Editing Melvindale, Michigan

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                            = Melvindale, Michigan
| official_name                   = City of Melvindale
| settlement_type                 = [[City]]
| motto                           = The Little City with a Big Heart
| image_skyline                   = Oakwood Blvd & Hanna St, Melvindale, Michigan (2014-02-23).jpg
| imagesize                       = 275
| image_caption                   = Oakwood Boulevard and Hanna Street 
| image_seal                      = 
| pushpin_map                     = Michigan#USA
| pushpin_label_position          = left<!-- the position of the pushpin label: left, right, top, bottom, none -->
| pushpin_label                   = Melvindale
| pushpin_map_caption             = Location within the state of Michigan##Location within the United States
| image_map                       = Melvindale, MI location.png
| mapsize                         = 250
| map_caption                     = Location within [[Wayne County, Michigan|Wayne County]]
| image_map1                      = 
| mapsize1                        = 
| map_caption1                    = 
| 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]]
| government_type                 = [[Mayor–council government|Mayor–council]]
| leader_title                    = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name                     = Nicole M. Shkira
| established_title               = Incorporated
| established_date                = 1924 (village)<br />1933 (city)
| area_magnitude                  = 
| 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_total_km2                  = 7.13
| area_total_sq_mi                = 2.75
| area_land_km2                   = 7.06
| area_land_sq_mi                 = 2.73
| area_water_km2                  = 0.06
| area_water_sq_mi                = 0.02
| elevation_ft                    = 587
| elevation_m                     = 179
| population_as_of                = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes            = 
| population_total                = 12851
| population_density_km2          = 1819.58
| population_density_sq_mi        = 4712.50
| timezone                        = [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|EST]]
| utc_offset                      = -5
| coordinates                     = {{coord|42|16|54|N|83|10|55|W|region:US-MI|display=inline,title}}
| timezone_DST                    = EDT
| utc_offset_DST                  = -4
| postal_code                     = 48122
| postal_code_type                = [[ZIP Code|ZIP code(s)]]
| area_code                       = [[Area code 313|313]]
| blank_name                      = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info                      = 26-52940<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                     = 0632086<ref name="GR3">{{cite web|url=http://geonames.usgs.gov|access-date=2008-01-31|title=US Board on Geographic Names|publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]]|date=2007-10-25}}</ref>
| footnotes                       = 
| website                         = {{URL|http://melvindale.org}}
| unit_pref                       = Imperial
|pop_est_as_of = 
|pop_est_footnotes = 
|population_est = 
}}
'''Melvindale''' is a city in [[Wayne County, Michigan|Wayne County]] of the U.S. state of [[Michigan]]. At the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the city population was 12,851.<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), Melvindale city, Michigan| publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]| access-date=September 7, 2011}}</ref>

==History==
Melvindale began as the [[unincorporated area|unincorporated]] settlement of Oakwood Heights in the northwestern part of [[Ecorse Township, Michigan|Ecorse Township]] in the early 1920s.<ref name=Melv>[http://www.melvindale.org/community/about-melvindale City of Melvindale website], About Melvindale webpage, accessed 18 October 2011</ref>  The subdivision was designed to house workers from the nearby Ford [[River Rouge Plant]] in the city of [[Dearborn, Michigan|Dearborn]].  The city was named after one of the original developers of the settlement, Melvin Wilkinson.<ref name=Melv/>  The eastern part of Oakwood Heights was annexed by the city of [[Detroit]] in 1922, and the remainder was incorporated as the village of Melvindale the same year.  In 1933, the village incorporated as a city.

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|2.76|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|2.72|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.04|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.<ref name="Gazetteer files">{{cite web|title=US Gazetteer files 2010|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2012-11-25|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120702145235/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|archive-date=2012-07-02}}</ref>

Melvindale serves an important role for railroad traffic in Metro Detroit. The [[Norfolk Southern Railway]] Oakwood Yard, located along its Detroit District, divides the city into northwest and southeast sides. The [[Canadian National Railway]] Dearborn Subdivision serves as the city's western boundary, and the [[Conrail Shared Assets]] [[Lincoln Secondary]], serving as a direct route between Detroit and [[Toledo, Ohio]] for [[CSX Transportation]] trains, passes through industrial areas in the far southeast corner of the city, which is also the location of the remnants of the Conrail Lincoln Yard.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1930= 4053
|1940= 4764
|1950= 9483
|1960= 13089
|1970= 13862
|1980= 12322
|1990= 11216
|2000= 10735
|2010= 10715
|2020= 12851
|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>
}}

===2020 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2021-08-13}}</ref> of 2020, there were 12,851 people living in Melvindale, this was an increase from the city's population of 10,715 in the 2010 census, and the first time since the 1970 census that the city's recorded population increased. The [[population density]] was {{convert|4673.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}.

===2010 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="wwwcensusgov" /> of 2010, there were 10,715 people, 4,420 households, and 2,601 families living in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|3939.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 4,918 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1808.1|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 76.8% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (66.6% non-Hispanic white), 11.3% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.7% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.8% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 6.4% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 3.9% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 18.3% of the population.

There were 4,420 households, of which 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.4% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 17.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 6.5% had a male householder with no wife present. 35.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.17.

The median age in the city was 36.5 years. 24.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27.2% were from 25 to 44; 26.6% were from 45 to 64; and 11.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.1% male and 51.9% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 10,735 people, 4,499 households, and 2,694 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|3,876.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 4,760 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1,719.0|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 87.40% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 5.26% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.75% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.29% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.04% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 2.39% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 2.88% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 8.90% of the population.

There were 4,499 households, out of which 28.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.6% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 14.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.1% were non-families. 34.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 3.07.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.4% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 31.6% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $37,954, and the median income for a family was $46,759. Males had a median income of $38,048 versus $28,026 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $19,011.  About 7.6% of families and 11.4% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 13.3% of those under age 18 and 9.2% of those age 65 or over.

== Notoriety ==
Melvindale became the backdrop for multiple news reports<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=VkRhU1Y-HnuP_G_O&v=RBRAXnAiqa0&feature=youtu.be |title=Controversial Melvindale lieutenant fends off claim of excessive force involving Taser |date=2025-01-21 |last=WXYZ-TV Detroit {{!}} Channel 7 |access-date=2025-04-18 |via=YouTube}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Press Release - Melvindale Police Sergeant Charged with Assault and Willful Neglect of Duty |url=https://www.waynecounty.com/articles/press-release-melvindale-police-sergeant-charged-with.aspx |access-date=2025-04-18 |website=www.waynecounty.com}}</ref> detailing citizen complaints, lawsuits, police reports, and depositions describing a pattern of police brutality from Lt. Matthew Furman. 

== Education ==
[[Melvindale-Northern Allen Park Public Schools]] serves Melvindale. [[Melvindale High School]] is the district's high school.

In 2005 the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit]] announced that St. Mary Magdalen Elementary School in Melvindale would close.<ref>"[http://www.clickondetroit.com/education/4289338/detail.html 15 Catholic Schools To Close In Metro Detroit] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050831110711/http://www.clickondetroit.com/education/4289338/detail.html |date=2005-08-31 }}." ''[[WDIV-TV]]''. March 17, 2005. Retrieved on November 4, 2011.</ref>

==Notable people==
*[[Al Cicotte]], baseball player 
*[[Mickey Goodwin]], light-heavyweight boxer
*[[Raymond Kalisz]], Roman Catholic bishop
*[[Mike Jolly]], played football at the University of Michigan and for the Green Bay Packers
*[[Jessica Smith (speed skater)|Jessica Smith]], 2014 Olympic speed skater

==Gallery==
<gallery mode="packed">
Melvindale Civic Center.jpg|Melvindale Civic Center and John J. Kessey Fieldhouse
Shops on Allen Road in Melvindale (2).jpg|Shops on Allen Road

</gallery>

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

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{Portal|Michigan}}
*[http://www.melvindale.org/ City of Melvindale official website]

{{Downriver}}
{{Cities of Wayne County, Michigan}}
{{Metro Detroit}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Wayne County, Michigan]]
[[Category:Metro Detroit]]