Eastpointe, Michigan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Eastpointe, Michigan
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| Motto(s):
"Gateway to Macomb County"
"A Family Town" |
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Location within Macomb County
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| Country | United States |
| State | Michigan |
| County | Macomb |
| Founded | 1837 |
| Incorporated (village) | December 8, 1924 as Halfway |
| Incorporated (city) | January 7, 1929 as East Detroit |
| Renamed | July 1, 1992 as Eastpointe |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council–manager |
| Area | |
| • Total | 5.160 sq mi (13.364 km2) |
| • Land | 5.158 sq mi (13.358 km2) |
| • Water | 0.002 sq mi (0.005 km2) |
| Elevation | 614 ft (187 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 34,318 |
| • Estimate
(2022)
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33,806 |
| • Density | 6,555.0/sq mi (2,531.0/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC–5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC–4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Code |
48021
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| Area code(s) | 586 |
| FIPS code | 26-24290 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1623024 |
| Sales tax | 6.0% |
Eastpointe (formerly East Detroit) is a city in Macomb County in the U.S. state of Michigan. An inner-ring suburb of Detroit, Eastpointe borders Detroit to the north, roughly 11 miles (17.7 km) northeast of Downtown Detroit. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 34,318.
Contents
History
The community was first settled by Irish and German immigrants in the 1830s. In October 1897, a post office was established there with the name of "Half-way", as it was near the halfway point of the stage run between downtown Detroit and the Macomb County seat at Mount Clemens. It incorporated as the village of Halfway in December 1924 and reincorporated as the city of East Detroit in January 1929. Prior to 1924, most of the community formed a part of Erin Township (which includes all or part of Eastpointe, Roseville, and St. Clair Shores. The city changed its name to "Eastpointe" after the change was approved by residents in a 1992 referendum; the name change had been proposed to remove any perceived association with the adjacent city of Detroit; the "pointe" suffix is intended to associate the city instead with the nearby affluent communities of the Grosse Pointes. The city also changed its name to give the community a sense that it was its own city with its own unique history, identity, and not an extension or branch of Detroit. Other names were also nominated for the referendum never balloted.
The city's school district was unaffected by the municipal name change, and was called East Detroit Public Schools until 2017, when it changed the district name to Eastpointe Community Schools to align with the community name. It has one high school (Eastpointe High School), one middle school (Eastpointe Middle School, formerly Kelly Middle School), and four elementary schools. The primary district boundaries of Eastpointe Community Schools encompass the City of Eastpointe, minus the northeastern portion (east of Kelly Rd. and north of Stephens) and the southeastern portion of the city of Warren.
Geography
Eastpointe is in southern Macomb County, 10 miles (16 km) northeast of Downtown Detroit and 7 miles (11 km) north of Grosse Pointe. It is bordered to the west by the city of Warren, to the north by Roseville, and to the east by St. Clair Shores. It is bordered to the south by the cities of Detroit and Harper Woods in Wayne County. Roads that follow the city borders include Beechwood Avenue (up until it reaches Stephens Road, where it switches over to Hayes) on its western border (properties on both sides of these streets are within the city limits), 8 Mile/M-102 on its southern border, Beaconsfield/the southern and western bound section of the I-94 service drive on its eastern border, and 10 Mile Road on its northern border except for portions of the blocks of Macomb St. west to Hayes.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.16 square miles (13.36 km2), of which 0.002 square miles (0.005 km2), or 0.04%, are water.
Eastpointe is generally considered to be a bedroom community. It is a relatively short drive from many other points of interest in the Detroit area. It is served by Interstate 94 (I-94) and I-696, as well as M-he in 3 (Gratiot Avenue), M-102 (8 Mile Road), and 9 Mile Road.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 5,955 | — | |
| 1940 | 8,584 | 44.1% | |
| 1950 | 21,461 | 150.0% | |
| 1960 | 45,756 | 113.2% | |
| 1970 | 45,920 | 0.4% | |
| 1980 | 38,280 | −16.6% | |
| 1990 | 35,283 | −7.8% | |
| 2000 | 34,077 | −3.4% | |
| 2010 | 32,442 | −4.8% | |
| 2020 | 34,318 | 5.8% | |
| 2022 (est.) | 33,806 | 4.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2020 Census |
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2020 census
As of the 2020 census, there were 34,318 people, 13,126 households, and 8,523 families residing in the city. The population density was 6,653.4 inhabitants per square mile (2,568.9/km2). There were 13,798 housing units.
2010 census
As of the 2010 census, there were 32,442 people, 12,557 households, and 8,220 families residing in the city. The population density was 6,307.4 inhabitants per square mile (2,435.3/km2). There were 13,796 housing units at an average density of 2,684.0 per square mile (1,036.3/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 65.6% White, 29.5% African American, 0.4% Native American, 1.1% Asian, 0.5% from other races, and 2.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race were 2.1% of the population.
There were 12,557 households, of which 34.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.9% were married couples living together, 19.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 34.5% were non-families. 28.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.19.
The median age in the city was 36.3 years. 25.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 28.6% were from 25 to 44; 25.7% were from 45 to 64; and 11.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.4% male and 51.6% female.
Economy
The American Power Boat Association (APBA) is a New York non-profit, membership owned corporation that was created in 1903 by an act of the New York legislature as a racing association for powerboats. The APBA is headquartered in Eastpointe.
At one time Spirit Airlines had its headquarters in Eastpointe. The headquarters moved to Miramar, Florida in the Miami Metropolitan Area in November 1999.
In 1959, a young businessman by the name of Art Van Elslander opened the doors to a 4,000-square-foot (370 m2) Danish furniture showroom on Gratiot Avenue in Eastpointe which would become the first Art Van.
Culture and arts
Cruisin' Gratiot in June is an annual weekend celebration of automotive history, tradition and memorabilia. The event includes car shows, contests, and live music.
The Michigan Military Technical & Historical Society Museum is in Eastpointe.
Eastpointe has many summer festivals and events, including Erin-Halfway Days Living History Festival held at John F. Kennedy Memorial Park in late July, Music in the Park Wednesday nights at Spindler Park, and Summer Fest, formerly known as The Ox Roast, mid to late August at John F. Kennedy Memorial Park.
Education
Eastpointe Community Schools operates public schools in Eastpointe and includes most of the municipality. The southeastern corner of the city is instead within South Lake Public Schools. Koepsell Elementary of the South Lake district is in Eastpointe.
Eaton Academy, a charter school, is in Eastpointe. It is located on the grounds of the former St. Veronica School of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit.
St. Thomas Lutheran Church formerly operated the St. Thomas Lutheran School. A drop in enrollment occurred after the Great Recession in the late aughts. It closed in 2015. The Great Start Readiness Program began renting the facility after its closure.
Higher education
Eastpointe is also served by Macomb Community College's South Campus, which is located in Warren, two miles north of the city.
Wayne County Community College District's Mary Ellen Stempfle University Center is located in Harper Woods, just across 8 Mile from Eastpointe.
People and events
Arts and entertainment
Alice Cooper (aka Vincent D. Furnier; b. 1948, Detroit, MI), an American Shock-Rock singer and musician, was a childhood resident of East Detroit. He resided on Lincoln Ave. near Kelly Road, and attended grade-school at Kantner Elementary.
Actor Jayson Blair of MTV's The Hard Times of RJ Berger is an Eastpointe native.
Rapper Kid Rock refers to Eastpointe in his song "It's Still East Detroit To Me."
Christian Berishaj (stage name JMSN) is an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer, engineer, mixer, videographer and designer and a former member of the band, Love Arcade, in which he was known as Snowhite. He was raised in Eastpointe.
Mike Lubinski of the reality show Big Brother is from Eastpointe.
Jacob M. Appel's short story collection, Einstein's Beach House, is largely set in a fictionalized Eastpointe.
Adrenalin is an American rock band from East Detroit Michigan, that is perhaps best known for their song "Road of the Gypsy," featured in the 1986 film Iron Eagle.
Back in the USA is the 1970 debut studio album, and second album overall, by the American protopunk band MC5 recorded in Eastpointe in 1969.
Jeopardy! Tournament of Champions contestant Sandie Baker was from Eastpointe.
The "Recruiters" sketch from Mr. Show with Bob and David was set in East Detroit.
Athletics
East Detroit High School produced a number of professional football players, including Gary Ballman, Ron Kramer, Matt Hernandez, and Mickey Walker.
Dennis Brown is a former American football player and coach. In 1995, Brown was hired as the head football coach at East Detroit High School.
The Detroit Caesars were a professional softball team that played from 1977 through 1979 in the American Professional Slow Pitch Softball League (APSPL), winning two pro softball championships while playing at Memorial Field in East Detroit. The team disbanded after the 1979 season, but the Detroit Auto Kings would play the 1980 season in the North American Softball League (NASL) at Memorial Field before ceasing play at the end of the season and ending professional softball played in East Detroit.
Social Clubs
Freemasonry first came to East Detroit in the mid-1950s. East Detroit Lodge No. 589, that held its Regular Communication on the 1st Monday of the month, was located at 17003 E Nine Mile. East Detroit #589 was formed and worked Under Dispensation in early 1955, was Chartered by Grand Lodge of Michigan's Grand Master Henry R. Ruusi (1907–1995) on May 24, 1955, and 43 years later was Consolidated with Eureka North Warren Lodge No. 594 on March 23, 1998.
Grosse Pointe Lodge No. 584, Chartered on May 27, 1953, relocated from 1850 Vernier Rd, Grosse Pointe Woods, to Eastpointe in March 1992, and later Consolidated with Jefferson Lodge No. 553 on September 19, 2000.
Religion
Catholic churches
Roman Catholic churches in Eastpointe include St. Basil the Great Church and St. Veronica Parish.
The St. John Deaf Center, affiliated with Holy Innocents Church in Roseville, is in Eastpointe.
St. Barnabas Catholic Church closed permanently in 2021.
Our Lady of Grace Vietnamese Parish (Vietnamese: Gx Đức Mẹ Ban Ơn Lành) is in nearby Warren. Our Lady of Grace was previously in Eastpointe, but moved to Warren in 2012 when it merged with St. Cletus Church. Our Lady of Grace had an increasing parishioner base and was asking for a larger facility, so it was combined with another church with a declining number of parishioners.
See also
In Spanish: Eastpointe para niños
