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Ecorse, Michigan

Coordinates: 42°14′40″N 83°08′45″W / 42.24444°N 83.14583°W / 42.24444; -83.14583
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Ecorse, Michigan
City
Location in Wayne County and the state of Michigan
Location in Wayne County and the state of Michigan
CountryUnited States
StateMichigan
CountyWayne
Government
 • MayorNo Mayor - Receiver, Joyce A. Parker
Area
 • Total3.6 sq mi (9.3 km2)
 • Land2.7 sq mi (7 km2)
 • Water0.9 sq mi (2.3 km2)
Elevation
581 ft (177 m)
Population
 (2000)
 • Total11,229
 • Density4,158/sq mi (1,604/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
48229
Area code313
FIPS code26-24740Template:GR
GNIS feature ID0625337[1]

Ecorse is a city in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan, named for the Ecorse River. The population was 11,229 at the 2000 census.

History

Formerly named "River Aux Echorches", which means "The River of the Barks" in English, it was originally used as a burial ground for the Native American tribes of the area, and later settled by the French in the last two decades of the 18th century.[2]

Parts of the organized township were incorporated as a village in the 1820s. Ecorse became a significant economic force in the region when its first steel mill, Michigan Steel Mill, began operation in 1923. The village would finally incorporate as a city in 1941.[2]

Since the post-war era, the city, like most other industrial inner-ring suburbs, has fallen into economic decline. In December 1986, the Wayne County Circuit Court issued a court order appointing a receiver for the bankrupt city. The receivership would last until August 1990, but the city's finances were monitored by the state for another ten years, afterwards.[3]

By the fall of 2009, facing a $9 million deficit and a federal corruption probe, Governor Jennifer Granholm declared a financial emergency for the city, paving the way for the appointment of an emergency financial manager.[4] On September 25, 2009, Ecorse Mayor Herbert Worthy and city Controller Erwin Hollenquest were arrested on charges conspiracy, bribery, and fraud.[5] Both are alleged to have received thousands of dollars in bribes and kickbacks, after the mayor allegedly orchestrated the dismantling of the city's public works department and its replacement with a private contractor prior to winning his election for mayor.

Geography

Ecorse, Michigan is a southwest suburb of Detroit. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.6 square miles (9.4 km²), of which, 2.7 square miles (7.0 km²) of it is land and 0.9 square miles (2.4 km²) of it (25.69%) is water.

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
200011,229—
20109,512−15.3%

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2010, there were 9512 people, 4,339 households, and 2,733 families residing in the city. The population density was 4,175.1 per square mile (1,611.7/km²). There were 4,861 housing units at an average density of 1,807.4/sq mi (697.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 36.5% White, 46% African American, 0.65% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.8% from other races, and 3.05% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 13.4% of the population, and 5.8% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000. 92.7% spoke English and 6.3% Spanish as their first language.

There were 4,339 households out of which 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 31.0% were married couples living together, 25.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.0% were non-families. 31.1% 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 2.58 and the average family size was 3.23.

In the city the population was spread out with 27.8% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 29.3% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 12.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 94.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $27,142, and the median income for a family was $32,374. Males had a median income of $33,915 versus $22,500 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,468. About 17.3% of families and 22.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 34.2% of those under age 18 and 12.2% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Primary and secondary schools

Ecorse Public Schools operates public schools in Ecorse. Public schools include Ralph J. Bunche School (PreK-3), Grandport Elementary School (4-7), and Ecorse Community High School (8-12).[6] Project Excel is a 3-8 magnet school in Ecorse.[7]

Public libraries

Ecorse Public Library is located in Ecorse. Two Dearborn architects, Bennett and Straight, designed the current library complex, which was built to be fireproof.[8]

The first library services appeared in Ecorse in 1922, when a group of books from the Wayne County Library Service were placed at Loveland’s Pharmacy. During the following year, the owner of the pharmacy moved his business to receive a larger space and dedicated a section of the new location to the library. Library services stopped in 1925 due to a lack of space for a new book collection. Services resumed on March 22, 1926, when the library re-opened in the DeWallot building with 600 volumes of books; the library had separate quarters for the first time. By 1929 the Ecorse library had four staff members. Two of the staff members operated two other library locations in Ecorse, with one in the Ecorse Municipal Building and one located on Visger Road. The current Ecorse Public Library opened on Sunday December 12, 1948; during the same day Mayor William Vosine dedicated it. The library's cost was $150,000. The American Library Association selected the library as one of the best small libraries in the United States.[8]

Parks and recreation

Ecorse has a Senior Center.[9]

Ecorse Rowing Club Rowing Club Website

References

  1. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Ecorse, Michigan
  2. ^ a b "The History of Ecorse, Ecorse Public Library, accessed September 26, 2009
  3. ^ "Ecorse: The Fall and Rise of a Michigan City (introduction)", by Robert Daddow, December 1, 1993, The Mackinac Center for Public Policy, accessed September 26, 2009
  4. ^ Lawrence, Eric (19 September 2009). "Stage is set for a financial manager". The Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 26 September 2009. [dead link]
  5. ^ Schmitt, Ben (26 September 2009). "Ecorse officials charged in bribery, fraud case". The Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 26 September 2009. [dead link]
  6. ^ "Schools." Ecorse Public Schools. Retrieved on October 22, 2009.
  7. ^ "Project Excel." Ecorse Public Schools. Retrieved on October 22, 2009.
  8. ^ a b "THE HISTORY OF ECORSE PUBLIC LIBRARY." Ecorse Public Library. Retrieved on October 22, 2009.
  9. ^ "Senior Center." City of Ecorse. Retrieved on November 7, 2009.

42°14′40″N 83°08′45″W / 42.24444°N 83.14583°W / 42.24444; -83.14583

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