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Royal Oak, Michigan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Royal Oak, Michigan | |
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country | United States |
| State | Michigan |
| County | Oakland |
| Incorporated | 1895 (village) |
| 1921 (city) | |
| Government | |
| - Type | Commission-Manager |
| - Mayor | Jim Ellison |
| - City Manager | Tom Hoover |
| Area | |
| - City | 11.8 sq mi (30.6 km²) |
| - Land | 11.8 sq mi (30.6 km²) |
| - Water | 0.0 sq mi (0 km²) |
| Elevation [1] | 663 ft (202 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| - City | 60,062 |
| - Density | 5,083.0/sq mi (1,961.9/km²) |
| - Metro | 5,456,428 |
| Time zone | EST (UTC-5) |
| - Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP codes | 48067, 48068, 48073 |
| Area code(s) | 248 |
| FIPS code | 26-70040GR2 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0636352GR3 |
| Website: http://www.ci.royal-oak.mi.us | |
Royal Oak 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 had a total population of 60,062. It should not be confused with Royal Oak Charter Township, a separate community located nearby.
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Royal Oak was incorporated as a village in 1895, and as a city in 1921. The city's name originates from a tree located near the present day intersection of Crooks, Rochester, and Main that in 1819 reminded Territorial Governor Lewis Cass of the Royal Oak tree within which King Charles II of England hid to escape the Roundheads following the Battle of Worcester.
On November 14, 1991, Thomas McIlvane killed five people, including himself, with a Ruger .22 caliber rifle in Royal Oak's post office, which was one of a string of incidents across the United States in which current or recently fired postal workers attacked and killed co-workers en-masse, one incident of several that lead to the phrase "going postal."
The past decade has seen much in the way of development as the city's downtown has been transformed into a trendy and urban-chic restaurant, shopping, and entertainment district. Construction is underway on a number of exciting high-rise building developments — mostly condo "lofts" with retail and office space on the lower levels. Points of interest include the Detroit Zoo, the renowned William Beaumont Hospital, the Royal Oak Music Theatre, the Main Art Theatre, Mark Ridley's Comedy Castle, and the many unique shops, cafes, and restaurants which line the streets of the downtown area. In addition, the offices of Hour Detroit, a Metro Detroit lifestyle magazine, are located in the city. Royal Oak still has some edgier retail establishments, a few chain restaurants, dozens of unique restaurants and many new condominium projects.
The National Arbor Day Foundation has awarded Royal Oak the distinction of "Tree City USA" every year since 1976 due to the city's commitment to tree planting and preservation[citation needed].
In 1998, the foundation of famous Saturday Night Live comedian and Detroit-area native Gilda Radner created a free cancer support community for people with cancer, their families and friends. Gilda's Club Metro Detroit, operates a three-story non-residential house in Royal Oak and has welcomed over 3,000 members for social and emotional support and fun activities.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 11.8 square miles (30.6 km²), of which, 11.8 square miles (30.6 km²) is land and none of it is covered by water.
Royal Oak is bordered by Pleasant Ridge, Ferndale and Hazel Park to the south, Berkley, Huntington Woods, Southfield and Beverly Hills to the West, Birmingham, Troy and Clawson to the North, and Madison Heights to the East.
As of the census² of 2000, there were 60,062 people, 28,880 households, and 14,440 families residing in the city. The population density was 5,083.0 people per square mile (1,961.9/km²). There were 29,942 housing units at an average density of 2,534.0 per square mile (978.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.80% White, 1.54% African American, 0.26% Native American, 1.56% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.38% from other races, and 1.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.30% of the population.
There were 28,880 households out of which 20.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.9% were married couples living together, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 50.0% were non-families. 40.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.06 and the average family size was 2.86.
In the city the population was spread out with 17.8% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 38.8% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 95.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $52,252, and the median income for a family was $68,109. Males had a median income of $50,562 versus $36,392 for females. The per capita income for the city was $30,990. About 2.0% of families and 4.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.4% of those under age 18 and 5.5% of those age 65 or over.
The city is served by Royal Oak Neighborhood Schools. It contains a location of Oakland Community College.There is also a private high school, Shrine Catholic, not operated by the city.
In recent years Royal Oak has begun to consolidate its public schools in response to enrollment levels that are lower than those of the baby boom era. In 2006, the city's two public high schools were combined into a new Royal Oak High School. Beginning in 2007, the city's two middle schools were combined into one school, named Royal Oak Middle School. Finally the total number of elementary schools was reduced to six.[2] Some parents protested the planned closure and demolition of Longfellow and Whittier elementary schools and were seeking to have them considered for historic district recognition by way of signed petition.[3] Despite their efforts, both schools, as well as a number of other former elementary schools, were demolished in the fall of 2007.
Royal Oak utilizes the Council-Manager form of government, and thus is governed by a city council consisting of a mayor and six council members. The city council appoints a city manager, who manages the day-to-day operations of the city.
The current mayor of Royal Oak is Jim Ellison, and the city manager is Thomas Hoover.
Current city commissioners are Michael Andrzejak, Patricia Capello, Terry Drinkwine, Carlo P Ginotti, Gary Lelito, & Stephen Miller
Controversy has surrounded the Royal Oak City Government as two of its members have been arrested by local police departments on a number of charges in recent months.
Alan Kroll, the 2007 Royal Oak Businessman of the Year & a member of the Royal Oak Zoning Board of Appeals, was arrested by the Royal Oak Police Department for Operating While Intoxicated, Third Degree Fleeding & Eluding a Police Officer and Resisting/Obstructing A Police Officer during an incident in October, 2007. This was Kroll's second contact with the Royal Oak Police Department in a 5 month span. In May of 2007, Kroll was arrested by Royal Oak Police for Possession of Narcotics Paraphernalia.[4]
In September of 2007, Royal Oak City Commissioner Stephen Miller was arrested for drunk driving by police in the neighboring city of Berkley.[5]
- See also: Royal Oak (Amtrak station)
Amtrak, the national passenger rail system, provides service to Royal Oak, operating its Wolverine three times daily in both directions between Pontiac, Michigan and Chicago, Illinois via Detroit.
Commuter rail service was once provided by Grand Trunk Western Railroad (GTW) and later Southeastern Michigan Transportation Authority (SEMTA) from Pontiac, Michigan to downtown Detroit with a stop in Royal Oak. This service ended on October 17, 1983 after subsidies were discontinued. Efforts continue to this day to restore such commuter service.
Class one freight rail service is provided by Canadian National Railway (CN).
Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART) operates local and regional bus transit.
Highways: There is an interchange connecting interstate highways I-75 and I-696 in the southeast corner of the city. Woodward Avenue (state highway M-1) is about a mile west of the interchange in the southeast corner of the city. Woodward proceeds northwest defining the western border of the city, and intersects with the north-south Coolidge Highway just south of 13 Mile Road. Additionally, the southern terminus of Rochester Road is about 1 mile north of the downtown district, where it angles off from Main street, just south of the location of the "Royal Oak" tree mentioned above, and connects Royal Oak with Rochester, Michigan, although the road itself continues on far beyond the city of Rochester. This road used to also be the route of an early 1900s electric trolley line which connected downtown Royal Oak with downtown Rochester.
In addition to the Detroit News and Detroit Free Press, regional newspapers serving all of southeast Michigan, the city is served by the Daily Tribune, the Royal Oak Review, and the Royal Oak Mirror.
The popular 1990s sitcom Home Improvement is set in Royal Oak. In one episode, Tim is pulled over on a traffic stop by a police officer wearing a Royal Oak Police Department shoulder patch.
The Detroit Independent is headquartered in Royal Oak.
Downtown Royal Oak features a wide assortment of nightlife venues, including The Royal Oak Music Theatre and The Landmark Main Art Theatre. The many restaurants range in fare from take-out sandwiches to high-end establishments specializing in cuisines like Italian, Belgian, Nepali, and others. A variety of pubs are also available and include biker bars, dance clubs, upscale breweries, sports bars, and rooftop bars.
During the summer, downtown Royal Oak becomes host to hordes of motorcycle enthusiasts from around the metro Detroit area. Wednesday nights Main Street is often lined with Harley-Davidsons, whereas Thursday night the streets fill up with sport bikes.
While Royal Oak's nightlife has attracted its share of celebrities, such as Kid Rock and Bob Seger's manager Punch Andrews, it has also attracted a few famous celebrity crimes, such as hockey star Sergei Fedorov in September 2001 for failing a breathalyzer test, and Eminem in June 2000 for gun possession.
In 1999 Meg White of the White Stripes was a day bartender for two years at the downtown bar Memphis Smoke. Years later, Jack White's ex- girlfriend Renée Zellweger was known to stop in at Memphis Smoke for carry-out. During the 2005 Detroit Lions football season, 2004 Playboy Playmate of the year, Carmella DeCesare lived in a downtown, upscale loft with her boyfriend Jeff Garcia. She was known for calling into local Detroit sports radio stations and complaining about local reporters' treatment of Garcia.
- Kristen Bell - actress never a Royal Oak resident but a Shrine Catholic High School graduate
- Keegan-Michael Key - Mad TV comedian also never a Royal Oak resident but a Shrine Catholic High School graduate as well
- Bruce Campbell - B-movie actor and director
- Andre Comeau - one of the original residents from the first season of MTV's The Real World.
- Father Charles Coughlin - "Radio priest" at the National Shrine of the Little Flower during the Great Depression
- Pete Dawkins - overcame polio to win the Heisman Trophy in 1958, eventually becoming a Rhodes Scholar as well as the youngest U.S. Army brigadier general ever
- Carmella DeCesare - 2004 Playboy playmate
- John Ellis - Singer/Songwriter
- Paul Feig - Writer and filmmaker
- Kirk Ferentz - Head football coach at the University of Iowa
- Dean Fertita - Gifted songwriter/musician/singer who has played with Queens of the Stone Age and The Raconteurs
- Bill Freehan - MLB catcher for the Detroit Tigers
- Glenn Frey - member of the band Eagles, who attended Dondero High School
- Chris Gore - independent film maker
- Jeff Garcia - NFL quarterback
- Jason Grilli - MLB relief pitcher for the Detroit Tigers
- Judith Guest - author of Ordinary People
- Tom Hayden - one of the founders of Students for a Democratic Society
- Abraham Hoagland - 19th Century Mormon leader
- Jack Kevorkian - physician incarcerated for participating in euthanasia
- Sam Raimi - Director of all three Spider-Man movies
- Clifford Robinson - NBA power forward
- George P. Dunmore - Retired Lieutenant Colonel, United States Air Force, also known as "Ace Dunmore" with the "Jolly Rogers" bombing squadron (90th Heavy Bombing Group) during World War II against Japan in South Pacific. Born May 13, 1918 in Royal Oak, Oakland County, Michigan, Died October 11, 2007, at age 89, at his home in Placer County, California. Source: The Sacramento Bee, Obituary published 10/17/07, www.sacbee.com/obituaries/story/436621.html
- Kid Rock - singer. Used to live in Southern Royal Oak and rumored to own a skyloft in Downtown Royal Oak. Many citizens have seen him in bars in Royal Oak over the years.
- ^ USGS GNIS: elevation
- ^ http://www.royaloakschools.com/portal/consolidationinformation
- ^ http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061120/NEWS03/611200382/1005/NEWS
- ^ McConnell, Michael P.. "Kroll tangles with police", The Daily Tribune, October 9, 2007. Retrieved on 2007-10-20.
- ^ Kavanaugh, Catherine. "City official charged with drunken driving", The Daily Tribune, September 21, 2007. Retrieved on 2007-10-20.
- City of Royal Oak
- Royal Oak Neighborhood Schools
- Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation
- Main Art Theater
- Detroit Zoo
- Royal Oak Music Theater
- Royal Oak Jaycees
- National Shrine of the Little Flower
- Downtown Royal Oak
- Royal Oak Sound Off
- Some Royal Oak photos on a fine May morning.
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Oakland County, Michigan |
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|---|---|---|
| County seat: Pontiac | ||
| Cities |
Auburn Hills | Berkley | Birmingham | Bloomfield Hills | Clarkston | Clawson | Farmington Hills | Farmington | Ferndale | Hazel Park | Huntington Woods | Keego Harbor | Lake Angelus | Lathrup Village | Madison Heights | Northville | Novi | Oak Park | Orchard Lake Village | Pleasant Ridge | Pontiac | Rochester Hills | Rochester | Royal Oak | South Lyon | Southfield | Sylvan Lake | Troy | Walled Lake | Wixom |
 |
| Villages |
Beverly Hills | Bingham Farms | Franklin | Holly | Lake Orion | Leonard | Milford | Ortonville | Oxford | Wolverine Lake |
|
| Charter townships |
Bloomfield | Brandon | Commerce | Groveland | Highland | Holly | Independence | Lyon | Milford | Novi | Oakland | Orion | Oxford | Rose | Royal Oak | Waterford | West Bloomfield | White Lake |
|
| General law townships | ||
