Center Line, Michigan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Center Line, Michigan
City
City of Center Line
Motto(s):  "Out of the past into the future"
Location within Macomb County
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Country	United States
State	Michigan
County	Macomb
Settled	1837
Incorporated	1925 (village) 1936 (city)
Area
• Total	1.75 sq mi (4.54 km2)
• Land	1.75 sq mi (4.54 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	620 ft (190 m)
Population  (2010)
• Total	8,257
• Estimate  (2019)	8,171
• Density	4,663.81/sq mi (1,800.20/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code(s)	48015
Area code(s)	586
FIPS code	26-14320
GNIS feature ID	0622981

Center Line is a city in Macomb County in the U.S. state of Michigan, surrounded entirely by the city of Warren. The population was 8,257 at the 2010 census.

History

Historically, the land that Center Line came to occupy was swamp and wilderness until the early nineteenth century. As land became scarce, French, German, Belgian, and Irish immigrants began clearing the forests and draining the swamps. Center Line was known as Kunrod's Corner during the mid-nineteenth century. The theory is that the French named it Center Line because it was the middle of three Potowatomi trails from Fort Detroit to northern trading posts. The 'center line' was the trail used from Detroit to Utica. The community received its initial start when Catholics decided to build a church so that they would not have to walk to St. Mary's in Detroit for Sunday Mass. This church (St. Clement's) was established in 1854 and attracted more Catholic settlers into the area. In 1863, the first general store was constructed by Joeseph Buechel. On July 19, 1878, Hieronymous Engelmann was the first postmaster, and he was succeeded in 1885 by Sophia Buechel. The "Centre Line" post office closed on July 31, 1906, and the name was restored to Center Line thereafter. In this era, street car tracks connected Detroit to Center Line along Van Dyke Road, and Ten Mile Road was the final stop of the street car. The village was incorporated in 1925 in the center of Warren Township, which is now the City of Warren, and as a city in 1936.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.74 square miles (4.51 km²), all land.

Demographics

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 8,257 people, 3,632 households, and 1,988 families residing in the city. The population density was 4,745.4 inhabitants per square mile (1,832.2/km²). There were 3,920 housing units at an average density of 2,252.9 per square mile (869.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 82.5% White, 12.0% African American, 0.4% Native American, 2.5% Asian, 0.1% from other races, and 2.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.7% of the population.

There were 3,632 households, of which 27.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.0% were married couples living together, 17.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 45.3% were non-families. 40.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 3.01.

The median age in the city was 41.2 years. 21.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.1% were from 25 to 44; 27.5% were from 45 to 64; and 17.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.1% male and 53.9% female.

85.9% of residents 25 or older hold a high school degree. 10.8% of residents 25 or older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Median household income was $30,752. 21.3% of the population lives below the federal poverty line.

Arts and culture

Annual events

• The Center Line Independence Festival is a celebration of the community's ongoing independence from the community that surrounds it (Warren, MI), and the nation's independence. The event began in 2016, the community's 80th Birthday celebration, and continues as an annual celebration with live bands, carnival, arts and crafts, children's events and activities, local food vendors and restaurants, beer tent, and it's always popular fireworks display.

Historical markers

Two recognized Michigan historical markers are at:

• St. Clement Catholic Church
• St. Clement Catholic Cemetery The earliest burial dates from March 27, 1854. Interred there are many of Macomb County's earliest settlers and notable families, including Groesbeck and Schoenherr. Hieronymus Englemann, Center Line's first post master, and Joseph Buechel, proprietor of the first general store, are also buried here.

Other relevant markers are nearby in surrounding Warren.

Education

Most Center Line residents are zoned to schools in Center Line Public Schools, including Center Line High School. A small portion of the city is in Van Dyke Public Schools, served by Lincoln High School.

St. Clement Catholic School was in Center Line. It was established in 1857. It had 110 students in the 2009-2010 year, and then 12 teachers and 89 students in its final year, 2010-2011. The parish decided to close the school as a parish takes a greater share of the costs if the number of students is under 100.

The archdiocese operated St. Clement High School in Center Line. It closed in 2005. Macomb Christian Schools (MCS) occupied the old St. Clement High School building from 2017 until 2019, when MCS shutdown.

Infrastructure

Main highways

• I-696 (Walter P. Reuther Freeway) runs east and west, on the north end of the city.
• M-53 (Van Dyke Avenue) leads northerly into the Van Dyke Freeway and runs north and south, from 9 1/2 Mile Rd. (Stephens) to 11 Mile Rd. (I-696).
• East-west travel is mainly on the mile roads, that is 10 Mile Road which runs through the center of the community, and 11 Mile Road on the north border (Warren). See Mile Road System (Detroit).