Eastern Market Historic District
Encyclopedia
Eastern Market is a historic commercial district in Detroit, Michigan
. It is located approximately one mile (1.6 km) northeast of the city's downtown and is bordered on the south by Gratiot Avenue
, the north by Mack Avenue, the east by St. Aubin Street, and the west by the Chrysler Expressway (I-75). The district was designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1974 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1978; the district's boundary was increased in 2007. The Eastern Market is located on the city's central east side near St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church and the Lafayette Park neighborhood. The market was transferred from city management in 2006, and now operates through a public-private partnership with the Eastern Market Corporation. The Eastern Market farmer's distribution center is the largest open-air flowerbed market in the United States and has more than 150 foods and specialty businesses. On Saturdays, about 45,000 people shop the city's historic Eastern Market.
The Farmer's Market in Detroit was first opened in 1841 at Cadillac Square
in the downtown area. In the 1850s, additional markets were opened on the east side of the city (the present location of Eastern Market) and the west side at the corner of Michigan and Trumbull, later the site of Tiger Stadium. In the beginning, the eastern market was devoted to hay and wood sales, but in 1891, sales sheds were built and the Farmer's Market was moved from Cadillac Square to its present location and renamed Eastern Market.
The Eastern Market grew through the following decades, and additional sheds were constructed in 1922 and 1929. Following World War II
, more wholesalers and food processors moved into the area, and Eastern Market developed into an important hub for the wholesale food distribution industry.
States. Eastern Market is a selling point for a wide variety of produce, meat, spice and other products. It is particularly busy on Saturdays, when farmers tend to bring in their poultry
and livestock
, along with fresh produce, for sale. Although the market is in the largest historic public market district in the U.S., the market itself is operated by the private sector though a public-private partnership with the Eastern Market Corporation. The Eastern Market Corporation has operated the property since 2006. According to Jennifer Knott Giering, President of the Dearborn, Michigan Chamber of Commerce, "Since [privatization in] July 2006, the market has renovated infrastructure, increased attendance and has become a catalyst for development in the [surrounding] neighborhood.”
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"....
. It is located approximately one mile (1.6 km) northeast of the city's downtown and is bordered on the south by Gratiot Avenue
M-3 (Michigan highway)
M-3 is a north–south state highway in the US state of Michigan in the Detroit metropolitan area. For most of its length, M-3 is known as Gratiot Avenue...
, the north by Mack Avenue, the east by St. Aubin Street, and the west by the Chrysler Expressway (I-75). The district was designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1974 and 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...
in 1978; the district's boundary was increased in 2007. The Eastern Market is located on the city's central east side near St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church and the Lafayette Park neighborhood. The market was transferred from city management in 2006, and now operates through a public-private partnership with the Eastern Market Corporation. The Eastern Market farmer's distribution center is the largest open-air flowerbed market in the United States and has more than 150 foods and specialty businesses. On Saturdays, about 45,000 people shop the city's historic Eastern Market.
History
Campus Martius Park
Campus Martius Park is a re-established park in downtown Detroit, Michigan. After the fire of 1805, Campus Martius was the focal point of judge Augustus Woodward's plans to rebuild the city. It is where the "point of origin" of Detroit's coordinate system is located...
in the downtown area. In the 1850s, additional markets were opened on the east side of the city (the present location of Eastern Market) and the west side at the corner of Michigan and Trumbull, later the site of Tiger Stadium. In the beginning, the eastern market was devoted to hay and wood sales, but in 1891, sales sheds were built and the Farmer's Market was moved from Cadillac Square to its present location and renamed Eastern Market.
The Eastern Market grew through the following decades, and additional sheds were constructed in 1922 and 1929. Following World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, more wholesalers and food processors moved into the area, and Eastern Market developed into an important hub for the wholesale food distribution industry.
Present use
The market presently covers 43 acres (17.4 ha) and is the largest historic public market district in the UnitedStates. Eastern Market is a selling point for a wide variety of produce, meat, spice and other products. It is particularly busy on Saturdays, when farmers tend to bring in their poultry
Poultry
Poultry are domesticated birds kept by humans for the purpose of producing eggs, meat, and/or feathers. These most typically are members of the superorder Galloanserae , especially the order Galliformes and the family Anatidae , commonly known as "waterfowl"...
and livestock
Livestock
Livestock refers to one or more domesticated animals raised in an agricultural setting to produce commodities such as food, fiber and labor. The term "livestock" as used in this article does not include poultry or farmed fish; however the inclusion of these, especially poultry, within the meaning...
, along with fresh produce, for sale. Although the market is in the largest historic public market district in the U.S., the market itself is operated by the private sector though a public-private partnership with the Eastern Market Corporation. The Eastern Market Corporation has operated the property since 2006. According to Jennifer Knott Giering, President of the Dearborn, Michigan Chamber of Commerce, "Since [privatization in] July 2006, the market has renovated infrastructure, increased attendance and has become a catalyst for development in the [surrounding] neighborhood.”