Southgate, Michigan

Southgate, Michigan
City
Nickname(s): The Dining Capital of Downriver

Location in Wayne County and the state of Michigan
Coordinates: 42°12′19″N 83°11′53″W / 42.20528°N 83.19806°W / 42.20528; -83.19806Coordinates: 42°12′19″N 83°11′53″W / 42.20528°N 83.19806°W / 42.20528; -83.19806
Country United States
State Michigan
County Wayne
Incorporated October 1958
Government
 • Mayor Joseph G. Kuspa
Area[1]
 • Total 6.86 sq mi (17.77 km2)
 • Land 6.85 sq mi (17.74 km2)
 • Water 0.01 sq mi (0.03 km2)
Elevation 591 ft (180 m)
Population (2010)[2]
 • Total 30,047
 • Estimate (2012[3]) 29,585
 • Density 4,386.4/sq mi (1,693.6/km2)
Time zone EST (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code 48195
Area code(s) 734
FIPS code 26-74960[4]
GNIS feature ID 0638446[5]
Website http://www.southgate-mi.org

Southgate is a middle-class suburb in central Wayne County, Michigan. The population was 30,047 at the 2010 census.[6]

Southgate was established as a city in October 1958, which was one of the last remaining portions of the now-defunct Ecorse Township, Michigan.

History

Historically a rural area of Ecorse Township, the areas within present-day Southgate were originally platted with street grids beginning in the 1920s - though most developments did not start until just after World War II. Among the oldest residential areas in the city is the Old Homestead neighborhood, on the east side.

There are two accounts of the city's name: Southgate is described in local guides as being the "South Gate" or entrance to the Metro Detroit area. "A metropolitan daily picture story" in late 1956 also gave this explanation.[7]

Eureka Road in the Old Homestead area of Southgate.

Southgate's first mayor, Thomas J. Anderson, also stated in 1956 that the name originated from the newly built Southgate Shopping Center at the southeast corner of Eureka & Trenton roads. "We were trying to get a separate post office for our community, and were advised that it would help our cause if the township board passed a resolution creating an unincorporated village," Anderson explained. "The name Southgate was chosen because of the shopping center then under consideration, and the board agreed that it was an appropriate name. The resolution was adopted at a regular meeting in the early summer of 1953."[8]

Thomas Anderson became the first mayor in 1958 after being Ecorse Township's supervisor for the previous five years. Southgate Anderson High School was named after him.[9]

Government

Southgate Tower is the city's tallest building.

Previous mayors include (alphabetically): Thomas Anderson, Walter Berklich, William Brainard, Dennis David, Suzanne Hall, James Kandrevas, Robert Reaume, and Norma Wurmlinger. As of November 17, 2009, the current mayor of Southgate is Joseph G. Kuspa. Other elected city officials are the seven city councilpersons, a treasurer and a clerk.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.86 square miles (17.77 km2), of which 6.85 square miles (17.74 km2) is land and 0.01 square miles (0.03 km2) is water.[1] Southgate borders the cities of Riverview (south), Wyandotte (east), Allen Park (northwest), Taylor (west), and Lincoln Park (north), as well as Brownstown Township (southwest).

Transportation

Major roads

Other roads of note

Rail

The Conrail Shared Assets Lincoln Secondary runs through the northwest corner of Southgate and is notable for the large grade crossing (one of the largest in the world) through the intersection of Northline and Allen Roads, and also has a crossing at Reeck Road.

Public transportation

Three Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation bus routes pass through the city of Southgate, providing service seven days a week.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
196029,404—
197033,90915.3%
198032,058−5.5%
199030,771−4.0%
200030,136−2.1%
201030,047−0.3%
Est. 201429,416[10]−2.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]

2010 census

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 30,047 people, 13,062 households, and 7,833 families residing in the city. The population density was 4,386.4 inhabitants per square mile (1,693.6/km2). There were 13,933 housing units at an average density of 2,034.0 per square mile (785.3/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 88.7% White, 5.5% African American, 0.5% Native American, 1.6% Asian, 1.7% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.5% of the population.

There were 13,062 households of which 27.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.6% were married couples living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 40.0% were non-families. 33.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.95.

The median age in the city was 40.8 years. 20.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.2% were from 25 to 44; 28.2% were from 45 to 64; and 16.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.9% male and 52.3% female.

2000 census

As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 30,136 people, 12,836 households, and 8,048 families residing in the city. The population density was 4,395.8 per square mile (1,696.1/km²). There were 13,361 housing units at an average density of 1,948.9 per square mile (752.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.66% White, 2.11% African American, 0.50% Native American, 1.67% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.85% from other races, and 1.18% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.98% of the population.

There were 12,836 households out of which 26.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.2% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.3% were non-families. 32.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the city the population was spread out with 21.5% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 30.6% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 16.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 93.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $46,927, and the median income for a family was $56,710. Males had a median income of $45,829 versus $28,549 for females. The per capita income for the city was $23,219. About 2.6% of families and 4.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.4% of those under age 18 and 8.5% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Southgate currently houses the headquarters of The News-Herald, a local Downriver newspaper which covers over twenty surrounding communities. During the late 1950s and 1960s, The Southgate Sentinel, a Mellus newspaper and forerunner to the present-day News-Herald, was published. Southgate is also served by regional newspapers Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News, as well as by Detroit's radio and television outlets. The primary cable service provider in Southgate is Comcast and has been since the early 1980s when it was known as Wayne Cablevision and Tele-Communications Inc., however, it is also served by Wide Open West and AT&T U-verse.

Southgate is the home of the Southgate Fun & Fitness Centre YMCA at Interstate 75 and Northline Road.

The Southgate Shopping Center, which opened in 1957, is located at Eureka and Trenton Roads. CVS Pharmacy, Planet Fitness and Downriver Gymnastics serve as anchors, as does the MJR Southgate Digital Cinema 20, which has served Southgate and the surrounding area since opening on November 6, 1998. In addition, Southgate is home to many other retailers, which include a Meijer supercenter, a Walmart supercenter, Lowe's, Kroger, Downriver's only Sam's Club, Dunham's Sports, Big Lots, Toys "R" Us and TJMaxx, among others. Southgate also had a Super Kmart, which closed on October 12, 2014, due to Kmart's continuing financial struggle.

Dining Capital of Downriver

In a 2007 News-Herald article, then Mayor Norma Wurmlinger stated that the city is the Dining Capital of Downriver.[12] It is home to several chain restaurants, including three McDonald's outlets (the location at Eureka and Richmond Street was the second McDonald's in Michigan when it opened in the early 1960s, the first being a location in Lansing), two KFC outlets, two Taco Bell outlets, two Arby's outlets, multiple Subway outlets (including locations inside the Meijer and Walmart stores), four Tim Hortons outlets (including a multibrand location with Cold Stone Creamery), two Little Caesars outlets and a Dunkin' Donuts/Baskin-Robbins multibrand location, among others. There is also an array of small, family-owned restaurants (including a few Coney Islands) with cuisines specializing in Italian, Mediterranean, Mexican, Chinese, Japanese, Hungarian, Arabic, and American. The first Sonic Drive-In location in the state of Michigan, which opened on May 21, 2008, is located within Southgate on Fort Street in front of the Meijer store.

Mallie's Sports Grill & Bar holds the Guinness Record for the world's largest commercially available hamburger, weighing 185.8 pounds. It is located at the northeast corner of Allen and Northline.

Notable people

Education

Primary and secondary schools

Public schools

Southgate Community School District operates public schools.

Private schools

Colleges and universities

References

  1. 1 2 "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-11-25.
  2. 1 2 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-11-25.
  3. ↑ "Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2013-06-03.
  4. 1 2 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  5. ↑ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  6. ↑ "Race, Hispanic or Latino, Age, and Housing Occupancy: 2010 Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171) Summary File (QT-PL), Southgate city, Michigan". U.S. Census Bureau, American FactFinder 2. Retrieved September 7, 2011.
  7. ↑ "'Schaferson' Suggested for Township City." Wyandotte Tribune, December 6, 1956.
  8. ↑ "'Southgate' Name Favored in Poll." Wyandotte News-Herald, November 29, 1953.
  9. ↑ "Southgate Becomes New City." The Detroit News, October 1, 1958.
  10. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014". Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  11. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  12. ↑ "Tale of four cities". The News-Herald. 2007-06-29. Archived from the original on August 21, 2007. Retrieved 2008-05-04.

External links

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