Jefferson Avenue (Detroit)
Encyclopedia
Jefferson Avenue is a scenic road along the eastern part of the Detroit metropolitan area
in the U.S. state
of Michigan
. It travels alongside Lake Erie
, the Detroit River
, and Lake Saint Clair
. This road also provides access to many recreational facilities in the area. West Jefferson Avenue is primarily a commercial, while the East Jefferson Avenue contains a historic residential district.
Jefferson is one of five major avenues (along with Woodward, Michigan, Grand River
, and Gratiot) planned by Judge Augustus Woodward in 1805 that extend from downtown Detroit in differing directions. Jefferson Avenue was planned to extend due east of downtown, parallel to the Detroit River. Later additions to the road have extended it west of downtown as well, where it continues to travel near the waterfront through the Downriver
area.
This road originates in the City of Detroit. Jefferson passes under Cobo Convention Center, but such structures as 150 West Jefferson
and the UAW-Ford National Programs Center
are located upon it as it rises to ground level there. It then passes through much of eastern Detroit and then the Grosse Pointe communities
, St. Clair Shores
, and Harrison Township
, among others. It also serves as the backbone of the rich neighborhoods of the Grosse Pointe communities, skirting the eastern portion of Detroit. Westward, Jefferson Avenue passes under the Cobo Center and by Joe Louis Arena
, then it passes through the Downriver communities
, Brownstown Township and Berlin Township
, intersecting with roads leading to bridges to Grosse Ile
(Grosse Ile Parkway in Trenton
leading up to Wayne County Bridge
and Bridge Road in Riverview
leading up to Grosse Ile Toll Bridge
). The Trenton Channel Power Plant
and Elizabeth Park
are located along Jefferson Avenue in Trenton
.
Although the road is continuous with Jefferson Avenue to the north and south, the name changes in Wyandotte
to Biddle Avenue; similarly, in Grosse Pointe Farms
and Grosse Pointe Shores
, the name changes to Lake Shore Drive; the name also changes to U.S. Turnpike Road in Berlin Charter Township. A gap occurs at the former Selfridge Air Force Base, now a golf course and the Selfridge Air National Guard Base
.
Jefferson Avenue's north end is at 23 Mile Road, near the boundary between Chesterfield Township
and New Baltimore
; the southern end of this northern portion is in Berlin Township at the intersection with Dixie Highway
and Strong Road.
There is a one block gap in Jefferson Avenue on Detroit's southwest side, between Clark and Scotten Sreets. In downtown Detroit, the southern end of M-10
is routed on Jefferson to the corner of Randolph St./M-3
. From the corner of Randolph to the southern end of I-375
between Beaubien and St. Antoine streets, Jefferson is the extremely short, 0.015 mile-long, unsigned BS I-375.
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...
in 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"....
. It travels alongside Lake Erie
Lake Erie
Lake Erie is the fourth largest lake of the five Great Lakes in North America, and the tenth largest globally. It is the southernmost, shallowest, and smallest by volume of the Great Lakes and therefore also has the shortest average water residence time. It is bounded on the north by the...
, the Detroit River
Detroit River
The Detroit River is a strait in the Great Lakes system. The name comes from the French Rivière du Détroit, which translates literally as "River of the Strait". The Detroit River has served an important role in the history of Detroit and is one of the busiest waterways in the world. The river...
, and Lake Saint Clair
Lake Saint Clair (North America)
Lake St. Clair is a fresh-water lake named after Clare of Assisi that lies between the Province of Ontario and the State of Michigan, and its midline also forms the boundary between Canada and the United States of America. Lake St. Clair includes the Anchor Bay along the Metro Detroit coastline...
. This road also provides access to many recreational facilities in the area. West Jefferson Avenue is primarily a commercial, while the East Jefferson Avenue contains a historic residential district.
Jefferson is one of five major avenues (along with Woodward, Michigan, Grand River
Grand River Avenue
US Highway 16 , also called Grand River Avenue for much of its length, is one of the principal pre-Interstate roads in the state of Michigan. Before the creation of the United States Numbered Highway System in 1926, the highway had been designated M-16...
, and Gratiot) planned by Judge Augustus Woodward in 1805 that extend from downtown Detroit in differing directions. Jefferson Avenue was planned to extend due east of downtown, parallel to the Detroit River. Later additions to the road have extended it west of downtown as well, where it continues to travel near the waterfront through the Downriver
Downriver
Downriver is the unofficial name for a collection of 18 suburban cities and townships in Wayne County, Michigan south of Detroit along the western shore of the Detroit River....
area.
Route description
150 West Jefferson
150 West Jefferson is a skyscraper and class-A office center in Downtown Detroit, Michigan. The building was constructed in 1987, and finished in 1989. It stands at 26 stories tall, with two basement floors, for a total of 28...
and the UAW-Ford National Programs Center
UAW-Ford National Programs Center
The UAW-Ford National Programs Center is a tall building in Hart Plaza, Downtown Detroit, Michigan. The high-rise building was constructed in 1948 as the Veterans Memorial Building. It stands at in height, with 10 above-ground floors...
are located upon it as it rises to ground level there. It then passes through much of eastern Detroit and then the Grosse Pointe communities
Grosse Pointe
Grosse Pointe refers to a coastal area in Metro Detroit, Michigan, United States that comprises five adjacent individual communities. From southwest to northeast, they are:*Grosse Pointe Park, city*Grosse Pointe, city*Grosse Pointe Farms, city...
, St. Clair Shores
St. Clair Shores, Michigan
St. Clair Shores is a suburban city bordering Lake St. Clair in Macomb County of the U.S. state of Michigan. It forms a part of the Metro Detroit area, and is located approximately northeast of downtown Detroit. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 59,715. The current mayor is...
, and Harrison Township
Harrison Township, Michigan
Harrison Charter Township is a charter township of Macomb County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the population was 24,461. The 2008 Census Bureau Estimate places the population at 26,004.- Places :...
, among others. It also serves as the backbone of the rich neighborhoods of the Grosse Pointe communities, skirting the eastern portion of Detroit. Westward, Jefferson Avenue passes under the Cobo Center and by Joe Louis Arena
Joe Louis Arena
Joe Louis Arena, nicknamed The Joe and JLA is a hockey arena located at 600 Civic Center Drive in Detroit, Michigan. It is the home of the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League. Completed in 1979 at a cost of $57 million, Joe Louis Arena is named after boxer and former heavyweight...
, then it passes through the Downriver communities
Downriver
Downriver is the unofficial name for a collection of 18 suburban cities and townships in Wayne County, Michigan south of Detroit along the western shore of the Detroit River....
, Brownstown Township and Berlin Township
Berlin Charter Township, Michigan
Berlin Charter Township is a charter township of Monroe County in the U.S. state of Michigan. At the 2000 census, the township population was 6,924. Berlin Charter Township was organized from the northern portion of previously established Frenchtown Charter Township, and the township boundaries...
, intersecting with roads leading to bridges to Grosse Ile
Grosse Ile Township, Michigan
Grosse Ile Township is a general law township of Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The township is situated on several islands in the Detroit River, but the largest island is also referred to as simply Grosse Ile. The name comes from French Grosse Île, meaning "Big Island"...
(Grosse Ile Parkway in Trenton
Trenton, Michigan
Trenton is a small city in Wayne County in the southeast portion of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 18,853...
leading up to Wayne County Bridge
Wayne County Bridge
The Wayne County Bridge is a swing bridge that crosses the Trenton Channel in the Detroit River. Located in Wayne County, it connects Grosse Ile Township to mainland Trenton. It is one of two bridges connecting the island of Grosse Ile to the mainland — the other being the tolled Grosse Ile Toll...
and Bridge Road in Riverview
Riverview, Michigan
Riverview is a city in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 12,486 at the time of the 2010 census.The city is a suburb in the Metro Detroit area, located along the shore of the Detroit River. Riverview incorporated as a village in 1922 and as a city in 1959...
leading up to Grosse Ile Toll Bridge
Grosse Ile Toll Bridge
The Grosse Ile Toll Bridge is a swing bridge that crosses the Trenton Channel of the Detroit River connecting Grosse Ile Township, Michigan to the mainland in Riverview, Michigan which is located in Wayne County, Michigan.-History:...
). The Trenton Channel Power Plant
Trenton Channel Power Plant
The Trenton Channel Power Plant, also known as the Trenton Stacks, is a coal-burning power station located in Trenton, Michigan. Completed in 1949, it is owned and operated by Detroit Edison, a subsidiary of DTE Energy....
and Elizabeth Park
Elizabeth Park (Michigan)
Elizabeth Park is a county park mostly located on an artificial island in the Detroit River in southern Wayne County, Michigan. The park is sometimes but rarely referred to as Slocum's Island — the historic name of the island on which the park is located...
are located along Jefferson Avenue in Trenton
Trenton, Michigan
Trenton is a small city in Wayne County in the southeast portion of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 18,853...
.
Although the road is continuous with Jefferson Avenue to the north and south, the name changes in Wyandotte
Wyandotte, Michigan
Wyandotte is a city in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 25,883 at the 2010 census, a decrease of 7.6% from 2000. Wyandotte is located in southeastern Michigan, approximately south of Detroit on the Detroit River, and is part of the collection of communities known as...
to Biddle Avenue; similarly, in Grosse Pointe Farms
Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan
Grosse Pointe Farms is a suburban city bordering Detroit located in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It ranks as the 76th highest-income city in America. 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
Grosse Pointe Shores, Michigan
Grosse Pointe Shores is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. With only land area, the city is the smallest of the five Grosse Pointe communities. The city, which is entirely residential, is the location of the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club on Lake Saint Clair. The city's population was 3,008 at the...
, the name changes to Lake Shore Drive; the name also changes to U.S. Turnpike Road in Berlin Charter Township. A gap occurs at the former Selfridge Air Force Base, now a golf course and the Selfridge Air National Guard Base
Selfridge Field
Selfridge Air National Guard Base or Selfridge ANGB is an Air National Guard installation located in Harrison Township, Michigan, near Mount Clemens.-Units and organizations:...
.
Jefferson Avenue's north end is at 23 Mile Road, near the boundary between Chesterfield Township
Chesterfield Township, Michigan
Chesterfield Charter Township is a charter township of Macomb County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 37,405. The 2008 census estimate places the population at 44,612. The township was organized in 1842, formed out of a portion of Macomb Township...
and New Baltimore
New Baltimore, Michigan
New Baltimore is a city and coastal resort community in Macomb County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 7,405 at the 2000 census. The 2008 Census Bureau Estimate places the population at 11,346. New Baltimore is in Metropolitan Detroit....
; the southern end of this northern portion is in Berlin Township at the intersection with Dixie Highway
Dixie Highway
The Dixie Highway was a United States automobile highway, first planned in 1914 to connect the US Midwest with the Southern United States. It was part of the National Auto Trail system, and grew out of an earlier Miami to Montreal highway. The final result is better understood as a small network of...
and Strong Road.
There is a one block gap in Jefferson Avenue on Detroit's southwest side, between Clark and Scotten Sreets. In downtown Detroit, the southern end of M-10
M-10 (Michigan highway)
M-10, is a state trunkline route in the US state of Michigan. The southernmost portion follows Jefferson Avenue in downtown Detroit, and the southern terminus is at the intersection of Jefferson and Randolph Street leading to the entrance to the Detroit–Windsor Tunnel...
is routed on Jefferson to the corner of Randolph St./M-3
M-3 (Michigan highway)
M-3 is a north–south state highway in the US state of Michigan in the Detroit metropolitan area. For most of its length, M-3 is known as Gratiot Avenue...
. From the corner of Randolph to the southern end of I-375
Interstate 375 (Michigan)
The unsigned Business Spur Interstate 375 , which is long, continues west on Jefferson Avenue from the southern end of I-375, ending at the entrance to the Detroit–Windsor Tunnel at Randolph Street . Jefferson Avenue past that intersection is M-10, quickly becoming the Lodge Freeway. BS I-375 runs...
between Beaubien and St. Antoine streets, Jefferson is the extremely short, 0.015 mile-long, unsigned BS I-375.
See also
- East Jefferson Avenue Residential DistrictEast Jefferson Avenue Residential TRThe East Jefferson Avenue Residential District in Detroit, Michigan includes the Thematic Resource in the multiple property submission to the National Register of Historic Places which was approved on October 9, 1985. The structures are single-family and multiple-unit residential buildings with...