Hazel Park, Michigan
Encyclopedia
Hazel Park is a city in Oakland County
of the U.S. state
of Michigan
. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 16,422. Hazel Park was incorporated in 1941 and bills itself as "The Friendly City".
Hazel Park is the third most densely populated city in Michigan, holding the position under Hamtramck
and nearby Royal Oak Township
. However, due to the 2004 annexation of a portion of Royal Oak Township into Oak Park
, Hazel Park now assumes the position as second highest.
The city has the second largest Native American
population in Oakland County, only topped by Keego Harbor
.
and had a meeting, requesting for a school to be built. A one-room school
was eventually built in 1883 and later expanded to two rooms. In 1884, John W. Benjamine petitioned the state of Michigan to form a school district
out of Royal Oak Township
. Benjamine, who was Royal Oak Township's School Inspector, decided to name it Hazel Park School District 8, after the surplus amount of Hazelnut bushes
in the area.
In 1920, another building, the Lacey School, was built on present-day Woodruff Street. The original Hazel Park school was sold to Frank Neusius, who used it to open a barber shop and a grocery market.
It was not until Ford, based out of Highland Park
, began to expand that Hazel Park experienced significant growth. Hospitals, offices and shops began to thrive around the area of 9 Mile Road. In 1924, Hazel Park's first traffic light
, post office
and Deputy Sheriff's office
were established. The city was incorporated in 1941.
Conditions were poor during the early years of Hazel Park. Running water was not present in parts of the area, and many large families were forced to live in homes as small as two rooms.
During the 1930s and 1940s, there were many rallies and community events involving and eventually leading to the clean-up of the city. A large amount of shacks and garage homes were demolished and rebuilt as larger, more habitable housing. After the city's incorporation, running water was provided to all areas. Almost all of the dirty swampland that caused widespread flooding in Hazel Park was drained and filled with land.
In 1942, the Elias Brothers, John, Fred and Louis Elias, established a diner in Hazel Park. This diner, the Dixie Drive-In, was one of the first in the Midwest to offer curbside services. In 1952, the diner was franchised as a Big Boy
restaurant; Louis Elias went on to run for Mayor of Hazel Park, and was in office from 1953 to 1961. The Elias brothers continued to establish Big Boy restaurants throughout the Metro Detroit
area until finally purchasing the franchise in 1983.
The clean-up of the city paved the way for the return of thousands of soldiers from World War II
. Housing demand was very high in the area, causing a boom in construction. Many of the present-day bungalow
s in the city were built just shortly after the war.
Hazel Park was a hotspot for mafia activity during the 1950s
. Mobsters such as Anthony Zerilli
and William Tocco
were attracted to business in the city, mostly involving its raceway
.
The I-75
expressway was not fully completed through Hazel Park until 1966. The area where it is now was Stephenson Highway, which has a current purpose as a service drive. Similarly, I-696
was constructed through what was then Hazel Park, currently Madison Heights
, in 1979. It was then joined with I-75, creating the highway's busiest junction.
On July 15, 2009, a car traveling northbound on I-75 crashed into a gas tanker, tipping it over and creating an explosion causing the 9 Mile Road overpass to collapse onto I-75. Police and fire departments from Hazel Park and neighboring cities responded, and no serious injuries or fatalities were reported. The expressway was closed for one week before reopening.
and unemployment. Another issue in the area is lack of foliage, caused by the killing of many trees from Dutch elm disease
in the 1980s and 1990s. Violent crime
is quickly decreasing in the city, but property crime
still remains a small issue.
New development is a well-established trend in Hazel Park. Many foreclosed homes have been purchased and demolished in order to use the land to build upscale, modern housing. As of 2010, the business economy is growing at a fast pace as the buildings of former businesses that failed to thrive in the last decade are purchased and utilized. An artistic community is developing in the area, evident by plans such as those to build sculpture gardens in vacant land and new businesses such as the Phoenix Cafe, a venue offering open mic nights, discussion forums, film nights and meet-and-greet gatherings.
The blighted Days Inn Hotel
was demolished in early 2010 and was replaced towards the end of 2010 by a Tim Hortons
coffee shop and a large CVS Pharmacy. Following the demolition of the hotel, the Hazelcrest Apartments has become the tallest building in the city.
of 2010, there were 16,422 people and 6,641 households residing in the city. The population density
was 5,865.0 per square mile. There were 7,612 housing units at an average density of 2,700.9 per square mile (1,042.2/km²).
In 2000, there were 7,284 households out of which 33.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.6% were married couples living together, 16.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.9% were non-families. 28.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.21.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.7% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 33.2% from 25 to 44, 18.1% from 45 to 64, and 11.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 97.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.0 males.
73.1% of all households in Hazel Park were family households. 20.9% of all households were married couple families with children. 10.6% were single-mother families.
, and 4.20% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.7% of the population.
In similarity to neighboring Warren, Michigan
; a large percentage of Hazel Park's population, if not a majority, is of mostly Polish American
and German American
descent, with a small Italian American
minority. The top ancestries in the city were 18.6% German, 14.8% Irish, 10.3% Polish, 9.7% English, 6.0% French and 4.1% Italian. Other prominent ancestries include French Canadian (3.6%), Scottish (3%), Arab (2.5%) and Dutch (1.6%). The city has also become an enclave for Albanian Americans as well.
In 2000, 7.2% of Hazel Park citizens were foreign born. 9.7% reported speaking a language other than English.
for the city was $19,390. About 10.0% of families and 12.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.0% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.
As of the 2000 Census, the median income for a household in the city was $37,045, and the median income for a family was $43,584. Males had a median income of $33,063 versus $24,362 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $16,723.
Excluding one neighborhood in particular with a majority elderly population, the city's median household income in 2009 was $46,687, surpassing the neighboring communities of Warren
, Madison Heights
and Ferndale
as well as many communities in the Detroit Metropolitan Area. With this non-inclusive income, Hazel Park's median household income would be higher than 39.7% of the metro area, including 16.1% of Oakland cities, 61.5% of Macomb cities, and 55.8% of Wayne cities.
, a small city located inside the Detroit city limits.
Hazel Francisco is a term said to be coined during the early-to-middle 1990s to refer to the city's growing homosexual population. The nickname is a portmanteau of "Hazel Park" and "San Francisco", and is normally not considered to be offensive. The term is challenged, however, because although the city's homosexual population is significantly above average, it is not a largely homosexual city.
Hazeltucky is a derogatory and offensive term for the city of Hazel Park. The name is a portmanteau of "Hazel Park" and "Kentucky
". While many residents believe the nickname was coined during the 1920s and used during the 1920s and 1930s to describe the shanty town
s in the Hazel Park section of Royal Oak Township, there is no actual written record as to where the nickname came from. The name has since been manipulated and made into an insult used to associate Hazel Park residents with "hillbilly
" culture.
style, shortly after World War Two, and have a second story encompassed in the home's roofing.
Michigan bungalows
are also common in the city. These houses were originally built during the 1920s and 1930s by the city's original settlers and can often be found near the downtown area.
Ranch houses
are very common in the city as well. Most of these houses were built in the northern neighborhoods during the late 1950s and early 1960s. Older ranch houses were often built with aluminum siding, whereas newer ones, such as the ones built in the Courts, were built in brick or stone.
Front split-level and side split-level houses are not common in the city. However, back split houses - split-levels with the second story built into the back - are common in the southern portion of the city near the 8 Mile border. These homes are often built onto one-story bungalows and ranch houses.
Colonial houses are uncommon in the city, but many are scattered throughout different neighborhoods. These houses are often built in brick and usually resemble urban Tudor
houses. Some are built in stone, often more common north of 9 Mile Road. Others are built in the Traditional Tudor style, such as the Truba House in Three Churches.
New development homes are extremely common in the city. They can be seen on many blocks of Hazel Park, and often range from two-story snout houses
to detached single-family brownstone
s. Many of these houses are built in the Neo-eclectic
style.
and Hamtramck
; but is somewhat higher than communities in its own radius such as Royal Oak
, Ferndale
and Madison Heights
. The crime rate in the city in 2003 was 83.5% of the national average. Larceny theft
was the most popular crime in 2008, making up 43.8% of the city's crime. Property crimes are becoming increasingly common due to Hazel Park's superb transportation network which connects it to two interstate highways
.
The city's crime rate has been shifting completely, however. The violent crime rate has gone down 57% in 2008 from what it was in 2000. In contrast, the property crime rate has gone up 4.6% in the same time period. Specifically, the decrease has been in forcible rape
and robbery
crimes; and a slight increase in burglary
and arson
.
in Hazel Park is an on-and-off trend. A year with one murder is likely to have another, followed by multiple years with no murders. Since 2000, there have been 5 reported murders. 1 in 2002, 2 in 2003, a homicide in 2010, and 1 in 2011.
, the feeling of police awareness; is something that is well established in the community as well as in the neighboring community of Ferndale
, and has caused crime to decrease greatly. The department has auxiliary policing
and neighborhood watch
programs available to citizens ages 21 and over. The police department also offers programs such as gun lock giveaways, house watch programs, and programs to put a child up for adoption
in case the parent is not capable of raising the child.
The current chief of Hazel Park Police is David B. Niedermeier.
consisting of a Mayor
and four council members. The city council appoints a City Manager
, who manages the day-to-day operations of the city. The current mayor of Hazel Park is Jack Lloyd, who until March 2010 was the deli manager of the local Kroger
grocery store. The current city manager is Edward Klobucher. City government is located on the same block as the public library
, police station
and post office
, at 9 Mile Road and John R. Road.
. However, citizens tend to use different names to unofficially name neighborhoods.
is focused on where the two roads intersect. Hazel Park's central business district includes two shopping centers, a high-rise apartment building, the city's civic buildings, and many small business
es.
The North Business District boasts businesses of a higher relative wealth such as a Pittsburgh Paints outlet
, a bicycle store, and multiple appliance shops. John R Road, the principal thoroughfare of the North Business district, is known for its brick-paved
sidewalk
s.
The South Business District along John R Road consists mostly of less affluent businesses than the Central and North business districts. Automotive shops, small shopping centers and office parks are common in the area.
The first Harmony House
music store opened in Hazel Park's Central Business District in 1947.
. Chain store
s such as Walgreens
and McDonald's
are beginning to grow in the southern portion of the neighborhood as well. A popular diner
, Brayz, is located in the area and is one of Hazel Park's most frequented fast food restaurant
s.
Because of its industrial occupancy, these stretches of road are often considered to be much less appealing than the city's business districts. Blighted factories and shops are more common, as well as commercial security measures such as folding gates and window bars, which are scarcely seen in other parts of the city.
As popularly referred to by Hazel Park citizens, The Courts is a neighborhood focused around Maple, Poplar, Cedar, Oak and Elm courts, five oval-shaped roads circled vertically around Otis Street. The neighborhood is known for its relatively larger, more expensive houses. The estimated median household income was $52,000.
The Scout Park neighborhood, just adjacent to The Courts, is another point of affluence. The estimated median household income was $51,635.
As the name suggests, the Three Churches neighborhood is based around three churches near I-75: Woodlawn Church, Serenity Christian Church, and Landmark Community Church (formerly Calvary). Since the 1980s, wealthier families have begun to move in to the neighborhood in large numbers. The estimated median household income was $46,349.
. The Hazel Park Schools Administrative Building is located in the neighborhood after moving from a facility near the High School. The estimated median household income was $44,247.
East Hazel Park is a neighborhood bordering Warren
and Madison Heights
. The estimated median household income was $43,134.
Southwest Hazel Park is a neighborhood bordering Detroit
and Ferndale
. The median household income was $40,717.
West End is a residential neighborhood on the border of Ferndale
. The estimated median household income was $38,503.
Located just north of Detroit's State Fair neighborhood, South Central Hazel Park is one of the poorer areas of the city. House prices are generally lower, and the poverty rate is above city average at about 16%. The low percentage of college graduates is considered a main factor in this. The estimated median household income was $35,458.
North Central Hazel Park is statistically the least wealthy neighborhood in the city. However, the percent of citizens over the age of 65 is the highest in the city at 20.3%. The estimated median household income was $32,224.
The northern portion of the city is served by Webb Elementary, while the southern portion is served by Webster Elementary, United Oaks Elementary, and Hoover Elementary. Multiple other elementary schools once operated in the city, including Roosevelt, Lee O. Clark, Longfellow, Henry Ford and Edison Elementaries. Lee O. Clark has since been demolished, and Henry Ford has been converted into the School District Administration Building.
Hazel Park has followed a recent trend in Metro Detroit
suburbs by the consolidation
of its middle schools. Formerly, two separate schools, Webb Junior High and Beecher Middle School, operated in the city. Webb was converted to an elementary school in 2004, and Beecher was torn down and re-built, commissioned as Hazel Park Junior High.
High schools in Hazel Park began with the construction of Lacey High School in 1920 and Hazel Park High School
in 1929. Lacey High was demolished in the early 1960s, and the Hazel Park High School was re-commissioned as Howard Beecher Junior High. After these changes, a new high school was built in the eastern portion of the city, taking the name of Hazel Park High School.
Jardon Vocational School is also in operation in order to separate troubled students from the mainstream curriculum and serves as a high school. The school operates mainly in the Hazel Park-Ferndale
-Pleasant Ridge
area, but also serves the rest of Oakland County
, especially the south east.
Oakland County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the 2010 Census, there were 1,202,362 people, 471,115 households, and 315,175 families residing in the county. The population density as of the 2000 census was 1,369 people per square mile . There were 492,006 housing units at an average density of 564 per square mile...
of 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 city population was 16,422. Hazel Park was incorporated in 1941 and bills itself as "The Friendly City".
Hazel Park is the third most densely populated city in Michigan, holding the position under Hamtramck
Hamtramck, Michigan
Hamtramck is a city in Wayne County of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 22,423. Hamtramck is surrounded by the city of Detroit except for a small portion of the western border that touches the similarly surrounded city of Highland Park...
and nearby Royal Oak Township
Royal Oak Charter Township, Michigan
Royal Oak Charter Township is a charter township of Oakland County of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a suburb of Detroit and is part of the Metro Detroit area. As of the 2010 census, the population was 2,419. The nearby city of Royal Oak is legally separate from the township.Until 2004, the...
. However, due to the 2004 annexation of a portion of Royal Oak Township into 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...
, Hazel Park now assumes the position as second highest.
The city has the second largest Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
population in Oakland County, only topped by Keego Harbor
Keego Harbor, Michigan
Keego Harbor is a city in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,970 at the 2010 census. The city originated as a real estate investment and planned resort established by Pontiac lawyer Joseph E. Sawyer circa 1900. The name Keego is said to mean "big fish" in an Indian...
.
History
In October 1882, a group of farmers gathered in a home located at the present-day city hallSeat of local government
In local government, a city hall, town hall or a municipal building or civic centre, is the chief administrative building of a city...
and had a meeting, requesting for a school to be built. A one-room school
One-room school
One-room schools were commonplace throughout rural portions of various countries including the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Ireland and Spain in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In most rural and small town schools, all of the students met in a single room...
was eventually built in 1883 and later expanded to two rooms. In 1884, John W. Benjamine petitioned the state of Michigan to form a school district
School district
School districts are a form of special-purpose district which serves to operate the local public primary and secondary schools.-United States:...
out of Royal Oak Township
Royal Oak Charter Township, Michigan
Royal Oak Charter Township is a charter township of Oakland County of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a suburb of Detroit and is part of the Metro Detroit area. As of the 2010 census, the population was 2,419. The nearby city of Royal Oak is legally separate from the township.Until 2004, the...
. Benjamine, who was Royal Oak Township's School Inspector, decided to name it Hazel Park School District 8, after the surplus amount of Hazelnut bushes
Corylus americana
Corylus americana, the American Hazelnut, is a species of the genus Corylus that is native to eastern North America.It is a medium to large shrub that under some conditions can take the form of a small tree...
in the area.
In 1920, another building, the Lacey School, was built on present-day Woodruff Street. The original Hazel Park school was sold to Frank Neusius, who used it to open a barber shop and a grocery market.
It was not until Ford, based out of Highland Park
Highland Park, Michigan
- Geography :According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land.- Demographics :As of the census of 2000, there were 16,746 people, 6,199 households, and 3,521 families residing in the city. The population density was 5,622.9 per square mile . There were 7,249...
, began to expand that Hazel Park experienced significant growth. Hospitals, offices and shops began to thrive around the area of 9 Mile Road. In 1924, Hazel Park's first traffic light
Traffic light
Traffic lights, which may also be known as stoplights, traffic lamps, traffic signals, signal lights, robots or semaphore, are signalling devices positioned at road intersections, pedestrian crossings and other locations to control competing flows of traffic...
, post office
United States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
and Deputy Sheriff's office
Sheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
were established. The city was incorporated in 1941.
Conditions were poor during the early years of Hazel Park. Running water was not present in parts of the area, and many large families were forced to live in homes as small as two rooms.
During the 1930s and 1940s, there were many rallies and community events involving and eventually leading to the clean-up of the city. A large amount of shacks and garage homes were demolished and rebuilt as larger, more habitable housing. After the city's incorporation, running water was provided to all areas. Almost all of the dirty swampland that caused widespread flooding in Hazel Park was drained and filled with land.
In 1942, the Elias Brothers, John, Fred and Louis Elias, established a diner in Hazel Park. This diner, the Dixie Drive-In, was one of the first in the Midwest to offer curbside services. In 1952, the diner was franchised as a Big Boy
Big Boy (restaurant)
Big Boy is a restaurant chain with its headquarters in Warren, Michigan.Big Boy was started in 1936 by Bob Wian, in partnership with Arnold Peterson in Glendale, California, USA. Marriott Corporation bought the chain in 1967...
restaurant; Louis Elias went on to run for Mayor of Hazel Park, and was in office from 1953 to 1961. The Elias brothers continued to establish Big Boy restaurants throughout the Metro Detroit
Metro Detroit
The Detroit metropolitan area, often referred to as Metro Detroit, is the metropolitan area located in Southeast Michigan centered on the city of Detroit which shares an international border with Windsor, Ontario. The Detroit metropolitan area is the second largest U.S. metropolitan area...
area until finally purchasing the franchise in 1983.
The clean-up of the city paved the way for the return of thousands of soldiers from 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...
. Housing demand was very high in the area, causing a boom in construction. Many of the present-day bungalow
Bungalow
A bungalow is a type of house, with varying meanings across the world. Common features to many of these definitions include being detached, low-rise , and the use of verandahs...
s in the city were built just shortly after the war.
Hazel Park was a hotspot for mafia activity during the 1950s
1950s
The 1950s or The Fifties was the decade that began on January 1, 1950 and ended on December 31, 1959. The decade was the sixth decade of the 20th century...
. Mobsters such as Anthony Zerilli
Anthony Joseph Zerilli
Anthony Joseph Zerilli is an Italian-American mobster from Sterling Heights, Michigan who is the reputed underboss of the Detroit Partnership criminal organization, which is part of Cosa Nostra.-Early years:...
and William Tocco
William Tocco
William "Black Bill" Tocco was an Italian-American mobster from Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan and a founding member of the Detroit Partnership of La Cosa Nostra.-Early years:...
were attracted to business in the city, mostly involving its raceway
Hazel Park Raceway
The Hazel Park Harness Raceway, located in Hazel Park, a suburb in southeastern Michigan just north of Detroit, is a harness raceway which first opened its doors in 1949. It hosts exclusively two- to three-year-old Standardbred harness races, and is most famous for being the nation's first 5/8 of...
.
The I-75
Interstate 75
Interstate 75 is a major north–south Interstate Highway in the Great Lakes and Southeastern regions of the United States. It travels from State Road 826 and State Road 924 in Hialeah, Florida to Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, at the Ontario, Canada, border...
expressway was not fully completed through Hazel Park until 1966. The area where it is now was Stephenson Highway, which has a current purpose as a service drive. Similarly, I-696
Interstate 696
Interstate 696 is an intrastate Interstate Highway entirely within the US state of Michigan. I-696 is also known as the Walter P. Reuther Freeway, named for a prominent figure in early automobile factory labor union activity. I-696 is a spur route, partially circling the city of Detroit, but...
was constructed through what was then Hazel Park, currently Madison Heights
Madison Heights, Michigan
Madison Heights is a city in Oakland County of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a suburb of Detroit. As of the 2010 census, its population was 29,694.- History :...
, in 1979. It was then joined with I-75, creating the highway's busiest junction.
On July 15, 2009, a car traveling northbound on I-75 crashed into a gas tanker, tipping it over and creating an explosion causing the 9 Mile Road overpass to collapse onto I-75. Police and fire departments from Hazel Park and neighboring cities responded, and no serious injuries or fatalities were reported. The expressway was closed for one week before reopening.
Hazel Park today
Today, Hazel Park mainly faces economical issues such as foreclosureForeclosure
Foreclosure is the legal process by which a mortgage lender , or other lien holder, obtains a termination of a mortgage borrower 's equitable right of redemption, either by court order or by operation of law...
and unemployment. Another issue in the area is lack of foliage, caused by the killing of many trees from Dutch elm disease
Dutch elm disease
Dutch elm disease is a disease caused by a member of the sac fungi category, affecting elm trees which is spread by the elm bark beetle. Although believed to be originally native to Asia, the disease has been accidentally introduced into America and Europe, where it has devastated native...
in the 1980s and 1990s. Violent crime
Violent crime
A violent crime or crime of violence is a crime in which the offender uses or threatens to use violent force upon the victim. This entails both crimes in which the violent act is the objective, such as murder, as well as crimes in which violence is the means to an end, such as robbery. Violent...
is quickly decreasing in the city, but property crime
Property crime
Property crime is a category of crime that includes, among other crimes, burglary, larceny, theft, motor vehicle theft, arson, shoplifting, and vandalism. Property crime only involves the taking of money or property, and does not involve force or threat of force against a victim...
still remains a small issue.
New development is a well-established trend in Hazel Park. Many foreclosed homes have been purchased and demolished in order to use the land to build upscale, modern housing. As of 2010, the business economy is growing at a fast pace as the buildings of former businesses that failed to thrive in the last decade are purchased and utilized. An artistic community is developing in the area, evident by plans such as those to build sculpture gardens in vacant land and new businesses such as the Phoenix Cafe, a venue offering open mic nights, discussion forums, film nights and meet-and-greet gatherings.
The blighted Days Inn Hotel
Days Inn
Days Inn is a motel chain headquartered in the United States. Founded in 1970, it is now a part of the Wyndham Hotel Group, based in Parsippany, New Jersey, which was formerly a part of Cendant...
was demolished in early 2010 and was replaced towards the end of 2010 by a Tim Hortons
Tim Hortons
Tim Hortons Inc. is a Canadian fast casual restaurant known for its coffee and doughnuts. It is also Canada's largest fast food service with over 3000 stores nationwide. It was founded in 1964 in Hamilton, Ontario, by Canadian hockey player Tim Horton and Jim Charade, after an initial venture in...
coffee shop and a large CVS Pharmacy. Following the demolition of the hotel, the Hazelcrest Apartments has become the tallest building in the city.
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 2010, there were 16,422 people and 6,641 households 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 5,865.0 per square mile. There were 7,612 housing units at an average density of 2,700.9 per square mile (1,042.2/km²).
In 2000, there were 7,284 households out of which 33.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.6% were married couples living together, 16.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.9% were non-families. 28.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.21.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.7% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 33.2% from 25 to 44, 18.1% from 45 to 64, and 11.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 97.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.0 males.
73.1% of all households in Hazel Park were family households. 20.9% of all households were married couple families with children. 10.6% were single-mother families.
Race and ancestry
The racial makeup of the city was 81.1% White, 9.7% African American, 0.90% Native American, 1.5% Asian, 0.90% from other racesRace (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 4.20% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.7% of the population.
In similarity to neighboring Warren, Michigan
Warren, Michigan
Warren is a city in Macomb County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The 2010 census places the city's population at 134,056, making Warren the largest city in Macomb County, the third largest city in Michigan, and Metro Detroit's largest suburb....
; a large percentage of Hazel Park's population, if not a majority, is of mostly Polish American
Polish American
A Polish American , is a citizen of the United States of Polish descent. There are an estimated 10 million Polish Americans, representing about 3.2% of the population of the United States...
and German American
German American
German Americans are citizens of the United States of German ancestry and comprise about 51 million people, or 17% of the U.S. population, the country's largest self-reported ancestral group...
descent, with a small Italian American
Italian American
An Italian American , is an American of Italian ancestry. The designation may also refer to someone possessing Italian and American dual citizenship...
minority. The top ancestries in the city were 18.6% German, 14.8% Irish, 10.3% Polish, 9.7% English, 6.0% French and 4.1% Italian. Other prominent ancestries include French Canadian (3.6%), Scottish (3%), Arab (2.5%) and Dutch (1.6%). The city has also become an enclave for Albanian Americans as well.
In 2000, 7.2% of Hazel Park citizens were foreign born. 9.7% reported speaking a language other than English.
Income
The median household for a household in the city in 2008 was $40,403, and the median income for a family was $49,448. The per capita incomePer 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 $19,390. About 10.0% of families and 12.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.0% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.
As of the 2000 Census, the median income for a household in the city was $37,045, and the median income for a family was $43,584. Males had a median income of $33,063 versus $24,362 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 $16,723.
Excluding one neighborhood in particular with a majority elderly population, the city's median household income in 2009 was $46,687, surpassing the neighboring communities of Warren
Warren, Michigan
Warren is a city in Macomb County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The 2010 census places the city's population at 134,056, making Warren the largest city in Macomb County, the third largest city in Michigan, and Metro Detroit's largest suburb....
, Madison Heights
Madison Heights, Michigan
Madison Heights is a city in Oakland County of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a suburb of Detroit. As of the 2010 census, its population was 29,694.- History :...
and Ferndale
Ferndale, Michigan
Ferndale is adjacent to the cities of Detroit to the south, Oak Park to the west, Hazel Park to the east, Pleasant Ridge to the north, Royal Oak Township to the southwest, and Royal Oak to the north....
as well as many communities in the Detroit Metropolitan Area. With this non-inclusive income, Hazel Park's median household income would be higher than 39.7% of the metro area, including 16.1% of Oakland cities, 61.5% of Macomb cities, and 55.8% of Wayne cities.
Nicknames
HZPK is an abbreviation of Hazel Park commonly used after 2000. The abbreviation was coined in order to reduce the usage of "HP", which was being used more to refer to Highland Park, MichiganHighland Park, Michigan
- Geography :According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land.- Demographics :As of the census of 2000, there were 16,746 people, 6,199 households, and 3,521 families residing in the city. The population density was 5,622.9 per square mile . There were 7,249...
, a small city located inside the Detroit city limits.
Hazel Francisco is a term said to be coined during the early-to-middle 1990s to refer to the city's growing homosexual population. The nickname is a portmanteau of "Hazel Park" and "San Francisco", and is normally not considered to be offensive. The term is challenged, however, because although the city's homosexual population is significantly above average, it is not a largely homosexual city.
Hazeltucky is a derogatory and offensive term for the city of Hazel Park. The name is a portmanteau of "Hazel Park" and "Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
". While many residents believe the nickname was coined during the 1920s and used during the 1920s and 1930s to describe the shanty town
Shanty town
A shanty town is a slum settlement of impoverished people who live in improvised dwellings made from scrap materials: often plywood, corrugated metal and sheets of plastic...
s in the Hazel Park section of Royal Oak Township, there is no actual written record as to where the nickname came from. The name has since been manipulated and made into an insult used to associate Hazel Park residents with "hillbilly
Hillbilly
Hillbilly is a term referring to certain people who dwell in rural, mountainous areas of the United States, primarily Appalachia but also the Ozarks. Owing to its strongly stereotypical connotations, the term is frequently considered derogatory, and so is usually offensive to those Americans of...
" culture.
Architecture
Hazel Park is exclusive to a few select types of architecture, although very many different styles can be seen in various houses. Many of the city's homes were built in the Cape Cod bungalowCape Cod (house)
A Cape Cod cottage is a style of house originating in New England in the 17th century. It is traditionally characterized by a low, broad frame building, generally a story and a half high, with a steep, pitched roof with end gables, a large central chimney and very little ornamentation...
style, shortly after World War Two, and have a second story encompassed in the home's roofing.
Michigan bungalows
Bungalow
A bungalow is a type of house, with varying meanings across the world. Common features to many of these definitions include being detached, low-rise , and the use of verandahs...
are also common in the city. These houses were originally built during the 1920s and 1930s by the city's original settlers and can often be found near the downtown area.
Ranch houses
Ranch-style house
Ranch-style houses is a domestic architectural style originating in the United States. First built in the 1920s, the ranch style was extremely popular amongst the booming post-war middle class of the 1940s to 1970s...
are very common in the city as well. Most of these houses were built in the northern neighborhoods during the late 1950s and early 1960s. Older ranch houses were often built with aluminum siding, whereas newer ones, such as the ones built in the Courts, were built in brick or stone.
Front split-level and side split-level houses are not common in the city. However, back split houses - split-levels with the second story built into the back - are common in the southern portion of the city near the 8 Mile border. These homes are often built onto one-story bungalows and ranch houses.
Colonial houses are uncommon in the city, but many are scattered throughout different neighborhoods. These houses are often built in brick and usually resemble urban Tudor
Tudor architecture
The Tudor architectural style is the final development of medieval architecture during the Tudor period and even beyond, for conservative college patrons...
houses. Some are built in stone, often more common north of 9 Mile Road. Others are built in the Traditional Tudor style, such as the Truba House in Three Churches.
New development homes are extremely common in the city. They can be seen on many blocks of Hazel Park, and often range from two-story snout houses
Snout house
A snout house is a house with a protruding garage that takes up most of the street frontage, squeezing out front yards and making it hard to find the front door...
to detached single-family brownstone
Brownstone
Brownstone is a brown Triassic or Jurassic sandstone which was once a popular building material. The term is also used in the United States to refer to a terraced house clad in this material.-Types:-Apostle Island brownstone:...
s. Many of these houses are built in the Neo-eclectic
Neo-eclectic architecture
Neo-eclectic architecture is a name for the architectural style that has dominated residential building construction in North America in the later part of the 20th century and early part of the 21st...
style.
Crime
The crime rate in Hazel Park is relatively neutral. Crime is significantly lower than inner communities such as Detroit, DearbornDearborn, 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...
and Hamtramck
Hamtramck, Michigan
Hamtramck is a city in Wayne County of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 22,423. Hamtramck is surrounded by the city of Detroit except for a small portion of the western border that touches the similarly surrounded city of Highland Park...
; but is somewhat higher than communities in its own radius such as Royal Oak
Royal Oak, Michigan
Royal Oak is a city in Oakland County of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a suburb of Detroit. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 57,236. It should not be confused with Royal Oak Charter Township, a separate community located nearby....
, Ferndale
Ferndale, Michigan
Ferndale is adjacent to the cities of Detroit to the south, Oak Park to the west, Hazel Park to the east, Pleasant Ridge to the north, Royal Oak Township to the southwest, and Royal Oak to the north....
and Madison Heights
Madison Heights, Michigan
Madison Heights is a city in Oakland County of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a suburb of Detroit. As of the 2010 census, its population was 29,694.- History :...
. The crime rate in the city in 2003 was 83.5% of the national average. Larceny theft
Larceny
Larceny is a crime involving the wrongful acquisition of the personal property of another person. It was an offence under the common law of England and became an offence in jurisdictions which incorporated the common law of England into their own law. It has been abolished in England and Wales,...
was the most popular crime in 2008, making up 43.8% of the city's crime. Property crimes are becoming increasingly common due to Hazel Park's superb transportation network which connects it to two interstate highways
Interstate Highway System
The Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, , is a network of limited-access roads including freeways, highways, and expressways forming part of the National Highway System of the United States of America...
.
The city's crime rate has been shifting completely, however. The violent crime rate has gone down 57% in 2008 from what it was in 2000. In contrast, the property crime rate has gone up 4.6% in the same time period. Specifically, the decrease has been in forcible rape
Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
and robbery
Robbery
Robbery is the crime of taking or attempting to take something of value by force or threat of force or by putting the victim in fear. At common law, robbery is defined as taking the property of another, with the intent to permanently deprive the person of that property, by means of force or fear....
crimes; and a slight increase in burglary
Burglary
Burglary is a crime, the essence of which is illicit entry into a building for the purposes of committing an offense. Usually that offense will be theft, but most jurisdictions specify others which fall within the ambit of burglary...
and arson
Arson
Arson is the crime of intentionally or maliciously setting fire to structures or wildland areas. It may be distinguished from other causes such as spontaneous combustion and natural wildfires...
.
Murder
MurderMurder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
in Hazel Park is an on-and-off trend. A year with one murder is likely to have another, followed by multiple years with no murders. Since 2000, there have been 5 reported murders. 1 in 2002, 2 in 2003, a homicide in 2010, and 1 in 2011.
Car theft
Hazel Park has the sixth-highest car theft rate in the state, and the 52nd-highest in the country. Vehicles built before 1992 are common targets, along with the more obvious including expensive vehicles, luxury SUVs and minivans.Police
Crime is regulated by the Hazel Park Police Department, a force of 42 police officers. OmnipresenceOmnipresence
Omnipresence or ubiquity is the property of being present everywhere. According to eastern theism, God is present everywhere. Divine omnipresence is thus one of the divine attributes, although in western theism it has attracted less philosophical attention than such attributes as omnipotence,...
, the feeling of police awareness; is something that is well established in the community as well as in the neighboring community of Ferndale
Ferndale, Michigan
Ferndale is adjacent to the cities of Detroit to the south, Oak Park to the west, Hazel Park to the east, Pleasant Ridge to the north, Royal Oak Township to the southwest, and Royal Oak to the north....
, and has caused crime to decrease greatly. The department has auxiliary policing
Auxiliary police
Auxiliary police or special constables in England) are usually the part-time reserves of a regular police force. They may be armed or unarmed. They may be unpaid volunteers or paid members of the police service with which they are affiliated...
and neighborhood watch
Neighborhood watch
A neighborhood watch or neighbourhood watch , also called a crime watch or neighborhood crime watch, is an organized group of citizens devoted to crime and vandalism prevention within a neighborhood...
programs available to citizens ages 21 and over. The police department also offers programs such as gun lock giveaways, house watch programs, and programs to put a child up for adoption
Adoption
Adoption is a process whereby a person assumes the parenting for another and, in so doing, permanently transfers all rights and responsibilities from the original parent or parents...
in case the parent is not capable of raising the child.
The current chief of Hazel Park Police is David B. Niedermeier.
Government
Hazel Park utilizes the Council-Manager form of government, and thus is governed by a City CouncilCity council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
consisting of a Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
and four council members. The city council appoints a City Manager
City manager
A city manager is an official appointed as the administrative manager of a city, in a council-manager form of city government. Local officials serving in this position are sometimes referred to as the chief executive officer or chief administrative officer in some municipalities...
, who manages the day-to-day operations of the city. The current mayor of Hazel Park is Jack Lloyd, who until March 2010 was the deli manager of the local Kroger
Kroger
The Kroger Co. is an American supermarket chain founded by Bernard Kroger in 1883 in Cincinnati, Ohio. It reported US$ 76.7 billion in sales during fiscal year 2009. It is the country's largest grocery store chain and its second-largest grocery retailer by volume and second-place general retailer...
grocery store. The current city manager is Edward Klobucher. City government is located on the same block as the public library
Library
In a traditional sense, a library is a large collection of books, and can refer to the place in which the collection is housed. Today, the term can refer to any collection, including digital sources, resources, and services...
, police station
Police station
A police station or station house is a building which serves to accommodate police officers and other members of staff. These buildings often contain offices and accommodation for personnel and vehicles, along with locker rooms, temporary holding cells and interview/interrogation rooms.- Facilities...
and post office
United States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
, at 9 Mile Road and John R. Road.
Neighborhoods
Officially, Hazel Park has two neighborhoods, District One and District Two, as defined by the city police department for Neighborhood Watch patrolNeighborhood watch
A neighborhood watch or neighbourhood watch , also called a crime watch or neighborhood crime watch, is an organized group of citizens devoted to crime and vandalism prevention within a neighborhood...
. However, citizens tend to use different names to unofficially name neighborhoods.
Business districts
Hazel Park's business districts are mostly focused on John R. Road and Nine Mile Road. The city's central business districtCentral business district
A central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...
is focused on where the two roads intersect. Hazel Park's central business district includes two shopping centers, a high-rise apartment building, the city's civic buildings, and many small business
Small business
A small business is a business that is privately owned and operated, with a small number of employees and relatively low volume of sales. Small businesses are normally privately owned corporations, partnerships, or sole proprietorships...
es.
The North Business District boasts businesses of a higher relative wealth such as a Pittsburgh Paints outlet
PPG Industries
PPG Industries is a global supplier of paints, coatings, optical products, specialty materials, chemicals, glass and fiber glass. With headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, PPG operates in more than 60 countries around the globe. Sales in 2010 were $13.4 billion...
, a bicycle store, and multiple appliance shops. John R Road, the principal thoroughfare of the North Business district, is known for its brick-paved
Brick
A brick is a block of ceramic material used in masonry construction, usually laid using various kinds of mortar. It has been regarded as one of the longest lasting and strongest building materials used throughout history.-History:...
sidewalk
Sidewalk
A sidewalk, or pavement, footpath, footway, and sometimes platform, is a path along the side of a road. A sidewalk may accommodate moderate changes in grade and is normally separated from the vehicular section by a curb...
s.
The South Business District along John R Road consists mostly of less affluent businesses than the Central and North business districts. Automotive shops, small shopping centers and office parks are common in the area.
The first Harmony House
Harmony House
Harmony House was an American music retailer founded in the Detroit suburb of Hazel Park, Michigan in 1947. The chain once operated 38 stores, primarily within the Metro Detroit area, and employed more than 400 people. Although most of the stores ceased operations in 2002, a location in Berkley...
music store opened in Hazel Park's Central Business District in 1947.
Industrial zone
Much of the southern strip of Dequindre Road and the eastern portion of Nine Mile Road going through Hazel Park is light industryLight industry
Light industry is usually less capital intensive than heavy industry, and is more consumer-oriented than business-oriented...
. Chain store
Chain store
Chain stores are retail outlets that share a brand and central management, and usually have standardized business methods and practices. These characteristics also apply to chain restaurants and some service-oriented chain businesses. In retail, dining and many service categories, chain businesses...
s such as Walgreens
Walgreens
Walgreen Co. , doing business as Walgreens , is the largest drugstore chain in the United States of America. As of August 31st, the company operates 8,210 locations across all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Founded in Chicago, Illinois in 1901, and has since expanded...
and McDonald's
McDonald's
McDonald's Corporation is the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 64 million customers daily in 119 countries. Headquartered in the United States, the company began in 1940 as a barbecue restaurant operated by the eponymous Richard and Maurice McDonald; in 1948...
are beginning to grow in the southern portion of the neighborhood as well. A popular diner
Diner
A diner, also spelled dinor in western Pennsylvania is a prefabricated restaurant building characteristic of North America, especially in the Midwest, in New York City, in Pennsylvania and in New Jersey, and in other areas of the Northeastern United States, although examples can be found throughout...
, Brayz, is located in the area and is one of Hazel Park's most frequented fast food restaurant
Fast food restaurant
A fast food restaurant, also known as a Quick Service Restaurant or QSR within the industry itself, is a specific type of restaurant characterized both by its fast food cuisine and by minimal table service...
s.
Because of its industrial occupancy, these stretches of road are often considered to be much less appealing than the city's business districts. Blighted factories and shops are more common, as well as commercial security measures such as folding gates and window bars, which are scarcely seen in other parts of the city.
Affluent residential
Tucker Park is an affluent residential neighborhood centered around Hazel Park's Tucker Field. Many homes in the neighborhood were built between the 1900s and 1950s, but there is also a notable amount of large two-story homes being developed in the neighborhood. The estimated median household income was $60,837, the highest of any neighborhood in the city.As popularly referred to by Hazel Park citizens, The Courts is a neighborhood focused around Maple, Poplar, Cedar, Oak and Elm courts, five oval-shaped roads circled vertically around Otis Street. The neighborhood is known for its relatively larger, more expensive houses. The estimated median household income was $52,000.
The Scout Park neighborhood, just adjacent to The Courts, is another point of affluence. The estimated median household income was $51,635.
As the name suggests, the Three Churches neighborhood is based around three churches near I-75: Woodlawn Church, Serenity Christian Church, and Landmark Community Church (formerly Calvary). Since the 1980s, wealthier families have begun to move in to the neighborhood in large numbers. The estimated median household income was $46,349.
Residential
Southeast Hazel Park is a middle-class neighborhood bordering Detroit and WarrenWarren, Michigan
Warren is a city in Macomb County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The 2010 census places the city's population at 134,056, making Warren the largest city in Macomb County, the third largest city in Michigan, and Metro Detroit's largest suburb....
. The Hazel Park Schools Administrative Building is located in the neighborhood after moving from a facility near the High School. The estimated median household income was $44,247.
East Hazel Park is a neighborhood bordering Warren
Warren, Michigan
Warren is a city in Macomb County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The 2010 census places the city's population at 134,056, making Warren the largest city in Macomb County, the third largest city in Michigan, and Metro Detroit's largest suburb....
and Madison Heights
Madison Heights, Michigan
Madison Heights is a city in Oakland County of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a suburb of Detroit. As of the 2010 census, its population was 29,694.- History :...
. The estimated median household income was $43,134.
Southwest Hazel Park is a neighborhood bordering Detroit
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
and Ferndale
Ferndale, Michigan
Ferndale is adjacent to the cities of Detroit to the south, Oak Park to the west, Hazel Park to the east, Pleasant Ridge to the north, Royal Oak Township to the southwest, and Royal Oak to the north....
. The median household income was $40,717.
West End is a residential neighborhood on the border of Ferndale
Ferndale, Michigan
Ferndale is adjacent to the cities of Detroit to the south, Oak Park to the west, Hazel Park to the east, Pleasant Ridge to the north, Royal Oak Township to the southwest, and Royal Oak to the north....
. The estimated median household income was $38,503.
Located just north of Detroit's State Fair neighborhood, South Central Hazel Park is one of the poorer areas of the city. House prices are generally lower, and the poverty rate is above city average at about 16%. The low percentage of college graduates is considered a main factor in this. The estimated median household income was $35,458.
North Central Hazel Park is statistically the least wealthy neighborhood in the city. However, the percent of citizens over the age of 65 is the highest in the city at 20.3%. The estimated median household income was $32,224.
Education
The city is served by the Hazel Park School District, which has some establishment in Ferndale, a neighboring city.Elementary schools
There are five elementary schools operating in the city of Hazel Park.The northern portion of the city is served by Webb Elementary, while the southern portion is served by Webster Elementary, United Oaks Elementary, and Hoover Elementary. Multiple other elementary schools once operated in the city, including Roosevelt, Lee O. Clark, Longfellow, Henry Ford and Edison Elementaries. Lee O. Clark has since been demolished, and Henry Ford has been converted into the School District Administration Building.
Middle and high schools
There are two high schools and one middle school operating in Hazel Park.Hazel Park has followed a recent trend in Metro Detroit
Metro Detroit
The Detroit metropolitan area, often referred to as Metro Detroit, is the metropolitan area located in Southeast Michigan centered on the city of Detroit which shares an international border with Windsor, Ontario. The Detroit metropolitan area is the second largest U.S. metropolitan area...
suburbs by the consolidation
Consolidation (business)
Consolidation or amalgamation is the act of merging many things into one. In business, it often refers to the mergers and acquisitions of many smaller companies into much larger ones. In the context of financial accounting, consolidation refers to the aggregation of financial statements of a group...
of its middle schools. Formerly, two separate schools, Webb Junior High and Beecher Middle School, operated in the city. Webb was converted to an elementary school in 2004, and Beecher was torn down and re-built, commissioned as Hazel Park Junior High.
High schools in Hazel Park began with the construction of Lacey High School in 1920 and Hazel Park High School
Hazel Park High School
Hazel Park High School is the only public high school in Hazel Park, Michigan. The school serves grades 9-12.-Sources:**...
in 1929. Lacey High was demolished in the early 1960s, and the Hazel Park High School was re-commissioned as Howard Beecher Junior High. After these changes, a new high school was built in the eastern portion of the city, taking the name of Hazel Park High School.
Jardon Vocational School is also in operation in order to separate troubled students from the mainstream curriculum and serves as a high school. The school operates mainly in the Hazel Park-Ferndale
Ferndale, Michigan
Ferndale is adjacent to the cities of Detroit to the south, Oak Park to the west, Hazel Park to the east, Pleasant Ridge to the north, Royal Oak Township to the southwest, and Royal Oak to the north....
-Pleasant Ridge
Pleasant Ridge, Michigan
Pleasant Ridge is a city in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,526 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land.-History:...
area, but also serves the rest of Oakland County
Oakland County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the 2010 Census, there were 1,202,362 people, 471,115 households, and 315,175 families residing in the county. The population density as of the 2000 census was 1,369 people per square mile . There were 492,006 housing units at an average density of 564 per square mile...
, especially the south east.
Notable citizens
- Connor BarwinConnor BarwinConnor Barwin is an American football linebacker for the Houston Texans of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Texans in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He played college football at Cincinnati.-Early years:...
, Houston TexansHouston TexansThe Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the Southern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
defensive end; born in SouthfieldSouthfield, MichiganAccording to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which 0.04% is water. The main branch of the River Rouge runs through Southfield. The city is bounded to the south by Eight Mile Road, its western border is Inkster Road, and to the east it is bounded by Greenfield Road...
and grew up in Hazel Park - Steve FraserSteve FraserSteve Fraser was the 1984 Olympic Gold Medalist in Greco-Roman wrestling in the 198 lb weight class. A native of Hazel Park, Michigan, Fraser was a Michigan High School Athletic Association state wrestling champion and later an All-American in wrestling at the University of Michigan...
, 1984 Olympic gold medalist, coached at the University of MichiganUniversity of MichiganThe 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... - James R. FoutsJames R. FoutsJames R. Fouts is the current mayor of Warren, the third largest city in Michigan. Fouts served 26 years on the Warren City Council starting in 1981 until he was elected mayor in 2007, running against then City Clerk Richard Sulaka, whom he defeated 62 percent to 38 percent. Campaign finance...
, current mayor of Warren, MichiganWarren, MichiganWarren is a city in Macomb County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The 2010 census places the city's population at 134,056, making Warren the largest city in Macomb County, the third largest city in Michigan, and Metro Detroit's largest suburb....
; father served as Hazel Park City Manager - Bill VirdonBill VirdonWilliam Charles Virdon is a former outfielder, manager and coach in Major League Baseball. A premier defensive outfielder during his playing days as a center fielder for the St...
, former outfielder for the St. Louis CardinalsSt. Louis CardinalsThe St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
, later went on to be manager of the Pittsburgh PiratesPittsburgh PiratesThe Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
, New York YankeesNew York YankeesThe New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
, Houston AstrosHouston AstrosThe Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
and Montreal ExposMontreal ExposThe Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's... - Bob Welch, 1990 Cy Young winner (MLB), Oakland AthleticsOakland AthleticsThe Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
two-time All-Star; lived in neighboring FerndaleFerndale, MichiganFerndale is adjacent to the cities of Detroit to the south, Oak Park to the west, Hazel Park to the east, Pleasant Ridge to the north, Royal Oak Township to the southwest, and Royal Oak to the north....
but attended school in Hazel Park - WylandWylandRobert Wyland , known simply as Wyland, is an artist best known for painting large, outdoor murals of whales and other ocean life.-Personal life:...
, known for his mural paintings of whales and dolphins, attended Hoover Elementary School, which has a Wyland mural in its library.
Hazel Park in popular culture
- Scenes in the movie Youth in Revolt were filmed in and around Hazel Park.
- An episode of DEADEA (2008 television series)DEA is a reality television series in its second season airing on the Spike television network. DEA follows the jobs of a squad of Drug Enforcement Administration special agents as they track down leads and make narcotics busts on houses suspected of selling, producing, or trafficking drugs. The...
, a television series airing on Spike, was filmed in Hazel Park, arousing controversy when the city was branded falsely as a "dangerous, drug-infested section of Detroit". - Two novels, Band Fags! (2008) and Drama Queers! (2009), written by Hazel Park native Frank Anthony Polito, take place in Hazel Park during the 1980s. Both books feature key scenes set at Hazel Park High School.
Transportation
 |
I-75 Interstate 75 Interstate 75 is a major north–south Interstate Highway in the Great Lakes and Southeastern regions of the United States. It travels from State Road 826 and State Road 924 in Hialeah, Florida to Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, at the Ontario, Canada, border... provides transport to neighboring cities such as Royal Oak Royal Oak, Michigan Royal Oak is a city in Oakland County of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a suburb of Detroit. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 57,236. It should not be confused with Royal Oak Charter Township, a separate community located nearby.... and Detroit and other major cities in the United States |
| |
John R. Road provides access to Detroit, Madison Heights Madison Heights, Michigan Madison Heights is a city in Oakland County of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a suburb of Detroit. As of the 2010 census, its population was 29,694.- History :... and the Oakland Mall Oakland Mall Oakland Mall is an enclosed super-regional shopping mall located in the city of Troy, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit, Michigan. It is located in the northwest corner of 14 Mile Rd. & John R. Rd. intersection, adjacent to I-75 . The mall features about 120 stores, including a food court, plus several... |
| |
Dequindre Road provides access to Warren Warren, Michigan Warren is a city in Macomb County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The 2010 census places the city's population at 134,056, making Warren the largest city in Macomb County, the third largest city in Michigan, and Metro Detroit's largest suburb.... , Sterling Heights Sterling Heights, Michigan Sterling Heights is a city in Macomb County of the U.S. state of Michigan, and one of Detroit's core suburbs. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 129,699... , Detroit] and Universal Mall Universal Mall Universal Mall is a redeveloped open-air power center located in Warren, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The first phase opened in mid-2009 with Target, Burlington Coat Factory and Petco... |
 |
Eight 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... provides access to the Michigan State Fair, Detroit, Warren, Ferndale Ferndale, Michigan Ferndale is adjacent to the cities of Detroit to the south, Oak Park to the west, Hazel Park to the east, Pleasant Ridge to the north, Royal Oak Township to the southwest, and Royal Oak to the north.... and other communities in Oakland Oakland County, Michigan -Demographics:As of the 2010 Census, there were 1,202,362 people, 471,115 households, and 315,175 families residing in the county. The population density as of the 2000 census was 1,369 people per square mile . There were 492,006 housing units at an average density of 564 per square mile... , Macomb Macomb County, Michigan -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 788,149 people, 309,203 households, and 210,876 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,640 people per square mile . There were 320,276 housing units at an average density of 667 per square mile... and Wayne 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... counties. |