| River Rouge, Michigan | |
| Official Name: | City of River Rouge |
| Native Name: | Rivière Rouge (French) |
| Native Name Lang: | fr |
| Settlement Type: | City |
| Pushpin Map: | Michigan#USA |
| Pushpin Label Position: | left |
| Pushpin Label: | River Rouge |
| 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: | Michael Bowdler |
| Leader Title1: | Clerk |
| Leader Name1: | Patricia Johnson |
| Established Title: | Settled |
| Established Date: | 1808 |
| Established Title1: | Incorporated |
| Established Date1: | 1899 (village) 1922 (city) |
| Area Footnotes: | [1] |
| Area Total Km2: | 8.41 |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 3.25 |
| Area Land Km2: | 6.87 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 2.65 |
| Area Water Km2: | 1.54 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 0.59 |
| Elevation Ft: | 584 |
| Elevation M: | 178 |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Total: | 7224 |
| Population Metro: | 4285832 (Metro Detroit) |
| Population Density Km2: | 1050.85 |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | 2721.93 |
| Timezone: | EST |
| Utc Offset: | -5 |
| Coordinates: | 42.2714°N -83.1347°W |
| Timezone Dst: | EDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | -4 |
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP code(s) |
| Postal Code: | 48209 (Detroit)[2] 48218 |
| Area Code: | 313 |
| Blank Name: | FIPS code |
| Blank Info: | 26-68760[3] |
| Blank1 Name: | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank1 Info: | 635965 |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
River Rouge (French: link=no|Rivière Rouge|translation=red river) is a city in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 7,224 at the 2020 census.[4]
The city is named after the River Rouge, which flows along the city's northern border and into the Detroit River. The city includes the heavily industrialized Zug Island and also has its own school district, River Rouge School District.
The small settlement incorporated as a village in 1899 within Ecorse Township.[5] In 1922 as the city of Detroit expressed interest in annexing land in the township, the Village of River Rouge incorporated as a city on April 3 to avoid being annexed.[5] A month later Detroit completed annexation of land in the township immediately to the west of River Rouge.
One of the most important historical associations with River Rouge is its relationship to a Great Lakes freighter, the SS Edmund Fitzgerald, which sank in 1975 in a fierce storm in Lake Superior, with the loss of all 29 crew. The ship was constructed in 1958 at the Great Lakes Engineering Works in River Rouge and was the largest ship on the lakes at the time.
The city had its peak of population in 1950, when industry was the mainstay of the local economy. Restructuring of heavy industry and movement of jobs offshore have taken a toll of the city; the loss of jobs resulted in loss of population. In 2015 the population is less than half of what it was in 1950. Many workers who had the flexibility to seek jobs in other areas moved away. Outward migration has resulted in a shift in the racial demographics of the city.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.24sqmi, of which 2.65sqmi is land and 0.59sqmi is water.[6]
Of the city's land area, 0.93sqmi consists of the unpopulated Zug Island. The River Rouge forms the northern boundary with the city of Detroit, and the Detroit River forms the eastern boundary of the city. The Mariners Memorial Light is an active lighthouse located within the city along the Detroit River. Built in 2004, it is located within Belanger Park and is the newest constructed lighthouse in the state of Michigan.[7]
River Rouge contains its own post office located at 10455 West Jefferson Avenue. The post office uses the 48218 ZIP Code, which covers most of River Rouge and a small section of the city of Ecorse to the south.[8] Zug Island uses the Detroit 48209 ZIP Code.[9]
| White alone (NH) | 2,751 | 1,999 | 34.81% | 27.67% | |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 3,933 | 3,506 | 49.77% | 48.53% | |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 38 | 29 | 0.48% | 0.40% | |
| Asian alone (NH) | 17 | 11 | 0.22% | 0.15% | |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 2 | 0 | 0.03% | 0.00% | |
| Some Other Race alone (NH) | 8 | 40 | 0.10% | 0.55% | |
| Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH) | 270 | 385 | 3.42% | 5.33% | |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 884 | 1,254 | 11.19% | 17.36% | |
| Total | 7,903 | 7,224 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the census[12] of 2010, there were 7,903 people, 2,897 households, and 1,885 families living in the city. The population density was 2982.3PD/sqmi. There were 3,731 housing units at an average density of 1407.9/sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 39.4% White, 50.5% African American, 0.6% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 4.2% from other races, and 5.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.2% of the population.
There were 2,897 households, of which 37.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 25.1% were married couples living together, 32.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 7.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 34.9% were non-families. 29.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.37.
The median age in the city was 33 years. 29.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 10.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.4% were from 25 to 44; 24.7% were from 45 to 64; and 11.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.0% male and 53.0% female.
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,917 people, 3,640 households, and 2,504 families living in the city. The population density was 3713.9sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 4,080 housing units at an average density of 1528sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the city was 52.58% White, 42.01% African American, 0.78% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.63% from other races, and 2.80% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.96% of the population.
There were 3,640 households, out of which 36.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 31.4% were married couples living together, 30.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.2% were non-families. 26.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.25.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 31.2% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 29.2% from 25 to 44, 18.8% from 45 to 64, and 10.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $29,214, and the median income for a family was $33,875. Males had a median income of $35,613 versus $24,391 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,728. About 19.1% of families and 22.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.6% of those under age 18 and 10.5% of those age 65 or over.
River Rouge School District serves River Rouge and also a small northern portion of the city of Ecorse.[13] Schools within the district include River Rouge STEM Academy, Ann Visger Elementary School, Clarence B. Sabbath Elementary/Middle School, and River Rouge High School.