Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan

This article is about the incorporated city of Grosse Pointe Farms. For the adjacent area, see Grosse Pointe.

Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan
City
Grosse Pointe War Memorial
Seal
Location in Wayne County and the state of Michigan
Country	United States
State	Michigan
County	Wayne
Government
• Mayor	James C Farquhar
Area
• Total	12.32 sq mi (31.91 km2)
• Land	2.75 sq mi (7.12 km2)
• Water	9.57 sq mi (24.79 km2)
Elevation	607 ft (185 m)
Population  (2010)
• Total	9,479
• Estimate  (2011)	9,382
• Density	3,446.9/sq mi (1,330.9/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes	48230, 48236
Area code	313
FIPS code	26-35520Template:GR
GNIS feature ID	0627463
Website	www.ci.grosse-pointe-farms.mi.us

Grosse Pointe Farms is a costal suburban town bordering Detroit located in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 9,479 at the 2010 census. It is bordered by Grosse Pointe on the west, Detroit on the north, Grosse Pointe Woods and Grosse Pointe Shores on the northeast, and Lake Saint Clair on the south and east. Lakeshore Drive begins in Grosse Pointe Farms, where, just east of Fisher Road, the eastbound driver or pedestrian on Jefferson Avenue descends to lake level, following the curvature of the lakefront to the northeast.

Geography

Saint Paul on the Lake Catholic Church (1899) in Grosse Pointe Farms, one of many landmarks along Lakeshore Drive - French Gothic by Harry J. Rill.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 12.32 square miles (31.91 km²), of which, 2.75 square miles (7.12 km²) is land and 9.57 square miles (24.79 km²) is water. The water is part of Lake St. Clair.

The Farms has a more varied topography and streetscape than the other southern Grosse Pointes. While Grosse Pointe and Grosse Pointe Park are built on a standard street grid and are basically flat, Grosse Pointe Farms is partially built on the same grid flowing out of Detroit, but also features districts with irregular, curving street paths. Furthermore, a low but noticeable ridge, likely a dune or beach ridge from when Lake Saint Clair was at a higher water level, runs through the center of the city. The Farms also contains the "point" in Grosse Pointe, where, just east of the Grosse Pointe War Memorial, there is a large bend in the lakeshore, such that those on the shoreline face east, instead of south, as they do when on the shoreline of neighboring Grosse Pointe, closer to the entrance of the Detroit River.

The cityscape varies widely, with large sections of old homes ranging from bungalows to mansions, and a few newer sections with ranch houses or luxury homes built on subdivided estates. The Farms has a downtown on Kercheval Avenue combining historic buildings with newer, neo-traditional storefronts.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1900	817		—
1910	862		5.5%
1920	1,649		91.3%
1930	3,533		114.3%
1940	7,217		104.3%
1950	9,410		30.4%
1960	12,172		29.4%
1970	11,701		−3.9%
1980	10,551		−9.8%
1990	10,092		−4.4%
2000	9,764		−3.3%
2010	9,479		−2.9%

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 9,479 people, 3,718 households, and 2,770 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,446.9 inhabitants per square mile (1,330.9/km²). There were 3,952 housing units at an average density of 1,437.1 per square mile (554.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.4% White, 1.8% African American, 0.2% Native American, 1.3% Asian, 0.4% from other races, and 1.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.0% of the population.

There were 3,718 households out of which 33.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.0% were married couples living together, 6.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 25.5% were non-families. 23.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.02.

The median age in the city was 45.1 years. 25.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 4.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 19.5% were from 25 to 44; 32.6% were from 45 to 64; and 17.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.8% male and 51.2% female.

2000 census

At the 2000 censusTemplate:GR, there were 9,764 people, 3,804 households,and 2,868 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,618.8 per square mile (1,396.3/km²). There were 3,937 housing units at an average density of 1,459.2 per square mile (563.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.58% White, 0.65% African American, 0.11% Native American, 1.13% Asian, 0.11% from other races, and 0.42% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.11% of the population.

There were 3,804 households of which 34.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.8% were married couples living together, 6.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.6% were non-families. 22.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.03.

Age distribution was 26.5% under the age of 18, 3.6% from 18 to 24, 23.4% from 25 to 44, 28.6% from 45 to 64, and 17.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 90.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.5 males.

The median household income was $100,153, and the median family income was $109,264. Males had a median income of $87,108 versus $53,241 for females. The per capita income for the city was $54,846. About 1.5% of families and 2.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.1% of those under age 18 and 1.4% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

The largest employer in Grosse Pointe Farms is the Henry Ford Medical Center. The media company Saga Communications is based in Grosse Pointe Farms.

Education

Primary and secondary schools

The community is served by Grosse Pointe Public Schools (GPPSS). Public secondary schools within Grosse Pointe Farms include Grosse Pointe South High School and Brownell Middle School.

Public libraries

The Grosse Pointe Public Library operates the Central Branch in Grosse Pointe Farms.

Noted residents

• Elena Ford, is the daughter of Charlotte Ford, granddaughter of Henry Ford II, and great-granddaughter of Henry Ford.
• Meg White of The White Stripes grew up in Grosse Pointe Farms, according to her former husband, John "Jack" White, né Gillis.

External links

• City of Grosse Pointe Farms official website
• Grosse Pointe Historical Society