Warren is a city in Macomb County in the U.S. state of Michigan. An inner-ring suburb of Detroit, Warren borders Detroit to the north, roughly 13 miles (20.9 km) north of downtown Detroit. The population was 139,387 at the 2020 census, making Warren the largest community in Macomb County, the third-largest city in Michigan, and Detroit's largest suburb.

The city is home to a wide variety of businesses, including the General Motors Technical Center, the United States Army Detroit Arsenal, home of the United States Army TACOM Life Cycle Management Command and the Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC), and the headquarters of Asset Acceptance.

History

Beebe's Corners, the original settlement in what would become the city of Warren, was founded in 1830 at the corner of Mound Road and Chicago Road; its first resident was Charles Groesbeck. Beebe's Corners was a carriage stop between Detroit and Utica, and included a distillery, mill, tavern, and trading post. It was not until 1837 that the now-defunct Warren Township was organized around the settlement, first under the name Hickory, then renamed Aba in April 1838, and finally renamed Warren shortly thereafter. It was named for War of 1812 veteran, and frontier cleric, Rev. Abel Warren. However, when it was originally organized the township was named for Rev. Warren, a Methodist Episcopal preacher who left his native New York in 1824 for Shelby Township. He went throughout the present-day Macomb, Lapeer, Oakland, and St. Clair Counties, baptizing, marrying, and burying pioneers of the area, as well as establishing congregations and preaching extensively. He was the first licensed preacher in the State of Michigan.

Another version of the source of the city's name claims it was "named for General Joseph Warren, who fell at the Battle of Bunker Hill."

The settlement was formally incorporated as the Village of Warren from Warren Township on April 28, 1893, out of one square mile bound by 14 Mile Road and 13 Mile Road to the north and south, and in half-a-mile east and west of Mound Road. The small village grew slowly, and had a population of 582 in 1940 and 727 in 1950, while the larger surrounding township grew at a much quicker pace. Much of this growth was due to the construction of the Chrysler's Truck Assembly plant in 1938, the Detroit Arsenal Tank Plant in 1940 to support the WW II effort, and the General Motors Technical Center between 1949 and 1956.

The Red Run and Bear Creek, just small creeks back in the 1800s, has blossomed into an open major inter-county stormdrain flowing through Warren, into the Clinton River, and onwards to Lake St. Clair.

The Village of Warren and most of the surrounding Township of Warren, together with Van Dyke, incorporated as a city in 1957, less the city of Center Line, which had incorporated as a village from Warren Township in 1925 and as a city in 1936. Between 1950 and 1960, Warren's population soared from 42,653 to 89,426. This population explosion was largely fueled by the post-WWII Baby Boom and later, by white flight from its southern neighbor of Detroit in that decade. This change in population continued into the next decade when the city's population doubled again, ultimately reaching a high of 179,000 in 1970.

Historically, Warren was a sundown town: an all-white municipality that excluded non-whites through a combination of discriminatory practices, local ordinances, and violence. In 1970, Warren had a population of 180,000, with only 28 minority families, most of whom lived on a U.S. military base. As of 1974 African Americans were almost totally excluded from Warren, In 2000 Warren had less than 3% Black population, compared to 80% in adjacent Detroit.

List of mayors in Warren, Michigan

The following is a list of the previous mayors of the city. The current mayor is Lori Stone. Mayoral elections are currently non-partisan.

#	Mayors	Mayoral elections	Start of term	End of term
1	Arthur J. Miller	D	January 1, 1957	December 30, 1960
2	Louis A. Kelsey	D	January 1, 1961	April 10, 1961
3	William (Bill) Shaw	D	April 11, 1961	April __, 1967
4	Ted Bates	D	April __, 1967	November 6, 1981
5	James R. Randlett	D	November 7, 1981	November 5, 1985
6	Ronald L. Bonkowski	D	November 6, 1985	November 7, 1995
7	Mark A. Steenbergh	D	November 7, 1995	November 9, 2007
8	James R. Fouts	D & I	November 9, 2007	November 17, 2023
9	Lori M. Stone	Democratic	November 18, 2023	Current

Geography

Warren is a core city of Metro Detroit. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 34.434 square miles (89.18 km²), of which 34.377 square miles (89.04 km²) is land and 0.057 square miles (0.15 km²) is water. The city covers a 6-by-6-mile (9.7 by 9.7 km) square (from 8 Mile Road to 14 Mile Road, south to north) in the southwest corner of Macomb County (minus the city of Center Line, which is a small city totally enclosed within Warren). Warren shares its entire southern border with the northern border of the Detroit city limits. Other cities bordering Warren are Hazel Park and Madison Heights to the west, Sterling Heights to the north, and Fraser, Roseville, and Eastpointe to the east.

Climate

Warren features a humid continental climate (Köppen: Dfa). Summers are somewhat hot with temperatures exceeding 90 °F (32 °C) on average 8.6 days. Winters are cold, with temperatures not rising above freezing on 39.1 days annually, while dropping to or below 0 °F (−18 °C) on average 1.2 days a year.

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

Major highways

I-696 (Walter P. Reuther Freeway) cuts east and west through the city.
M-53 (Van Dyke Avenue), which is also known as the Earle Memorial Highway, runs north and south and (roughly) bisects the city.
M-97 (Groesbeck Highway) is located in southeast Warren. It comes north from Detroit, and is a fast and wide diagonal connector to northern Macomb County.
M-102 (8 Mile Road), also known as Base Line Road, is the city's southern border and the Macomb-Wayne county line.

Unnumbered roads

Mound Road is an important north–south artery in the city. East-west travel is mainly on the mile roads. Most notable are 8 Mile Road, which is on the southern border of Warren with Detroit; 11 Mile Road, which serves as a service drive for I-696, and 14 Mile Road, which is on the northern border of Warren with Sterling Heights.

Troy	Sterling Heights	Clinton Township Fraser
Madison Heights Hazel Park		Roseville Eastpointe
	Warren Center Line

	Detroit

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1900	890	—
1910	2,346	163.6%
1920	6,780	189.0%
1930	24,024	254.3%
1940	23,658	−1.5%
1950	42,653	80.3%
1960	89,246	109.2%
1970	179,260	100.9%
1980	161,134	−10.1%
1990	144,864	−10.1%
2000	138,247	−4.6%
2010	134,056	−3.0%
2020	139,387	4.0%
2023 (est.)	136,655	1.9%
U.S. Decennial Census 2020 Census

2020 census

**Warren, 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)	124,936	103,308	85,868	90.37%	77.06%	61.60%
Black or African American alone (NH)	3,676	17,978	28,179	2.66%	13.41%	20.22%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	466	524	344	0.34%	0.39%	0.25%
Asian alone (NH)	4,240	6,170	14,303	3.07%	4.60%	10.26%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	28	18	26	0.02%	0.01%	0.02%
Other race alone (NH)	168	140	629	0.12%	0.10%	0.45%
Mixed race or multiracial (NH)	2,865	3,160	6,475	2.07%	2.36%	4.65%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	1,868	2,758	3,563	1.35%	2.06%	2.56%
Total	138,247	134,056	139,387	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

As of the 2020 census, there were 139,387 people, 54,933 households, and 34,601 families residing in the city. The population density was 4,054.7 inhabitants per square mile (1,565.5/km²). There were 58,411 housing units. The racial makeup of the city was 62.4% White, 20.4% African American, 0.3% Native American, 10.3% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 1.0% from some other races and 5.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 2.6% of the population.

Between 2010 and 2020, the Asian population in Warren doubled, increasing from 5% to 10%. This was due in large part to an increase in the Hmong and Bangladeshi populations.

2022 American Community Survey (ACS)

There are 54,483 households accounted for in the 2022 ACS, with an average of 2.52 persons per household. The city's a median gross rent is $1,139 in the 2022 ACS. The 2022 ACS reports a median household income of $61,633, with 71.1% of households are owner occupied. 13.5% of the city's population lives at or below the poverty line (down from previous ACS surveys). The city boasts a 63.7% employment rate, with 19.9% of the population holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 86.3% holding a high school diploma.

The top nine reported ancestries (people were allowed to report up to two ancestries, thus the figures will generally add to more than 100%) were German (11.0%), Polish (8.8%), Irish (6.8%), Italian (5.8%), English (5.2%), Subsaharan African (4.0%), French (except Basque) (2.7%), Scottish (1.2%), and Norwegian (0.2%).

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 134,056 people, 53,442 households, and 34,185 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,899.2 inhabitants per square mile (1,505.5/km²). There were 57,938 housing units at an average density of 1,685.2 per square mile (650.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 78.4% White, 13.5% African American, 0.4% Native American, 4.6% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.4% from some other races and 2.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 2.1% of the population.

There were 53,442 households, of which 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.2% were married couples living together, 15.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 36.0% were non-families. 30.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.11.

The median age in the city was 39.4 years. 22.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.1% were from 25 to 44; 26.1% were from 45 to 64; and 16.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.4% male and 51.6% female.

The white population declined to 91.3% in 2000 and reached 78.4% as of the 2010 census.

Economy

The General Motors Technical Center

Top employers

According to the city's 2022 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, the top five employers in the city are:

#	Employer	# of employees
1	General Motors	23,823
2	Government of the United States	7,800
3	Stellantis	5,523
4	Ascension Health	2,407
5	Lipari Foods	1,300

Neighborhoods

Southeast Warren (48089)

Southeast Warren consists of the Belangers Garden, Berkshire Manor, Piper Van Dyke, Warrendale, and the southern portion of Warren Woods. The neighborhood population in 2009 was 33,031. The neighborhood's racial makeup was 70.14% White, 15.50% African-American, 2.27% Asian, 0.38% Native American, and 6.80% of other races. 1.84% were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

The neighborhood's median household income in 2009 was $35,136. The per capita income was $15,301.

Much of Southeast Warren's residential architecture is based on the bungalows built immediately after World War II. To the north of Stephens Road, many homes were built after 1960 in the brick ranch style. Besides the residential areas, Southeast Warren is also occupied by multiple industrial parks.

Shaw Park, located in Southwest Warren

Southwest Warren (48091)

Southwest Warren consists of the Beierman Farms and Fitzgerald neighborhoods. The neighborhood population in 2009 was 30,876. The neighborhood's racial makeup was 81.98% White, 7.9% African-American, 4.98% Asian, 0.48% Native American, and 4.23% of other races. 1.64% were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

The neighborhood's median household income in 2009 was $40,311. The per capita income was $19,787.

Northeast Warren (48090, 48093, 48088)

Northeast Warren consists of the Bear Creek, Bella Vista Estates, Downtown, Fairlane Estates, Lorraine, Northampton Square, the northern portion of Warren Woods, and the eastern portion of Warren Con neighborhoods. The neighborhood population in 2009 was 45,492. The neighborhood's racial makeup was 92.47% White, 2.93% African American, 2.78% Asian, 0.5% Native American and 3.75% of other races. 1.36% were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

The neighborhood's median household income in 2009 was $48,806. The per capita income was $27,914.

Northwest Warren/Warren Con. (48092)

Northwest Warren consists of the western portion of the Warren Con neighborhood. The neighborhood population in 2009 was 24,997. The neighborhood's racial makeup was 85.50% White, 4.58% African American, 6.57% Asian, 0.19% Native American and 3.50% of other races. 1.32% were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

The median household income in 2009 was $55,102. The per capita income was $25,334.

Education

Public schools

Warren Mott High School

Warren is served by six public school districts:

Center Line Public Schools
Eastpointe Community Schools
Fitzgerald Public Schools
Van Dyke Public Schools
Warren Consolidated Schools
Warren Woods Public Schools

The Macomb Intermediate School District oversees the individual school districts.

Secondary schools serving Warren include:

Warren Woods Tower High School
Paul K. Cousino Sr. High School
Lincoln High School
Warren Mott High School
Fitzgerald High School
Center Line High School (Center Line)
Eastpointe High School (Eastpointe)

Charter schools:

Michigan Collegiate

Private schools

Crown of Life Lutheran School
De La Salle Collegiate High School (all-boys)
Regina High School (all-girls)
Mary Help of Christians Academy (1986–99)

Postsecondary institutions

Macomb Community College (South Campus)
Davenport University
Wayne State University's Advanced Technology Education Center

Public libraries

Warren Public Library consists of one main library and three branches. The Civic Center Library is located on the ground floor of the city hall. The Arthur Miller Branch is inside the Warren Community Center. The other two branches are the Maybelle Burnette Branch and the Dorothy Busch Branch.

On July 1, 2010, the three branch libraries were closed. On August 3, the Library Millage was approved; as such, these branch libraries reopened later that August.

Religion

St. Martin de Porres Church in Warren

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit operates Catholic Churches.

Our Lady of Grace Vietnamese Parish (Vietnamese: Gx Đức Mẹ Ban Ơn Lành) is in Warren. Our Lady of Grace was previously in Eastpointe, but moved to Warren in 2011 when it merged with St. Cletus Church. St. Cletus had a predominately native-born population and had a declining parishioner base, and it could not find enough priests to staff the facility; meanwhile Our Lady of Grace had an increasing parishioner base and was asking for a larger facility.

Other parishes include St. Faustina Parish, St. Louise de Marillac Parish, St. Mark Parish, St. Martin de Porres Parish, and St. Mary-Our Lady Queen of Families Parish (St. Dorothy Site). St. Mark's first building opened in 1943.

St. Mary, Our Lady Queen of Families was formed by the 2007 merger of Ascension Parish, St. Clement Parish, St. Leonard of Port Maurice Parish, and St. Teresa of Avila Parish. St. Faustina Church formed in 2013 through the merger of St. Edmund Church and St. Sylvester Church.

Culture and recreation

The City of Warren has a Department of Parks and Recreation which oversees the Aquatic, Community, and Fitness Centers along with a system of 24 parks.

The Warren Symphony Orchestra gives several concerts per season, and changed its name to the Warren Symphony Orchestra in 2016.

In 2003 the city built a new community center where the old Warren High School had been.

There is also a nine-member Cultural Commission.

Universal Mall, an enclosed shopping mall, was built in the city in 1965. In 2009, it was demolished for a new outdoor shopping center.

The Italian American Cultural Society (IACS) was located in Warren for 20 years. In 2004 it moved to its current location in Clinton Township. Its previous location was sold to a charter school in July 2004.

Historical markers

There are nine recognized Michigan historical markers in the city. They are:

Detroit Arsenal Tank Plant, which built a quarter of the Sherman tanks produced by the United States in World War II and (along with a plant in Lima, Ohio) produced M1 Abrams tanks until 1996.
Detroit Memorial Park Cemetery, where inventor Elijah McCoy is buried (as noted on the historical marker). Former member of the band The Supremes Florence Ballard is also buried there.
Erin–Warren Fractional District No. 2 Schoolhouse, technically located in Eastpointe, Michigan but included due to its proximity (both in distance and in history) to Warren.
General Motors Technical Center
Warren Truck Assembly
Governor Alexander Joseph Groesbeck, which marks his birthplace and is located north of 12 Mile Rd on Mound Rd.
John Theisen House
Village of Warren
Warren Township District No. 4 School
Warren Union Cemetery

The tenth and eleventh markers are technically in Center Line, Michigan but are included because of their proximity (both in distance and in history) to Warren:

St. Clement Catholic Church
St. Clement Catholic Cemetery

Additionally, about two dozen markers have been placed around designated sites in the city by the Warren Historical and Genealogical Society.

Notable people

Alex Avila, major league baseball catcher
Bruiser Brody, professional wrestler
Jim Daniels, writer
Michael Danna, NFL player
Danny Dekeyser, retired NHL player
Eminem, rapper and recording artist
Denny Felsner, former NHL player
Norman Geisler, Christian theologian and philosopher
Harry Gozzard, jazz musician
Alex J. Groesbeck, former governor of Michigan
Bryan Herta, racing driver
Grant Hochstein, figure skater
Matt Hunwick, NHL player
I See Stars, electronicore band, formed in Warren
Joe Kopicki, NBA player
Mitch Ryder, rock and roll singer and recording artist
John Smoltz, MLB pitcher in Hall of Fame
Tom Stanton, New York Times bestselling author
Matt Taormina, NHL player
Blair Underwood, actor
Doug Weight, retired NHL player
Johnny White, racing driver
John Wojciechowski, NFL player

Warren, Michigan facts for kids

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