Corktown, Detroit facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Corktown Historic District
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Bagley Street in Corktown
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| Location | Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
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| Architectural style | Colonial Revival, Late Victorian, Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 78001517 |
| Added to NRHP | July 31, 1978 |
Corktown is a historic neighborhood in Detroit, Michigan. It is the oldest neighborhood still standing in the city today. The area is bordered by I-75 to the north, the John C. Lodge Freeway to the east, Bagley and Porter streets to the south, and Rosa Parks Boulevard to the west. Corktown was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.
Most of Corktown is made up of homes, but there are also some shops along Michigan Avenue. The part with homes is recognized as a historic district by both the national government and the City of Detroit. The neighborhood has many newer houses and some of the original Irish businesses. In 2018, Ford bought Michigan Central Station. This has led to many new projects and improvements in Corktown, making it a growing center for new ideas and city renewal.
Contents
History of Corktown
The Great Famine in Ireland during the 1840s caused many Irish people to move to the United States and Canada. By the mid-1800s, they were the largest group of new settlers in Detroit. Many of these newcomers settled on the west side of the city. Since most of them came from County Cork, the neighborhood became known as Corktown. By the early 1850s, about half of the people living in this area were of Irish background.
Over time, other immigrant groups moved into Corktown. After the revolutions of 1848, many German immigrants arrived. By the early 1900s, the original Irish families had spread out across the city. New immigrants, especially from Mexico and Malta, moved into the older homes. Later in the 20th century, people from the American South and Appalachia came to Detroit for jobs in the car industry.
However, parts of Corktown became smaller in the mid-1900s. This happened because of city rebuilding plans, new factories, and the building of the Lodge Freeway and Fisher Freeway.
Corktown's New Life
Since 2005, Corktown has seen many projects to make it better. These include:
- The UIS Irish Plaza, a park and memorial opened in 2006.
- The Quicken Loans Technology Center, a large office space that opened in 2015.
- The Detroit Police Athletic League (PAL) headquarters and youth sports center. This was built in 2016 at the old Tiger Stadium site.
- The Corner, a new building complex with apartments and townhomes, started being built in 2018. It is located across from the PAL facility.
- The Trumbull & Porter hotel, which reopened in 2016 after a big renovation.
- Elton Park, a large project started in 2017, which will add many apartments and shops.
In 2024, Detroit City FC announced plans to build a new soccer stadium in Corktown. They hope to have the stadium ready for games by 2027.
Ford's Corktown Campus
A big part of Corktown's new life comes from the Ford Motor Company. Ford started building an urban campus in Corktown in 2017. They bought and fixed up The Factory building. Later, Ford bought other properties, including the famous Michigan Central Station and the nearby Roosevelt Warehouse.
Ford plans to spend $740 million on its Corktown campus. This campus will have 1.2 million square feet of space for different uses, spread across the Michigan Central Station, Roosevelt Warehouse, and The Factory building. Ford also plans to build a new four-story building called "The Alchemy" and two new parking garages.
The main goal of the Corktown campus is to focus on autonomous vehicles (self-driving cars) and electric vehicles. Ford expects to move 2,500 of its employees to the campus. There will also be space for another 2,500 entrepreneurs, technology companies, and partners working with Ford on new car technologies.
In 2020, Ford shared a new plan for its 30-acre Corktown Campus. It will be a walkable area called the Mobility Innovation District. It will have green spaces, new buildings, and involve the community.
Architecture in Corktown
The first homes in Corktown were Federal-style detached houses and rowhouses. These were built by the Irish settlers. One of the oldest buildings in Detroit is a worker's row house from around 1840, located on Sixth Street. Later, smaller Victorian townhouses were built. These homes had styles like Italianate, Gothic, and Queen Anne.
Michigan Avenue in Corktown is famous for its old red brick pavers. These bricks were first laid in the 1890s to improve the roads. They have been kept to help the area keep its historic look. New development plans aim to fix and reuse these historic bricks as part of the ongoing improvements along Michigan Avenue.
Education
Students in Corktown attend Detroit Public Schools. They are zoned for Owen at Pelham and King High School.
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit also runs the Most Holy Trinity School in Corktown. It is one of the few Catholic elementary schools left in the city.
Notable resident
- Sheila Cockrel, a former member of the Detroit City Council.
Images for kids
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Tiger Stadium was in Corktown until it was taken down in 2009.
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The UIS Irish Plaza is a park and memorial honoring Irish immigrants and their families in Metro Detroit.
See also
In Spanish: Corktown para niños
