Royal Oak, Michigan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Royal Oak, Michigan
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Pictured top to bottom, left to right: Downtown Royal Oak, the National Shrine of the Little Flower, Royal Oak Post Office, the Royal Oak Amtrak station, and the Detroit Zoo water tower
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| Nickname(s):
The City of Trees, Roak
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Location within Oakland County
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 Royal Oak, Michigan
Location in Michigan
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| Country | United States | |
| State | Michigan | |
| County | Oakland | |
| Incorporated | 1891 (village) 1921 (city) |
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| Government | ||
| • Type | Council–manager | |
| Area | ||
| • City | 11.79 sq mi (30.55 km2) | |
| • Land | 11.79 sq mi (30.54 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) | |
| Elevation | 663 ft (202 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • City | 58,211 | |
| • Density | 4,937.32/sq mi (1,905.96/km2) | |
| • Metro | 4,296,250 (Metro Detroit) | |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) | |
| ZIP code(s) | ||
| Area code(s) | 248 and 947 | |
| FIPS code | 26-70040 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 636352 | |
Royal Oak is a city in Oakland County, Michigan. It is a suburb of Detroit, located about 14 kilometers (9 miles) north of downtown Detroit. In 2020, the city had a population of 58,211 people.
Royal Oak is found along the Woodward Corridor. Major highways like Interstate 75 and Interstate 696 serve the city. Royal Oak has one of the largest downtown areas among Detroit's suburbs. A big part of the Detroit Zoo is also located here, with some sections reaching into nearby Huntington Woods.
Contents
History of Royal Oak
Royal Oak got its name in 1819. This happened during a trip led by Governor Lewis Cass. He saw a large oak tree in the area. This tree reminded him of the story of the Royal Oak. In that story, King Charles II of England hid in an oak tree to escape his enemies. Because of this, Governor Cass chose "Royal Oak" for the settlement.
Royal Oak officially became a village in 1891. Later, in 1921, it became a city.
Growth and Development
Royal Oak grew as a suburb of Detroit in the early 1900s. This was when Detroit's car industry was booming.
The Royal Oak Farmers Market first opened on October 14, 1925. It was a joint project between the city and Oakland County, Michigan. The market helped local farmers sell their goods. The building you see today was built in 1927.
In the 1920s, Father Charles Coughlin started the Shrine of the Little Flower. This church is now a famous landmark in the city. He used radio to share religious messages from this site.
Royal Oak's downtown used to have small shops. Over time, it changed as people started going to malls. But since the late 1990s, downtown Royal Oak has become a popular place for fun and nightlife. Many new apartments and lofts have been built, making the downtown area more lively. In 2022, the historic Main Art Theater was approved for demolition.
Geography and Nature
Royal Oak covers about 30.55 square kilometers (11.79 square miles). Most of this area is land.
The city developed around a small river called the Red Run. In the 1930s, parts of this river were covered up. This was part of a project during the Great Depression.
Royal Oak is known as "The City of Trees." Many trees have been planted here since the 1930s. The city works hard to take care of its many trees.
Population in Royal Oak
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 217 | — | |
| 1900 | 468 | — | |
| 1910 | 1,071 | 128.8% | |
| 1920 | 6,007 | 460.9% | |
| 1930 | 22,904 | 281.3% | |
| 1940 | 25,087 | 9.5% | |
| 1950 | 46,898 | 86.9% | |
| 1960 | 80,612 | 71.9% | |
| 1970 | 86,238 | 7.0% | |
| 1980 | 70,893 | −17.8% | |
| 1990 | 65,410 | −7.7% | |
| 2000 | 60,062 | −8.2% | |
| 2010 | 57,236 | −4.7% | |
| 2020 | 58,211 | 1.7% | |
| Sources: | |||
2020 Census Information
In 2020, Royal Oak had 58,211 people living in the city. There were 28,971 households. Most residents, about 86.1%, were White. About 5.6% were African American, and 3.7% were Asian American. Around 4.5% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
About 15.2% of residents were under 18 years old. About 14.1% were 65 years or older. The city's population was almost evenly split between males (51.0%) and females (49.0%).
Economy and Attractions
Royal Oak first grew as a suburb when Detroit became a big industrial city. People moved to the suburbs for new homes.
The downtown area of Royal Oak has many shops and restaurants. It is now seen as a trendy and lively place. Many new buildings with apartments and shops have been built.
Some popular places in Royal Oak include the Detroit Zoo. This is a major attraction for visitors. Other spots are the William Beaumont Hospital and the Royal Oak Music Theatre. You can also find the Baldwin Theatre and Mark Ridley's Comedy Castle.
The National Arbor Day Foundation has named Royal Oak a "Tree City USA" every year since 1976. This shows the city's dedication to planting and protecting trees.
In 2021, Citizens State Bank opened its main office in Royal Oak. This made it the only bank with its headquarters in the city.
The Gilda Radner Hereditary Cancer Program helps people with cancer. It was started by comedian Gilda Radner. Gilda's Club Metro Detroit in Royal Oak offers support to over 3,000 members. They provide social and emotional support through various activities.
Arts and Culture
Downtown Royal Oak has many places for entertainment. These include the Royal Oak Music Theatre and the Baldwin Theatre. Mark Ridley's Comedy Castle is a comedy club. Famous comedians like Tim Allen and Dave Coulier performed there early in their careers.
Royal Oak is part of the Woodward Dream Cruise. This is a huge car event. The city hosts many activities during the Cruise. The Detroit Zoo is also in Royal Oak. It is one of the area's top tourist spots.
In 2009, the Arts, Beats and Eats festival moved to Royal Oak from Pontiac.
Royal Oak also has a baseball team called the Royal Oak Leprechauns. They are a collegiate summer league team. They play their games at Memorial Park.
Religious Sites
Royal Oak is home to the National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica. It was named a national shrine in 1998. In 2014, Pope Francis gave it the special title of 'Minor Basilica'.
Education in Royal Oak
The city is served by Royal Oak Neighborhood Schools. Private schools are also available. Shrine of the Little Flower Catholic Church offers K-12 education. St. Mary's provides K-8 instruction. A branch of Oakland Community College is in the city. A new Baker College location is also being built.
Some parts of Royal Oak are in the Berkley Public Schools district.
In recent years, Royal Oak has combined some of its public schools. This is because fewer students are enrolling compared to past years. In 2006, the two public high schools, George A. Dondero High School and Clarence M. Kimball High School, became one new school called Royal Oak High School. In 2007, the two middle schools also combined into Royal Oak Middle School. The number of elementary schools was reduced to six.
Media and News
Besides the The Detroit News and Detroit Free Press, Royal Oak has local newspapers. These include the Daily Tribune, The Oakland Press, the Royal Oak Review, and The Mirror.
City Services
Transportation
I-75 runs north and south on the east side of the city.
I-696 runs east and west on the south side of the city.
M-1 (also known as Woodward Avenue) runs through the west side of the city.- Several main roads run east and west through Royal Oak.
Trains and Buses
- Amtrak offers train service at the Royal Oak station. The 'Wolverine' train runs three times a day. It travels between Pontiac and Chicago, stopping in Detroit.
- Freight train service is provided by Canadian National Railway (CN).
- The Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART) runs local and regional buses.
Police and Fire Departments
Royal Oak's police department has 79 police officers. They also have 25 civilian staff members. The department uses community policing methods.
Royal Oak has a full-time fire department. It has three stations placed around the city. This helps them respond quickly to emergencies. The fire department has three engines, a ladder truck, and two ambulances. They are part of the OAKWAY mutual aid group.
Notable People from Royal Oak
Many well-known people have connections to Royal Oak:
- Alexandra Aldridge, figure skater
- Henry Banks, racing driver
- Mary Barra, CEO of General Motors Company
- Bruce Campbell, actor
- Meryl Davis, Olympic gold medalist in figure skating
- Pete Dawkins, college football winner and military officer
- Marie Donigan, landscape architect and politician
- Terry Duerod, basketball player
- Mona Hanna-Attisha, pediatrician and whistleblower
- Kirk Ferentz, football coach
- Dean Fertita, rock musician
- Bill Freehan, Major League Baseball catcher for the Detroit Tigers
- Jeffrey Frame, professor
- Glenn Frey, founding member of the band the Eagles
- Christopher George, actor
- Jason Grilli, Major League Baseball pitcher
- Judith Guest, author
- David Hahn, known as the "Radioactive Boy Scout"
- Tom Hayden, author and activist
- Keegan-Michael Key, actor
- Mallory McMorrow, politician
- Torey Krug, NHL defenseman
- T. J. Lang, pro football player
- Sam Raimi, film director
- Ivan Raimi, physician and screenwriter
- Kim Rancourt, rock musician
- Terrell Ransom Jr., actor
- Elisabeth Robinson, author
- Sebastian Sauve, fashion model
- Andrew Dost, musician from the band Fun.
- Chris Savino, animator
- Frank Dennis Saylor IV, judge
- Jim Seymour, football player
- Brady Smith, NFL defensive end
- Marshall Thompson, actor
- Al Watrous, golf professional
- Charlie White, Olympic gold medalist in ice dancing
See also
In Spanish: Royal Oak para niños
