Southfield is a city located in Oakland County, Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 78,296. Southfield Township is adjacent to the city on the north side.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 68.0 km2 (26.2 mi2). 67.9 km2 (26.2 mi2) of it is land and 0.04% is water.
As of the census2 of 2000, there are 78,296 people, 33,987 households, and 19,780 families residing in the city. The population density is 1,152.5/km2 (2,984.6/mi2). There are 35,698 housing units at an average density of 525.5/km2 (1,360.8/mi2). The racial makeup of the city is 38.83% White, 54.22% African American, 0.20% Native American, 3.09% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.64% from other races, and 2.99% from two or more races. 1.19% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 33,987 households out of which 25.3% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.2% are married couples living together, 14.3% have a female householder with no husband present, and 41.8% are non-families. 36.2% of all households are made up of individuals and 11.9% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.27 and the average family size is 3.01.
In the city the population is spread out with 21.6% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 30.6% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.2% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 38 years. For every 100 females there are 84.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 80.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $51,802, and the median income for a family is $64,543. Males have a median income of $48,341 versus $37,949 for females. The per capita income for the city is $28,096. 7.4% of the population and 5.8% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 8.2% of those under the age of 18 and 10.2% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Southfield was surveyed in 1817 according to the plan by Michigan territorial governor Lewis Cass. The first settlers came from Birmingham and Royal Oak, Michigan, as well as the states of New York and Vermont. The city was founded by John Daniels in 1823. It was first organized as a township on July 12, 1830. Southfield took its name from its location in the "south fields" of Bloomfield Township. A post office was established in 1833 and the first town hall built in 1873. The Southfield Fire Department was formed on April 6, 1942 and the Southfield Police Department in 1953.
A portion of the township incorporated as a city on April 28, 1958. The current city hall was built in 1964 as part of the new Civic Center complex, also home to Southfield's police headquarters and Southfield Public Library. The Civic Center was expanded in 1971 to include an arena, with Evergreen Hills Golf Course added in 1972 and in 1978, a new public safety building, the Southfield Pavilion and a new court building. During this time, most of Southfield's current park and recreation facilities were developed.
Today Southfield is home to 700 acres (2.8 km2) of park land, a nationally recognized school district, eight colleges including Lawrence Technological University, and 26 million square feet of office space, and a 20-screen movie theater. Southfield is also the media center for the Detroit area.
Southfield's skyline is a mix of skyscrapers built in the 1970s and 1980s and many mid- and low-rise buildings built over the decades. Northland Center, built in 1952, claims to be the oldest shopping mall in the United States.
The city, rich in racial and ethnic diversity, elected its first African-American and first female mayor, Brenda L. Lawrence, in 2001.
Source:
SouthfieldMI.com
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