Editing Ecorse, Michigan

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name            = Ecorse, Michigan
| settlement_type = [[City]]
| official_name = City of Ecorse
| image_skyline = Ecorse, MI (Outer Drive and W. Jefferson).jpg
| imagesize              = 275
| image_caption = Intersection of [[Outer Drive]] and [[Jefferson Avenue (Detroit)|Jefferson Avenue]]
| image_seal = 
|pushpin_map            = Michigan#USA
|pushpin_label_position = left<!-- the position of the pushpin label: left, right, top, bottom, none -->
|pushpin_label = Ecorse
|pushpin_map_caption    = Location within the State of Michigan##Location within the United States
| image_map = Ecorse, MI location.png
| mapsize        = 250
| map_caption            = Location within [[Wayne County, Michigan|Wayne County]] 
| image_map1 = 
| mapsize1    = 
| map_caption1            = 
| coordinates             = {{coord|42|15|02|N|83|08|54|W|region:US-MI|display=title,inline}}
| subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name         = {{flagu|United States}}
| subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1        = {{flag|Michigan}}
| subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Michigan|County]]
| subdivision_name2        = [[Wayne County, Michigan|Wayne]]
| established_title = Incorporated
| established_date = 1903 (village)<br>1942 (city)
| government_type = [[Mayor–council government|Mayor–council]]
| leader_title = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name = Lamar Tidwell
| leader_title1 = [[Municipal clerk|Clerk]]
| leader_name1 = Dana Hughes
| unit_pref = Imperial
| area_footnotes = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_26.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=May 21, 2022}}</ref>
| area_magnitude = 
| area_total_km2 = 9.62
| area_total_sq_mi = 3.71
| area_land_km2 = 7.35
| area_land_sq_mi = 2.84
| area_water_km2 = 2.27
| area_water_sq_mi = 0.88
| elevation_m = 177
| elevation_ft = 581
| population_total = 9305
| population_as_of = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = 
| population_density_km2 = 1266.35
| population_density_sq_mi = 3279.87
| population_est = 
| pop_est_as_of = 
| pop_est_footnotes = 
| population_metro         = 4285832 ([[Metro Detroit]])
| postal_code_type = [[ZIP Code|ZIP code(s)]]
| postal_code = 48218 ([[River Rouge, Michigan|River Rouge]])<br>48229
| area_code   = [[Area code 313|313]]
| website = {{URL|http://www.ecorsemi.gov}}
| footnotes = 
| timezone = [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|EST]]
| utc_offset = -5
| timezone_DST = EDT
| utc_offset_DST = -4
| blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info = 26-24740<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=2008-01-31 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref>
| blank1_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info = 0625337<ref>{{gnis|0625337}}</ref>
}}
[[File:Ecorse, MI Civic Center.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Albert B. Buday Civic Center]]
[[File:Ecorse, Michigan W Jefferson Ave.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Looking north along [[Jefferson Avenue (Detroit)|W. Jefferson Avenue]]]]
'''Ecorse''' ({{IPAc-en|'|iː|k|ɒr|s}} ''{{Respell|EE|korrss}}'') is a city in [[Wayne County, Michigan|Wayne County]] in the U.S. state of [[Michigan]].  The population was 9,512 at the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]].<ref name="Census 2010">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |title=Race, Hispanic or Latino, Age, and Housing Occupancy: 2010 Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171) Summary File (QT-PL), Ecorse city, Michigan |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=September 6, 2011 }}</ref>

Ecorse is part of the [[Downriver]] community within [[Metro Detroit]].  The city shares a northwestern border with the city of [[Detroit]] and also borders the cities of [[Lincoln Park, Michigan|Lincoln Park]] to the west, [[River Rouge, Michigan|River Rouge]] to the north, and [[Wyandotte, Michigan|Wyandotte]] to the south.  The city shares its name with the [[Ecorse River]], which forms its southern border with Wyandotte.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9V1IAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA114|title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States | publisher=Govt. Print. Off. | author=Gannett, Henry | year=1905 | pages=114}}</ref>  The [[Detroit River]] forms the city's eastern border as part of the [[Canada–United States border]] with [[LaSalle, Ontario|LaSalle]], [[Ontario]].

==Etymology==
[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] tribes of this area used this area as a burial ground. When [[French people|French]] colonists settled here in the last two decades of the 18th century, they named the waterway ''"Rivière Aux Échorches",'' which means "The River of the Barks" in [[English language|English]].<ref name=Library>[http://www.ecorse.lib.mi.us/city.html "The History of Ecorse] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101108114309/http://www.ecorse.lib.mi.us/city.html|date=November 8, 2010 }}, Ecorse Public Library, accessed September 26, 2009</ref>

==History==
In 1836, after the community had become part of United States territory, it was settled by more English speakers, who named it Grand Port. The community was unincorporated within [[Ecorse Township, Michigan|Ecorse Township]].<ref name=CityOfEcorse>[http://city-ecorse.org/Community/Overview.asp City of Ecorse website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111011035448/http://www.city-ecorse.org/Community/Overview.asp |date=2011-10-11 }}, Community History webpage, accessed 18 October 2011</ref>  In 1903 the settlement was incorporated as the village of Ecorse.<ref name=CityOfEcorse/>  With the opening of its first [[steel mill]] in 1923, Michigan Steel Mill, Ecorse began to become an economic force in the region. The village incorporated as a city in 1942.<ref name=Library/>

Since the later 20th century and restructuring of heavy industry, the city, like many industrial inner-ring suburbs, has fallen into economic decline. In December 1986, the Wayne County Circuit Court issued a court order appointing a receiver for the bankrupt city. The receivership would last until August 1990, but the city's finances were monitored by the state of Michigan for another ten years.<ref>[http://www.mackinac.org/article.aspx?ID=5583 "Ecorse: The Fall and Rise of a Michigan City (introduction)"], by Robert Daddow, December 1, 1993, The Mackinac Center for Public Policy, accessed September 26, 2009</ref>

By September 2009, with the city facing a $9 million deficit and a federal corruption probe, Governor [[Jennifer Granholm]] declared a [[Financial emergency in Michigan|financial emergency]] for Ecorse, and appointed an emergency financial manager.<ref>{{cite news|last=Lawrence |first=Eric |title=Stage is set for a financial manager |url=http://www.freep.com/article/20090919/NEWS02/909190319/1322/Stage-is-set-for-a-financial-manager- |date=19 September 2009 |newspaper=The Detroit Free Press |access-date=26 September 2009 }}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>  On September 25, 2009, Ecorse Mayor Herbert Worthy and city Controller Erwin Hollenquest were arrested on charges of conspiracy, bribery, and fraud.<ref>{{cite news|last=Schmitt |first=Ben |title=Ecorse officials charged in bribery, fraud case |url=http://www.freep.com/article/20090926/NEWS02/909260311/1001/NEWS/Ecorse-officials-charged-in-bribery--fraud-case |date=26 September 2009 |newspaper=The Detroit Free Press |access-date=26 September 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090930073129/http://www.freep.com/article/20090926/NEWS02/909260311/1001/NEWS/Ecorse-officials-charged-in-bribery--fraud-case |archive-date=September 30, 2009 }}</ref>

On May 1, 2013, the City of Ecorse was moved from under an emergency manager to a state transition advisory board, which includes the previous emergency manager.<ref name=ml>{{cite news|last=AlHajal|first=Khalil|title=Ecorse escapes emergency manager, but state keeps oversight indefinitely|url=http://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/index.ssf/2013/04/ecorse_escapes_emergency_manag.html|access-date=October 18, 2013|newspaper=Mlive Media Group|date=April 30, 2013 }}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|3.69|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|2.80|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.89|sqmi|sqkm|2}} (24.12%) is water.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/cph-2-24.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019111423/http://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/cph-2-24.pdf |archive-date=2012-10-19 |url-status=live|title=Michigan: 2010 Population and Housing Unit Counts 2010 Census of Population and Housing | date = September 2012|publisher = [[United States Census Bureau]]| work = [[2010 United States Census]]| access-date = May 1, 2020|page=44 Michigan}}</ref>

The [[Detroit River]] forms the eastern border of the city, and the [[Ecorse River]] forms the southern boundary.  [[Mud Island (Michigan)|Mud Island]] within the Detroit River is part of Ecorse and is included in the [[Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge]].

==Education==
===Primary and secondary schools===
[[Ecorse Public Schools]] operates the public schools in the city. These include [[Ralph J. Bunche]] School (PreK-3), Grandport Elementary School (4-7), and [[Ecorse Community High School]] (8-12).<ref>"[http://204.39.0.221/Schools.htm Schools]{{dead link|date=December 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}." Ecorse Public Schools. Retrieved on October 22, 2009.</ref> Project Excel is a 3-8 magnet school in Ecorse.<ref>"[http://204.39.0.221/Project%20Excel.htm Project Excel]{{dead link|date=December 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}." Ecorse Public Schools. Retrieved on October 22, 2009.</ref>

===Public libraries===
Ecorse Public Library is located in the city. Two [[Dearborn, Michigan|Dearborn]] architects, Bennett and Straight, designed the current library complex, which was built to be fireproof.<ref name="EcorseLibrary">"[http://ecorse.lib.mi.us/library.html The History of Ecorse Public Library] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110326053321/http://ecorse.lib.mi.us/library.html |date=March 26, 2011 }}." Ecorse Public Library. Retrieved on October 22, 2009.</ref>

The first library services appeared in Ecorse in 1922, when a group of books from the Wayne County Library Service were placed for local use at Loveland's Pharmacy. During the following year, the owner of the pharmacy moved his business to gain a larger space and dedicated a section of the new location to the library. Due to a lack of space for a new book collection, library services were stopped in 1925. Services resumed on March 22, 1926, when the library re-opened in the DeWallot building with 600 volumes of books; for the first time the library had its own quarters. By 1929 the Ecorse library had four staff members. Two operated other library branches in Ecorse: one in the Ecorse Municipal Building and one located on Visger Road.<ref name="EcorseLibrary"/>

The current Ecorse Public Library opened on December 12, 1948, with a dedication by Mayor William Vosine. The library's cost was $150,000. The [[American Library Association]] selected the library as one of the best small libraries in the United States.<ref name="EcorseLibrary"/>

==Parks and recreation==
Ecorse has a Senior Center and a rowing club.<ref>"[http://www.city-ecorse.org/main.html?src=%2F#15,0 Senior Center]." City of Ecorse. Retrieved on November 7, 2009.</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.ecorserowingclub.com| title=Ecorse Rowing Club|publisher=Ecorse Rowing Club}}</ref> The [[John D. Dingell Park]] is located along the [[Detroit River]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/index.ssf/2016/01/bathroom_explodes_at_park_in_e.html|title=Bathroom explodes at park in Ecorse; gas leak suspected|work=MLive.com|access-date=2018-10-15|language=en-US}}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1910= 1063
|1920= 4394
|1930= 12716
|1940= 13209
|1950= 17948
|1960= 17328
|1970= 17515
|1980= 14447
|1990= 12180
|2000= 11229
|2010= 9512
|2020= 9305
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}

===2010 census===
At the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]] there were 9,512 people in 3,646 households, including 2,285 families, in the city. The population density was {{convert|3397.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 4,544 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1622.9|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#2010 census|racial makeup]] of the city was 44.0% White (36.5% non-Hispanic white), 46.4% African American, 0.8% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 4.0% from other races, and 4.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 13.4%.<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2012-11-25}}</ref>

Of the 3,646 households 34.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 24.7% were married couples living together, 29.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 8.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 37.3% were non-families. 31.3% of households were one person and 11.8% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.26.

The median age was 35.4 years. 27.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 10.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.7% were from 25 to 44; 25.3% were from 45 to 64; and 12.8% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.3% male and 52.7% female.

===2000 census===
At the [[2000 United States Census|2000 census]] there were 11,229 people in 4,339 households, including 2,733 families, in the city.  The population density was {{convert|4,175.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  There were 4,861 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1,807.4|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#2000 census|racial makeup]] of the city was 52.18% White, 40.56% African American, 0.65% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 3.36% from other races, and 3.05% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.94%.<ref name="GR2" /> and 5.8% [[Irish people|Irish]] ancestry according to [[Census 2000]]. 92.7% spoke [[English language|English]] only, while 6.3% spoke [[Spanish language|Spanish]].

Of the 4,339 households 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 31.0% were married couples living together, 25.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.0% were non-families. 31.1% of households were one person and 10.7% were one person aged 65 or older.  The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.23.

The age distribution was 27.8% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 29.3% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 12.3% 65 or older.  The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.8 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.3 males.

The median household income was $27,142 and the median family income  was $32,374. Males had a median income of $33,915 versus $22,500 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,468.  About 17.3% of families and 22.6% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 34.2% of those under age 18 and 12.2% of those age 65 or over.

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*{{Official website|http://ecorsemi.gov/}}
{{Geographic Location
|Centre = Ecorse
|North = [[River Rouge, Michigan|River Rouge]]
|Northeast = ''[[Detroit River]]'' / {{flagicon|CAN}}{{flagicon|Ontario}} [[Windsor, Ontario|Windsor]]
|East = ''[[Detroit River]]''
|Southeast = ''[[Detroit River]]'' / {{flagicon|CAN}}{{flagicon|Ontario}} [[LaSalle, Ontario|LaSalle]]
|South = [[Wyandotte, Michigan|Wyandotte]]
|Southwest = 
|West = [[Lincoln Park, Michigan|Lincoln Park]]
|Northwest = [[Detroit]]
}}
{{Downriver}}
{{Cities of Wayne County, Michigan}}
{{Metro Detroit}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Ecorse, Michigan| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Wayne County, Michigan]]
[[Category:Metro Detroit]]
[[Category:Michigan populated places on the Detroit River]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1903]]
[[Category:1903 establishments in Michigan]]