Royal Oak, Michigan
Encyclopedia
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.
It is the 6th-largest city in Oakland County and the 21st largest city in Michigan by population. The area is known for its shopping, dining, and many cultural activities.
' expeditions surveying land. A tree located near the present-day intersection of Crooks, Rochester, and Main reminded Cass of the Royal Oak
tree within which King Charles II
of England hid to escape the Roundhead
s following the Battle of Worcester
.
In the 1920s, Father Charles Coughlin
became the founding Pastor of the Shrine of the Little Flower
, a prominent landmark in the city. In 1926, the Ku Klux Klan
burned a cross on the lawn of the original wooden church, and Coughlin used the incident to launch radio broadcasts on station WJR
. Through this publicity he raised enough money to build the current limestone
complex and tower from which he aired his radio show thereafter. He built a large following; however, in the late 1930s Coughlin's broadcasts became increasingly controversial eventually leading to his removal from the air in 1939.
On November 14, 1991, Thomas McIlvane killed five people, including himself, with a Ruger .22 caliber rifle in Royal Oak's post office, which was one of a string of incidents across the United States in which current or recently fired postal workers attacked and killed co-workers en masse, leading to the phrase "going postal
".
Throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s, Royal Oak's downtown grew into an entertainment and nightlife destination. A number of large condominiums and lofts were built throughout the downtown and industrial areas. Though the economy took a downturn in 2006, the area remains an attractive area for young professionals and families.
, the city has a total area of 11.8 square miles (30.6 km²), all of which is land.
Royal Oak once had a river, the Red Run. Around 1967-1968 it was buried in a 6-foot drain pipe.
, one of the region's leading tourist attractions. Mark Ridley's Comedy Castle, a club which hosts local and national comedians, was an early stomping ground of performers such as Tim Allen
and Dave Coulier
. The many restaurants range in fare from take-out sandwiches to high-end establishments specializing in cuisines like Italian, Belgian, Nepali, and others.
Royal Oak has an active night life. A variety of pubs are also available and include biker bars, dance clubs, upscale breweries, sports bars, and rooftop bars. During the summer, downtown Royal Oak becomes host to hordes of motorcycle
enthusiasts from around Metro Detroit
. On Wednesday nights Main Street is often lined with Harley-Davidson
s, whereas on Thursday night the streets fill up with sport bike
s.
Royal Oak's nightlife has attracted its share of celebrities, such as Kid Rock
, Bob Seger's manager Punch Andrews, hockey star Sergei Fedorov
, and Eminem
. In 1999 Meg White
of The White Stripes
was a day bartender for two years at the downtown bar Memphis Smoke. Years later, Jack White
's ex- girlfriend Renée Zellweger
was known to stop in at Memphis Smoke for carry-out. During the 2005 Detroit Lions
football season, 2004 Playboy Playmate of the year Carmella DeCesare
lived in a downtown, upscale loft with her boyfriend Jeff Garcia
. She was known for calling into local Detroit sports radio stations and complaining about local reporters' treatment of Garcia.
The popular 1990s sitcom Home Improvement is set in Royal Oak. In one episode, Tim is pulled over on a traffic stop by a police officer wearing a Royal Oak Police Department shoulder patch. In 2008, three movies were filmed in Royal Oak. Scenes from Prayers for Bobby
, Youth in Revolt
and Gran Torino were filmed in the downtown area. In 2009, the remake of Red Dawn
had several scenes filmed in Royal Oak neighborhoods.
In addition to The Detroit News
and Detroit Free Press
, regional newspapers serving all of southeast Michigan, the city is served by the Daily Tribune, the Royal Oak Review, and The Mirror.
In December 2009 it was announced that the Arts, Beats and Eats festival would be moved from Pontiac
to Royal Oak. On October 12, 2010, Royal Oak High School was featured on the MTV program If You Really Knew Me and showed the events of the second of two of the school's 2009-2010 Challenge Days.
Royal Oak's traditional street-side shopping district runs along Main Street downtown. It experienced growth and development in the 2000s, with a transformation to a trendy upscale, urban-chic restaurant, shopping, and entertainment district. A number of mixed-use high-rise developments have arisen — mostly condo "lofts" with retail and office space on the lower levels. Points of interest include the Detroit Zoo
, a major regional tourist attraction, the William Beaumont Hospital
, the Royal Oak Music Theatre, the Main Art Theatre, the Baldwin Theatre, Mark Ridley's Comedy Castle, and the many unique shops, cafes, and restaurants which line the streets of the downtown area. In addition, the main offices of Hour Detroit media, which publishes Metro Detroit
's lifestyle magazine, are located in the city. Royal Oak still has some edgier retail establishments, a few chain restaurants, dozens of unique restaurants and many condominiums.
The National Arbor Day Foundation
has awarded Royal Oak the distinction of "Tree City USA" every year since 1976 due to the city's commitment to tree planting and preservation.
In 1998, the foundation of famous Saturday Night Live
comedian and Detroit-area native Gilda Radner
created a free cancer support community for people with cancer, their families, and friends. Gilda's Club
Metro Detroit operates a three-story non-residential house in Royal Oak and has welcomed more than 3,000 members for social and emotional support and fun activities.
of 2000, there were 60,062 people, 28,880 households, and 14,440 families residing in the city. The population density
was 5,083.0 people per square mile (1,961.9/km²). There were 29,942 housing units at an average density of 2,534.0 per square mile (978.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.80% White, 1.54% African American, 0.26% Native American, 1.56% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.38% from other races
, and 1.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.30% of the population.
There were 28,880 households out of which 20.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.9% were married couples
living together, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 50.0% were non-families. 40.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.06 and the average family size was 2.86.
In the city the population was spread out with 17.8% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 38.8% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 95.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $52,252, and the median income for a family was $68,109. Males had a median income of $50,562 versus $36,392 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $30,990. About 2.0% of families and 4.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.4% of those under age 18 and 5.5% of those age 65 or over.
Royal Oak utilizes the Council-Manager form of government, and is governed by a city commission consisting of a mayor
and six commission members. The city commission appoints a city manager
, who manages the day-to-day operations of the city. The current city manager is Donald E. Johnson.
The current mayor of Royal Oak is Jim Ellison. Current city commissioners are Michael Andrzejak, Terry Drinkwine, Charles Semchena Jr., Patricia Capello, David Poulton and Jim Rasor. The latter three were elected on November 3, 2009 to replace Ginotti and Lelito who did not run for re-election and to fill a seat that has been vacant for several months. They were seated on December 7, 2009.
and Madison Heights
. In 2008, the city's crime rate was 69.6% of the national average. Larceny-Theft
was the most common crime, making up 66.7% of all crimes in the city. Four known murders have been committed since 2000, one in 2004, one in 2005, and one in 2010.
Royal Oak has its own police department. There are 64 sworn officers and 21 un-sworn officers in the department. The department's policing leans on the community, and community policing is a rising trend in the city. Community policing and neighborhood watch has contributed to reducing crime in the city within the past decade
. It contains a location of Oakland Community College
. There is also a private high school, Shrine Catholic.
In recent years Royal Oak has begun to consolidate its public schools in response to enrollment levels that are lower than those of the baby boom
era. In 2006, the city's two public high schools, George A. Dondero High School and Clarence M. Kimball High School, were combined into a new Royal Oak High School
. Beginning in 2007, the city's two middle schools were combined into one school, named Royal Oak Middle School. The total number of elementary schools was reduced to six. Some parents protested the planned closure and demolition of Longfellow and Whittier elementary schools and were seeking to have them considered for historic district recognition by way of signed petition. Despite their efforts, both schools, as well as a number of other former elementary schools, were demolished in the fall of 2007.
Amtrak
, the national passenger rail system, provides service to Royal Oak, operating its three times daily in both directions between Pontiac
and Chicago
via Detroit.
Commuter rail service was once provided by Grand Trunk Western Railroad
(GTW) and later Southeastern Michigan Transportation Authority (SEMTA) from Pontiac to downtown Detroit, with a stop in Royal Oak. This service ended on October 17, 1983, after subsidies were discontinued. Efforts continue to this day to restore such commuter service.
Class one freight rail service is provided by Canadian National Railway
(CN).
Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation
(SMART) operates local and regional bus transit.
and Interstate 696
in the southeast corner of the city. Woodward Avenue (state highway M-1) is about a mile west of the interchange in the southeast corner of the city. Woodward proceeds northwest defining the western border of the city, and intersects with the north-south Coolidge Highway just south of 13 Mile Road. The southern terminus of Rochester Road is about 1 mile north of the downtown district, where it angles off from Main Street, just south of the location of the "Royal Oak" tree mentioned above, and connects Royal Oak with Rochester
, although the road itself continues on far beyond the city of Rochester. This road also used to be the route of an early 1900s electric trolley line which connected downtown Royal Oak with downtown Rochester.
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"....
. It is a suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
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
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...
, a separate community located nearby.
It is the 6th-largest city in Oakland County and the 21st largest city in Michigan by population. The area is known for its shopping, dining, and many cultural activities.
History
Royal Oak was incorporated as a village in 1891, and as a city in 1921. The city's name originates in 1819, from one of Territorial Governor Lewis CassLewis Cass
Lewis Cass was an American military officer and politician. During his long political career, Cass served as a governor of the Michigan Territory, an American ambassador, a U.S. Senator representing Michigan, and co-founder as well as first Masonic Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Michigan...
' expeditions surveying land. A tree located near the present-day intersection of Crooks, Rochester, and Main reminded Cass of the Royal Oak
Royal Oak
The Royal Oak is the English oak tree within which King Charles II of England hid to escape the Roundheads following the Battle of Worcester in 1651. The tree was located in Boscobel Wood, which was part of the park of Boscobel House. Charles confirmed to Samuel Pepys in 1680 that while he was...
tree within which King Charles II
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
of England hid to escape the Roundhead
Roundhead
"Roundhead" was the nickname given to the supporters of the Parliament during the English Civil War. Also known as Parliamentarians, they fought against King Charles I and his supporters, the Cavaliers , who claimed absolute power and the divine right of kings...
s following the Battle of Worcester
Battle of Worcester
The Battle of Worcester took place on 3 September 1651 at Worcester, England and was the final battle of the English Civil War. Oliver Cromwell and the Parliamentarians defeated the Royalist, predominantly Scottish, forces of King Charles II...
.
In the 1920s, Father Charles Coughlin
Charles Coughlin
Father Charles Edward Coughlin was a controversial Roman Catholic priest at Royal Oak, Michigan's National Shrine of the Little Flower church. He was one of the first political leaders to use radio to reach a mass audience, as more than thirty million tuned to his weekly broadcasts during the...
became the founding Pastor of the Shrine of the Little Flower
National Shrine of the Little Flower
National Shrine of the Little Flower Catholic Church in Royal Oak, Michigan is a well known Catholic Church and National Shrine executed in the lavish zig-zag Art Deco style. It was completed in two stages, from 1931 to 1936, and funded by the proceeds of the radio ministry of the controversial...
, a prominent landmark in the city. In 1926, the Ku Klux Klan
Ku Klux Klan
Ku Klux Klan, often abbreviated KKK and informally known as the Klan, is the name of three distinct past and present far-right organizations in the United States, which have advocated extremist reactionary currents such as white supremacy, white nationalism, and anti-immigration, historically...
burned a cross on the lawn of the original wooden church, and Coughlin used the incident to launch radio broadcasts on station WJR
WJR
WJR is a radio station in Detroit, Michigan, United States. It broadcasts a news/talk format. It is a class A clear channel station whose broadcasts can be heard throughout most of the Midwest, eastern United States and Canada at night, making it one of the most powerful radio stations in the...
. Through this publicity he raised enough money to build the current limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
complex and tower from which he aired his radio show thereafter. He built a large following; however, in the late 1930s Coughlin's broadcasts became increasingly controversial eventually leading to his removal from the air in 1939.
On November 14, 1991, Thomas McIlvane killed five people, including himself, with a Ruger .22 caliber rifle in Royal Oak's post office, which was one of a string of incidents across the United States in which current or recently fired postal workers attacked and killed co-workers en masse, leading to the phrase "going postal
Going postal
Going postal, in American English slang, means becoming extremely and uncontrollably angry, often to the point of violence, and usually in a workplace environment....
".
Throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s, Royal Oak's downtown grew into an entertainment and nightlife destination. A number of large condominiums and lofts were built throughout the downtown and industrial areas. Though the economy took a downturn in 2006, the area remains an attractive area for young professionals and families.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 11.8 square miles (30.6 km²), all of which is land.
Royal Oak once had a river, the Red Run. Around 1967-1968 it was buried in a 6-foot drain pipe.
Culture
Downtown Royal Oak features a wide assortment of nightlife venues, including the Royal Oak Music Theatre and the Landmark Main Art Theatre. Royal Oak is home to the Detroit ZooDetroit Zoo
The Detroit Zoological Park, commonly known as the Detroit Zoo, is located about north of the Detroit city limits at the intersection of Woodward Avenue, 10 Mile Road, and Interstate 696 in Royal Oak and Huntington Woods, Michigan, USA...
, one of the region's leading tourist attractions. Mark Ridley's Comedy Castle, a club which hosts local and national comedians, was an early stomping ground of performers such as Tim Allen
Tim Allen
Tim Allen is an American comedian, actor, voice-over artist, and entertainer, known for his role in the sitcom Home Improvement...
and Dave Coulier
Dave Coulier
David Alan "Dave" Coulier is an American stand-up comedian, impressionist, television and voice actor, and television host. He is well-known for his role as Joey Gladstone on the ABC sitcom Full House, which ran from 1987 to 1995....
. The many restaurants range in fare from take-out sandwiches to high-end establishments specializing in cuisines like Italian, Belgian, Nepali, and others.
Royal Oak has an active night life. A variety of pubs are also available and include biker bars, dance clubs, upscale breweries, sports bars, and rooftop bars. During the summer, downtown Royal Oak becomes host to hordes of motorcycle
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
enthusiasts from around 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...
. On Wednesday nights Main Street is often lined with Harley-Davidson
Harley-Davidson
Harley-Davidson , often abbreviated H-D or Harley, is an American motorcycle manufacturer. Founded in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, during the first decade of the 20th century, it was one of two major American motorcycle manufacturers to survive the Great Depression...
s, whereas on Thursday night the streets fill up with sport bike
Sport bike
A sport bike, also written as sportbike, is a motorcycle optimized for speed, acceleration, braking, and cornering on paved roads, typically at the expense of comfort and fuel economy in comparison to less specialized motorcycles...
s.
Kid Rock
Robert James "Bob" Ritchie , known by his stage name Kid Rock, is an American singer-songwriter, musician and rapper with five Grammy Awards nominations...
, Bob Seger's manager Punch Andrews, hockey star Sergei Fedorov
Sergei Fedorov
Sergei Viktorovich Fedorov is a Russian professional ice hockey forward and occasional defenceman...
, and Eminem
Eminem
Marshall Bruce Mathers III , better known by his stage name Eminem or his alter ego Slim Shady, is an American rapper, record producer, songwriter and actor. Eminem's popularity brought his group project, D12, to mainstream recognition...
. In 1999 Meg White
Meg White
Megan Martha "Meg" White is an American drummer best known for her work in the Detroit rock duo The White Stripes.-Early life:...
of The White Stripes
The White Stripes
The White Stripes was an American rock band, formed in 1997 in Detroit, Michigan. The group consisted of the songwriter Jack White and drummer Meg White . Jack and Meg White were previously married to each other, but are now divorced...
was a day bartender for two years at the downtown bar Memphis Smoke. Years later, Jack White
Jack White (musician)
Jack White , often credited as Jack White III, is an American musician, songwriter, record producer and occasional actor...
's ex- girlfriend Renée Zellweger
Renée Zellweger
Renée Kathleen Zellweger is an American actress and producer. Zellweger first gained widespread attention for her role in the film Jerry Maguire , and subsequently received two nominations for the Academy Award for Best Actress for her roles as Bridget Jones in the comedy Bridget Jones's Diary ...
was known to stop in at Memphis Smoke for carry-out. During the 2005 Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
football season, 2004 Playboy Playmate of the year Carmella DeCesare
Carmella DeCesare
Carmella Danielle Garcia is an American model who was Playboy magazine's Miss April 2003 and Playmate of the Year for 2004. She is of Italian and Puerto Rican descent. She is best known for her time in WWE as a WWE Diva...
lived in a downtown, upscale loft with her boyfriend Jeff Garcia
Jeff Garcia
Jeffrey Jason "Jeff" Garcia is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He played college football at San Jose State University....
. She was known for calling into local Detroit sports radio stations and complaining about local reporters' treatment of Garcia.
The popular 1990s sitcom Home Improvement is set in Royal Oak. In one episode, Tim is pulled over on a traffic stop by a police officer wearing a Royal Oak Police Department shoulder patch. In 2008, three movies were filmed in Royal Oak. Scenes from Prayers for Bobby
Prayers for Bobby
Prayers for Bobby is a 2009 television film that premiered on the Lifetime network on January 24, 2009. It is based on the book, Prayers for Bobby: A Mother's Coming to Terms with the Suicide of Her Gay Son, by Leroy F...
, Youth in Revolt
Youth in Revolt
Youth in Revolt: The Journals of Nick Twisp is a 1993 epistolary novel by C. D. Payne. The story is told in a picaresque fashion and makes heavy use of black humor and camp...
and Gran Torino were filmed in the downtown area. In 2009, the remake of Red Dawn
Red Dawn
Red Dawn is a 1984 American war film directed by John Milius and co-written by Milius and Kevin Reynolds. It stars Patrick Swayze, C. Thomas Howell, Lea Thompson, Charlie Sheen and Jennifer Grey....
had several scenes filmed in Royal Oak neighborhoods.
In addition to The Detroit News
The Detroit News
The Detroit News is one of the two major newspapers in the U.S. city of Detroit, Michigan. The paper began in 1873, when it rented space in the rival Free Press's building. The News absorbed the Detroit Tribune on February 1, 1919, the Detroit Journal on July 21, 1922, and on November 7, 1960,...
and Detroit Free Press
Detroit Free Press
The Detroit Free Press is the largest daily newspaper in Detroit, Michigan, USA. The Sunday edition is entitled the Sunday Free Press. It is sometimes informally referred to as the "Freep"...
, regional newspapers serving all of southeast Michigan, the city is served by the Daily Tribune, the Royal Oak Review, and The Mirror.
In December 2009 it was announced that the Arts, Beats and Eats festival would be moved from 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...
to Royal Oak. On October 12, 2010, Royal Oak High School was featured on the MTV program If You Really Knew Me and showed the events of the second of two of the school's 2009-2010 Challenge Days.
Economy
Detroit Zoo
The Detroit Zoological Park, commonly known as the Detroit Zoo, is located about north of the Detroit city limits at the intersection of Woodward Avenue, 10 Mile Road, and Interstate 696 in Royal Oak and Huntington Woods, Michigan, USA...
, a major regional tourist attraction, the William Beaumont Hospital
William Beaumont Hospital
Beaumont Hospital is a regional medical system in the greater Detroit, Michigan area. It first opened with a 238 bed hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan in 1955...
, the Royal Oak Music Theatre, the Main Art Theatre, the Baldwin Theatre, Mark Ridley's Comedy Castle, and the many unique shops, cafes, and restaurants which line the streets of the downtown area. In addition, the main offices of Hour Detroit media, which publishes 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...
's lifestyle magazine, are located in the city. Royal Oak still has some edgier retail establishments, a few chain restaurants, dozens of unique restaurants and many condominiums.
The National Arbor Day Foundation
National Arbor Day Foundation
The Arbor Day Foundation is the world's oldest and largest tree-planting organization. The foundation began September 3, 1971 with a mission "to inspire people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees". The Foundation is supported by donations, selling trees and merchandise, and by corporate sponsors...
has awarded Royal Oak the distinction of "Tree City USA" every year since 1976 due to the city's commitment to tree planting and preservation.
In 1998, the foundation of famous Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
comedian and Detroit-area native Gilda Radner
Gilda Radner
Gilda Susan Radner was an American comedian and actress, best known as one of the original cast members of the NBC sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live, for which she won an Emmy Award in 1978.-Early life:...
created a free cancer support community for people with cancer, their families, and friends. Gilda's Club
Gilda's Club
Gilda's Club, named in tribute to the late comic actress Gilda Radner, who died of ovarian cancer in 1989, is a community meeting place for people living with cancer, their families and friends. There are 22 open clubhouses and nine in development in North America...
Metro Detroit operates a three-story non-residential house in Royal Oak and has welcomed more than 3,000 members for social and emotional support and fun activities.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 60,062 people, 28,880 households, and 14,440 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 5,083.0 people per square mile (1,961.9/km²). There were 29,942 housing units at an average density of 2,534.0 per square mile (978.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.80% White, 1.54% African American, 0.26% Native American, 1.56% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.38% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.30% of the population.
There were 28,880 households out of which 20.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.9% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 50.0% were non-families. 40.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.06 and the average family size was 2.86.
In the city the population was spread out with 17.8% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 38.8% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 95.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $52,252, and the median income for a family was $68,109. Males had a median income of $50,562 versus $36,392 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 $30,990. About 2.0% of families and 4.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.4% of those under age 18 and 5.5% of those age 65 or over.
Government
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
and six commission members. The city commission 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 city manager is Donald E. Johnson.
The current mayor of Royal Oak is Jim Ellison. Current city commissioners are Michael Andrzejak, Terry Drinkwine, Charles Semchena Jr., Patricia Capello, David Poulton and Jim Rasor. The latter three were elected on November 3, 2009 to replace Ginotti and Lelito who did not run for re-election and to fill a seat that has been vacant for several months. They were seated on December 7, 2009.
Crime
Royal Oak boasts a below average crime rate, reflecting that of nearby communities, such as BerkleyBerkley, Michigan
Berkley is a city in Oakland County of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is an inner suburb of Detroit. As of the 2010 census, the total population was 14,970.-Downtown, Dream Cruise, etc.:...
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 :...
. In 2008, the city's crime rate was 69.6% 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 common crime, making up 66.7% of all crimes in the city. Four known murders have been committed since 2000, one in 2004, one in 2005, and one in 2010.
Royal Oak has its own police department. There are 64 sworn officers and 21 un-sworn officers in the department. The department's policing leans on the community, and community policing is a rising trend in the city. Community policing and neighborhood watch has contributed to reducing crime in the city within the past decade
Education
The city is served by Royal Oak Neighborhood SchoolsRoyal Oak Neighborhood Schools
Royal Oak Neighborhood Schools is also called ROSD for Royal Oak School District.The official name is School District of the City of Royal Oak...
. It contains a location of Oakland Community College
Oakland Community College
Oakland Community College is a community college established June 8, 1964 in Oakland County, Michigan. It opened September 1965 with two campuses - Highland Lakes, a renovated hospital in Union Lake, and Auburn Hills, a former Army Nike missile site in Auburn Hills.OCC is the largest of Michigan's...
. There is also a private high school, Shrine Catholic.
In recent years Royal Oak has begun to consolidate its public schools in response to enrollment levels that are lower than those of the baby boom
Baby boom
A baby boom is any period marked by a greatly increased birth rate. This demographic phenomenon is usually ascribed within certain geographical bounds and when the number of annual births exceeds 2 per 100 women...
era. In 2006, the city's two public high schools, George A. Dondero High School and Clarence M. Kimball High School, were combined into a new Royal Oak High School
Royal Oak High School
Royal Oak High School is a secondary educational facility located in Royal Oak, Michigan. The current principal is Michael Greening.-History:ROHS is a 2006 consolidation of former intra-city rivals Royal Oak George A. Dondero High School and...
. Beginning in 2007, the city's two middle schools were combined into one school, named Royal Oak Middle School. The total number of elementary schools was reduced to six. Some parents protested the planned closure and demolition of Longfellow and Whittier elementary schools and were seeking to have them considered for historic district recognition by way of signed petition. Despite their efforts, both schools, as well as a number of other former elementary schools, were demolished in the fall of 2007.
Rail and bus
Amtrak
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
, the national passenger rail system, provides service to Royal Oak, operating its three times daily in both directions between 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...
and Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
via Detroit.
Commuter rail service was once provided by Grand Trunk Western Railroad
Grand Trunk Western Railroad
The Grand Trunk Western Railroad is an important subsidiary of the Canadian National Railway , constituting the majority of CN's Chicago Division ....
(GTW) and later Southeastern Michigan Transportation Authority (SEMTA) from Pontiac to downtown Detroit, with a stop in Royal Oak. This service ended on October 17, 1983, after subsidies were discontinued. Efforts continue to this day to restore such commuter service.
Class one freight rail service is provided by Canadian National Railway
Canadian National Railway
The Canadian National Railway Company is a Canadian Class I railway headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. CN's slogan is "North America's Railroad"....
(CN).
Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation
Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation
The Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation ' is the public transit operator serving suburban Greater Detroit. Beginning operations in 1967 as the "SouthEastern Michigan Transportation Authority" or "SEMTA", it operates 44 "linehaul" and three "park-and-ride" bus routes in Wayne,...
(SMART) operates local and regional bus transit.
Highways
There is an interchange connecting Interstate 75Interstate 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...
and Interstate 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...
in the southeast corner of the city. Woodward Avenue (state highway M-1) is about a mile west of the interchange in the southeast corner of the city. Woodward proceeds northwest defining the western border of the city, and intersects with the north-south Coolidge Highway just south of 13 Mile Road. The southern terminus of Rochester Road is about 1 mile north of the downtown district, where it angles off from Main Street, just south of the location of the "Royal Oak" tree mentioned above, and connects Royal Oak with Rochester
Rochester, Michigan
Rochester is an affluent city in north Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan on the northern outskirts of metro Detroit. The population was 12,711 at the 2010 census...
, although the road itself continues on far beyond the city of Rochester. This road also used to be the route of an early 1900s electric trolley line which connected downtown Royal Oak with downtown Rochester.
Notable people
- Kristen BellKristen BellKristen Anne Bell is an American actress. Although her first film role was an uncredited appearance in Polish Wedding, Bell previously acted in stage and musical productions. In 2001, she made her Broadway debut as Becky Thatcher in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer...
, actress; never a Royal Oak resident but a Shrine Catholic High SchoolShrine Catholic High SchoolShrine Catholic High School is a private, co-educational, Roman Catholic secondary high school located in Royal Oak, Michigan, affiliated with National Shrine of the Little Flower Church. It has an attached middle school called the "Academy"...
graduate - Brenden Benson, singer/songwriter and member of The RaconteursThe RaconteursThe Raconteurs is an American rock band that was formed in Detroit, Michigan, featuring four members known for other musical projects: Jack White , Brendan Benson , Jack Lawrence , and Patrick Keeler .-Formation:The...
- Bruce CampbellBruce CampbellBruce Lorne Campbell is an American film and television actor. As a cult movie actor, Campbell starred as Ashley J. "Ash" Williams in Sam Raimi's Evil Dead series of films and he has starred in many low-budget cult films such as Crimewave, Maniac Cop, Bubba Ho-tep, Escape From L.A. and Sundown:...
, movie actor and director - Father Charles CoughlinCharles CoughlinFather Charles Edward Coughlin was a controversial Roman Catholic priest at Royal Oak, Michigan's National Shrine of the Little Flower church. He was one of the first political leaders to use radio to reach a mass audience, as more than thirty million tuned to his weekly broadcasts during the...
, "Radio priest" at the National Shrine of the Little FlowerNational Shrine of the Little FlowerNational Shrine of the Little Flower Catholic Church in Royal Oak, Michigan is a well known Catholic Church and National Shrine executed in the lavish zig-zag Art Deco style. It was completed in two stages, from 1931 to 1936, and funded by the proceeds of the radio ministry of the controversial...
during the Great DepressionGreat DepressionThe Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s... - Meryl DavisMeryl DavisMeryl Davis is an American ice dancer. With partner Charlie White, she is the 2011 World champion, 2010 Olympic silver medalist, the 2010 World silver medalist, a two-time Grand Prix Final champion, two-time Four Continents champion and three-time U.S...
, figure skater, winner of the silver medal in ice dancing at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in VancouverVancouverVancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
. - Pete DawkinsPete DawkinsPeter Miller Dawkins is a Heisman Trophy winner, Rhodes Scholar, U.S. Army Brigadier General, and Republican candidate for Senate. He is the former vice chairman of Citigroup Private Bank.-Early life, education and athletic career:...
, overcame polio to win the Heisman TrophyHeisman TrophyThe Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
in 1958, eventually becoming a Rhodes Scholar as well as the youngest U.S. Army brigadier general ever - Paul FeigPaul FeigPaul S. Feig is an American director, actor and author. Feig is known for playing Mr. Eugene Pool, Sabrina's science teacher, on the first season of Sabrina, the Teenage Witch as well as Tim a camp counselor on the hit kids movie Heavyweights...
, writer and filmmaker - Kirk FerentzKirk FerentzKirk James Ferentz is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the head football coach at the University of Iowa, a position he has held since 1999. From 1990 to 1992, Ferentz was the head football coach at the University of Maine. He has also served as an assistant coach...
, head football coach at the University of IowaUniversity of IowaThe University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees... - Dean FertitaDean FertitaDean Fertita is an American rock musician and multi-instrumentalist. Fertita was the lead singer and guitarist of The Waxwings from the band's formation in 1997 to its breakup in 2005...
, songwriter/musician/singer; has played with Queens of the Stone AgeQueens of the Stone AgeQueens of the Stone Age is an American rock band from Palm Desert, California, United States, formed in 1997. The band's line-up has always included founding member Josh Homme , with the current line-up including longtime members Troy Van Leeuwen and Joey Castillo , alongside Michael Shuman and...
and The RaconteursThe RaconteursThe Raconteurs is an American rock band that was formed in Detroit, Michigan, featuring four members known for other musical projects: Jack White , Brendan Benson , Jack Lawrence , and Patrick Keeler .-Formation:The...
- Bill FreehanBill FreehanWilliam Ashley Freehan is a former professional baseball player. He played his entire Major League Baseball career as a catcher for the Detroit Tigers...
, Detroit Tigers catcher - Glenn FreyGlenn FreyGlenn Lewis Frey is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and actor, best known as a founding member of the Eagles. Frey formed the Eagles after he met drummer Don Henley in 1970 and the two eventually joined Linda Ronstadt's backup band for her summer tour. The Eagles formed in 1971 and...
, member of the band Eagles; attended Dondero High SchoolDondero High SchoolGeorge A. Dondero High School was opened in 1927 in Royal Oak, Michigan. It was named after former United States congressman and Royal Oak School Board President George A. Dondero.- Overview :... - Christopher GeorgeChristopher GeorgeChristopher John George was an American television and film actor who was perhaps best known for his starring role in the 1966-1968 TV series The Rat Patrol. He was nominated for a Golden Globe in 1967 as Best TV Star for his performance in the series...
, actor (The Rat PatrolThe Rat PatrolThe Rat Patrol is an American television program that aired on ABC during the 1966–1968 seasons. The show follows the exploits of four Allied soldiers who are part of a long-range desert patrol group in the North African campaign during World War II...
) - Chris GoreChris GoreChristopher Patrick "Chris" Gore is an acclaimed speaker and writer on the topic of independent film.Gore was born September 5, 1965 in Big Rapids, Michigan. He is the main writer and the founder of Film Threat, a project dedicated to covering independent and underground movies which he started in...
, independent film maker - David GreweDavid GreweDavid Grewe is the former head baseball coach at Michigan State University and current assistant baseball coach at Louisiana State University, both of the United States.-Education and playing career:...
, former baseball coach at Michigan State UniversityMichigan State UniversityMichigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,... - Judith GuestJudith GuestJudith Guest is an American novelist and screenwriter. She was born in Detroit, Michigan and is the great-niece of Poet Laureate Edgar Guest .- Work :...
, author of Ordinary PeopleOrdinary PeopleOrdinary People is a 1980 American drama film that marked the directorial debut of Robert Redford. It stars Donald Sutherland, Mary Tyler Moore, Judd Hirsch and Timothy Hutton.... - Tom HaydenTom HaydenThomas Emmet "Tom" Hayden is an American social and political activist and politician, known for his involvement in the animal rights, and the anti-war and civil rights movements of the 1960s. He is the former husband of actress Jane Fonda and the father of actor Troy Garity.-Life and...
, one of the founders of Students for a Democratic SocietyStudents for a Democratic Society (1960 organization)Students for a Democratic Society was a student activist movement in the United States that was one of the main iconic representations of the country's New Left. The organization developed and expanded rapidly in the mid-1960s before dissolving at its last convention in 1969... - Abraham HoaglandAbraham HoaglandAbraham Lucas Hoagland was an early Mormon leader, pioneer, and one of the founders of Royal Oak, Michigan, and Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.-Early life:...
, 19th century MormonMormonThe term Mormon most commonly denotes an adherent, practitioner, follower, or constituent of Mormonism, which is the largest branch of the Latter Day Saint movement in restorationist Christianity...
leader - Jack KevorkianJack KevorkianJacob "Jack" Kevorkian , commonly known as "Dr. Death", was an American pathologist, euthanasia activist, painter, composer and instrumentalist. He is best known for publicly championing a terminal patient's right to die via physician-assisted suicide; he said he assisted at least 130 patients to...
, practiced physician-assisted suicide in Royal Oak - Keegan-Michael KeyKeegan-Michael KeyKeegan-Michael Key is an American comic actor best known for his roles as a cast member on MADtv for six seasons. He has also had recurring roles on Reno 911! and Gary Unmarried. He used to be the host of The Planet's Funniest Animals...
, Mad TVMad TVMad TV may refer to:*MADtv, an American sketch comedy television series based on Mad magazine*Mad TV , a 1991 German television station management simulation game*MAD TV , a Greek music channel-See also:...
comedian; never a Royal Oak resident but a Shrine Catholic High SchoolShrine Catholic High SchoolShrine Catholic High School is a private, co-educational, Roman Catholic secondary high school located in Royal Oak, Michigan, affiliated with National Shrine of the Little Flower Church. It has an attached middle school called the "Academy"...
graduate - Scott LloydScott LloydScott G. Lloyd is a retired American professional basketball player. He was a 6'10" 230 lb center who played high school basketball at East Phoenix High School where he was selected All-America and led his team to the 1971 state title...
, former NBA basketball player - Sam RaimiSam RaimiSamuel Marshall "Sam" Raimi is an American film director, producer, actor and writer. He is best known for directing cult horror films like the Evil Dead series, Darkman and Drag Me to Hell, as well as the blockbuster Spider-Man films and the producer of the successful TV series Hercules: The...
, director of many films including the Spider-Man trilogy - Michael Phillips (barista)Michael Phillips (barista)Michael Phillips won the U.S. Barista Championship in Portland, Oregon, in March 2009, while working at Intelligentsia Coffee & Tea in New York City. He also won the 2010 United States Barista Championship, becoming the only repeat U.S...
- Terrell Ransom, JrTerrell Ransom, JrTerrell Ransom, Jr. is an American child actor and model. He is mostly known for his role on Days of our Lives as the autistic Theo Carver. He is currently still on the show and has been appearing on a regular basis since May 20, 2008....
, child actor born in Royal Oak - Charlie WhiteCharlie White (figure skater)Charlie White is an American ice dancer. With partner Meryl Davis, he is the 2011 World champion, 2010 Olympic silver medalist, the 2010 World silver medalist, a two-time Grand Prix Final champion, two-time Four Continents champion and three-time U.S...
, ice dancer, Olympic silver medalist and World silver medalist
See also
- Architecture of metropolitan DetroitArchitecture of metropolitan DetroitThe architecture of metropolitan Detroit, Michigan continues to attract the attention of architects and preservationists alike. With one of the world's recognizable skylines, Detroit's waterfront panorama shows a variety of architectural styles. The city's historic Art Deco skyscrapers blend with...
- Detroit ZooDetroit ZooThe Detroit Zoological Park, commonly known as the Detroit Zoo, is located about north of the Detroit city limits at the intersection of Woodward Avenue, 10 Mile Road, and Interstate 696 in Royal Oak and Huntington Woods, Michigan, USA...
- Tourism in metropolitan DetroitTourism in metropolitan DetroitTourism in metropolitan Detroit, Michigan is a significant factor for the region's culture and for its economy, comprising nine percent of the area's two million jobs. About 15.9 million people visit Metro Detroit annually, spending an estimated $4.8 billion. Detroit is one of the largest American...