Inkster, Michigan
Encyclopedia
Inkster is a city in Wayne County
of the U.S. state
of Michigan
. At the 2010 census, the city population was 25,369. It is one of several suburbs in Metro Detroit
whose population is majority or plurality African American
.
born March 27, 1828, in Lerwick
, Shetland, operated a steam sawmill
on present-day Inkster Road near Michigan Avenue in the early 1860s.
The post office was renamed Inkster in July 1863. The village had a station on the Michigan Central Railroad
by 1878. It incorporated as a village
in 1926 from parts of Nankin Township
and Dearborn Township. After much legal wrangling by the city of Dearborn
, Dearborn Township, and the village of Inkster to sort out final borders for these communities, Inkster was incorporated as a city in 1964
, the city has a total area of 6.25 square miles (16.2 km²), all land.
, there were 25,369 people, 9,821 households and 6,175 families residing in the city. The population density
was 4,057.1 per square mile (1,566.4/km²). There were 11,647 housing units at an average density of 1,862.6 per square mile (719.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 20.5% White, 73.2% African American, 0.3% Native American, 1.6% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.7% from other races
, and 3.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.6% of the population.
There were 11,169 households, of which 33.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.0% were married couples
living together, 26.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.2% were non-families. 27.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.26.
Age distribution was 29.8% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 30.3% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 10.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 91.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.2 males.
The median household income
was $35,950, and the median family income was $41,176. Males had a median income of $37,986 versus $26,567 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $16,711. About 15.2% of families and 19.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.8% of those under age 18 and 13.4% of those age 65 or over.
district. A large portion is within the Wayne-Westland Community Schools
district The remaining areas are served by Westwood Community Schools and the Taylor School District.
Wayne County, Michigan
-History:Wayne County was one of the first counties formed when the Northwest Territory was organized. It was named for the American general "Mad Anthony" Wayne. It originally encompassed the entire area of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, as well as small sections that are now part of northern...
of the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. At the 2010 census, the city population was 25,369. It is one of several suburbs in Metro Detroit
Metro Detroit
The Detroit metropolitan area, often referred to as Metro Detroit, is the metropolitan area located in Southeast Michigan centered on the city of Detroit which shares an international border with Windsor, Ontario. The Detroit metropolitan area is the second largest U.S. metropolitan area...
whose population is majority or plurality African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
.
History
The area was first settled by non-indigenous people in 1825. A post office named "Moulin Rouge" was established there in December 1857. Robert Inkster, a ScotsmanScottish American
Scottish Americans or Scots Americans are citizens of the United States whose ancestry originates wholly or partly in Scotland. Scottish Americans are closely related to Scots-Irish Americans, descendants of Ulster Scots, and communities emphasize and celebrate a common heritage...
born March 27, 1828, in Lerwick
Lerwick
Lerwick is the capital and main port of the Shetland Islands, Scotland, located more than 100 miles off the north coast of mainland Scotland on the east coast of the Shetland Mainland...
, Shetland, operated a steam sawmill
Sawmill
A sawmill is a facility where logs are cut into boards.-Sawmill process:A sawmill's basic operation is much like those of hundreds of years ago; a log enters on one end and dimensional lumber exits on the other end....
on present-day Inkster Road near Michigan Avenue in the early 1860s.
The post office was renamed Inkster in July 1863. The village had a station on the Michigan Central Railroad
Michigan Central Railroad
The Michigan Central Railroad was originally incorporated in 1846 to establish rail service between Detroit, Michigan and St. Joseph, Michigan. The railroad later operated in the states of Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois in the United States, and the province of Ontario in Canada...
by 1878. It incorporated as a village
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
in 1926 from parts of Nankin Township
Nankin Township, Michigan
Nankin Township, Michigan, is a former township of Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan.The township was first organized in 1827 as "Bucklin Township" and included what is now the cities of Westland, Livonia, Garden City, Inkster, Wayne, Dearborn, Dearborn Heights and Redford Township. In...
and Dearborn Township. After much legal wrangling by the city of Dearborn
Dearborn, Michigan
-Economy:Ford Motor Company has its world headquarters in Dearborn. In addition its Dearborn campus contains many research, testing, finance and some production facilities. Ford Land controls the numerous properties owned by Ford including sales and leasing to unrelated businesses such as the...
, Dearborn Township, and the village of Inkster to sort out final borders for these communities, Inkster was incorporated as a city in 1964
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 6.25 square miles (16.2 km²), all land.
Demographics
At the 2010 censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
, there were 25,369 people, 9,821 households and 6,175 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 4,057.1 per square mile (1,566.4/km²). There were 11,647 housing units at an average density of 1,862.6 per square mile (719.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 20.5% White, 73.2% African American, 0.3% Native American, 1.6% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.7% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 3.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.6% of the population.
There were 11,169 households, of which 33.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.0% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 26.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.2% were non-families. 27.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.26.
Age distribution was 29.8% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 30.3% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 10.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 91.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.2 males.
The median household income
Median household income
The median household income is commonly used to generate data about geographic areas and divides households into two equal segments with the first half of households earning less than the median household income and the other half earning more...
was $35,950, and the median family income was $41,176. Males had a median income of $37,986 versus $26,567 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $16,711. About 15.2% of families and 19.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.8% of those under age 18 and 13.4% of those age 65 or over.
Notable natives and residents
- Geraldine DoyleGeraldine DoyleGeraldine Hoff Doyle was the real-life model for the World War II era "We Can Do It" posters, an embodiment of the iconic World War II character Rosie the Riveter....
, the woman whose image served as a model for an iconic Rosie the RiveterRosie the RiveterRosie the Riveter is a cultural icon of the United States, representing the American women who worked in factories during World War II, many of whom produced munitions and war supplies. These women sometimes took entirely new jobs replacing the male workers who were in the military...
poster - Marcus FizerMarcus FizerDarnell Marcus Lamar Fizer is an American professional basketball player who is currently a free agent.- High school career :Fizer played high school basketball at Arcadia High School in Arcadia, Louisiana...
, professional basketball player - The MarvelettesThe MarvelettesThe Marvelettes were an American singing girl group on the Tamla label. Motown's first successful female vocal group, the Marvelettes are most notable for recording the company's first #1 Pop hit, "Please Mr...
, R&B singing trio- Katherine AndersonKatherine AndersonKatherine Anderson Schaffner is an American singer, famed for her tenure in the Motown all-female singing group The Marvelettes...
- Gladys HortonGladys HortonGladys Catherine Horton was an American R&B and pop singer, famous for being the founder and lead singer of the popular Motown all-female vocal group The Marvelettes.-Biography:...
- Georgeanna TillmanGeorgeanna TillmanGeorgeanna Marie Tillman Gordon was an American R&B/Pop singer and an original member of the Motown girl group The Marvelettes....
- Wanda YoungWanda YoungWanda Young is an American singer, famous for being the member and later lead singer of the popular Motown all-female singing group The Marvelettes.-Biography:Wanda was born in 1943 and raised in the western Detroit suburb of Inkster, Michigan...
- Katherine Anderson
- Tyrone WheatleyTyrone WheatleyTyrone Anthony Wheatley is the running backs coach at Syracuse University and a former professional American football player who played 10 seasons in the National Football League and was one of the most successful high school and collegiate athletes in Metropolitan Detroit history...
, professional football player - Wade FlemonsWade FlemonsWade Flemons was an American soul singer.Born in Coffeyville, Kansas, Flemons began recording solo work in 1958, but is best remembered for his work as a musician and vocalist in the pop band Earth, Wind & Fire between 1970 and 1973...
, noted R&B singer, musician and song writer. Wrote song "Stand By Me" which was sung by the Platters. Early member of Earth, Wind, and Fire, until 1973.
Education
Most of Inkster is within the Inkster Public SchoolsInkster Public Schools
Inkster Public Schools is a school district headquartered in Inkster, Michigan. It serves most of Inkster.-Secondary schools:* Inkster High School* Inkster Vocational Academy* Blanchette Middle School...
district. A large portion is within the Wayne-Westland Community Schools
Wayne-Westland Community Schools
Wayne-Westland Community Schools is a school district headquartered in Westland, Michigan.-High schools:Zoned* John Glenn High School* Wayne Memorial High SchoolAlternative* William D...
district The remaining areas are served by Westwood Community Schools and the Taylor School District.