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Allen Park, Michigan
City of Allen Park
Clockwise: Allen Park City Hall, Lions in training, Uniroyal Giant Tire
Official seal of Allen Park, Michigan
Seal
Location within Wayne County
Location within Wayne County
Allen Park, Michigan is located in Michigan
Allen Park, Michigan
Allen Park, Michigan
Location in Michigan
Allen Park, Michigan is located in the United States
Allen Park, Michigan
Allen Park, Michigan
Location in the United States
Country United States
State Michigan
County Wayne
Incorporated 1927 (village)
1957 (city)
Government
 • Type Mayor–council
Area
 • City 7.01 sq mi (18.16 km2)
 • Land 7.00 sq mi (18.12 km2)
 • Water 0.02 sq mi (0.04 km2)
Elevation
594 ft (181 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • City 28,210
 • Estimate 
(2019)
26,940
 • Density 3,851.32/sq mi (1,487.09/km2)
 • Metro
4,285,832 (Metro Detroit)
Time zone UTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code(s)
48101
48122 (Melvindale)
48124 (Dearborn)
Area code(s) 313
FIPS code 26-01380
GNIS feature ID 0619983

Allen Park is a city in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. At the 2010 census, the population was 28,210.

Ford Motor Company is an integral part of the community. Many of the company's offices and facilities lie within the city limits. Since 2002, Allen Park is the practice home of the Detroit Lions football team and is also the site of the team's headquarters. The city is known for its tree-lined streets, brick houses, and the Fairlane Green Shopping Center that opened in 2006. The city was once recognized in Money Magazine's list of America's Best Small Cities. Allen Park is part of the collection of communities known as Downriver.

Allen Park is home to the Uniroyal Giant Tire, the largest non-production tire scale model ever built, and one of the world's largest roadside attractions. Originally a Ferris wheel at the 1964 New York World's Fair, the structure was moved to Allen Park in 1966.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.05 square miles (18.26 km2), of which 7.00 square miles (18.13 km2) is land and 0.05 square miles (0.13 km2) is water.

Boundaries

Allen Park borders Southgate to the South, Lincoln Park to the east, Melvindale to the north and northeast, Dearborn to the northwest, Dearborn Heights to the north, and Taylor to the west.

Major Roads

  • I-75 runs through the southeast corner of Allen Park between Goddard Road and the Lincoln Park border.
  • I-94 runs through the northern portion of Allen Park between Pelham Road and the Rouge River.
  • M-39, Southfield Road, is an eight-lane boulevard that travels in a northwest/southeast direction between the Lincoln Park border and I-94. It becomes the Southfield Freeway and curves to the northeast after the I-94 interchange.
  • Goddard Road - an east-west mile road that is the boundary between Allen Park and Southgate between Allen Road and Old Goddard Road.
  • Old Goddard Road - an east-west road that is the boundary between Allen Park and Southgate between Goddard Road and Fordline Street.
  • Allen Road - a north-south road between Pelham Road and Outer Drive.
  • Pelham Road - a north-south mile road that is the boundary between Allen Park and Taylor between Allen Road and Van Born Road.
  • Ecorse Road - an east-west mile road between Allen Road and Pelham Road
  • Van Born Road - an east-west mile road that is the boundary between Allen Park and Dearborn Heights between Pelham Road and the Southfield Freeway.
  • Outer Drive - an east-west road between the Southfield Freeway and the border of Lincoln Park. It serves as a boundary between Allen Park and Melvindale between the border of Lincoln Park and I-94.
  • Oakwood Boulevard - a north-south road between the Southfield Freeway and I-94.

Other Roads of Note

  • Fordline Street - a north-south half mile road (residential street) that is the boundary between Allen Park and Lincoln Park between Moran Road and Old Goddard Road.
  • Champaign Road - an east-west half mile road (residential street) between Pelham and Allen roads. The street falls off grid between Allen Road and the Lincoln Park border.
  • Wick Road - an east-west mile road (residential street) between Pelham Road and Vine Street. It is interrupted at the CN Railroad, just east of Pelham Road. It becomes a small residential boulevard east of Reeck Road.
  • Reeck Road - a north-south half mile road (residential street) between Goddard Road and Allen Road.

Fairlane Green

Fairlane Green, also known as "The Hill", is a shopping center located on a large hill between Outer Drive, I-94, Southfield Freeway, and Oakwood Boulevard. It is built on top of the former location of Veterans Administration Hospital. In 1937, Henry and Clara Ford donated 38 acres at the corner of Southfield and Outer Drive for use as a Veterans Administration hospital. Ground-breaking ceremonies for the hospital were held on July 27, 1937, with Henry Ford in attendance. Major additions to the original hospital were made after WWII and during the 1960s. The Allen Park Veterans Administration Medical Center was sometimes referred to as the Dearborn VA Hospital. It was a long time landmark that was both beautiful and interesting in its architecture. The Allen Park VA hospital was deemed eligible for the National Register of Historic Places on Jan. 6, 1981 but in spite of this fact' it was demolished in 2004.

History

Allen Park was incorporated as a village in 1927, and as a city in 1957. It was named after Lewis Allen, a well-to-do lawyer and lumberman whose 276½ acres of land (primarily in Ecorse Township) included holdings in what are now Allen Park and Melvindale. Hubert Champaign (for whom Champaign Park is named) and Edward Pepper were two other early residents of the area.

In 1950 Allen Park did not include the part of the city directly west of Melvindale; that area was still part of Ecorse Township.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1930 944
1940 3,487 269.4%
1950 12,329 253.6%
1960 37,494 204.1%
1970 40,747 8.7%
1980 34,196 −16.1%
1990 31,092 −9.1%
2000 29,376 −5.5%
2010 28,210 −4.0%
2020 28,638 1.5%
U.S. Decennial Census
2018 Estimate

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 28,210 people, 11,580 households, and 7,606 families living in the city. The population density was 4,030.0 inhabitants per square mile (1,556.0/km2). There were 12,206 housing units at an average density of 1,743.7 per square mile (673.2/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 92.9% White, 2.1% African American, 0.5% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 2.0% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.1% of the population.

There were 11,580 households, of which 29.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.1% were married couples living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 34.3% were non-families. 30.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.02.

The median age in the city was 41.7 years. 21.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.8% were from 25 to 44; 28.5% were from 45 to 64; and 17.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.1% male and 51.9% female.

World's largest model tire

42°16′14″N 83°12′33″W / 42.27057°N 83.20907°W / 42.27057; -83.20907

Allen Park is home to the Uniroyal Giant Tire, the largest non-production tire scale model ever built, and one of the world's largest roadside attractions. Originally a Ferris wheel at the 1964 New York World's Fair, the structure was moved to Allen Park in 1966.

World Series of Bowling

In 2009, the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) announced that Thunderbowl Lanes in Allen Park would be the primary site for the inaugural PBA World Series of Bowling. This unique event featured the first seven tournaments of the PBA's 2009-10 season all contested in the same area. One tournament (Motor City Open) was contested in nearby Taylor, MI, while the other six (including the PBA World Championship) took place at Thunderbowl. The 2009 events ran August 2-September 6, with the televised finals being taped by ESPN on September 5–6. Thunderbowl Lanes has hosted additional PBA tournaments since that time, including the five-event PBA Fall Swing in September, 2016.




Sports

In 2009, the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) announced that Thunderbowl Lanes in Allen Park would be the main site for the inaugural PBA World Series of Bowling. This unique event featured the first seven tournaments of the PBA's 2009–10 season all contested in the same area. One tournament (Motor City Open) was contested in nearby Taylor, MI, while the other six (including the PBA World Championship qualifying and match play rounds) took place at Thunderbowl. The 2009 events ran August 2-September 6, with the televised finals being taped by ESPN on September 5–6. Thunderbowl Lanes has hosted additional PBA tournaments since that time, including the five-event PBA Fall Swing in September, 2016 and both the 2018 and 2021 PBA Tour Finals. The World Series of Bowling returned to Thunderbowl Lanes for its tenth anniversary in the 2019 PBA Tour season, with events running March 11–21.

The National Football League's Detroit Lions have their offices and training facility in Allen Park.

Education

Public schools

Most of Allen Park is within the Allen Park School District. The district has three elementary schools: Arno, Lindemann, and Bennie. The district also includes Allen Park Middle School, Allen Park High School, and Allen Park Community School.

Northern Allen Park is within the Melvindale-Northern Allen Park Public Schools. Rogers Early Elementary School is within Allen Park. Residents in Melvindale-Northern Allen Park go on to Melvindale High School.

The Southgate Community School District serves Allen Park south of the Sexton-Kilfoil Drain.

Prior to the establishment of Allen Park High School in 1950, education in Allen Park, provided at the Lapham school, ended after the eighth grade. Students in the Allen Park school district had to travel to Detroit Southwestern High School, Lincoln Park High School, and/or Melvindale High School.

Private schools

Private schools in Allen Park include Inter-City Baptist School and St Frances Cabrini Schools (including Cabrini High School). Historically religious private schools in Ecorse, River Rouge, and Taylor served Allen Park residents.

Notable residents

  • Terry Andrysiak, football quarterback
  • Jeff Bernard, unlimited hydroplane driver
  • John Bizon, member of the Michigan Senate
  • Amanda Chidester, softball player
  • Frank Liberati, member of the Michigan House of Representatives
  • Tullio Liberati, member of the Michigan House of Representatives
  • Jennifer Valoppi, journalist
  • John Varvatos, fashion designer

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Allen Park (Míchigan) para niños

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