Editing River Rouge, Michigan

{{for|the river of the same name|River Rouge (Michigan)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name                     = River Rouge, Michigan
|official_name            = City of River Rouge
| native_name             = ''Rivière Rouge'' ([[French language|French]])
| native_name_lang        = fr
|settlement_type          = [[City]]
|image_skyline            = River Rouge, Michigan (Coolidge and Jefferson).jpg
|imagesize                = 275
|image_caption            = Looking north along [[Jefferson Avenue (Detroit)|Jefferson Avenue]]
|image_seal               = Seal of River Rouge, Michigan.svg
|pushpin_map            = Michigan#USA
|pushpin_label_position = left<!-- the position of the pushpin label: left, right, top, bottom, none -->
|pushpin_label = River Rouge
|pushpin_map_caption    = Location within the state of Michigan##Location within the United States
|image_map                = Location of River Rouge, Michigan in Wayne County.svg
|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              = Michael Bowdler
|leader_title1            = [[Municipal clerk|Clerk]]
|leader_name1             = Patricia Johnson
|established_title        = Settled 
|established_date         = 1808
|established_title1       = Incorporated 
|established_date1        = 1899 (village)<br>1922 (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           = 8.41
|area_total_sq_mi         = 3.25
|area_land_km2            = 6.87
|area_land_sq_mi          = 2.65
|area_water_km2           = 1.54
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.59
|elevation_ft             = 584
|elevation_m              = 178
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_est           = 
|pop_est_as_of            = 
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_total         = 7224
| population_metro         = 4285832 ([[Metro Detroit]])
|population_density_km2   = 1050.85
|population_density_sq_mi = 2721.93
|timezone                 = [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|EST]]
|utc_offset               = -5
|coordinates              = {{coord|42|16|17|N|83|08|05|W|region:US-MI|display=title,inline}}
|timezone_DST             = EDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -4
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP Code|ZIP code(s)]]
|postal_code              = 48209 ([[Detroit]])<ref group=lower-alpha>The unpopulated [[Zug Island]] uses the [[Detroit]] 48209 ZIP Code, while the rest of River Rouge uses the 48218 ZIP Code.</ref><br>48218
|area_code                = [[Area code 313|313]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 26-68760<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              = 635965<ref name=GNIS>{{GNIS|635965|River Rouge, Michigan}}</ref>
|footnotes                = 
|website                  = {{URL|http://cityofriverrouge.com}}
|pop_est_footnotes = 
|unit_pref = Imperial
}}
'''River Rouge''' ({{IPAc-en|r|ɪ|ˈ|v|ɜːr|_|r|uː|ʒ}}, {{langx|fr|link=no|Rivière Rouge|translation=red river}}) is a city in [[Wayne County, Michigan|Wayne County]] in the U.S. state of [[Michigan]].<ref name=GNIS/>  The population was 7,224 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=River Rouge city, Michigan|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US2668760|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=January 30, 2022}}</ref>

The city is named after the [[River Rouge (Michigan)|River Rouge]], which flows along the city's northern border and into the [[Detroit River]].  The city includes the heavily industrialized [[Zug Island]] and also has its own school district, [[River Rouge School District]].

==History==
The small settlement incorporated as a [[Administrative divisions of Michigan|village]] in 1899 within [[Ecorse Township, Michigan|Ecorse Township]].<ref name="city">{{cite web|title=History of River Rouge|url=http://cityofriverrouge.com/history/history-of-river-rouge/|website=cityofriverrouge.com|access-date=March 2, 2017}}</ref> In 1922 as the city of [[Detroit, Michigan|Detroit]] expressed interest in annexing land in the township, the Village of River Rouge incorporated as a city on April 3 to avoid being annexed.<ref name=city/>  A month later Detroit completed annexation of land in the township immediately to the west of River Rouge.

One of the most important historical associations with River Rouge is its relationship to a [[Great Lakes freighter]], the SS ''[[Edmund Fitzgerald]]'', which sank in 1975 in a fierce storm in [[Lake Superior]], with the loss of all 29 crew.  The ship was constructed in 1958 at the [[Great Lakes Engineering Works]] in River Rouge and was the largest ship on the lakes at the time.

The city had its peak of population in 1950, when industry was the mainstay of the local economy. Restructuring of heavy industry and movement of jobs offshore have taken a toll of the city; the loss of jobs resulted in loss of population. In 2020 the population is 35% of what it was in 1950. Many workers who had the flexibility to seek jobs in other areas moved away. Outward migration has resulted in a shift in the racial demographics of the city.

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|3.24|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|2.65|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.59|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.<ref name=CENS>{{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|format=PDF |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]]| accessdate = March 7, 2021|page=44 Michigan}}</ref>

Of the city's land area, {{convert|0.93|sqmi|sqkm|2}} consists of the unpopulated [[Zug Island]].  The [[River Rouge (Michigan)|River Rouge]] forms the northern boundary with the city of [[Detroit]], and the [[Detroit River]] forms the eastern boundary of the city.  The [[Mariners Memorial Light]] is an active lighthouse located within the city along the Detroit River.  Built in 2004, it is located within Belanger Park and is the newest constructed lighthouse in the state of Michigan.<ref>{{cite web|last=City of River Rouge|url=https://cityofriverrouge.com/belanger-park/|title=Belanger Park|date=2021|accessdate=June 3, 2021}}</ref>

River Rouge contains its own post office located at 10455 West Jefferson Avenue.<ref>{{GNIS|2344571|River Rouge Post Office}}</ref> The post office uses the 48218 ZIP Code, which covers most of River Rouge and a small section of the city of [[Ecorse, Michigan|Ecorse]] to the south.<ref>{{cite web|last=UnitedStatesZipCodes.org|url=https://www.unitedstateszipcodes.org/48218/|title=ZIP Code 48218: River Rouge|date=2021|accessdate=May 7, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{google maps |url = https://www.google.com/maps/place/Detroit,+MI+48218/@42.2701328,-83.1473048,14z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x883b32378d631431:0xdf8bac2a0ddf73b7!8m2!3d42.271646!4d-83.1273705 |title = 48218 ZIP Code map |access-date = June 3, 2021 }}</ref>  Zug Island uses the Detroit 48209 ZIP Code.<ref>{{cite web|last=UnitedStatesZipCodes.org|url=https://www.unitedstateszipcodes.org/48209/|title=ZIP Code 48209: Detroit|date=2021|accessdate=May 7, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{google maps |url = https://www.google.com/maps/place/Detroit,+MI+48209/@42.2999192,-83.1450992,13z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x883b32f628bab571:0xb51462452a92eea4!8m2!3d42.3004321!4d-83.1166438 |title = 48159 ZIP Code map |access-date = June 2, 2021 }}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1900= 1748
|1910= 4163
|1920= 9822
|1930= 17314
|1940= 17008
|1950= 20549
|1960= 18147
|1970= 15947
|1980= 12912
|1990= 11314
|2000= 9917
|2010= 7903
|2020= 7224
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|title=Census of Population and Housing from 1790|publisher=[[US Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 24, 2022}}</ref><br> 2010-2020<ref name=2020CensusP2/>
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''River Rouge city, Michigan – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}}</small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!Pop 2010<ref>{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - River Rouge city, Michigan|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=1600000US2668760&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!Pop 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - River Rouge city, Michigan|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=1600000US2668760&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!% 2010
!% 2020
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|2,751
|1,999
|34.81%
|27.67%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|3,933
|3,506
|49.77%
|48.53%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|38
|29
|0.48%
|0.40%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|17
|11
|0.22%
|0.15%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|2
|0
|0.03%
|0.00%
|-
|Some Other Race alone (NH)
|8
|40
|0.10%
|0.55%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed Race or Multi-Racial]] (NH)
|270
|385
|3.42%
|5.33%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|884
|1,254
|11.19%
|17.36%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''7,903'''
|'''7,224'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|}

===2010 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=2012-11-25}}</ref> of 2010, there were 7,903 people, 2,897 households, and 1,885 families living in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|2982.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 3,731 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1407.9|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 39.4% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 50.5% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.6% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.2% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.1% [[Race (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 4.2% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 5.0% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 11.2% of the population.

There were 2,897 households, of which 37.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 25.1% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 32.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 7.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 34.9% were non-families. 29.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.37.

The median age in the city was 33 years. 29.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 10.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.4% were from 25 to 44; 24.7% were from 45 to 64; and 11.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.0% male and 53.0% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 9,917 people, 3,640 households, and 2,504 families living in the city.  The population density was {{convert|3,713.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  There were 4,080 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1,528.0|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  The racial makeup of the city was 52.58% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 42.01% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.78% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.16% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.04% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.63% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 2.80% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 4.96% of the population.

There were 3,640 households, out of which 36.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 31.4% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 30.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.2% were non-families. 26.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.  The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.25.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 31.2% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 29.2% from 25 to 44, 18.8% from 45 to 64, and 10.6% who were 65 years of age or older.  The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.4 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $29,214, and the median income for a family was $33,875. Males had a median income of $35,613 versus $24,391 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $13,728.  About 19.1% of families and 22.0% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 30.6% of those under age 18 and 10.5% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==
[[River Rouge School District]] serves River Rouge and also a small northern portion of the city of [[Ecorse, Michigan|Ecorse]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Michigan Geographic Framework|url=http://www.mcgi.state.mi.us/mgdl/pdfmaps/CountySchools/SD_BYCO_esize_WAYNE%20COUNTY.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140821003511/http://www.mcgi.state.mi.us/mgdl/pdfmaps/CountySchools/SD_BYCO_esize_WAYNE%20COUNTY.pdf |archive-date=2014-08-21 |url-status=live|title=Wayne County School Districts|date=15 November 2013|accessdate=April 28, 2021}}</ref> Schools within the district include River Rouge STEM Academy, Ann Visger Elementary School, Clarence B. Sabbath Elementary/Middle School, and [[River Rouge High School]].

==Images==
<gallery widths="220px" heights="125px" perrow="4">
File:River Rouge City Hall (Michigan) 2.jpg|{{center|River Rouge Civic Center}}
File:River Rouge Public Library (Michigan) 2.jpg|{{center|River Rouge Public Library}}
File:River Rouge Post Office (Michigan) 2.jpg|{{center|U.S. Post Office in River Rouge}}
File:JeffersonRougeRiverBridge.jpg|{{center|[[West Jefferson Avenue–Rouge River Bridge]]}}
File:Mariners Memorial Light (River Rouge, MI).jpg|{{center|[[Mariners Memorial Light]]}}
</gallery>

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

==References==
<references />

==External links==
{{Portal|Michigan}}
*[http://www.cityofriverrouge.com/ City of River Rouge official website]
*[http://river-rouge.lib.mi.us/ River Rouge Public Library]

{{Geographic Location
|Centre = River Rouge
|North = [[Detroit]]
|Northeast = ''[[Detroit River]]''
|East = ''[[Detroit River]]'' / {{flagicon|CAN}}{{flagicon|Ontario}} [[Windsor, Ontario|Windsor]]
|Southeast = ''[[Detroit River]]'' / {{flagicon|CAN}}{{flagicon|Ontario}} [[LaSalle, Ontario|LaSalle]]
|South = [[Ecorse, Michigan|Ecorse]]
|Southwest = [[Lincoln Park, Michigan|Lincoln Park]]
|West = 
|Northwest = 
}}

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

[[Category:Cities in Wayne County, Michigan]]
[[Category:Michigan populated places on the Detroit River]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1899]]
[[Category:1899 establishments in Michigan]]