Ecorse, Michigan

Ecorse is a city in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 9,512 at the 2010 census.[6]

Ecorse, Michigan
City
City of Ecorse
Albert B. Buday Civic Center
Location within Wayne County
Ecorse
Location within the state of Michigan
Coordinates: 42°15′02″N 83°08′54″W
Country United States
State Michigan
County Wayne
Incorporated1903 (village)
1942 (city)
Government
 • TypeStrong mayor–council
 • MayorLamar Tidwell
 • ClerkDana Hughes
Area
 • City3.71 sq mi (9.62 km2)
 • Land2.84 sq mi (7.35 km2)
 • Water0.88 sq mi (2.27 km2)
Elevation
581 ft (177 m)
Population
 • City9,512
 • Estimate 
(2019)[3]
9,570
 • Density3,373.28/sq mi (1,302.42/km2)
 • Metro
4,285,832 (Metro Detroit)
Time zoneUTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code(s)
48218 (River Rouge)
48229
Area code(s)313
FIPS code26-24740[4]
GNIS feature ID0625337[5]
WebsiteOfficial website
Looking north along W. Jefferson Avenue

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 to the west, River Rouge to the north, and Wyandotte to the south. The city shares its name with the Ecorse River, which forms its southern border with Wyandotte.[7] The Detroit River forms the city's eastern border as part of the Canada–United States border with LaSalle, Ontario.

Etymology

Native American tribes of this area used this area as a burial ground. When 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.[8]

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.[9] In 1903 the settlement was incorporated as the village of Ecorse.[9] 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.[8]

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.[10]

By September 2009, with the city facing a $9 million deficit and a federal corruption probe, Governor Jennifer Granholm declared a financial emergency for Ecorse, and appointed an emergency financial manager.[11] On September 25, 2009, Ecorse Mayor Herbert Worthy and city Controller Erwin Hollenquest were arrested on charges of conspiracy, bribery, and fraud.[12]

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.[13]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.69 square miles (9.56 km2), of which 2.80 square miles (7.25 km2) is land and 0.89 square miles (2.31 km2) (24.12%) is water.[14]

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).[15] Project Excel is a 3-8 magnet school in Ecorse.[16]

Public libraries

Ecorse Public Library is located in the city. Two Dearborn architects, Bennett and Straight, designed the current library complex, which was built to be fireproof.[17]

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.[17]

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.[17]

Parks and recreation

Ecorse has a Senior Center[18] and a rowing club.[19] The John D. Dingell Park is located along the Detroit River.[20]

Demographics

The city had its peak population in 1950, before industrial restructuring caused a loss of jobs and residents.

Historical population
CensusPop.%±
19101,063—
19204,394313.4%
193012,716189.4%
194013,2093.9%
195017,94835.9%
196017,328−3.5%
197017,5151.1%
198014,447−17.5%
199012,180−15.7%
200011,229−7.8%
20109,512−15.3%
2019 (est.)9,570[3]0.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[21]

2010 census

At the 2010 census there were 9,512 people in 3,646 households, including 2,285 families, in the city. The population density was 3,397.1 inhabitants per square mile (1,311.6/km2). There were 4,544 housing units at an average density of 1,622.9 per square mile (626.6/km2). The 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%.[2]

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 census there were 11,229 people in 4,339 households, including 2,733 families, in the city. The population density was 4,175.1 per square mile (1,611.7/km²). There were 4,861 housing units at an average density of 1,807.4 per square mile (697.7/km²). The 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%.[4] and 5.8% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000. 92.7% spoke English only, while 6.3% spoke 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
  1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 25, 2020.
  2. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-11-25.
  3. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  4. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  5. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Ecorse, Michigan
  6. "Race, Hispanic or Latino, Age, and Housing Occupancy: 2010 Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171) Summary File (QT-PL), Ecorse city, Michigan". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 6, 2011.
  7. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 114.
  8. "The History of Ecorse Archived November 8, 2010, at the Wayback Machine, Ecorse Public Library, accessed September 26, 2009
  9. City of Ecorse website Archived 2011-10-11 at the Wayback Machine, Community History webpage, accessed 18 October 2011
  10. "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
  11. Lawrence, Eric (19 September 2009). "Stage is set for a financial manager". The Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 26 September 2009.
  12. Schmitt, Ben (26 September 2009). "Ecorse officials charged in bribery, fraud case". The Detroit Free Press. Archived from the original on September 30, 2009. Retrieved 26 September 2009.
  13. AlHajal, Khalil (April 30, 2013). "Ecorse escapes emergency manager, but state keeps oversight indefinitely". Mlive Media Group. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
  14. "Michigan: 2010 Population and Housing Unit Counts 2010 Census of Population and Housing" (PDF). 2010 United States Census. United States Census Bureau. September 2012. p. 44 Michigan. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
  15. "Schools." Ecorse Public Schools. Retrieved on October 22, 2009.
  16. "Project Excel." Ecorse Public Schools. Retrieved on October 22, 2009.
  17. "The History of Ecorse Public Library Archived March 26, 2011, at the Wayback Machine." Ecorse Public Library. Retrieved on October 22, 2009.
  18. "Senior Center." City of Ecorse. Retrieved on November 7, 2009.
  19. "Ecorse Rowing Club". Ecorse Rowing Club.
  20. "Bathroom explodes at park in Ecorse; gas leak suspected". MLive.com. Retrieved 2018-10-15.
  21. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
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