Southgate

Southgate, Michigan
—  City  —
Nickname(s): The Dining Capital of Downriver
Location in Wayne County and the state of Michigan
Coordinates: 42°12′19″N 83°11′53″W / 42.20528°N 83.19806°W / 42.20528; -83.19806
Country	United States
State	Michigan
County	Wayne
Government
- Mayor	Joseph G. Kuspa
Area
- Total	6.9 sq mi (17.9 km2)
- Land	6.9 sq mi (17.8 km2)
- Water	0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation	591 ft (180 m)
Population (2000)
- Total	30,136
- Density	4,395.8/sq mi (1,697.2/km2)
Time zone	EST (UTC-5)
- Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code	48195
Area code(s)	734
FIPS code	26-74960[1]
GNIS feature ID	0638446[2]
Website	http://www.southgate-mi.org

Southgate is a city in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 30,136 at the 2000 census.

Southgate was the last city to incorporate from the former Ecorse Township, gaining city status in October 1958. The city is bounded by Brest Road to the north, M-85/Fort Street on the east, Pennsylvania Road to the south, and Allen Road to the west.

Southgate currently houses the headquarters of The News-Herald, a local Downriver newspaper which covers over twenty surrounding communities. During the late 1950s and 1960s, The Southgate Sentinel, a Mellus newspaper, was published.

The city of Southgate also features the Splash Park/Downriver YMCA (also called Southgate Fun & Fitness Centre), as well as the Michigan headquarters for the Sonic Drive-In fast food restaurant chain.

History

There are two accounts of the city's name: Southgate is described in local guides as being the "South Gate" or entrance to the Metro Detroit area. "A metropolitan daily picture story" in late 1956 also gave this explanation.^[3]

Southgate's first mayor, Thomas J. Anderson, also stated in 1956 that the name originated from the newly-built Southgate Shopping Center in the middle of the city. "We were trying to get a separate post office for our community, and were advised that it would help our cause if the township board passed a resolution creating an unincorporated village," Anderson explained. "The name Southgate was chosen because of the shopping center then under consideration, and the board agreed that it was an appropriate name. The resolution was adopted at a regular meeting in the early summer of 1953."^[4]

Thomas Anderson became the city's first mayor in 1958 after having been Ecorse Township's supervisor for the previous five years. Anderson also has the high school named after him.^[5]

Government

Previous mayors include (alphabetically): Thomas Anderson, Walter Berklich, William Brainard, Dennis David, Suzanne Hall, James Kandrevas, Robert Reaume, and Norma Wurmlinger. As of November 17, 2009, the current mayor of Southgate is Joseph Kuspa. Other elected city officials are the 7 city councilpersons, a treasurer and a clerk.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.9 square miles (17.8 km²), all land. Southgate borders the cities of Riverview (south), Wyandotte (east), Allen Park (northwest), Taylor (west), Lincoln Park (north), Brownstown Township (southwest) .

Demographics

As of the census^[1] of 2000, there were 30,136 people, 12,836 households, and 8,048 families residing in the city. The population density was 4,395.8 per square mile (1,696.1/km²). There were 13,361 housing units at an average density of 1,948.9/sq mi (752.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.66% Caucasian, 2.11% African American, 0.50% Native American, 1.67% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.85% from other races, and 1.18% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.98% of the population.

There were 12,836 households out of which 26.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.2% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.3% were non-families. 32.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the city the population was spread out with 21.5% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 30.6% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 16.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 93.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $46,927, and the median income for a family was $56,710. Males had a median income of $45,829 versus $28,549 for females. The per capita income for the city was $23,219. About 2.6% of families and 4.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.4% of those under age 18 and 8.5% of those age 65 or over.

Dining Capital of Downriver

In the News-Herald the mayor of Southgate stated that Southgate is the "Dining Capital of Downriver."^[6] There are many diverse and delicious places to eat in Southgate. It is home to several chain restaurants, including: Chilis, Applebee's, Logan's Roadhouse, Ram's Horn, Red Lobster, Outback Steakhouse, Red Robin, Salvatore Scallopini, Panera Bread, Old Chicago Pasta & Pizza, Buffalo Wild Wings, Old Country Buffet, and Pizza Hut. You can also find an array of small family owned restaurants (including a few Coney Islands) with cuisines specializing in Italian, Mediterranean, Mexican, Chinese, Japanese, Hungarian, Arabic, and American. In recent years Southgate has become popular for their two large sports bars, Malarkey's and Mallie's. Southgate hosts several major fast food chains. Southgate is also the first city in Michigan with a Sonic Drive-In that opened in mid-May 2008.

Education

Primary and secondary schools

Public schools

Southgate Community School District operates public schools.

• Grogan Elementary
• Chormann Elementary
• North Pointe Elementary
• Fordline Elementary
• Shelters Elementary
• Allen Elementary
• Gerisch Middle School (6th Grade - 7th Grade)
• Davidson Middle School (8th Grade - 9th Grade)
• Southgate Anderson High School(10th Grade - 12th Grade)

Private schools

• St. Pius X (Preschool - 8th Grade)
• Christ the King Lutheran (Preschool - 8th Grade)
• Montessori Center of Downriver (Preschool - Kindergarten)
• Creative Montessori Academy (Preschool - 8th Grade)
• Nanny's Nursery School and Day-Care Center (Pre-School - Kindergarten)
• Kindercare Learning Center (Pre-School - Kindergarten)

Colleges and universities

• Dorsey Business School (Business College)
• Madonna University (Downriver Campus)
• Northwood University (Southgate Campus)

Guinness Book of World Records

Mallie's Sports Grill & Bar in Southgate made the world's largest hamburger, weighing 185.8 pounds and on the menu for $499.

Famous residents

• Bedford Drive - Alternative rock band
• Nate Kiser - East Coast Hockey League player for the South Carolina Stingrays
• Julie Champnella - Make-up artist and second wife of actor Tom Arnold
• Eric Champnella - Author and screenwriter (Eddie, Mr. 3000)
• Timothy Fisher - Technology Author (Java Phrasebook, Ruby on Rails Bible)

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
2. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
3. ^ "'Schaferson' Suggested for Township City." Wyandotte Tribune, December 6, 1956.
4. ^ "'Southgate' Name Favored in Poll." Wyandotte News-Herald, November 29, 1956.
5. ^ "Southgate Becomes New City." The Detroit News, October 1, 1958.
6. ^ "Tale of four cities". The News-Herald. 2007-06-29. http://thenewsherald.com/stories/062907/loc_20070629002.shtml. Retrieved 2008-05-04. 

External links

• Official Website of Southgate, MI
• Southgate Schools

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