Hazel Park is a city in Oakland County of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a suburb of Detroit. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 18,963; although a recent estimate by the Hazel Park Police Department placed the population at just over 20,100. The was incorporated in 1941, and bills itself as "The Friendly City". It is located in the central part of the Detroit metropolitan area, in the very southeastern corner of Oakland County, directly bordering the counties of Wayne and Macomb. Hazel Park is the third most densely populated city in Michigan, holding the position under Hamtramck and nearby Royal Oak Township.
Pictured to the right is the Days Inn Hotel, the tallest building in the city, the Hazel Park welcome sign in Downtown, and Hazel Park High School; all landmarks of the city.
History
In October 1882, a group of farmers gathered in a home located at the present-day City hall and had a meeting, requesting for a school to be built. A one-room school was eventually built in 1883 and later expanded to two rooms. In 1884, Benjamine petitioned the state of Michigan to form a school district out of Royal Oak Township. Hazel Park got its name from John W Benjamine, Royal Oak Township's School Inspector. He decided to name it Hazel Park School District 8, after the surplus amount of Hazelnut bushes in the area.
In 1920, another building, named the Lacey School was built on present-day Woodruff Street. The original Hazel Park school was sold to Frank Neusius, who used it to open a barber shop and a grocery market.
It wasn't until the Ford Motor Company, based out of Highland Park began to expand that Hazel Park experienced significant growth. Hospitals, offices and shops began to thrive around the area of 9 Mile Road and John R. In 1924, Hazel Park's first traffic light, post office and Deputy Sherrif's office were established. The city was incorporated in 1941.
On July 15, 2009, a car traveling northbound on I-75 crashed into a gas tanker, tipping it over and creating an explosion causing 9 Mile Road overpass to collapse onto I-75. Police and fire departments from Hazel Park and neighboring cities responded, and no serious injuries or fatalities were reported. The expressway was closed for one week before reopening. Another explosion occurred on the same day, a home on Maxlow Street, caused by a gas leak.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 18,963 people, 7,284 households, and 4,669 families residing in the city. The population density was 6,728.4 per square mile (2,596.3/km²). There were 7,612 housing units at an average density of 2,700.9/sq mi (1,042.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 91.62% White, 1.62% African American, 0.90% Native American, 1.81% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.59% from other races, and 3.43% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.08% of the population.
There were 7,284 households out of which 33.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.6% were married couples living together, 16.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.9% were non-families. 28.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.21.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.7% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 33.2% from 25 to 44, 18.1% from 45 to 64, and 11.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 97.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $37,045, and the median income for a family was $43,584. Males had a median income of $33,063 versus $24,362 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,723. About 10.0% of families and 12.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.0% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
Housing in Southern Hazel Park consists of lower middle class families living in smaller, single family homes; while in Northern Hazel Park, there are many middle class families living in larger single family homes, such as those in some neighborhoods in Detroit and Royal Oak, as well as middle class individuals living in apartments.
During the early 2000s, the city's economy took a nosedive. The United States recession caused many small businesses in the city to close down. Since 2007, however, the city has made a huge revival, with many larger chain businesses moving in to the city. Before the recession, the city's economy was focused on stores and restaurants, some light industry, and the Hazel Park Racetrack, a small horse racing venue in the northern part of the city.
Many of the citizens in Hazel Park work outside of the city in neighboring places such as Detroit, Warren and Royal Oak. As a direct effect of the type of business in the city, a decent portion of the city's actual workforce is under 20 years old.
Government
Hazel Park utilizes the Council-Manager form of government, and thus is governed by a City Council consisting of a Mayor and four council members. The city council appoints a City Manager, who manages the day-to-day operations of the city. The current mayor of Hazel Park is Jack Lloyd, who is the deli manager of local grocery store, Kroger. The current city manager is Edward Klobucher. City government is located on the same block as the Public Library, Police Station and Postal Office at 9 Mile Road and John R.
The Hazel Park Police Department has Auxiliary policing and Neighborhood watch programs available to citizens ages 21 and over. The police department also offers programs such as Gun Lock giveaways, House watch programs, and programs to put a child up for adoption in case the parent is not capable of raising the child.
Neighborhoods
Officially, Hazel Park has two neighborhoods: District One and District Two as defined by the city Police Department for Neighborhood Watch patrol. However, citizens tend to use different names to unofficially name neighborhoods.
North Hazel Park: The portion of the city north of Nine Mile Road. This section of the city consists mostly of larger homes such as those seen in Warren, Royal Oak, and other affluent Detroit suburbs.
South Hazel Park: The portion of the city south of Nine Mile Road. This neighborhood borders Detroit and Warren at the Oakland-Macomb-Wayne County Line. The neighborhood has a generally higher population density and smaller homes than North Hazel Park.
Central Business District: Hazel Park's Business Districts are mostly focused on John R. Road and Nine Mile Road. The city's Central Business District is focused on where the two roads intersect. The area coined as Hazel Park's Central Business District contains a Days Inn hotel, the city's tallest building; as well as two shopping centers, a high-rise apartment building, the city's civic buildings, and many small businesses.
North Business District: The North Business District is known for more affluent businesses, including a Pittsburgh Paints outlet, a bicycle store, and multiple appliance shops. John R. Road, the principal thoroughfare of the North Business district, is also known for it's Brick Paved sidewalks.
South Business District: The South Business District along John R. Road consists mostly of less affluent businesses than the Central and North Business Districts. Convenience stores and Automotive shops are increasingly common and contend to a less wealthy clientele.
Industrial Zone: Much of the southern strip of Dequindre Road and the eastern portion of Nine Mile Road going through Hazel Park is light industry. Chain stores such as Walgreens and McDonalds are beginning to grow in the southern portion of the neighborhood as well. A popular diner, Brayz, is also located in the area and is one of Hazel Park's most frequented fast food restaurants
The Courts: As popularly referred to by Hazel Park citizens, The Courts is a neighborhood focused around Maple, Poplar, Cedar, Oak and Elm Courts, five oval-shaped roads circled vertically around Otis Street. The neighborhood is known for it's extreme levels of affluency, comparable to the nearby community of Birmingham
Felker Park: Another affluent neighborhood centered around Hazel Park's Felker Field. There is a notable amount of large two story homes being developed in the neighborhood, harboring in a higher wealth level.
The Three Churches: A neighborhood based around three churches on I-75; Woodlawn Church, Serenity Christian Church, and Calvary Baptist Church. The neighborhood has become increasingly popular among families of higher wealth in the city since the 1980sEducation
The city is served by the Hazel Park School District, which extends into part of Ferndale, a neighborin
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Hazel Park, Michigan - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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