Wyandotte, Michigan
Wyandotte is a city located in Wayne County in southeastern lower pennisula of Michigan, USA. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 28,006.
It is bounded by the cities of Southgate, Lincoln Park, Riverview and Ecorse. Wyandotte is part of a group of working class communities known as Downriver. The city is located on the western shore of the Detroit River about 12 miles south of Detroit, Michigan and 18 miles north of Monroe, Michigan.
It is the home of the first steel plant to use the Bessemer process in the United States.
Its high school is Theodore Roosevelt High School, with the sports teams being known as the Bears.
In response to the Homecoming dance, the Roosevelt High School Instrumental Music Department established the annual Band Sweetheart football game and dance. This event, created in 1953, consists of a Band Spirit week, during which instrumental sections compete for the section with the most band spirit. At the end of the week, the Band Sweetheart, a sort of Homecoming Queen, is elected. Recently, a male counterpart, King Cutie, is also elected.
Its major industries are chemical, with BASF and Atochem (a division of Elf Aquitane) having facilities located there.
Wyandotte also provides its own power through a municipal battery and operates a city-owned water cable television services.
The city also holds its annual Wyandotte Street Fair on Biddle Avenue.
James R. Desana is the mayor of Wyandotte.
Wyandotte is a sister city to Komaki, Japan, and each year delegates from Komaki come to Wyandotte to tour the city.
Street Layout
Wyandotte's streets go north and south and are numbered streets. The lowest numbered street is 1st Street on the East Side and the highest is 23rd Street on the West Side. The city includes the east and west sides, with the 4 sets of railroad tracks being the divider line between the two (the divider line in Detroit is Woodward Avenue).
Michigan State Highways cricross Wyandotte: M-85/Fort Street.
History
See main article: History of Wyandotte, Michigan
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 18.1 km² (7.0 mi²). 13.8 km² (5.3 mi²) of it is land and 4.3 km² (1.7 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 23.82% water.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there are 28,006 people, 11,816 households, and 7,420 families residing in the city. The population density is 2,036.4/km² (5,278.1/mi²). There are 12,303 housing units at an average density of 894.6/km² (2,318.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 96.32% White, 0.52% African American, 0.49% Native American, 0.33% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.72% from other races, and 1.59% from two or more races. 2.91% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 11,816 households out of which 27.7% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.3% are married couples living together, 11.9% have a female householder with no husband present, and 37.2% are non-families. 31.9% of all households are made up of individuals and 13.3% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.36 and the average family size is 2.99.
In the city the population is spread out with 22.6% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 31.6% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.7% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 38 years. For every 100 females there are 96.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 93.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $43,740, and the median income for a family is $54,106. Males have a median income of $42,469 versus $27,261 for females. The per capita income for the city is $22,185. 6.2% of the population and 4.7% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 8.7% of those under the age of 18 and 4.0% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.