Sterling Heights, Michigan facts for kids

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Sterling Heights, Michigan

City

Sterling Heights City Hall

Motto(s):

To Strive on Behalf of All

Location within Macomb County

Sterling Heights, Michigan

Location in Michigan

Sterling Heights, Michigan

Location in the United States

United States

Incorporated

1968 (city)

Government

• Type

Council–manager

Area

• Total

36.72 sq mi (95.10 km²)

• Land

36.45 sq mi (94.40 km²)

• Water

0.27 sq mi (0.70 km²)

Elevation

614 ft (187 m)

Population

(2020)

• Total

134,346

• Density

3,686.06/sq mi (1,423.18/km²)

Time zone

UTC−5 (Eastern (EST))

• Summer (DST)

UTC−4 (EDT)

ZIP Codes

48310, 48311, 48312, 48313, 48314

Area code(s)

586

FIPS code

26-76460

GNIS feature ID

0638798

Sterling Heights is a city in Macomb County, Michigan, in the United States. It's a northern suburb of Detroit, located about 18 miles (29 km) north of downtown Detroit. In 2020, the city had a population of 134,346 people. This makes Sterling Heights the second-largest suburb of Detroit and the fourth-most populated city in Michigan.

Discovering Sterling Heights History

The area that is now Sterling Heights was first surveyed in 1818. This happened after the War of 1812 and a treaty signed in 1817.

How Sterling Heights Got Its Name

The area was first part of Shelby Township in 1827. It then became Jefferson Township in 1835. In 1838, it was renamed Sterling Township.

Until the 1950s, Sterling Township was mostly farmland. Farmers grew crops like rhubarb to sell in Detroit. As roads improved, it became easier to travel and deliver goods. More people moved to the area when homes were built for workers in Detroit's growing car industry.

When Sterling Township became a city in 1968, "Heights" was added to its name. This was because there was already a small village called Sterling in Michigan. Adding "Heights" made sure the names were different.

Acts which created & modified Sterling Township

Early Leaders and Growth

Gerald Donovan became the first mayor of Sterling Heights. F. James Dunlop was the first mayor pro-tempore (a temporary mayor). In the 1960s and 1970s, many people moved to Sterling Heights to work in car factories like Chrysler and Ford. Lakeside Mall, a large shopping center, opened in the city in 1976.

A Diverse Community

Sterling Heights is home to many different groups of people from around the world. Many residents have roots in Eastern Europe, including people from Albania, Bosnia, Croatia, and Poland. After the 2003 U.S.-Iraqi War, many Iraqi citizens, especially Assyrians, moved to Sterling Heights. Because of this, some parts of the city are even called "Little Nineveh."

Exploring Sterling Heights Geography

Sterling Heights is a suburb located 14 to 20 miles north of downtown Detroit. Its southern border is about 6 miles from Detroit's northern border. The city is about six miles long and six miles wide.

Neighboring Areas

Sterling Heights shares borders with several other cities and townships:

To the south: Warren
To the southwest: Madison Heights
To the west: Troy
To the north: Utica and Shelby Township
To the northeast: Macomb Township
To the east: Clinton Township
To the southeast: Fraser

Land and Water

The city covers a total area of about 36.72 square miles (95.10 square kilometers). Most of this is land (36.45 sq mi or 94.40 sq km). A small part, about 0.27 square miles (0.70 sq km), is water. The Clinton River flows through the northeast part of the city. It then goes east to Lake St. Clair.

Sterling Heights Climate

Sterling Heights has a humid continental climate. This means it has warm summers and cold winters.

Climate data for Sterling Heights (Eastpointe station)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	0.4 (32.8)	2.1 (35.8)	7.1 (44.7)	14.6 (58.3)	20.9 (69.7)	26.7 (80.0)	29.0 (84.2)	27.6 (81.7)	23.8 (74.8)	16.8 (62.3)	9.4 (49.0)	2.5 (36.5)	15.1 (59.1)
Daily mean °C (°F)	−3.6 (25.5)	−2.6 (27.3)	1.7 (35.0)	8.4 (47.2)	14.8 (58.6)	20.5 (68.9)	22.9 (73.3)	21.8 (71.3)	17.7 (63.9)	11.2 (52.1)	4.9 (40.8)	−1.3 (29.7)	9.7 (49.5)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	−7.7 (18.2)	−7.3 (18.8)	−3.7 (25.3)	2.2 (36.0)	8.6 (47.5)	14.3 (57.7)	16.8 (62.3)	16.0 (60.8)	11.6 (52.9)	5.5 (41.9)	0.3 (32.5)	−5.1 (22.9)	4.3 (39.7)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	47 (1.86)	46 (1.82)	58 (2.27)	78 (3.07)	82 (3.23)	86 (3.38)	82 (3.22)	86 (3.38)	88 (3.45)	70 (2.75)	77 (3.05)	63 (2.49)	863 (33.97)
Source: NOAA (normals 1981–2010)

Surrounding Cities and Towns

Rochester Hills Rochester	Shelby Township Utica	Macomb Township
Troy		Clinton Township
	Sterling Heights

Madison Heights	Warren	Fraser

Major Roads and Highways

Sterling Heights has important roads that help people travel around.

State Highways

M-53: This road is also called Van Dyke Avenue or the Van Dyke Freeway. It goes north into the "Thumb" area of Michigan.
M-59: This road is known as Hall Road. It connects areas from east to west. It's a main road for shopping and businesses in Sterling Heights, especially near Lakeside Mall.

Other Important Roads

Mound Road: This is a key road that runs north and south through the city.
Mile Roads: East-west travel mainly uses "mile roads," like 14 Mile Road through 20 Mile Road (M-59). 16 Mile Road, also called Metro Parkway, is another big "mile road."
Utica Road: This road cuts diagonally across the city. It goes past the Sterling Heights city hall.
Dequindre Road: This road forms the border between Sterling Heights and Troy. It also separates Macomb County from Oakland County.
Hayes Road: This road divides Clinton Township and Fraser in certain areas.

Population of Sterling Heights

The city's population has grown a lot over the years.

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1940	3,648	—
1950	6,509	78.4%
1960	14,622	124.6%
1970	61,365	319.7%
1980	108,999	77.6%
1990	117,810	8.1%
2000	124,471	5.7%
2010	129,699	4.2%
2020	134,346	3.6%
U.S. Decennial Census 2018 Estimate

2020 Census Information

The 2020 census showed that Sterling Heights had 134,346 people. The table below shows the different racial and ethnic groups living in the city.

**Sterling Heights, Michigan – Racial and ethnic composition**
*Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.*
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)	Pop 2000	Pop 2010	Pop 2020	% 2000	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	111,743	108,750	106,149	89.77%	83.85%	79.01%
Black or African American alone (NH)	1,602	6,638	8,709	1.29%	5.12%	6.48%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	239	246	200	0.19%	0.19%	0.15%
Asian alone (NH)	6,100	8,713	10,935	4.90%	6.72%	8.14%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	35	16	13	0.03%	0.01%	0.01%
Other race alone (NH)	122	158	337	0.10%	0.12%	0.25%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)	2,965	2,655	4,728	2.38%	2.05%	3.52%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	1,665	2,523	3,275	1.34%	1.95%	2.44%
Total	124,471	129,699	134,346	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

2010 Census Information

In 2010, there were 129,699 people living in Sterling Heights. About 85.1% were White, 5.2% African American, and 6.7% Asian. About 1.9% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.

The average age in the city was 40.4 years. About 21.7% of residents were under 18 years old.

Education in Sterling Heights

Sterling Heights has two public school districts:

Utica Community Schools: This district serves the northern part of the city. It includes Stevenson High School and Henry Ford II High School.
Warren Consolidated Schools: This district serves the southern part of the city. It includes Sterling Heights High School.

There is also a private Christian school called Parkway Christian School for students from kindergarten through 12th grade.

Media and Communication

Sterling Heights has several ways for residents to stay informed.

Local Newspapers

The city has three local newspapers:

The Macomb Daily: This newspaper is delivered daily and on Sundays.
Sterling Heights Sentry (C and G Newspapers)
Sterling Heights Source (Advisor & Source Newspapers)

The last two newspapers are delivered to homes in the city for free.

Local TV Channels

The city also has two local TV channels:

SHTV: This channel is run by the city. It shows local programs, including City Council meetings, and community announcements. You can find SHTV on Comcast channel 5, Wide Open West channel 10, and online.
Sterling Heights Public Library Channel: This channel shows educational programs and announcements from the library. It's on Comcast channel 12 and WOW channel 20.

Radio and Publications

The city's official radio station is AM 1700. Sterling Heights also sends out a seasonal magazine and a city calendar to every home and business for free. WKEG, a radio station linked with Relevant Radio, is also based in Sterling Heights.

Sister Cities Around the World

Sister City programs help people from different cities learn about each other's cultures. These programs encourage cultural, educational, business, and technical exchanges. Sterling Heights has sister cities in various countries: