Dearborn, Michigan
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Dearborn is a city of nearly 98,000 people located in the Metro Detroit metropolitan area and Wayne County, Michigan in the United States. The city is the hometown of Henry Ford and the world headquarters of the Ford Motor Company, and the site of a University of Michigan campus as well as Henry Ford Community College.
Dearborn is home to 30,000 Arab-Americans [link] [link] [link], the second largest Arab population within the United States. (New York City has nearly 70,000, out of a total population of over 8 million.) The city is home to the largest concentration of Arabs outside the Middle East; Dearborn's population is about 30 percent Arab, [link] [link] [link] as are more than half the kids in its public schools. Arabs first settled here to work in the automotive industry. In January 2005, a new Arab American National Museum opened as a result of this large concentrated population. The city is also home to the Islamic Center of America, the largest mosque in North America and the Dearborn Mosque. Because of the Arab influence in Dearborn, store signs and billboards written in Arabic are common sights.
Dearborn is home to the Ford River Rouge Plant, built by Henry Ford to make Ford Model T components, and later the birthplace (and former production line) of the Ford Mustang. It currently produces Ford F150 trucks. At one time the plant employed 100,000 people and produced finished vehicles from iron ore and sand.
History
The Dearborn area was first settled by Europeans in 1791. The village of Dearborn was established in 1836, named after patriot Henry Dearborn, a general in the American Revolution and Secretary of War under President Thomas Jefferson. Its origins as a city trace back to a January 1929 consolidation vote which established its present-day borders by merging Dearborn and neighboring Fordson (previously known as Springwells) which feared being absorbed into Detroit. The area between the two towns was, and still remains in part undeveloped. This, once farm land, was bought by Henry Ford who built his estate and Ford World Headquarters on it. Later developments in this corridor were the Ford airport, (later converted to the Ford test track), other Ford administrative and development facilities, The Henry Ford village and museum and Fair Lane, the Henry Ford Centennial Library and the Dearborn Civic Center. Some of the land remains open as of 2005 and is planted with sunflowers and often in Henry Ford's favorite soybeans, presumably for property tax reduction purposes. The crops are never harvested.Dearborn was known nationally for its de facto racial segregation under Mayor Orville L. Hubbard, whose 36 year tenure ended in 1978. Hubbard became the most famous segregationist north of the Mason-Dixon line and openly admitted to allowing the use of intimidation tactics against African-American families looking to move to Dearborn. This unsubtle policy is, in part, responsible for the minute black population in Dearborn today. Hubbard was known for running a highly effective government, so residents overlooked or laughed at his politically incorrect statements, which also targeted Irish and Italians (who make up much of the city's population). Hubbard was never as powerful or influential as Henry Ford or the Ford Motor Company. Ford was known for racist views as well, although he was also known to treat African-Americans well, which attracted them to Detroit to work at his factories. Ford placed African-Americans in supervisory positions over whites at a time when President Woodrow Wilson praised the KKK.
Historical timeline
European exploration and colonization
- 1603 French lay claim to unidentified territory in this region, naming it New France.
- July 24, 1701 Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac and his soldiers first land at what is now Detroit.
- November 29, 1760 The British take control of the area from France.
- 1780 Pierre Dumais clears farm near what is today's Morningside Street in Dearborn's South End. First non-Native American activity in present-day Dearborn.
Early U.S. history
- 1783 By terms of the Treaty of Paris ending the American Revolutionary War, Great Britain cedes territory south of the Great Lakes to the United States, although the British retain practical control of the Detroit area and several other settlements until 1797.
- 1786 Agreed year of first permanent settler in present-day Dearborn.
- 1787 Territory of the US north and west of the Ohio River is officially proclaimed the Northwest Territory.
- December 26, 1791 Detroit environs become part of Kent County, Ontario
- 1795 James Cissne becomes first settler in what is now west Dearborn.
- 1796 Wayne County is formed by proclamation of the acting governor of the Northwest Territory. Its original area is 2 million square miles, stretching from Cleveland, Ohio to Chicago, Illinois and northwest to Canada.
- May 7, 1800 Indiana Territory, created out of part of Northwest Territory, although the eastern half of Michigan including the Dearborn area, was not attached to Indiana Territory until Ohio was admitted as a state in 1803.
- January 11, 1805 Michigan Territory officially created out of a part of the Indiana Territory.
- June 11, 1805 Fire destroys most of Detroit.
- November 15, 1815 Current boundaries of Wayne County drawn, county split into 18 townships.
- January 5, 1818 Springwells Township established by Gov. Lewis Cass
- October 23, 1824 Bucklin Township created by Gov. Lewis Cass. The area ran from Greenfield to approximately Haggerty and from Van Born to Eight Mile.
- 1826 Conrad Ten Eyck builds Ten Eyck Tavern at Michigan Avenue and Rouge River.
- 1827 Wayne County's boundaries changed to its current 615 square miles.
- April 12, 1827 Springwells and Bucklin townships formally organized and laid out by gubernatorial act.
- October 29, 1829 Bucklin Township split along what is today Inkster Road into Nankin (west half) and Pekin (east half) townships.
- March 21, 1833 Pekin Township renamed Redford Township.
- March 31, 1833 Greenfield Township created from north and west sections of Sprinwells Township, including what is now today east Dearborn.
- April 1, 1833 Dearborn Township created from southern half of Redford Township south of Bonaparte Avenue (Joy Road).
- 1833 Detroit Arsenal built.
- October 23, 1834 Dearborn Township renamed Bucklin Township.
- March 26, 1836 Bucklin Township renamed Dearborn Township.
- January 26, 1837 Michigan admitted to the Union as the 26th state. Stevens T. Mason is first governor.
- 1837 Michigan Central Railroad extended through Springwells Township. Hamlet of Springwells rises along railroad.
- April 5, 1838 Village of Dearbornville incorporates. Village later unincorporated on May 11, 1846.
- 1849 Detroit annexes Springwells Township east of Brooklyn Street.
- April 2, 1850 Greenfield Township annexes another section of Springwells Township.
- February 12, 1857 Detroit annexes Springwells Township east of Grand Boulevard
- March 25, 1873 Springwells Township annexes back section of Greenfield Township south of Tireman
- May 28, 1875 Postmaster general changes name of Dearbornville post office to Dearborn post office, hence changing the city's name.
- 1875 Detroit Aresenal closed.
- 1875 Detroit annexes another section of Springwells Township.
- 1876 William A. Nowlin writes The Bark Covered House in honor of country's 100th birthday.
- June 20, 1884 Detroit annexes Springwells Townshp east of Livernois.
- 1889 First telephone installed in Dearborn at St. Joseph's retreat
Incorporation as village
- March 24, 1893 Village of Dearborn incorporates.
- 1906 Detroit annexes another section of Springwells Township.
- 1916 Detroit annexes more of Springwells Township, forming Dearborn's eastern boundary.
- 1917 Rouge "Eagle" Plant opens.
- November 1, 1919 The first house numbering ordinance in Dearborn starts. Residents required to place standard plate number on right side of the main house entrance five feet up.
- December 9, 1919 Springwells Township incorporates as village of Springwells.
- October 16, 1922 Springwells Township annexes small section of Dearborn Township east of present-day Greenfield Road.
- December 27, 1923 Voters approve incorporation of Springwells as a city. It officially became a city April 7, 1924.
- September 9, 1924 Village of Warrendale incorporates.
- November 1924 Ford Airport opens.
- April 6, 1925 Warrendale voters and residents of remaining Greenfield Township approve annexation by Detroit.
- May 26, 1925 Village of Dearborn annexes large portion of Dearborn Township.
- December 23, 1925 Springwells changes name to city of Fordson.
- February 15, 1926 First U.S. airmail delivery made, going from Ford Airport in Dearborn to Cleveland.
- September 14, 1926 Election approves incorporation of village of Inkster. Unincorporated part of Dearborn Township split into two unconnected sections.
- October 11, 1926 Only dirigible to ever moor in Dearborn docks at Ford Airport.
Reincorporation as city
- February 14, 1927 Village of Dearborn residents approve vote to become a city.
- June 12, 1928 Voters in Dearborn, Fordson and part of Dearborn Township vote to consolidate into one city.
- January 9, 1929 Clyde Ford elected as first mayor of Dearborn.
- 1929 Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village opens.
- July 1, 1931 Dearborn Inn opens as one of first airport hotels in world.
- 1936 John Carey becomes mayor of Dearborn.
- June 19, 1936 Montgomery Wards opens in Dearborn.
- May 26, 1937 Harry Bennett's Ford "service" men beat United Auto Workers (UAW) official Richard Frankensteen in the Battle of the Overpass
- June 21, 1941 Ford Motor Company signs its first union contract.
- January 6, 1942 Orville L. Hubbard takes office as mayor of Dearborn for first time.
- April 7, 1947 Henry Ford dies.
- October 20, 1947 Dearborn City Council approves purchase of land near Milford, Michigan for what would become Camp Dearborn. First section of camp opens following year.
- October 21, 1947 Ford Airport officially closes.
- 1950 First Pleasant Hours senior citizen group formed.
- 1950 Dearborn Historical Museum formally established.
- January 1952 Oakwood Hospital formally opened and dedicated.
- April 22, 1958 Election held to annex part of South Dearborn Township to Dearborn. Proposal fails.
- April 6, 1959 Election held to annex part of North Dearborn Township to Dearborn. Proposal fails.
- 1962 St. Joseph's retreat closed and razed
- 1962 New Henry Ford Community College campus dedicated.
- November 9, 1962 Ford Rotunda burns down
- 1967 Dearborn Towers in Clearwater, Florida opens.
- March 2, 1976 Fairlane Town Center opens.
- 1978 John O' Reilly becomes mayor of Dearborn
- November 6, 1981 Cable Television reaches first home in Dearborn. First home is on Abbot Street.
- December 16, 1982 Orville Hubbard dies.
- 1986 Michael Guido becomes mayor of Dearborn.
- 1993 Michael Guido is the first mayor to run unopposed.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 63.3 km² (24.5 mi²). 63.1 km² (24.4 mi²) of it is land and 0.2 km² (0.1 mi²) of it (0.37%) is water. The River Rouge runs through the city with an artificial waterfall/low head dam on the Henry Ford estate to power his powerhouse. The Upper, Middle, and Lower Branches of the river come together in Dearborn. The river is widened and channeled near the Rouge Plant to allow freighter access.Dearborn is among a small number of municipalities that owns property in other cities (Camp Dearborn in Milford, Michigan) and is possibly unique in holding property in another state (the Dearborn Towers apartment complex in Clearwater, Florida). These holdings are considered part of the city of Dearborn, and revenues generated by camp admissions and rent collected are used to bolster the city's budget.
Demographics
As of the census² of 2000, there were 97,775 people, 36,770 households, and 23,863 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,549.7/km² (4,013.2/mi²). There were 38,981 housing units at an average density of 617.8/km² (1,600.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 86.86% White, 1.28% African American, 0.26% Native American, 1.47% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.73% from other races, and 9.38% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.00% of the population. The Arab population is primarily found in the city's eastern side, though in recent years it has spread into the western side.There were 36,770 households out of which 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.0% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.1% were non-families. 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.42.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.8% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 29.2% from 25 to 44, 19.1% from 45 to 64, and 15.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 99.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $44,560, and the median income for a family was $53,060. Males had a median income of $45,114 versus $33,872 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,488. About 12.2% of families and 16.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.4% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.
Rail Transportation
Amtrak, the national passenger rail system, provides service to Dearborn, operating its Wolverine three times daily in each direction between Chicago, Illinois and Pontiac, Michigan via Detroit.
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| Amtrak routes
| Following station
|- style="text-align: center;"
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| The Wolverine
(#350) (#352) (#354)
| Detroit, Michigan
|- style="text-align: center;"
| Detroit, Michigan
| The Wolverine
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Notable natives
- Frankie Andreu, Professional Cyclist
- Jim Cummins - NHL player
- Gary Danielson - NFL quarterback
- William Dear - movie director
- Chad Everett - actor
- James Finn Garner - author
- Henry Ford - businessman
- Elizabeth Jarosz - candidate on The Apprentice: Season 2
- John Kornblum - U.S. Ambassador to Germany, 1997-2001
- Derek Lowe - Major League Baseball pitcher
- Bill McCartney - college football coach and a founder of Promise Keepers
- George Peppard - Actor
- Brian Rafalski - National Hockey League and 2002, 2006 Olympics
- Tarick Salmaci - Professional Boxer
- Eddie Slovik - last U.S. soldier executed for desertion
- Jim Snyder - MLB player and manager
- Anna Sui - fashion designer
External links
- [City of Dearborn]
- [Dearborn Chamber of Commerce]
- [Dearborn Public Schools]
- [Dearborn Press & Guide]
- [Dearborn Blog]
- [Deep Said What]
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