River Rouge (Michigan) - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

The River Rouge, also known as the Rouge River, is a 48.1 miles (77.4 km) river

River

A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...

in 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 of southeastern 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"....

. It flows into the Detroit River

Detroit River

The Detroit River is a strait in the Great Lakes system. The name comes from the French Rivière du Détroit, which translates literally as "River of the Strait". The Detroit River has served an important role in the history of Detroit and is one of the busiest waterways in the world. The river...

at Zug Island

Zug Island

Zug Island is a heavily industrialized island in the city of River Rouge near the southern city limits of Detroit in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located where the mouth of the River Rouge spills into the Detroit River...

, which is the boundary between the cities of 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...

and Detroit.

The river's roughly 467 square miles (1,209.5 km²) watershed

Drainage basin

A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...

includes all or parts of 48 municipalities, with a total population of over 1,500,000, and drains a large portion of central and northwest Wayne County

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...

, as well as much of southern 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...

and a small area in eastern Washtenaw County

Washtenaw County, Michigan

Washtenaw County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the population was 344,791. Its county seat is Ann Arbor. The United States Office of Management and Budget defines the county as part of the Detroit–Warren–Flint Combined Statistical Area...

. Nearly the entire drainage basin is in urban and suburban areas, with areas of intensive residential and industrial development. Still, more than 50 miles (80.5 km) of the River Rouge flow through public lands, making it one of the most accessible rivers in the state.

Until recently the river was heavily polluted, and in 1969 even caught fire. A massive cleanup was implemented in the 1990s, and further cleanup measures are ongoing. The river's pollution comes mostly from residential storm water runoff, with industry responsible for only 2% of the pollution.

Physical and natural aspects

The River Rouge totals 48.1 miles (77.4 km) in length and is divided into four branches, the main, upper, middle, and lower branches. The upper branch flows into the main branch in northwest Detroit, just east of Redford Township

Redford Township, Michigan

The U.S. Census Bureau also defined Redford Township as a census-designated place in the 2000 Census so that the community would appear on the list of places as well on the list of county subdivisions...

. The middle branch enters the main branch in Dearborn Heights

Dearborn Heights, Michigan

Dearborn Heights is a city in Wayne County, in the Detroit metropolitan area, in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 57,774 at the 2010 census.-History:...

just north of boundary with Dearborn. The lower branch joins less than two miles (3 km) downstream in Dearborn.

The lower 1.5 miles (2.4 km) of the river south of Michigan Avenue

U.S. Route 12 in Michigan

US Highway 12 is a US Highway that runs from Aberdeen, Washington to Detroit, Michigan. In the US state of Michigan it runs for . Previous to the creation of Interstate Highways in Michigan, US 12 ran along Michigan Avenue between Kalamazoo and Detroit, a highway corridor now served by I-94...

were channelized, widened, and dredge

Dredge

Dredging is an excavation activity or operation usually carried out at least partly underwater, in shallow seas or fresh water areas with the purpose of gathering up bottom sediments and disposing of them at a different location...

d to allow freighter access to Ford's River Rouge Plant

River Rouge Plant

The Ford River Rouge Complex is a Ford Motor Company automobile factory complex located in Dearborn, Michigan, along the Rouge River, upstream from its confluence with the Detroit River at Zug Island...

inland factory facilities. The plant was built between 1915 and 1927, when it was the first manufacturing facility for automobiles that included within the plant virtually everything needed to produce the cars: blast furnaces, an open hearth mill, a steel rolling mill, a glass plant, a huge power plant and, of course, an assembly line.

Main branch

The headwaters of the main branch rise in the southwest corner of Rochester Hills

Rochester Hills, Michigan

Rochester Hills is an affluent city in northeast Oakland County of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 70,995. The city of Rochester is bounded on the north, south, and west by Rochester Hills...

and the northeast corner of Bloomfield Township

Bloomfield Township, Oakland County, Michigan

Bloomfield Charter Township, known officially as The Charter Township of Bloomfield, is a charter township of Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the township population was 41,070....

. It flows mostly south through the western part of Troy

Troy, Michigan

Troy is a city in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan, and is a suburb of Detroit. The population was 80,980 at the 2010 census, making it the 11th-largest city in Michigan by population, and the largest city in Oakland County...

, and then flows southwest through Birmingham

Birmingham, Michigan

Birmingham is a city in Oakland County of the U.S. state of Michigan and an affluent suburb of Detroit. As of the 2010 census, the population was 20,103...

, a noncontiguous portion of Bloomfield Township, Beverly Hills

Beverly Hills, Michigan

Beverly Hills is a village in Southfield Township, Oakland County of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a suburb of Detroit. As of the 2010 census, the population was 10,267.-Geography:...

, the southeast corner of Bingham Farms

Bingham Farms, Michigan

Bingham Farms is a village in Southfield Township, Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,111 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of , all land.-Demographics:...

, and Southfield

Southfield, Michigan

According 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...

. It then flows mostly south through western Detroit and Dearborn Heights

Dearborn Heights, Michigan

Dearborn Heights is a city in Wayne County, in the Detroit metropolitan area, in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 57,774 at the 2010 census.-History:...

, then turns southeast in 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...

and continues along the northern edges of Allen Park

Allen Park, Michigan

Allen Park is a city in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the population was 28,210. The suburb of Detroit was recognized in Money Magazine's list of America's Best Small Cities. Allen Park is part of the collection of communities known as DownriverFord Motor...

, 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:...

, River Rouge

River Rouge, Michigan

and the southern edge of Detroit. Other municipalities that are part of the main branch watershed are Auburn Hills

Auburn Hills, Michigan

Auburn Hills is a city in Metro Detroit, Oakland County, in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 21,412 at the 2010 census. The city was formed in 1983 when Pontiac Township became the City of Auburn Hills.-Economy:...

, Bloomfield Hills

Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

Bloomfield Hills is a city in Oakland County of the U.S. state of Michigan, northwest of downtown Detroit. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 3,869...

, Farmington

Farmington, Michigan

Farmington is a city in Oakland County of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a northern suburb of Detroit and is part of the Metro Detroit area. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 10,372. It is fully surrounded by Farmington Hills, except for a small portion bordered by Livonia to the...

, Farmington Hills

Farmington Hills, Michigan

Farmington Hills is a community in southeastern Michigan. It is the largest city in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. Its population was 79,740 at the 2010 census...

, Franklin

Franklin, Michigan

Franklin is a village in Southfield Township, Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,150 at the 2010 census. The community is known for large, estate-style homes situated on ravines, as well as its vintage downtown and cider mill....

, Lathrup Village

Lathrup Village, Michigan

Lathrup Village is a city in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 4,075 at the 2010 census. This city is completely surrounded by the city of Southfield. The I-696 / Reuther Freeway goes through nearly the east-west center of town, and Southfield Road goes nearly...

, 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...

, Orchard Lake, Pontiac

Pontiac, Michigan

Pontiac is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan named after the Ottawa Chief Pontiac, located within the Detroit metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 59,515. It is the county seat of Oakland County...

, Southfield Township

Southfield Township, Michigan

Southfield Township is a civil township of Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 14,547 at the 2010 census.The cities of Lathrup Village and Southfield are autonomous municipalities and are no longer part of the township. The township shares some responsibilities with the...

, and West Bloomfield Township

West Bloomfield Township, Michigan

West Bloomfield Charter Township is an affluent charter township in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan, within the Detroit metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, the township had a population of 64,690. As of 2008, West Bloomfield Township was ranked the 8th highest income city in the...

Major tributaries of the main branch include:

Franklin River (also known as the Franklin branch of the River Rouge)
Pebble Creek
Evan's Creek
Upper Branch (see below)
Ashcroft-Sherwood Drain
Middle Branch (see below)
Lower Branch (see below)
Ruby Creek

Upper branch

The headwaters of the upper branch rise in southwestern West Bloomfield Township

West Bloomfield Township, Michigan

, the southeast corner of Commerce Township

Commerce Township, Michigan

Commerce Charter Township is a charter township of Oakland County, in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 40,186 at the 2010 census. The terrain is rolling hills, but there are large expanses of flat land on which farms and, more recently, subdivisions are built. The Huron River runs...

, and the northeast corner of Novi

Novi, Michigan

Novi is a city in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the population was 55,224, an increase over the 2000 census count of 47,386. The city is located approximately northwest of the center of Detroit, and northeast of the center of Ann Arbor. The city is located...

. It forms in Farmington Hills

Farmington Hills, Michigan

Farmington Hills is a community in southeastern Michigan. It is the largest city in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. Its population was 79,740 at the 2010 census...

with the confluence of Minnow Pond Drain and Seeley Drain, where it flows mostly southeast through Farmington

Farmington, Michigan

, Livonia

Livonia, Michigan

Livonia is a city in the northwest part of Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. Livonia is a very large suburb with an array of traditional neighborhoods connected to the metropolitan area by freeways. The population was 96,942 at the 2010 census, making it Michigan's 9th largest...

, Redford Township

Redford Township, Michigan

and enters the main branch in the northwest Detroit neighborhood of Brightmoor, Detroit

Brightmoor, Detroit

Brightmoor is a roughly neighborhood in Detroit, Michigan, near the northwest border of the city. Brightmoor is defined by the Brightmoor Alliance as being bordered by Puritan Road to the north, the CSX railway to the south, Evergreen Road to the east, and Telegraph Road to the west...

.

Tributaries of the upper branch include (from downriver to upriver)

Bell Branch
- Show Drain
- Blue Drain
- Bell Drain
- Tarabusi Creek
Minnow Pond Drain
Seeley Drain

Middle branch

The middle branch forms in Northville

Northville, Michigan

Northville is a city located in and divided by Oakland and Wayne counties in the U.S. state of Michigan and a suburb in Metro Detroit. The population was 5,970 at the 2010 census. The Oakland County portion is surrounded by the city of Novi. The Wayne County portion is surrounded by Northville...

in northwest Wayne County with the confluence of the "Walled Lake branch" and Johnson Drain. The Walled Lake branch rises in Novi

Novi, Michigan

in a marshy drainage area south of Walled Lake

Walled Lake, Michigan

Walled Lake is a city in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 6,999 at the 2010 census.-Origins of the name:The town's name is said to have been given by the first Euro-American settler, Walter Hewitt, in 1825...

, in southwest Oakland County. Johnson Drain rises in Salem Township

Salem Township, Washtenaw County, Michigan

Salem Township is a general law township of Washtenaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan, located northeast of Ann Arbor. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 5,562.The unincorporated community of Salem is located within the township....

in northeast Washtenaw County. From Northville, the middle branch flows south through Northville Township

Northville Township, Michigan

Northville Township, or The Charter Township of Northville, is a charter township of Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan and a suburb in Metro Detroit. The population was 28,497 at the 2010 census....

and Plymouth Township

Plymouth Township, Michigan

The Charter Township of Plymouth is a charter township of Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 27,524 at the 2010 census...

before turning to the southeast in the city of Plymouth

Plymouth, Michigan

Plymouth is a city in Wayne County of the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 9,132 at the 2010 census. The City of Plymouth is an enclave completely surrounded by Plymouth Charter Township, Michigan.-Geography:...

. From Plymouth, it continues through the southwest corner of Livonia

Livonia, Michigan

into Westland

Westland, Michigan

Westland is a city in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located about west of downtown Detroit. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 84,094.-Politics:...

, then along the northern edge of Garden City

Garden City, Michigan

Garden City is a city in Wayne County of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 27,692. The city is part of the Metro Detroit region.- History :...

and into Dearborn Heights

Dearborn Heights, Michigan

Dearborn Heights is a city in Wayne County, in the Detroit metropolitan area, in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 57,774 at the 2010 census.-History:...

where it merges with the main branch near the southern boundary with Dearborn. Other municipalities that are part of the middle branch watershed are Canton Township

Canton Township, Michigan

The Charter Township of Canton, usually referred to as Canton, is an affluent charter township of Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The commuter town is located west of Detroit and east of Ann Arbor. As of the 2010 census, the township had a population of 90,173, making it Michigan's...

, Commerce Township

Commerce Township, Michigan

, Farmington

Farmington, Michigan

, Farmington Hills

Farmington Hills, Michigan

Farmington Hills is a community in southeastern Michigan. It is the largest city in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. Its population was 79,740 at the 2010 census...

, Lyon Township

Lyon Township, Oakland County, Michigan

Lyon Charter Township is a charter township of Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 14,545 at the 2010 census.- Communities :...

, Redford Township

Redford Township, Michigan

, and Wixom

Wixom, Michigan

Wixom is a city in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 13,498 at the 2010 census. The city was home to the former Wixom Assembly Plant, which produced the Lincoln LS, the Ford Thunderbird, the Ford GT, and the Lincoln Town Car...

.

Tributaries of the middle branch include (from downriver to upriver)

Bill's Drain
Red Run Drain
Wilson Drain
Tonquish Creek
- Willow Creek
Johnson Drain
Walled Lake branch
- Thornton Creek
- Ingersol Creek
  - Bishop Creek

Lower branch

The lower branch rises in sections 11 and 12 in Superior Township

Superior Township, Washtenaw County, Michigan

Superior Charter Township is a charter township of Washtenaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 10,740 at the 2000 census....

in Washtenaw County and flows mostly eastward into Wayne County through Canton Township

Canton Township, Michigan

, Wayne

Wayne, Michigan

Wayne is a city in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan, southwest of Detroit. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 17,593...

, Westland

Westland, Michigan

Westland is a city in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located about west of downtown Detroit. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 84,094.-Politics:...

, Inkster

Inkster, Michigan

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

, Dearborn Heights

Dearborn Heights, Michigan

Dearborn Heights is a city in Wayne County, in the Detroit metropolitan area, in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 57,774 at the 2010 census.-History:...

and Dearborn before joining the main branch. Other communities in the lower branch watershed include Van Buren Township

Van Buren Township, Michigan

Van Buren Charter Township is a charter township of Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 28,821 at the 2010 census. It is home to Willow Run Airport, Metro Detroit's second busiest airport.-Geography:...

, Plymouth Township

Plymouth Township, Michigan

The Charter Township of Plymouth is a charter township of Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 27,524 at the 2010 census...

, Salem Township

Salem Township, Washtenaw County, Michigan

, Ypsilanti Township

Ypsilanti Township, Michigan

Ypsilanti Charter Township is a charter township of Washtenaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 49,182...

.

Tributaries include (from downriver to upriver):

Hunter Drain
Hannan Drain
Fellows Creek
McKinstry Drain
Sinds Drain
Fowler Creek
Parks Drain

Eliza Howell Park

The 250 acres (101.2 ha) Eliza Howell Park includes 138 acres (55.8 ha) donated to the city in 1936. The city stopped mowing the park and 137 others in the spring of 2009. The grandson of the original benefactor is suing the city for the return of the land because they have violated the origin deed.

Fair Lane

Henry Ford

Henry Ford was an American industrialist, the founder of the Ford Motor Company, and sponsor of the development of the assembly line technique of mass production. His introduction of the Model T automobile revolutionized transportation and American industry...

built an estate, Fair Lane

Fair Lane

Fair Lane was the name of the estate of Ford Motor Company founder Henry Ford and his wife Clara Ford in Dearborn, Michigan, in the United States. It was named after an area in County Cork in Ireland where Ford's adoptive grandfather, Patrick Ahern, was born...

, on the river in Dearborn

Dearborn, Michigan

, upriver from the manufacturing plant, on what is now the campus of the University of Michigan–Dearborn. The estate is a now a National Historic Landmark

National Historic Landmark

A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...

. The master plan and gardens were designed by landscape architect Jens Jensen

Jens Jensen (landscape architect)

Jens Jensen was a Danish-American landscape architect.-Early life:Jens Jensen was born near Dybbøl in Slesvig, Denmark, in 1860, to a wealthy farming family. For the first nineteen years of his life he lived on his family's farm, which cultivated his love for the natural environment...

. A portion of the estate's grounds are a preserved historic landscape and more of it is held as a nature study area since 1956. The residence is a museum now and open the public.

The Henry Ford and Greenfield Village

The Henry Ford

The Henry Ford, a National Historic Landmark, , in the Metro Detroit suburb of Dearborn, Michigan, USA, is a large indoor and outdoor history museum complex...

, billed as "America's Greatest History Attraction", is a major tourist destination in the area including Greenfield Village. Greenfield Village was opened in 1929 to preserve historic landmarks, including Noah Webster

Noah Webster

Noah Webster was an American educator, lexicographer, textbook pioneer, English spelling reformer, political writer, editor, and prolific author...

’s House, Thomas Edison

Thomas Edison

Thomas Alva Edison was an American inventor and businessman. He developed many devices that greatly influenced life around the world, including the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and a long-lasting, practical electric light bulb. In addition, he created the world’s first industrial...

’s Menlo Lab and the garage where Henry Ford built the Quadricycle

Ford Quadricycle

The Ford Quadricycle was the first vehicle developed by Henry Ford. Ford's first car was a simple frame with an ethanol-powered engine and four bicycle wheels mounted on it.The earliest cars were hand built, one by one, and very expensive...

, his first car.

Rouge River Bird Observatory

Since 1992 the Rouge River Bird Observatory has operated on the campus.

Rouge River Gateway Greenway Trail

The trail has access points from Michigan Avenue in Dearborn, from Fair Lane

Fair Lane

and 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...

Dearborn campus. There is an aspiration to develop the greenway trail all the way to the Detroit River.

River Rouge Park

River Rouge Park is a 1184 acres (479.1 ha) park purchased by the city of Detroit in the 1920s. Its boundary is formed by the railway to the north and West Warren to the south and by Outer Drive, West Parkway and Parkland on the west and Trinity and Burt Road on the east.

External links

River Rouge Watershed, on the EPA site
The Rouge River Project
The Henry Ford Estate
The Henry Ford, includes sections on Greenfield Village and Ford's River Rouge Plant
Friends of the Rouge
MI DEQ Rouge River, Michigan State Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Rouge River Watershed
USGS realtime flow/level, USGS realtime flow & water level of Middle Rouge at Garden City
Virtual tour of the Henry and Clara Ford 'Fair Lane' estate.

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