Editing Oak Park, Michigan (section)

==History==
This area was designated as within [[Royal Oak Township]]; it was first settled by European Americans in 1840, but remained sparsely populated for many decades following. The first major housing development was constructed in 1914 at the time of [[World War I]], when the township sold land to the Majestic Land Company to be developed as the Oak Park subdivision.<ref name="History">[http://www.oakpark-mi.com/about_oak_park/history.asp Bernadine Schoults, ''The History of Royal Oak''], 1955</ref> The subdivision was incorporated as a village on May 3, 1927. Two petition drives during the [[Great Depression]] to dissolve the village government and return it to the township, citing "excessively high cost of village government," failed in 1931 and 1933.<ref name="History"/>  The village incorporated as a city on October 29, 1945, following the end of World War II.

Stimulated by the [[GI Bill]] which aided veterans in buying new housing, highways to improve commuting, and planned developments in the late 1950s, Oak Park from 1950 to 1960 was named as "America's Fastest Growing City".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thejewishpress.com/pageroute.do/20254 |title=Oak Park/Southfield/West Bloomfield, A Trio of Jewish Boom Towns in Michigan |author=Tova Stulman |access-date=March 13, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717010049/http://www.thejewishpress.com/pageroute.do/20254 |archive-date=July 17, 2011 }}</ref> Its population increased sevenfold, from 5,000 to more than 36,000. Much of its population was second- and third-generation children of European immigrants who had settled in Detroit in the early 20th century. These included many Jewish Americans, many of whom are of the Orthodox faith.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Jacobs|first=Allison|title=Metro Detroit's Orthodox Community: Visibly Jewish and Proud — Detroit Jewish News|url=https://thejewishnews.com/2020/01/07/metro-detroits-orthodox-community-visibly-jewish-and-proud/|access-date=2020-12-19|website=thejewishnews.com/|language=en-US}}</ref><!--Need content and sources to support three categories below --> Major civic improvements in this period included construction of an outdoor swimming pool and an ice rink in Major Park (now known as Shepherd Park, after former mayor David Shepherd, but long known informally as Oak Park Park).

In 1995, Detroit-based window manufacturer [[WeatherGard]] moved its headquarters to Oak Park.

In 2002 and 2004, the city annexed portions of neighboring Royal Oak Township to expand its land and tax base.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oakpark-mi.com/FORMS%20AND%20BROCHURES/ComprehensiveAnnual2004.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060314070842/http://www.oakpark-mi.com/FORMS%20AND%20BROCHURES/ComprehensiveAnnual2004.pdf |archive-date=2006-03-14 |url-status=live|title=City of Oak Park Michigan Comprehensive Annual Financial Report|year=2004}}</ref>

On November 8, 2011, the citizens of Oak Park elected a new mayor, Marian McClellan. She was the city's first new mayor in 22 years, replacing the long-serving Jerry Naftaly.

In April 2015, the city approved the development of a new FedEx distribution center which will be located on a 60-acre plot of land at the site of the former Detroit Artillery Armory.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Pinho|first1=Kirk|title=FedEx to open distribution center at former Oak Park armory site, sources say|url=http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20150506/NEWS/150509912/fedex-to-open-distribution-center-at-former-oak-park-armory-site|website=Crain's Detroit Business|publisher=Crain Communications, Inc.|access-date=10 November 2015}}</ref> The facility opened on March 31, 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|title=FedEx Ground hosts grand opening for facility in Oak Park|url=https://www.theoaklandpress.com/news/nation-world-news/fedex-ground-hosts-grand-opening-for-facility-in-oak-park/article_f3e09114-5386-58ba-8b2a-989e5da9e3a7.html|access-date=2020-12-19|website=The Oakland Press|language=en}}</ref>

On May 5, 2015, the citizens of Oak Park voted to allow mixed drinks to be sold at businesses within city limits, in addition to beer and wine, which were previously allowed.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Borka|first1=Aftab|title=Voters to decide on spirits sale in Oak Park on May 5|url=http://www.theoaklandpress.com/article/OP/20150409/NEWS/150409461|website=Oakland Press News|publisher=The Oakland Press|access-date=14 November 2015}}</ref>

On November 3, 2015, the citizens of Oak Park re-elected McClellan, who was running against Aaron Tobin.