Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan Explained

Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan
Official Name:City of Grosse Pointe Park
Settlement Type:City
Pushpin Map:Michigan#USA
Pushpin Label Position:left
Pushpin Label:Grosse Pointe Park
Pushpin Map Caption:Location within the state of Michigan##Location within the United States
Mapsize:250
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Wayne
Government Type:Mayor–council
Leader Title:Mayor
Leader Name:Michele Hodges (D)
Leader Title1:Manager
Leader Name1:Nick Sizeland
Established Title:Incorporated
Established Date:1907 (village)
1950 (city)
Area Footnotes:[1]
Area Total Km2:9.61
Area Total Sq Mi:3.71
Area Land Km2:5.61
Area Land Sq Mi:2.17
Area Water Km2:4.00
Area Water Sq Mi:1.54
Elevation Ft:577
Elevation M:176
Population As Of:2020
Population Total:11595
Population Metro:4285832 (Metro Detroit)
Population Density Km2:2066.76
Population Density Sq Mi:5353.19
Timezone:EST
Utc Offset:-5
Coordinates:42.3803°N -82.9308°W
Timezone Dst:EDT
Utc Offset Dst:-4
Postal Code Type:Zip code(s)
Postal Code:48230
Area Code:313
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank Info:26-35540[2]
Blank1 Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank1 Info:0627466
Unit Pref:Imperial

Grosse Pointe Park is a city in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 11,555 at the 2010 census.[3]

Bordering on Detroit with frontage on southern Lake St. Clair, it is the southernmost of the Grosse Pointe suburbs. Grosse Pointe Park was incorporated as a village in 1907 and again as a city in 1950.

In November 2021, Grosse Pointe Park elected its first female mayor, Michele Hodges.[4]

History

Before incorporation as a city, the area that would become the city of Grosse Pointe Park was incorporated as the Village of Fairview, which spanned Bewick Street in the west to Cadieux Road in the east in Grosse Pointe Township. The city of Detroit annexed part of the village in the township from Bewick Street to Alter Road in 1907. Fearing further annexation, the part of the village east of Alter Road incorporated as the Village of Grosse Pointe Park later that year.[5] Seeking further annexation protection from Detroit and independence from its township, the village reincorporated as a city in 1950.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.71sqmi, of which 2.17sqmi is land and 1.54sqmi is water.[6] The water is part of Lake St. Clair. Grosse Pointe Park has about 3.5miles of borders with Detroit, with one border between Alter Road and Wayburn to the southwest, and another along Mack Avenue to the northwest; its third border on land is with the city of Grosse Pointe along Cadieux Road to the northeast.

Description

The neighborhoods in Grosse Pointe Park are built on a standard grid street pattern which flows out of Detroit, and housing ranges from tightly-packed single- and multi-family brick houses on the far west side of the Park, to rows of traditionally-styled single family homes generally averaging over 3000square feet, to multimillion-dollar mansions, some of which are found on the lakeshore. The west side of the city features mixed-use neighborhoods, where retail, schools, and churches are within close walking distance. The rest of the city is basically residential, but at the eastern edge residents are in close walking distance to "the Village" shopping district in Grosse Pointe. Many of the houses in the Park were built prior to World War II, and many of these were designed by noted architects using the finest materials. Windmill Pointe Drive, and streets such as Bishop, Kensington, Yorkshire, Edgemont Park, Three Mile Drive, Devonshire, Buckingham, Berkshire, Balfour, Middlesex, and Nottingham among others, each have dozens of large, architecturally significant homes. These mansions and mini-mansions were often placed on large lots which were often split up, the result being that some post-war ranch style homes are mixed in with homes of traditional design.

Grosse Pointe Park includes a large neighborhood located on Windmill Pointe, the edge of which marks the entrance to the Detroit River and the end of Lake St. Clair. A large lakefront park with a pool, gym, movie theaters, and gathering spaces for residents only is found at this spot. At the base of the point, at the foot of Three Mile Drive, is another large park, Patterson Park, which is known for its skating rink and walking trails. One way that people distinguish geography in Grosse Pointe Park is by location north or south of Jefferson Avenue, the south side being generalized as Windmill Pointe.

The Park also includes a section known as the "cabbage patch,"[7] an area of town with multi-family houses in contrast to the single-family homes with larger lots that populate the vast majority of the Grosse Pointes. The cabbage patch is generally considered to be the northwest corner of the city, bounded by Mack, Wayburn, Jefferson, and Somerset, with a small extension south of Jefferson on Nottingham and Beaconsfield. The region's name can be seen in various local establishments such as the Cabbage Patch Cafe and Cabbage Patch Saloon.

Grosse Pointe Park, along with Grosse Pointe and Grosse Pointe Farms, is in the Grosse Pointe South High School district. The elementary school in the Park: Defer, is in addition to one middle school: Pierce Middle School. The eastern Park is also served by Maire Elementary in Grosse Pointe in the Village district. Then serves the one high school, South High School off Fisher Road. There is one private school in the Park, the K-8 St. Clare of Montefalco Catholic School on Charlevoix and Audubon streets.

Demographics

2010 census

As of the census[8] of 2010, there were 11,555 people, 4,516 households, and 3,182 families residing in the city. The population density was 5324.9PD/sqmi. There were 4,997 housing units at an average density of 2302.8/sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 85.0% White, 10.5% African American, 0.2% Native American, 1.8% Asian, 0.5% from other races, and 1.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.5% of the population.

There were 4,516 households, of which 35.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.6% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 29.5% were non-families. 24.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.10.

The median age in the city was 41.8 years. 26.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.1% were from 25 to 44; 32.1% were from 45 to 64; and 12.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.4% male and 51.6% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 12,443 people, 4,816 households, and 3,303 families residing in the city. The population density was 5772.6sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 5,043 housing units at an average density of 2339.6sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the city was 92.48% White, 2.95% African American, 0.35% Native American, 1.82% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.39% from other races, and 1.98% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.74% of the population.

There were 4,816 households, out of which 35.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.3% were married couples living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.4% were non-families. 26.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.18.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 27.5% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 29.3% from 25 to 44, 26.3% from 45 to 64, and 10.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $105,161. Males had a median income of $92,611 versus $63,488 for females. The per capita income for the city was $58,223. About 1.8% of families and 4.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.1% of those under age 18 and 1.9% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Primary and secondary schools

Grosse Pointe Public Schools serves Grosse Pointe Park.

Defer Elementary School, and Pierce Middle School are located in Grosse Pointe Park. Maire Elementary School in Grosse Pointe also serves a section of the city. All residents are zoned to Pierce Middle and Grosse Pointe South High School in Grosse Pointe Farms.[9] [10]

St. Clare of Montefalco School, a private Catholic K-8 school, is in Grosse Pointe Park.[11]

Public libraries

The Grosse Pointe Public Library operates the Carolyn and Ted Ewald Memorial Branch Library in Grosse Pointe Park.[12] The library was scheduled to open in 2004.[13] The 15000square feet branch was originally scheduled to open in October of that year, but delays moved the opening month to January 2005.[14]

Notable people

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files. United States Census Bureau. May 21, 2022.
  2. Web site: U.S. Census website . . 2008-01-31 .
  3. Web site: Race, Hispanic or Latino, Age, and Housing Occupancy: 2010 Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171) Summary File (QT-PL), Grosse Pointe Park city, Michigan . . September 7, 2011 .
  4. Web site: Vanderstelt . Kate . Park elects first female mayor; all new candidates take council . Grosse Pointe News . 3 Nov 2021 .
  5. Web site: History of Grosse Pointe Timeline. gphistorical.org/. Grosse Pointe Historical Society. 26 July 2014.
  6. Web site: US Gazetteer files 2010 . . 2012-11-25 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt . 2012-01-25 .
  7. Web site: Cabbage Patch skids. Detroit Metro Times. 26 May 2015.
  8. Web site: U.S. Census website. United States Census Bureau. 2012-11-25.
  9. "District Map." Grosse Pointe Public School System. Retrieved on January 8, 2017.
  10. "Zoning Map." Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan. Retrieved on January 8, 2017.
  11. Web site: Home. St. Clare of Montefalco School. 2020-05-01.
  12. "Hours & Location ." Grosse Pointe Public Library. Retrieved on April 3, 2010.
  13. "Grosse Pointe Public Library system grows." The Detroit News. January 21, 2004. Retrieved on April 3, 2010.
  14. "Delays interrupt library work." The Detroit News. October 20, 2004. Retrieved on April 3, 2010.