Southfield, Michigan
Encyclopedia
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 26.2 square miles (67.9 km²), 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. Southfield's northern border does not follow a single road, but lies approximately around Thirteen Mile Road. The city is bordered by Detroit and Redford Township to the south, Farmington Hills
to the west, Franklin
, Bingham Farms
, and Beverly Hills
to the north and Royal Oak
, Berkley
and Oak Park
to the east. The separate city of Lathrup Village
sits as an enclave in the eastern part of the city, completely surrounded by Southfield.
As of the census
of 2000, there were 78,296 people, 33,987 households, and 19,780 families residing in the city. The population density
was 2,984.6 per square mile (1,152.5/km²). There were 35,698 housing units at an average density of 1,360.8 per square mile (525.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 54.22% African American, 38.83% White, 3.09% Asian, 0.20% Native American, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.45% from other races
, and 2.39% from two or more races. 1.19% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
As of the 2010 census, Southfield had a population of 71,739, with 31,778 households, and 18,178 families residing in the city. The ethnic/racial makeup of the city was 70.30% African American, 24.92% White, 1.72% Asian, 0.20% Native American, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.64% from other races
, and 2.99% from two or more races. 1.33% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race .
Of the city's 33,987 households (2000), 25.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.2% were married couples
living together, 14.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.8% were non-families. 36.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 3.01.
The age distribution in the city's population was spread out with 21.6% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 30.6% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. In terms of gender distribution, for every 100 females there were 84.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $51,802, and the median income for a family was $64,543. Males had a median income of $48,341 versus $37,949 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $28,096. About 5.8% of families and 7.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.2% of those under age 18 and 10.2% of those age 65 or over.
Southfield utilizes the Council-Manager form of government, and thus is governed by a City Council
consisting of seven council members. The city council appoints a City Administrator, who manages the day-to-day operations of the city. The popularly elected Mayor
, who does not vote on council actions, does have the right to veto council actions and holds the power to appoint the city's planner, assessor, attorney, and members of various commissions. The city's Clerk and Treasurer
are also popularly elected officials. All of these officials hold non-partisan positions.
Southfield Public Schools
operates area public schools. Southfield High School
in Southfield and Southfield-Lathrup High School
in Lathrup Village
serve Southfield. Students living in parts of Northern Southfield attend schools in the Birmingham City School District
, while students living in the Southeast corner of Southfield attend schools in the Oak Park School District.
Southfield Public Library
operates public libraries in the city.
and Oakland Community College
. Duns Scotus College
, a Roman Catholic institution, was located in Southfield until it closed in 1979.
The Specs Howard School of Media Arts is in Southfield.
, WJBK
, WKBD-TV, and WWJ-TV
, and City Cable 15. Metro Detroit's regional sports network
Fox Sports Detroit
is located in Southfield on 11 Mile and Evergreen roads.
The city has one radio station, WSHJ
88.3 FM, which is sponsored by Southfield Public Schools.
In 1970, radio pioneer and entertainer Specs Howard
founded the Specs Howard School of Media Arts in Southfield.
In addition to The Detroit News
and Free Press
, Detroit's two metropolitan daily newspapers, Southfield is served by the Southfield Eccentric, a suburban paper that reports on local and community events, which is published twice a week, on Sunday and Thursday.
The major thoroughfares in the city include the John C. Lodge Freeway (M-10
), which is among the first urban to suburban highways constructed in the United States. The city also contains Interstate 696
, Southfield Freeway (M-39
), and US-24/Telegraph Rd
. The city contains several freeway interchanges connecting local roads to the freeways. Most prominently, "The Lodge" freeway connects downtown Detroit to "The Mixing Bowl," the sprawling interchange of I-696, US-24/Telegraph Rd, the Lodge, Northwestern Highway, Lahser Road, and Franklin Road, all of which are located in Southfield.
Most major streets adhere to a north-south/east-west orientation, forming a grid of major streets spaced one mile (1.6 km) apart from each other. The major east-west streets are 8 Mile Road (which forms the southern boundary of the city), 9 Mile Road (which is split by the Southfield Freeway), 10 Mile Road, 11 Mile Road (which is split by the Lodge), and 12 Mile Road. Major north-south streets are Telegraph Road, Lahser Road, Evergreen Road, Southfield Road (the northern extension of the Southfield Freeway) and Greenfield Road (which forms the eastern boundary of the city).
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 26.2 square miles (67.9 km²), of which 0.04% is water. The main branch of the River Rouge
River Rouge (Michigan)
The River Rouge, also known as the Rouge River, is a river in the Metro Detroit area of southeastern Michigan. It flows into the Detroit River at Zug Island, which is the boundary between the cities of River Rouge and Detroit....
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. Southfield's northern border does not follow a single road, but lies approximately around Thirteen Mile Road. The city is bordered by Detroit and Redford Township to the south, 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...
to the west, 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....
, 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 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:...
to the north and 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....
, Berkley
Berkley, 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 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...
to the east. The separate city of 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...
sits as an enclave in the eastern part of the city, completely surrounded by Southfield.
Demographics
Census
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 78,296 people, 33,987 households, and 19,780 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 2,984.6 per square mile (1,152.5/km²). There were 35,698 housing units at an average density of 1,360.8 per square mile (525.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 54.22% African American, 38.83% White, 3.09% Asian, 0.20% Native American, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.45% 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 2.39% from two or more races. 1.19% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
As of the 2010 census, Southfield had a population of 71,739, with 31,778 households, and 18,178 families residing in the city. The ethnic/racial makeup of the city was 70.30% African American, 24.92% White, 1.72% Asian, 0.20% Native American, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.64% 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 2.99% from two or more races. 1.33% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race .
Of the city's 33,987 households (2000), 25.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.2% 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, 14.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.8% were non-families. 36.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 3.01.
The age distribution in the city's population was spread out with 21.6% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 30.6% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. In terms of gender distribution, for every 100 females there were 84.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $51,802, and the median income for a family was $64,543. Males had a median income of $48,341 versus $37,949 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 $28,096. About 5.8% of families and 7.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.2% of those under age 18 and 10.2% of those age 65 or over.
Government
City 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 seven council members. The city council appoints a City Administrator, who manages the day-to-day operations of the city. The popularly elected Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
, who does not vote on council actions, does have the right to veto council actions and holds the power to appoint the city's planner, assessor, attorney, and members of various commissions. The city's Clerk and Treasurer
Treasurer
A treasurer is the person responsible for running the treasury of an organization. The adjective for a treasurer is normally "tresorial". The adjective "treasurial" normally means pertaining to a treasury, rather than the treasurer.-Government:...
are also popularly elected officials. All of these officials hold non-partisan positions.
- City officials
- Mayor Brenda L. LawrenceBrenda L. LawrenceBrenda L. Lawrence is the current mayor of Southfield, Michigan and was the Democratic nominee for Michigan lieutenant governor in 2010.-Early life:...
- Mayor Brenda L. Lawrence
- State officials
- Governor Rick Snyder (R)Republican Party (United States)The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
- State Senator Gilda Z. Jacobs (D)Democratic Party (United States)The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
- 14th State Senate District - State RepresentativeMichigan State House of RepresentativesThe Michigan House of Representatives is the lower house of the Michigan Legislature. There are 110 members, each of whom is elected from constituencies having approximately 77,000 to 91,000 residents, based on population figures from the 2000 federal U.S. Census.Members are elected in...
Vincent GregoryVincent GregoryVincent Gregory is a politician from the state of Michigan. In 2008, he was elected as a Democrat to the Michigan State House of Representatives. Taking office in 2009, he represents the 35th State House District, which is located in Oakland County and includes the cities of Southfield, Lathrup...
(D)Democratic Party (United States)The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
- 35th State House District
- Governor Rick Snyder (R)
- Federal officials
- SenatorUnited States SenateThe United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
Carl LevinCarl LevinCarl Milton Levin is a Jewish-American United States Senator from Michigan, serving since 1979. He is the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Armed Services. He is a member of the Democratic Party....
(D)Democratic Party (United States)The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... - SenatorUnited States SenateThe United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
Debbie StabenowDebbie StabenowDeborah Ann Greer "Debbie" Stabenow is the junior United States Senator from Michigan and a member of the Democratic Party. Before her election to the U.S. Senate, she was a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Michigan's 8th congressional district from 1997 to 2001...
(D)Democratic Party (United States)The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... - RepresentativeUnited States House of RepresentativesThe United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
Sander Levin (D)Democratic Party (United States)The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
- 12th Congressional DistrictMichigan's 12th congressional districtMichigan's 12th congressional district is a United States Congressional District located in Detroit's inner suburbs to the north, along the Interstate 696 corridor in Macomb and Oakland counties, as well as a portion of Macomb north of the corridor....
- Senator
Education
Southfield Public Schools
Southfield Public Schools, also known as the Southfield Public School District , is a school district headquartered in Southfield, Michigan, United States. It serves the cities of Southfield and Lathrup Village.-Dress codes:...
operates area public schools. Southfield High School
Southfield High School
Southfield Senior High School is a senior high school located in Southfield, Michigan. Founded in 1953, Southfield High is the oldest of three high schools in the district operated by Southfield Public Schools...
in Southfield and Southfield-Lathrup High School
Southfield-Lathrup High School
Southfield-Lathrup High School is a senior high school in Lathrup Village, Michigan, United States. It is the second oldest of three high schools in the Southfield Public Schools district, the oldest being Southfield High School, and the youngest being University High School...
in 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...
serve Southfield. Students living in parts of Northern Southfield attend schools in the Birmingham City School District
Birmingham City School District
Birmingham Public Schools , formally the Birmingham City School District, is the public school district for Birmingham, Michigan. Beyond Birmingham, the district provides public school services for all areas of the following municipalities: Beverly Hills, Bingham Farms, Franklin and Southfield...
, while students living in the Southeast corner of Southfield attend schools in the Oak Park School District.
Southfield Public Library
Southfield Public Library
The Southfield Public Library is located at 26300 Evergreen Road in the city of Southfield, Michigan. The library serves the communities of Southfield and Lathrup Village, Michigan, an enclave totally surrounded by Southfield...
operates public libraries in the city.
Colleges and universities
Southfield is home to eight colleges including Lawrence Technological UniversityLawrence Technological University
Lawrence Technological University, also known as Lawrence Tech or simply LTU, is a private university located in Southfield, Michigan. The school offers undergraduate, masters, and doctoral programs in engineering, science, mathematics, architecture, graphic design, and business...
and 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...
. Duns Scotus College
Duns Scotus College
Duns Scotus College was a college of the Order of Friars Minor or O.F.M. in Southfield, Michigan from 1930 until 1979 owned by Saint John the Baptist Province in Cincinnati Ohio. It was first regularly accredited in 1969...
, a Roman Catholic institution, was located in Southfield until it closed in 1979.
The Specs Howard School of Media Arts is in Southfield.
Media
Southfield is the broadcast media center for the Detroit area, boasting studios and broadcast facilities for several television stations including WXYZ-TVWXYZ-TV
WXYZ-TV, channel 7, is an ABC-affiliated television station in Detroit, Michigan, USA. WXYZ-TV is owned by the E.W. Scripps Company, and is the media company's largest-market TV station property...
, WJBK
WJBK
WJBK is the Fox–owned and operated television station in Detroit, Michigan broadcasting on digital channel 7...
, WKBD-TV, and WWJ-TV
WWJ-TV
WWJ-TV, virtual channel 62 , is the CBS-owned and operated television station in Detroit, Michigan. It is co-owned with Detroit's CW station, WKBD-TV , and the two stations share a studio in Southfield, Michigan, a Detroit suburb....
, and City Cable 15. Metro Detroit's regional sports network
Regional sports network
In the United States of America and Canada, a regional sports network, or RSN, is a cable television station that presents sports programming to a local market. The most important programming on an RSN consists of live broadcasts of professional and college sporting events, as those games generate...
Fox Sports Detroit
Fox Sports Detroit
Fox Sports Detroit , is a regional sports network that covers local sports teams in the state of Michigan, mostly those in the Metro Detroit area. It is an owned and operated affiliate of Fox Sports Net...
is located in Southfield on 11 Mile and Evergreen roads.
The city has one radio station, WSHJ
WSHJ
WSHJ is a high school radio station broadcasting an Urban Contemporary format. Licensed to Southfield, Michigan it first began broadcasting in 1967....
88.3 FM, which is sponsored by Southfield Public Schools.
In 1970, radio pioneer and entertainer Specs Howard
Specs Howard
Specs Howard is a radio pioneer who spent three decades entertaining audiences in Cleveland, Ohio and Detroit, Michigan. He achieved notice as one of the members of the Martin and Howard Show in Cleveland during the 1960s before moving to Detroit. In 1970, he created the Specs Howard School of...
founded the Specs Howard School of Media Arts in Southfield.
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 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"...
, Detroit's two metropolitan daily newspapers, Southfield is served by the Southfield Eccentric, a suburban paper that reports on local and community events, which is published twice a week, on Sunday and Thursday.
Transportation
Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART) operates local and regional bus transit.The major thoroughfares in the city include the John C. Lodge Freeway (M-10
M-10 (Michigan highway)
M-10, is a state trunkline route in the US state of Michigan. The southernmost portion follows Jefferson Avenue in downtown Detroit, and the southern terminus is at the intersection of Jefferson and Randolph Street leading to the entrance to the Detroit–Windsor Tunnel...
), which is among the first urban to suburban highways constructed in the United States. The city also contains 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...
, Southfield Freeway (M-39
M-39 (Michigan highway)
M-39 is a state highway in the US state of Michigan that runs from Lincoln Park to Southfield. The southern terminus of M-39 is at the corner of Southfield Road and Lafayette Boulevard in Lincoln Park, one block southeast of the junction of I-75 and two blocks northwest of M-85...
), and US-24/Telegraph Rd
U.S. Route 24
U.S. Route 24 is one of the original United States highways of 1926. It originally ran from Pontiac, Michigan, in the east to Kansas City, Missouri, in the west. Today, the highway's eastern terminus is west of Clarkston, Michigan, at an intersection with I-75 and its western terminus is near...
. The city contains several freeway interchanges connecting local roads to the freeways. Most prominently, "The Lodge" freeway connects downtown Detroit to "The Mixing Bowl," the sprawling interchange of I-696, US-24/Telegraph Rd, the Lodge, Northwestern Highway, Lahser Road, and Franklin Road, all of which are located in Southfield.
Most major streets adhere to a north-south/east-west orientation, forming a grid of major streets spaced one mile (1.6 km) apart from each other. The major east-west streets are 8 Mile Road (which forms the southern boundary of the city), 9 Mile Road (which is split by the Southfield Freeway), 10 Mile Road, 11 Mile Road (which is split by the Lodge), and 12 Mile Road. Major north-south streets are Telegraph Road, Lahser Road, Evergreen Road, Southfield Road (the northern extension of the Southfield Freeway) and Greenfield Road (which forms the eastern boundary of the city).
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...
- Images of metropolitan Detroit
- Lawrence Technological UniversityLawrence Technological UniversityLawrence Technological University, also known as Lawrence Tech or simply LTU, is a private university located in Southfield, Michigan. The school offers undergraduate, masters, and doctoral programs in engineering, science, mathematics, architecture, graphic design, and business...
- Metro DetroitMetro DetroitThe 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...
- 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...