Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Email
Answers.com

Hamtramck

 
 
Columbia Encyclopedia: Hamtramck
Home > Library > Miscellaneous > Columbia Encyclopedia
Today's Weather

M/CLOUDY
Temp: 52°F / 11°C
Full forecast below
Hamtramck (hămtrăm'ĭk), city (1990 pop. 18,372), Wayne co., SE Mich., within the confines of Detroit; inc. as a city 1922. There is meat processing, as well as the manufacture of machinery, foods, motor vehicles, transportation equipment, chemicals, and plastic products. The site was settled by the French in the late 18th cent. The city grew quickly after the coming of the automobile industry (c.1910). Points of interest include St. Florian's Church (a prime example of Gothic architecture); and the memorial and grave of Col. John F. Hamtramck, first U.S. commander of the Detroit garrison. The city has a large Polish-American community and various Polish cultural events.

Search unanswered questions...

Enter a question here...
Search: All sources Community Q&A Reference topics

Weather: Hamtramck, MI
Top
Home > Library > Travel > Weather
AccuWeather® Current Conditions for



M/CLOUDY		 Temperature: 52°F / 11°C
RealFeel Temperature™: 49°F / 9°C
Humidity: 50%
Winds: NNW 9 mph / 14 kmh
Pressure: 30.05"
Visibility: 10 mi. / 16 km

5-Day Forecast

Sunday HI:  58°F / 14°C
LO: 41°F / 5°C
Monday HI:  50°F / 10°C
LO: 39°F / 3°C
Tuesday HI:  54°F / 12°C
LO: 39°F / 3°C
Wednesday HI:  50°F / 10°C
LO: 44°F / 6°C
Thursday HI:  54°F / 12°C
LO: 41°F / 5°C
Last updated November 15, 2009 17:09 (EST)

Wikipedia: Hamtramck, Michigan
Top
Home > Library > Miscellaneous > Wikipedia
Hamtramck, Michigan
—  City  —
Location in Wayne County and the state of Michigan
Coordinates: 42°23′52″N 83°3′26″W / 42.39778°N 83.05722°W / 42.39778; -83.05722
Country United States
State Michigan
County Wayne
Organized (township) 1798
Incorporated (village) 1901
Incorporated (city) 1922
Government
 - Type Council-Manager
 - Mayor Karen Majewski
 - City Manager William Cooper
Area
 - Total 2.1 sq mi (5.4 km2)
 - Land 2.1 sq mi (5.5 km2)
 - Water 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation 623 ft (192 m)
Population (2000)
 - Total 22,976
 - Density 10,900.5/sq mi (4,208.7/km2)
Time zone EST (UTC−5)
 - Summer (DST) EDT (UTC−4)
ZIP codes 48211–48212
Area code(s) 313
FIPS code 26-36280[1]
GNIS feature ID 0627707[2]
Website http://www.hamtramck.us/
Hamtramck Fire Department

Hamtramck (pronounced /hæmˈtræmɨk/)[3] is a city in Wayne County of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 22,976. Hamtramck is surrounded by the city of Detroit except for a small portion of the western border that touches the similarly surrounded city of Highland Park. Hamtramck is named for the French-Canadian soldier Jean François Hamtramck who was the first American commander of Fort Shelby, the fortification at Detroit.

Hamtramck was originally settled by German farmers, but Polish immigrants flooded into the area when the Dodge Brothers plant opened in 1914.[4] Poles used to make up a large proportion of the population. It is sometimes confused with Poletown, a traditional Polish neighborhood, which used to lie mostly in the city of Detroit and includes a small part of Hamtramck. As of the 2000 census, over 22% of Hamtramck's population is of Polish origin; in 1970, it was 90% Polish.[5]

Over the past thirty years, a large number of immigrants from the Middle East (especially Yemen) and South Asia (especially Bangladesh) have moved to the city. As of the 2000 census, the city's foreign born population stood at 41.1%[6], making it Michigan's most internationally diverse city (see more at Demographics below).

Contents

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.1 square miles (5.4 km2), all land.

Hamtramck is mostly surrounded by Detroit except a small common border with the city of Highland Park. Hamtramck lies about 5 miles (8.0 km) from the center of Detroit. The I-75 freeway roughly runs along this city's western border and I-94 runs near its southern border.


Culture

Hamtramck flourished from 1910 to 1920 as thousands of European immigrants, particularly Polish, were attracted by the growing automobile industry. The city has grown increasingly ethnically diverse but still bears many reminders of its Polish ancestry in family names, street names and businesses.[4] A recent survey found 26 native languages spoken by Hamtramck schoolchildren. The city's motto was "A League of Nations".

At the time of the 2000 census, Hamtramck was again experiencing considerable growth, with over 8,000 households and a population of almost 23,000.

In 1997, the Utne Reader named Hamtramck one of "the 15 hippest neighborhoods in the U.S. and Canada" in part for its punk and alternative music scene, its Buddhist temple, its cultural diversity, and its laid back blue-collar neighborhoods.[7] And in May 2003, Maxim Blender selected Hamtramck as the second "Most Rock N' Roll City" in the U.S., behind Williamsburg in Brooklyn, New York City. Hamtramck is home of several of Michigan's most distinguished music venues.

In January 2004, members of the Al-Islah Islamic Center requested permission to use loudspeakers for the purpose of broadcasting the Islamic call to prayer. This request set off a contentious debate in the city, ostensibly about the noise that would be caused by the call to prayer, eventually garnering national attention.[8] Ultimately, Hamtramck amended its noise ordinance in July 2004 regulating all religious sounds.[9]

Hamtramck festivals

Pączki Day

Polish immigrants, residents of Hamtramck, and southeastern Michigan celebrate "Fat Tuesday" (known locally as Pączki Day) by lining up at the city's numerous Polish bakeries to purchase pączki. On Pączki Day, several local bars host parties with live entertainment, some starting as early as 7 A.M.[10]

Hamtramck Blowout

The Hamtramck Blowout is an annual music festival in Hamtramck. It is said to be the largest festival of its sort in the world.[11] There's usually over 200 bands there and the festival lasts for four days all over bars in the neighborhood.[12]

St. Florian Strawberry Festival

Held annually in the first weekend in May at grounds at St. Florian Church.

Hamtramck Labor Day Festival

Held Labor Day weekend, ending with the Polish Day Parade on Labor Day. Live music on three stages, carnival area, beer, and food tents line a half-mile (1 km) stretch of Joseph Campau Street, from Caniff to Carpenter.[13]

Planet Ant Film & Video Festival in Hamtramck

Held at the Planet Ant Theater, the festival celebrates independent movies and the people who make them, featuring comedies, dramas, documentaries, animation and music videos.[14]

Economy

General Motors' Detroit/Hamtramck Assembly plant, one of the automaker's premiere facilities, produces the Cadillac DTS and the Buick Lucerne.[15] GM has announced it will begin manufacturing the new plug-in hybrid Chevrolet Volt at the plant in 2010.[16]

Detroit Axle maintains a plant there. However, in April, 2009, American Axle & Manufacturing announced that it planned to close it plant at the Hamtramck/Detroit border and move production to Mexico, resulting in the elimination of several hundred jobs.

The Polish Art Center, at 9539 Joseph Campau Street, is a local institution in Hamtramck. There, one can find many Polish art objects, books, foods, and art from other areas of Europe. The center's selection of Communist-era Polish theatrical and operatic posters is unusual.[17]

The Ukrainian American Archives & Museum of Detroit is located at 11756 Charest Street. The Museum's purpose is “to educate and inform the general public about the culture, art, and history of Ukrainians, their immigration to the United States and the contributions of Americans of Ukrainian descent to America; to engage in research in these areas; to maintain archives for the deposit of documents and other records relating to these topics; to acquire, preserve, exhibit artifacts of artistic, historical, and scientific value relating to these subjects; to sponsor public programs in order to study and preserve the heritage of Ukrainian Americans.”[18]

For more than 85 years, Kowalski Sausage Co. manufactured meat products at 2270 Holbrook Street, which are distributed in the metropolitan Detroit area.[19]

Notwithstanding the statement in the credits that it was filmed "in Detroit, Michigan", the 1998 Indie film Polish Wedding was filmed mainly in Hamtramck, and particularly at a house on Wyandotte Street.[20] Theresa Connelly, who wrote and directed the film, had spent her childhood in Hamtramck.

Demographics

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 22,976 people, 8,033 households, and 4,851 families residing in the city. The population density was 10,900.5 per square mile (4,208.7 /km2), making it the most densely populated city in Michigan.[21] There were 8,894 housing units at an average density of 4,219.6 per square mile (1,629.2 /km2). The racial makeup of the city was 60.96% white (which includes people of Middle Eastern ancestry), 15.12% African American, 0.43% Native American, 10.37% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 1.14% from other races, and 11.89% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.31% of the population.

In the 2000 census, major ancestry groups reported by Hamtramck residents were as follows:

Historical populations
Census Pop.  %±
1910 3,559
—
1920 48,615 1,266.0%
1930 56,268 15.7%
1940 49,839 −11.4%
1950 43,555 −12.6%
1960 34,137 −21.6%
1970 26,783 −21.5%
1980 21,300 −20.5%
1990 18,372 −13.7%
2000 22,976 25.1%
Est. 2007 21,122 −8.1%

3.1% of Hamtramck's population reported Albanian ancestry. This made it the second most Albanian place in the United States by percentage of the population, second only to Fairview, North Carolina.[22]

There were 8,033 households out of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.3% were married couples living together, 16.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.6% were non-families. 32.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.59.

In the city the population was spread out with 27.8% under the age of 18, 10.8% 18 through 24, 31.9% 25 through 44, 17.7% 45 through 64, and 11.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 110.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 109.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $26,616, and the median income for a family was $30,496. Males had a median income of $29,368 versus $22,346 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,691. About 24.1% of families and 27.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 36.9% of those under age 18 and 18.1% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Hamtramck is governed under a council-manager form of government in which the elected mayor of the city is the chief executive officer. The city council hires a city manager, who becomes the city's chief administrative officer. The city manager has the vested powers and responsibility to appoint and remove all city employees and department heads, prepare the city's budget, and other city functions.[23]

The city council consists of six seats. The mayor is elected separately, and votes only in the case of a tie and on ordinances and contracts.

The United States Postal Service operates the Hamtramck Post Office at 2933 Caniff Street.[24] The post office annex is located at 14600 Dequindre Street in the City of Detroit.[25]

Education

Hamtramck Public Library Albert J. Zak Memorial

Hamtramck is served by Hamtramck Public Schools.[26] Hamtramck High School is the public high school of Hamtramck.

Hamtramck Public Library Albert J. Zak Memorial is located at 2360 Caniff.[27] The Tau Beta Association founded the library in November 1918. The library opened at its second location, the second floor of a professional building, on November 14, 1938. In 1951 the City Hall branch opened in the first floor of the municipal building; it was dedicated on January 22, 1952. The current library received its groundbreaking ceremony on July 5, 1955. It was completed on May 31, 1956 and dedicated on July 1, 1956.[28]

Timeline

St. Florian Church
  • 1796: Colonel Jean Francois Hamtramck took possession of Detroit after British troops evacuated.
  • 1798: The Township of Hamtramck was established.[4]
  • 1901: Hamtramck was established as a village.[4]
  • 1908: Saint Florian Roman Catholic Church parish is the first Catholic church in Hamtramck.[29]
  • 1910: Dodge Brothers Motor Car Company break ground for an automotive plant in Hamtramck; rapid influx of European immigrants begins.[4]
  • 1914: Dodge Brothers plant begins operations.[30]
  • 1922: Hamtramck is incorporated as a city to protect itself from annexation by Detroit; Peter C. Jezewski is the first mayor.[4]
  • 1926: St. Florian's present edifice is built.[29] It has a 1928 Austin Organ Opus #1528 that contains 3 Manuals and 40 ranks[31], which was newly refurbished in 2008.[32]
  • 1959: Won Little League World Series of Baseball.
  • 1996: In November, voters pass the Ordinance to Preserve Parkland in Hamtramck by a 64% vote, after a year long campaign, marking the first time an ordinance was ever enacted in the City by a referendum vote of the population.[33]
  • 2000: Hamtramck goes into state receivership after running million dollar deficits and political in-fighting.[34]
  • 2005: Hamtramck voters ratify a new City Charter [35]
  • 2006: Hamtramck emerges from state receivership after the resignation of state-appointed Emergency Financial Manager Louis Schimmel

In 1910 Hamtramck, then a village, had 3,559 residents. Between 1910 and 1920 Hamtramck's population grew by 1,266 percent. The growth of Hamtramck and neighboring Highland Park broke records for increases of population; both municipalities withstood annexation efforts from Detroit.[36]

Notable residents

  • Jane Bartkowicz, tennis player and girls single winner at The Championships, Wimbledon, was born in Hamtramck, and her skills were developed under the tutelage of the Hoxies.[37]
  • Bob Franke, singer-songwriter, born in Hamtramck.
  • John Hodiak (1914–1955), actor, raised in Hamtramck.[38]
  • Jean Hoxie, Hamtramck tennis player and coach[39] inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame 1965.[40] She and Jerry Hoxie (her husband) developed 16 singles champions in Class A and 13 doubles teams, winning state titles for the Hamtramck Cosmos. Their tightly disciplined program had a surprising 18 boys state championships between 1949 and 1969 in high school competition. Some great players fostered by their program were Ken Angyal, Chuck Brainard, Pancho Castillo, Jerry Dubie, Al Hetseck, Ted Jax, George Korol, Fred Kovaleski, John Lamerato, Tony Lamerato, Bill Petrick, Dick Potter, and Ray Senkowski. Winning national honrs, some girls included Peaches Bartkowicz, Elaine Lewicki, Joyce Pniewski and Stephanie Prychitko.[41] The Hoxies contribution has been summarized as: "If asked to name the dominating force in Michigan tennis history, any person even remotely aware of our sport would undoubtedly arrive at the names of Jean and Jerry Hoxie. Indeed, the list of state and national junior champions produced from that most unlikely location, Hamtramck, is a testament to the true greatness of what these two astonishing people achieved."[42] Hamtramck tennis was of such import that it has been treated in works of fiction.[43]
  • Gail Kobe, actor, born and raised in Hamtramck.[44]
  • Warith Deen Mohammed (1933–2008), son of Elijah Muhammad, leader of American Society of Muslims, born in Hamtramck.[45]
  • Mitch Ryder, singer,The Detroit Wheels, born in Hamtramck.[46]
  • Rudy Tomjanovich, professional basketball player, coach[47]
  • Tom Tyler (1903–1954), actor, retired to and died in Hamtramck.[38]
  • Roger Zatkoff (born 1931), NFL player for the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions.[48]

Notes

  1. ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  2. ^ USGS GNIS: Hamtramck, Michigan
  3. ^ Also pronounced "hamtram-mick" Trouble in Hamtramck, May. 17, 1943, detailing a teacher's strike over repeal of the civil service merit system, which was called the "Keyworth Code" and the wholesale firing of married female teachers. Time Magazine.
  4. ^ a b c d e f City of Hamtramck official website, history.
  5. ^ Stanley S. (1976). In Quest of a Cultural Identity: An Inquiry for the Polish Community. New York, New York: IUME, Teachers College, Columbia University. ISBN ERIC ED167674.
  6. ^ U.S. Census Bureau, Fact Finder, Hamtrack, Michigan.
  7. ^ Wasacz, Walter, Hip Hamtown Model D.
  8. ^ USA Today, In a changing city, voices raised over call to prayer.
  9. ^ Hamtramck Noise Ordinance
  10. ^ Pączki Day, City of Hamtramck website.
  11. ^ Indie Music Examiner, Hamtramck Blowout 12.
  12. ^ Smith, Brian, Metro Times, "Hamtramck Blowout, a ten minute Essay".
  13. ^ Labor Day Festival, Hamtramck Star.
  14. ^ Absolute Michigan, Planet Ant Film Festival.
  15. ^ Green Car Congress.
  16. ^ Chevy Volt production will add 550 new jobs in Detroit, says GM.
  17. ^ Polish Art Center.
  18. ^ Ukrainian American Archives & Museum of Detroit.
  19. ^ Kowalski Sausage Co. home page.
  20. ^ Internet movie data base, Polish Wedding.
  21. ^ Public Transportation in Michigan: An Economic Development Tool Whose Time Has Come (legislative committee report).
  22. ^ Albanian ancestry by city
  23. ^ City of Hamtramck, Government, Accessed May 15, 2009
  24. ^ "Post Office Location - HAMTRAMCK." United States Postal Service. Retrieved on April 17, 2009.
  25. ^ "Post Office Location - HAMTRAMCK ANNEX." United States Postal Service. Retrieved on April 17, 2009.
  26. ^ Hamtramck Schools.
  27. ^ "Welcome to the Hamtramck Public Library." Hamtramck Public Library. Retrieved on April 26, 2009.
  28. ^ "About." Hamtramck Public Library. Retrieved on April 26, 2009.
  29. ^ a b St. Florian Roman Catholic Church.
  30. ^ Hamtramck History, pictures and links.
  31. ^ Opujs List, Austin Organs, Inc.
  32. ^ Calendar of events, St. Florian Catholic Church.
  33. ^ http://www.hamtramck.us/about/pages/history.php
  34. ^ Mackinac Center, Hamtramck receivership history.
  35. ^ City Charter passes by 153 votes
  36. ^ "Detroit Suburbs Ahead in Census." The New York Times. May 16, 1920. Retrieved on April 11, 2009.
  37. ^ "Michigan Sports Hall of Fame biography". 2008. http://www.michigansportshof.org/inductees/archives/bartkowicz.html. Retrieved 2009-05-20. 
  38. ^ a b "Hamtramck Hollywood Connection". 2008. http://www.hamtramckcitizen.com/news/hamtramck-has-a-long-hollywood-connection. Retrieved 2009-05-20. 
  39. ^ Pitrone, Jean. (1985) Jean Hoxie, the Robin Hood of Tennis. (Avenue Pub Co.) ISBN 0910977011; ISBN 978-0910977012 129 pages.
  40. ^ Michigan Sports Hall of Fame Inductees.
  41. ^ Class of 1986 Michigan Tennis Hall of Fame, Tribute to Jean Hoxie and Jerry Hoxie.
  42. ^ Class of 1986 Michigan Tennis Hall of Fame, Tribute to Jean Hoxie and Jerry Hoxie.
  43. ^ Rochelle, Larry (2007) Ten Mile Creek (BookSurge Publishing) ISBN 1419666657; ISBN 978-1419666650, 190 pages, a novel about Toledo, tennis and Hamtramck.
  44. ^ Hamtramck Historical Commission, Gail Kobe
  45. ^ "obituary, The Times". 2008. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article4726358.ece. Retrieved 2009-05-21. 
  46. ^ "VH1 - Mitch Ryder biography". 2008. http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/ryder_mitch/bio.jhtml. Retrieved 2008-03-26. 
  47. ^ Taylor, Phil. "'hey, Call Anytime'." Sports Illustrated. July 4, 1994. Retrieved on April 11, 2009.
  48. ^ "Indians Scalp Red Sox As Yankees, Dodgers Falter." Toledo Blade. Wednesday September 19, 1951. Page 30. Google News 30 of 54. Retrieved on September 20, 2009.

Further reading

See also

External links

v • d • e
Municipalities and communities of
Wayne County, Michigan
County seat: Detroit
Cities
Charter
townships
Civil
township
Footnotes

‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties
v • d • e
Metro Detroit
Topics Simulated satellite image of Metro Detroit
Central city
Suburbs
over 80,000
Suburbs
50,000 to 80,000
Satellite cities
Region
Outlying regions
Counties in MSA
Counties in CSA
See also:Michigan Michigan

This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)

 
 

 

Copyrights:

Columbia Encyclopedia. The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition Copyright © 2003, Columbia University Press. Licensed from Columbia University Press. All rights reserved. www.cc.columbia.edu/cu/cup/.  Read more
Weather. © 2008 AccuWeather, Inc.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Hamtramck, Michigan".  Read more

Related answers
» More
 
Answer these
» More

Mentioned in

» More» More