Highland Park Michigan MI Warrant Search

Highland Park, Michigan Highland Park is a city in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 16,746 at the 2000 census, and is estimated to be 13,850 as of 2009. The city is completely surrounded by Detroit except a small portion that touches the city of Hamtramck, which is also surrounded by Detroit. History The area that was to become Highland Park started off as a small farming community, on a large ridge, six miles north of Detroit in the early 19th century. In 1818, prominent Detroit judge Augustus B. Woodward bought the ridge, and platted the village of Woodwardville in 1825. The development of the village failed. Another Detroit judge, Benjamin F.H. Witherell, son of Michigan Supreme Court justice James Witherell, attempted to found a village on this site in 1836, but this plan also failed.By 1873, the settlement was given a post office under the name of Whitewood. After a succession of closures and reopenings of the rural post office, the settlement was finally incorporated as a village within Greenfield Township and Hamtramck Township under the name of Highland Park in 1889.Upon the completion of Highland Park Ford Plant in 1909, the area's population dramatically increased just a few years later in 1913, when Henry Ford opened the first assembly line at the Highland Park Ford Plant. The village of Highland Park was incorporated as a city in 1918 to protect its tax base, including its successful Ford plant, from Detroit's expanding boundaries.In 1910 Highland Park, then a village, had 4,120 residents. Between 1910 and 1920 Highland Park's population grew to about 46,500, an increase of 1,081 percent. The growth of Highland Park and neighboring Hamtramck broke records for increases of population; both municipalities withstood annexation efforts from Detroit.In 1944, the Davison Freeway, the world's first modern limited access urban expressway (freeway),[dubious – discuss] was opened, running through the center of the city. The freeway was completely reconstructed and widened to improve its safety in 1996 to 1997.Ford Motor Company closed the Highland Park plant in the late 1950s, and in the late decades of the 20th century the city experienced many of the same difficulties as Detroit - declines in population and tax base accompanied by an increase in street crime. White flight from the city accelerated after the 1967 Detroit 12th Street Riot. The city became heavily black and impoverished by the 1980s.Once known as 'The City of Trees,' the town was thickly forested until the 1970s, when Dutch elm disease caused many old trees to be cut down.In June 2001, because of the city's mounting fiscal crisis, the city was appointed an emergency financial manager under the supervision of the state of Michigan. In April 2009, state officials fired Arthur Blackwell as Highland Park's emergency financial manager over overpayments Blackwell received, and appointed Rob Mason as the new emergency financial manager. Upon the completion of his term in July 2009, the city was returned to local control. Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.9 square miles (7.6 km²), all land. Demographics The most recent population estimate, as of 2009, is 13,850.As of the census of 2000, there were 16,746 people, 6,199 households, and 3,521 families residing in the city. The population density was 5,622.9 per square mile (2,169.7/km²). There were 7,249 housing units at an average density of 2,434.1/sq mi (939.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.44% African American, 4.11% White, 0.27% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.25% from other races, and 1.67% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.57% of the population. Most of the White population is of Chaldean descent.[citation needed]There were 6,199 households out of which 27.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 17.0% were married couples living together, 33.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.2% were non-families. 38.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.43.In the city the population was spread out with 29.1% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 20.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 85.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.6 males.The median income for a household in the city was $17,737, and the median income for a family was $26,484. Males had a median income of $31,014 versus $26,186 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,121. About 32.1% of families and 38.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 47.1% of those under age 18 and 30.8% of those age 65 or over. Government and infrastructure Highland Park is governed under the council-mayor form of government wherein an elected mayor is the chief executive and administrative officer of the city, and the council its legislative body. The mayor appoints city officers such as the city clerk, attorney, treasurer, and finance director, though, the council has the power to refuse or accept the appointments. The city council consists of five members elected at large who serve terms of four years. The highest vote getter becomes council president for that term.However, using the Public Act 72 of 1990, Governor John Engler appointed a emergency financial manager to take over the financial operations of the city in December 2000, effectively rendering the mayor, city council, and other elected public officers to advisorial roles. Ramona Henderson-Pearson was appointed the city's first emergency financial manager. In December 2001, the city police department was formally disbanded, at which time the Wayne County Sheriff Department took over policing the city. The Highland Park Police Department was re-established on July 1, 2007. The city was returned to local control in July 2009 by Robert Mason, the city's last emergency financial manager.The United States Postal Service operates the Highland Park Post Office at 13215 Woodward Avenue. Economy Chrysler was headquartered in Highland Park. In 1992 the company announced that it was going to move its headquarters to its technology center in Auburn Hills, Michigan, located 50 miles (80 km) north of the original headquarters site. The company planned to accomplish the move by 1995. In 1992 Chrysler had 25% of Highland Park's tax base and contributed to 50% of the city's budget.In 2009 Magna International announced plans to start an automotive seat production operation in the former Chrysler headquarters. The plant on the site of the former Chrysler headquarters opened in June 2010. Education Highland Park is served by Highland Park Schools, which includes three elementary schools, Highland Park Community High School, and an adult education/vocational school.Highland Park Community College was located in Highland Park before its 1996 closing. It had previously been known as Highland Park Junior College.In 1918 Katherine and Tracy McGregor, wealthy individuals, deeded the property of a facility for 'homeless, crippled, and backward children.' The McGregor Public Library opened on that site in 1924. The library closed in 2002. Around 2007 the city began efforts to re-open the library. Parks and recreation The Ernest T. Ford Recreation Center serves as a recreation center for the community. The center has a basketball court, exercise equipment, pool tables, table games, and televisions. After a renovation, it re-opened in February 2008. In film The 2008 movieGran Torino, starring and directed byClint Eastwood, is primarily set in Highland Park. 122 Beresford Street in Highland Park served as the filming location for a scene in the 2002 film8 Milewhere several of the movie's characters burn down an abandoned home. October 2009 - A movie entitled 'Highland Park' is in production stages and is currently being filmed in the city of Highland Park starringDanny Glover. The 2007 documentary, 'The Water Front' chronicled the community's struggle against water privatization.