Delray, Detroit
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This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (March 2009) |
Delray is a residential neighborhood, and former incorporated village, located in the industrial southwest side of Detroit, Michigan. It is isolated from other residential communities by industrial warehouses and other commercial properties. Delray is bordered by the cities of Dearborn, Melvindale, and River Rouge to its south, Fort Street to its west and Clark Street and the Detroit River to its east. Due to the long-time presence of large industrial complexes, the area is considered to be one of the most polluted residential areas in Detroit.
As of 2009 Delray has many abandoned buildings and properties. DetroitBloggerJohn said in an article in the Detroit Metro Times that much of Delray is "closest thing to a ghost town within a city that, in some places, often resembles one."[1]
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[edit] History
Historic Fort Wayne, built 1843 to guard Detroit from British attack from Windsor's Fort Malden, is located at the northeastern end of the neighborhood. It was closed to the public as a historical site due to underfunding in 1992, but remains preserved for possible reopening as a tourist site.[citation needed]
The area known as Delray was first platted as "Belgrade" in 1836. It was replatted as "Delray" in 1851. Augustus D. Burdeno, after returning from the Mexican-American War convinced other residents to rename the town after a Mexican village, probably associated with the Battle of Molino del Rey. Most of the village sat in what was Springwells Township, with the rest sitting across the River Rouge in Ecorse Township. It incorporated as a village in 1897.[citation needed] Around 1889 many Armenians, Hungarians, and Poles settled in Delray. Dense housing arrangements appeared to accommodate the immigrants going to Delray. In 1894 Solvay Process Company opened a chemical plant. The company provided a fire service and paved streets to Delray. In 1901 Detroit Iron Works built two iron-making blast furnaces on Zug Island, near Delray. In 1905 Detroit annexed Delray. Chemical plants and factories opened in Delray, and the waterways became polluted. The wildlife along the shore died, powder from factories formed films on stationary objects, and trees no longer grew leaves during the spring. As years passed, residents who were able to move did; the constant exodus continued as of 2009.[1] Delray had around 23,000 residents in 1930. A wastewater plant opened in the area in 1939, leading to the destruction of houses in Delray.[2] When Interstate 75 was built in the 1950s and 1960s, many houses in Delray were destroyed.[1][2] The wastewater plant received an expansion in 1957, leading to more loss of houses.[2]
In the 1990s the neighborhood dealt with large gang membership. Numerous gangs targeted in policing efforts to control crime and recruitment were the Cobras, Cash Flow Posse, Gangster Disciples, Latin Counts, Latin Kings, and the Delray Mafia.[3] According to the 2000 census, 3,100 lived in Delray.[2] DetroitBloggerJohn said in a 2009 article in the Detroit Metro Times that "a foul stench" was present in Delray due to the wastewater plant and the factories still operating.[1]
[edit] Education
[edit] Primary and secondary schools
Residents are zoned to Detroit Public Schools. Residents are zoned to Roberto Clemente Academy (elementary school),[4] Mark Twain K-8 (for middle school),[5] and Southwestern High School.[6]
[edit] Public libraries
The neighborhood is served by Detroit Public Library's Campbell Branch Library, located at 8733 West Vernor in Springwells. In September 1907 Branch 8, the Delray Branch, opened. The branch was on West End Avenue. In January 1922 a replacement branch, James Valentine Campbell Branch on West 4th Street, operated from January 1922 to December 1996. In July 1999 the Campbell Annex Branch opened at the Holy Redeemer Cultural Center. The branch closed in August 2004. In March 2006 the Campbell Branch at Lawndale Station opened.[7]
[edit] References
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This article includes a list of references, related reading or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please improve this article by introducing more precise citations where appropriate. (March 2009) |
- ^ a b c d "Last call?." Detroit Metro Times. October 21, 2009. Retrieved on October 28, 2009.
- ^ a b c d DetroitBlogger John. "Losing Grace." Metro Times. October 24, 2007. Retrieved on November 6, 2009.
- ^ Bruce, Joseph; Hobey Echlin. "Rude Boy and the Magical Land of Toxic Waste". in Nathan Fostey. ICP: Behind the Paint (second ed.). Royal Oak, Michigan: Psychopathic Records. pp. 115. ISBN 09741846083.
- ^ "Elementary School Boundary Map." Detroit Public Schools. Retrieved on October 20, 2009.
- ^ "Middle School Boundary Map." Detroit Public Schools. Retrieved on October 20, 2009.
- ^ "High School Boundary Map." Detroit Public Schools. Retrieved on October 20, 2009.
- ^ "Campbell Branch Library." Detroit Public Library. Retrieved on April 18, 2009.
[edit] Sources
- Romig, Walter. Michigan Place Names. Wayne State University Press: Detroit, 1986.
- Environmental Justice Case Study from University of Michigan
- About Delray
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