22 eastern states, the District of Columbia and the province of Ontario, Canada...
lines runs through the Oakwood Heights section.
Oakwood Heights has one property listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
: the Fort Street – Pleasant Street and Norfolk & Western Railroad Viaduct, which was constructed in 1928. The 2,800 foot (850 m) long bridge carries six lanes of Fort Street over Pleasant Street and four railway lines before Fort Street crosses the River Rouge.
The Detroit Department of Transportation
Detroit Department of Transportation
The Detroit Department of Transportation, commonly referred to as DDOT is the public transportation operator of city bus service in Detroit, Michigan...
operates two bus routes that travel through Boynton and Oakwood Heights. Route #41 travels along Schaefer Highway all the way from the city of River Rouge (where it is called Coolidge Highway), through parts of Dearborn, and to the northern limits of Detroit at 8 Mile Road
M-102 (Michigan highway)
M-102 is a state trunkline in the US state of Michigan, running along the northern boundary of Detroit. It is known as 8 Mile Road for most of its length. As part of the land surveying of the state, the road follows the Michigan Baseline, and it is called Base Line Road in places. M-102 is the...
at Oak Park
Oak Park, Michigan
As of the census of 2000, there were 29,793 people, 11,104 households, and 7,595 families residing in the city. The population density was 5,863.8 persons per square mile . There were 11,370 housing units at an average density of 2,263.9 per square mile...
. Route #19 travels along Fort, Schaefer, and Bassett in the Boynton area and connects to Downtown Detroit
Downtown Detroit
Downtown Detroit is the central business district and a residential area of Detroit, Michigan, United States. Downtown is bordered by the Lodge Freeway to the west, the Fisher Freeway to the north, Interstate 375 to the east, and the Detroit River to the south.Downtown contains much historic...
.
Education
Being a part of Detroit, residents of Boynton and Oakwood Heights are zoned to Detroit Public SchoolsDetroit Public Schools
Detroit Public Schools is a school district that covers all of the city of Detroit, Michigan, United States. The student population of the Detroit Public Schools is about 65,971 , which is down about 9.7% from the previous school year. Detroit Public Charter Schools educate an additional 56,000...
. Students in grades kindergarten through fifth grade are zoned to Mark Twain School & Academy at 12800 Visger Street just off of Fort Street
M-85 (Michigan highway)
M-85, also known as Fort Street or Fort Road for its entire length, is a state highway route in the U.S. state of Michigan.In Detroit proper, M-85 consists of West Fort street and South Fort street...
. Boynton students in grades 6–8 also attend Mark Twain, while some—mostly those in Oakwood Heights—attend the Phoenix Multicultural Academy at 7735 Lane Street in the Springwells
Springwells Village
Springwells Village is a neighborhood in southwest Detroit, Michigan, 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.The Springwells Village neighborhood is typically...
neighborhood. Mark Twain is the only public school located within the Boynton–Oakwood Heights neighborhoods. Formerly known as the Frances G. Boynton School, it was built in 1926. In the 2011–12 school year, Mark Twain enrolled 277 students, of which 254 (91.7%) were African American and 251 (90.6%) total received free lunch
National School Lunch Act
The Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act is a United States federal law signed by President Harry S. Truman in 1946. The act created the National School Lunch Program , a program to provide low-cost or free school lunch meals to qualified students through subsidies to schools...
. High school students in these two neighborhoods attend Southwestern High School
Southwestern High School (Michigan)
Southwestern High School is a high school in southwest Detroit, Michigan, USA. It is part of the Detroit Public Schools district.Brewster Homes/Brewster-Douglass Housing Projects, Detroit public housing, is zoned to this school.-Notable alumni:...
at 6921 West Fort Street on the other side of the River Rouge.
The only other school located within these neighborhoods is the Pierre Toussaint Academy, which is a charter school
Charter school
Charter schools are primary or secondary schools that receive public money but are not subject to some of the rules, regulations, and statutes that apply to other public schools in exchange for some type of accountability for producing certain results, which are set forth in each school's charter...
located at 2450 South Beatrice Street in Boynton. Managed by The Leona Group
The Leona Group
The Leona Group, LLC is a Lansing, Michigan-based operator of charter schools in Arizona, Florida, Michigan, and Ohio. It started in Michigan in the early 1990s as a think tank called MPNE , headed by founder Bill Coates and businessman Alfred Taubman, among others...
, it enrolls approximately 400 students in grades K–8.
While the two neighborhoods contain no public libraries, the nearest Detroit Public Library
Detroit Public Library
The Detroit Public Library is the second largest library system in Michigan by volumes held , and is the 20th largest library system in the United States. It is composed of a Main Library on Woodward Avenue, which houses DPL administration offices, and twenty-three branch locations across the city...
is the Campbell Branch at 8733 West Vernor Highway in the Springwells neighborhood. Also, the Lincoln Park Library is about one mile south of Boynton at 1381 Southfield Road
M-39 (Michigan highway)
M-39 is a state highway in the US state of Michigan that runs from Lincoln Park to Southfield. The southern terminus of M-39 is at the corner of Southfield Road and Lafayette Boulevard in Lincoln Park, one block southeast of the junction of I-75 and two blocks northwest of M-85...
in Lincoln Park
Lincoln Park, Michigan
Lincoln Park is a city in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It lies in an area of cities and communities known as Downriver. The population was 38,144 at the 2010 census . The settlement was organized as a village in 1921, and reorganized as a city in 1925. The area was originally home to...
.
Public health
The southwest region of Detroit is heavily industrialized, and this has caused serious health problems for some residents living in Boynton–Oakwood Heights, as well as other areas of Detroit and the surrounding cities. While at least 14 states regulate and prohibit how close industries can build to schools and residential zones, Michigan does not have such regulations. Because of this, Detroit zoned its southwest areas for heavy industrial use, despite the residents that already occupied the area prior to the industrial growth. Air pollution in Boynton–Oakwood Heights has been a leading cause of respiratory diseases and cancer cases in long-term residents. In an article published by the Detroit Free PressDetroit Free Press
The Detroit Free Press is the largest daily newspaper in Detroit, Michigan, USA. The Sunday edition is entitled the Sunday Free Press. It is sometimes informally referred to as the "Freep"...
in June 2010, they reported, "For the past six months, a rain of mysterious sparkly dust of unknown origin has landed on their homes and gardens. Odd odors and clouds of dark particles float overhead." Residents often report the material accumulates like "snow" and has led to a number of health problems, especially in younger children. A worker at a local auto scrapyard
Wrecking yard
A scrapyard or junkyard is the location of a dismantling business where wrecked or decommissioned vehicles are brought, their usable parts are sold for use in operating vehicles, while the unusable metal parts, known as scrap metal parts, are sold to metal-recycling companies...
mentioned that it consists of "a layer of dust so impenetrable that only toilet bowl cleaner removes it" from the cars in preparation for reselling. This dust pollution has been shown to contain high levels of harmful metals, such as lead.
The Detroit Free Press stated that the 48217 ZIP code—occupied solely by Boynton and Oakwood Heights—is "Michigan's most polluted [zip code], according to analysis by environmental scientists from the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
." But, they also pointed to several reasons why this rampant pollution and growing industrialism has not been yielded. Halting the growing industries could discourage job growth to an already downtrodden economy, and, because of a reduced budget, the state is issuing permits for air pollutant industries without full evaluations. Conversely, no single industry within Boynton–Oakwood Heights emits more pollution than allowed by state and federal regulations. However, the high congestion of industries in the neighborhoods—specifically Oakwood Heights—has a cumulative effect.
The largest of these industries is the Marathon Petroleum Company LP refinery located at 301 South Fort Street in Oakwood Heights. While contributing heavily to the pollutants in the area, the refinery received the Energy Star Award
Energy Star
Energy Star is an international standard for energy efficient consumer products originated in the United States of America. It was first created as a United States government program during the early 1990s, but Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Taiwan and the European Union have also adopted...
in 2007 and 2008 from the Environmental Protection Agency
United States Environmental Protection Agency
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is an agency of the federal government of the United States charged with protecting human health and the environment, by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress...
for reducing energy usage and protecting the environment through energy efficiency. The refinery has also received permission for an expansion of its facilities, much to the chagrin of residence of Oakwood Heights. Other massive industries, such as the Detroit Wastewater Treatment Plant, located on the other side of the River Rouge in the Delray
Delray, Detroit
Delray is a neighborhood and former incorporated village, located on the south side of Detroit, Michigan. It is isolated from other areas of Detroit by industrial warehouses and Interstate 75...
neighborhood (48209 ZIP code), incarcerates its waste, and the extremely foul odors spreads throughout the Boynton–Oakwood Heights neighborhoods.