Redford, Michigan

Redford, officially the Charter Township of Redford, is a charter township in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The township shares its eastern border with the city of Detroit. The population was 49,504 at the 2020 census.[3]

Redford Township, Michigan
Charter township
Charter Township of Redford
Redford Township Hall
Redford Township Hall
Flag of Redford Township, Michigan
Flag
Official seal of Redford Township, Michigan
Seal
Location within Wayne County
Location within Wayne County
Redford is located in Michigan
Redford
Redford
Location within the state of Michigan
Redford is located in the United States
Redford
Redford
Location within the United States
Coordinates: 42°23′41″N 83°17′49″W
Country United States
State Michigan
County Wayne
Organized1829
Government
 • SupervisorPat McRae
 • ClerkGarth Christie
Area
 • Charter township11.24 sq mi (29.11 km2)
 • Land11.24 sq mi (29.11 km2)
 • Water0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation
627 ft (191 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Charter township49,504
 • Density4,302.7/sq mi (1,661.3/km2)
 • Metro
4,285,832 (Metro Detroit)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP code(s)
48239, 48240
Area code313
FIPS code26-67625[1]
GNIS feature ID1626960[2]
WebsiteOfficial website

History

Springwells Township and Bucklin Township were formally organized and laid out by gubernatorial act on April 12, 1827. Postal regulations prohibiting two post offices having the same name required—when a township was subdivided—unique names to be found. The Bucklin name was extinguished when it was split on October 29, 1829, along what is now Inkster Road into Nankin Township (west half) and Pekin Township (east half), named as a result of a wave of interest in China. In March 1833, Pekin was renamed Redford and the southern half became Dearborn Township on April 1. The name Redford was chosen because natives and colonial European immigrants forded the River Rouge where the river runs through Redford.[4] "Rouge" is French for "red."

The township used to go all the way to Greenfield Road, but in the 1920s the eastern portions of the township were annexed by Detroit. This annexation ceased in 1926 when the township was given "charter" status by the Michigan legislature.[5] In 1918 there was a post office named "Five Points" operating between 6 Mile Road and 7 Mile Road along the road of that name.[6]

Redford is the site of Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church and School, whose hiring practices spurred the 2012 Supreme Court Case Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church and School v. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Geography

Redford Township is a western suburb of Detroit. According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 11.2 square miles (29 km2), all land. The middle branch of the River Rouge flows through the Lola Valley Park in the township. Ashcroft Creek, another branch of the Rouge River, flows for about a half mile in the southeastern corner of the township before entering Detroit's Rouge Park, and then into the main branch of the Rouge. Tarabusi Creek of the Bell Branch, another branch of the Rouge River, flows through Western Golf Club and Bell Creek Park.

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
19303,834—
19406,86779.1%
195018,940175.8%
196071,276276.3%
197071,9010.9%
198058,441−18.7%
199054,387−6.9%
200051,662−5.0%
201048,362−6.4%
202049,5042.4%

2020 Census

In 2020, Redford Township had a population of 48,492. The ethnic and racial makeup of the population was 44.1% white, 50.2% African-American, 0.4% Asian, 3.0% reporting more than one race, 5.5% Hispanic. White alone non Hispanic accounted for 41.5 % of the population. [7]

2010 census

In 2010, Redford Township had a population of 48,362. The ethnic and racial makeup of the population was 64.7% white, 28.7% African-American, 0.8% Asian, 2.3% reporting more than one race, 0.6% reporting other races (apparently including those who reported being Native American and being Pacific Islander as well as those who just marked the other box) and 2.9% Hispanic or Latino of any race.[8] The African-American population increased by about 200% between 2000 and 2010, while the overall population of the township declined by 6%.

The U.S. Census Bureau also defined Redford Township as a census-designated place (CDP) in the 2000 Census so that the community would appear on the list of places (like cities and villages) as well on the list of county subdivisions (like other townships). The final statistics for the township and the CDP were identical.

2000 census

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 51,622 people, 20,182 households, and 13,582 families living in the township. The population density was 4,597.4 inhabitants per square mile (1,775.1/km2). There were 20,605 housing units at an average density of 1,835.1 per square mile (708.5/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 87.98% White, 8.54% African American, 0.43% Native American, 0.76% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.57% from other races, and 1.70% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.02% of the population.

There were 20,182 households, out of which 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.4% were married couples living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.7% were non-families. 27.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.12.

In the township the population was spread out, with 25.3% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 34.0% from 25 to 44, 18.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.9 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $49,522, and the median income for a family was $56,461. Males had a median income of $41,923 versus $29,987 for females. The per capita income for the township was $22,263. About 3.2% of families and 5.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.0% of those under age 18 and 5.2% of those age 65 or over.

As of the census[1] of 2010, there were 48,362 people, 19,148 households, and 12,387 families living in the township. The population density was 4,597.4 inhabitants per square mile (1,775.1/km2). There were 20,739 housing units at an average density of 1,835.1 per square mile (708.5/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 66.4% White, 28.9% African American, 0.5% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.8% from other races, and 2.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.9% of the population.[9]

Education

Schools

The public schools are operated by the Redford Union School District, South Redford School District and Clarenceville School District.

Public high schools include:

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit used to operate Bishop Borgess High School and Academy (closed in 2005[10]) and Detroit Catholic Central High School (relocated to Novi, Michigan in 2005) in Redford Township.

Public library

Redford Township Library is located on West Six Mile Road. The library service began in the 1920s, with a bookmobile providing service to the citizens of Redford Township.[11] By the 1950s, the library operated out of a small store front on Beech-Daly Rd. about a block south of Fenkel. A larger, newly constructed and more modern Redford Township District Library operated from 1962 until August 23, 2004, when the library moved again to another newly constructed, even larger, technologically updated building. In a $4.5 million project, the old library building was turned into an open-air market, amphitheater (the Redford Marquee) and public green space. The Redford Marquee opened in July 2008.[12] The construction of the new library was facilitated by an $8.5 million community bond. The 65,000-square-foot (6,000 m2) facility is situated on a 2.6 acres (11,000 m2) site that is being leased for $1 for 99 years.[13] The library's collection consists of 100,000 books and periodicals, 2,500 CDs, records, cassettes and other audio materials, in addition to 2,500 video items.[14]

Highways

Notable people

Redford is the birthplace of musician Ted Nugent (December 13, 1948),[15] arena football player Stephen Wasil (April 14, 1984), NFL player Eric Wilson (September 26, 1994), and Paul Waterman, businessman and CEO (July 24, 1964)

  • Folk musician and songwriter Sufjan Stevens' song "Redford (For Yia-Yia & Pappou)," which appeared on his 2003 album Michigan, mutely chronicles Stevens' childhood experiences in Redford Township, where his grandparents lived.

Sister cities

Redford has two sister cities, as designated by Sister Cities International:[16]

References
  1. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  2. "Charter Township of Redford". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  3. "Race, Hispanic or Latino, Age, and Housing Occupancy: 2020 Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171) Summary File (QT-PL), Redford charter township, Wayne County, Michigan". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 8, 2011.
  4. Burton, Clarence M. et al., The City of Detroit, Michigan, 1701-1922, vol. 2., p. 1581. (Detroit: S.J. Clarke, 1922)
  5. "Redford Township | Economic Development". www.waynecounty.com. Retrieved 2022-06-28.
  6. Romig 1986, p. 199.
  7. "Explore Census Data".
  8. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved 2023-05-22.
  9. "Race, Hispanic or Latino, Age, and Housing Occupancy: 2010 Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171) Summary File (QT-PL), Redford charter township, Wayne County, Michigan". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 8, 2011.
  10. "15 Catholic Schools To Close In Metro Detroit." Click on Detroit. March 17, 2005. Retrieved on October 7, 2011. Archived August 31, 2005, at the Wayback Machine
  11. "Mission & History". Redford Township District Library. Retrieved 2021-02-19.
  12. "Marquee market, amphitheater opens in downtown Redford", Jon Zemke, MetroMode, July 31, 2008.
  13. "Redford Township will build bigger library", The Detroit News, November 19, 2002.
  14. "Redford Township District Library", Online Highways Travel Guide, accessed September 21, 2009.
  15. Schruers, Fred (March 8, 1979). "Ted Nugent: The Ted Offensive". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 11, 2015.
  16. "Redford Township - Sister Cities Commission: Sister Cities International!". redfordtwp.com. Archived from the original on 2016-03-07.

Additional sources
  • Romig, Walter (October 1, 1986) [1973]. Michigan Place Names: The History of the Founding and the Naming of More Than Five Thousand Past and Present Michigan Communities. ISBN 978-0-8143-1838-6. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
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