Royal Oak is a city in Oakland County of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a
suburb of Detroit. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of
57,236. It is the 8th-largest municipality in Oakland County and the
27th largest municipality in Michigan by population.
History Royal Oak was incorporated as a village
in 1891, and as a city in 1921. The name originated in 1819, during one of
Territorial Governor Lewis Cass' surveying expeditions. A large oak tree
located near the present-day intersection of Crooks, Rochester, and
Main reminded Cass of the Royal Oak which King Charles II of England hid in
to escape capture by the Roundheads after the Battle of Worcester.
In the 1920s, Father Charles Coughlin became the founding pastor of the Shrine
of the Little Flower, a prominent landmark in the city. Through his
ministry, he raised funds to build the present limestone Church complex and
tower from which he aired his radio show.
Throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s, Royal Oak's downtown grew into an
entertainment and nightlife destination. A number of large condominiums and lofts
have been built in the area. The city also has a Farmers Market located at the
corner of 11 Mile Road and Troy Street, adjacent to the 44th District Court. The
Royal Oak Farmers Market opened as a truck market, at the corner of 4th and
Troy streets, on October 14, 1925 as a cooperative venture between the then-new
City of Royal Oak and Oakland County, Michigan. The present structure was
erected in the spring of 1927 and dedicated July 1 of that year.
Culture Downtown Royal Oak features a wide
assortment of nightlife venues, including the Royal Oak Music Theatre
and the Landmark Main Art Theatre. Royal Oak is home to the Detroit Zoo, one of
the region's leading tourist attractions. Mark Ridley's Comedy
Castle, a comedy club, was an early venue for performers such as Tim Allen
and Dave Coulier. The many restaurants range in fare from take-out sandwiches
to high-end establishments specializing in cuisines like Italian, Belgian,
Nepali, and others. Pubs include biker bars, dance clubs, upscale breweries,
sports bars, and rooftop bars. During the summer, downtown Royal Oak becomes
host to hordes of motorcycle enthusiasts from around Metro Detroit. On Wednesday
nights Main Street is often lined with Harley-Davidsons, whereas on Thursday
night the streets fill up with sport bikes.
The popular 1990s sitcom Home Improvement was set in Royal Oak. In
2008, three movies were filmed in Royal Oak. Scenes from Prayers for Bobby,
Youth in Revolt and Gran Torino were filmed in the downtown area. In 2009,
the remake of Red Dawn had several scenes filmed in Royal Oak
neighborhoods. In December 2009 it was announced that
the Arts, Beats and Eats festival would be moved from Pontiac to Royal Oak.
In addition to The Detroit News and Detroit Free Press, regional newspapers
serving all of southeast Michigan, the city is served by the Daily Tribune, The
Oakland Press, the Royal Oak Review, and The Mirror.
Geography According to the United States Census
Bureau, the city has a total area of 11.79 square miles, all land.
Royal Oak once had a river, the Red Run. Vinsetta Boulevard was built skirting a
source branch of the Red Run for its median, but in the 1930s, Vinsetta's
entire median, along with the river and all but the top of the bridges for the
crossing streets were filled in as part of a WPA project. During 1967 –8, the
rest of the river in Oakland County was buried in a six-foot drain pipe.
Economy Royal Oak's traditional street-side
shopping district runs along Main Street and Washington Avenue downtown. It
experienced growth and development in the 2000s, with a transformation to a
trendy upscale, urban-chic restaurant, shopping, and entertainment district. A
number of mixed-use high-rise developments have arisen — mostly condo
"lofts" with retail and office space on the lower levels. Points of interest
include the Detroit Zoo, a major regional tourist attraction, the William
Beaumont Hospital, the Royal Oak Music Theatre, the Main Art Theatre, the
Baldwin Theatre, Mark Ridley's Comedy Castle, Emagine Theater, and shops,
cafes, and restaurants. The main offices of Hour Detroit media, which publishes
Metro Detroit's lifestyle magazine, are located in the city.
The National Arbor Day Foundation has awarded Royal Oak the distinction of
"Tree City USA" every year since 1976 as a result of the city's commitment to
tree planting and preservation. In 1998, the foundation of Saturday
Night Live comedian and Detroit-area native Gilda Radner created a free
cancer support community for people with cancer, their families, and friends.
Gilda's Club Metro Detroit operates a three-story non-residential house in
Royal Oak and has served more than 3,000 members for social and emotional support
and fun activities. Major employers in Royal Oak include,
William Beaumont Hospital with 7,147 employees, The City of Royal Oak with
465 employees, Royal Oak Public Schools with 482 employees, Oakland Community
College with 448 employees, Consumers Energy with 351 employees, Flex-N- Gate
with 350 employees, The Detroit Zoo with 301 employees, Holiday Market with 300
employees and HHI- Form Tech with 290 employees.
Education The city is served by Royal Oak
Neighborhood Schools. There is also a private high school, Shrine Catholic. A
branch of Oakland Community College is located in the city.
A portion of land in the city is zoned to Berkley Public Schools.
In recent years Royal Oak has begun to consolidate its public schools in
response to enrollment levels that are lower than those of the baby boom era.
In 2006, the city's two public high schools, George A. Dondero High School
and Clarence M. Kimball High School, were combined into a new Royal Oak High
School. Beginning in 2007, the city's two middle schools were combined into
one school, Royal Oak Middle School. The number of elementary schools was reduced
to six. Some parents protested the planned closure and demolition of
Longfellow and Whittier elementary schools and were seeking to have them
considered for historic district recognition by way of signed petition.
Despite their efforts, both schools and a number of other former elementary
schools were demolished in the fall of 2007.
Government Royal Oak has a Council-Manager form of
government. It is governed by a city commission consisting of a mayor and six
commission members. The city commission appoints a city manager, who manages the
day-to-day operations of the city. Royal Oak has a below average crime
rate, reflecting that of nearby communities, such as Berkley and Madison
Heights. Larceny-Theft was the most common crime, making up 66.7% of all
crimes in the city. Five known murders have been committed since 2000, one in
2004, one in 2005, one in 2010, and two in 2011. In 1991, Thomas McIlvane killed
five people in Royal Oak's post office, after being fired from the Postal
Service for "insubordination." This incident helped to popularize the term
"Going Postal." Royal Oak's police department has 76
sworn officers and 17 civilian personnel in the department. The
department employs community policing techniques.
Royal Oak has a fire department that operates out of three stations
strategically located around the city to minimize response time to incidents. The
ROFD operates two ladder trucks, four ALS ambulances, and six engines, along
with a technical response trailer, a haz-mat trailer, and utility vehicles.
Demographics = 2010 census =
As of the census of 2010, there were 57,236 people, 28,063 households, and
13,394 families residing in the city. The population density was 4,854.6
inhabitants per square mile. There were 30,207 housing units at an average
density of 2,562.1 per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 90.7%
White, 4.3% African American, 0.3% Native American, 2.4% Asian, 0.4% from
other races, and 1.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race
were 2.3% of the population. There were 28,063 households of which
20.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.7% were married
couples living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband
present, 3.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 52.3% were
non-families. 41.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.7%
had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average
household size was 2.03 and the average family size was 2.82.
The median age in the city was 37.8 years. 16.7% of residents were under the
age of 18; 7.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 35.9% were from 25 to 44;
26.8% were from 45 to 64; and 13.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender
makeup of the city was 49.0% male and 51.0% female.
= 2000 census = As of the census of 2000, there were
60,062 people, 28,880 households, and 14,440 families residing in the city.
The population density was 5,083.0 people per square mile. There were
29,942 housing units at an average density of 2,534.0 per square mile. The
racial makeup of the city was 94.80% White, 1.54% African American, 0.26%
Native American, 1.56% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.38% from other
races, and 1.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were
1.30% of the population. There were 28,880 households out of
which 20.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.9% were
married couples living together, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband
present, and 50.0% were non-families. 40.8% of all households were made up of
individuals and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
The average household size was 2.06 and the average family size was 2.86.
In the city the population was spread out with 17.8% under the age of 18, 7.5%
from 18 to 24, 38.8% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% who were
65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females
there were 95.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.6
males. The median income for a household in the
city was $52,252, and the median income for a family was $68,109. Males had a
median income of $50,562 versus $36,392 for females. The per capita income for
the city was $30,990. About 2.0% of families and 4.3% of the population were
below the poverty line, including 3.4% of those under age 18 and 5.5% of those
age 65 or over. Transportation
= Numbered Highways = I-75 runs north–south along the city's
east side. I-696 runs east–west along the city's
south side. M-1 runs generally southeast–northwest
along the city's west side. Five numbered east–west mile roads run
through Royal Oak. = Rail and bus =
Amtrak provides service to Royal Oak, operating its Wolverine three times
daily in both directions between Pontiac and Chicago via Detroit.
Class one freight rail service is provided by Canadian National Railway.
Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation operates local and
regional bus transit. = Historic =
Commuter rail service provided by Grand Trunk Western Railroad and later
Southeastern Michigan Transportation Authority from Pontiac to downtown
Detroit, with two stops in Royal Oak ran until October 17, 1983.
The Saginaw Trail, a footpath established by the Sauk tribe between
Detroit and Saginaw. In Royal Oak the path generally followed present day Main
Street and then Crooks Road south to north.
Notable people Bruce Campbell, film & television actor
Meryl Davis, figure skater, winner of gold medal at 2014 Winter Olympic Games
in Sochi, silver medalist in 2010 Kirk Ferentz, football head coach for
University of Iowa, was born in Royal Oak
Jack Kevorkian, practiced physician-assisted suicide in Royal Oak
Sam Raimi, film director, producer, writer, actor
Elisabeth Robinson, author of The True and Outstanding Adventures of the Hunt
Sisters Charlie White, ice dancer, winner of
gold medal at 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, silver medalist in 2010
Glenn Frey, founding member of the Eagles
Chris Savino, television animator. See also
Woodward Corridor Architecture of metropolitan Detroit
Detroit Zoo Tourism in metropolitan Detroit
1970 Memorial Park riot References
External links Royal Oak Chamber of Commerce
City of Royal Oak Downtown Royal Oak
Royal Oak Public Library City Guide for Royal Oak
Royal Oak, Michigan at DMOZ