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HIGHLAND PARK is a politically independent community surrounded by the city of Detroit. It is the world headquarters of Chrysler Corp., and is the home of several auto suppliers, food processors, and distribution companies. It is also notable as the home of the first Ford Motor Company factory which manufactured the model-T and revolutionized the auto industry. It remains today a residential/industrial city. An active commercial district extends along Woodward Ave., with mixed industrial and commercial activity along Hamilton and Oakland Avenues. Highland Park is a unique, historic community of urban challanges and comfortably compact size, and is alive with education and civic renewal. Highland Park was Michigan's first suburb, the birthplace of the mass production auto assembly line and the home of several registered historic residential districts. Highland Park is the convenient geographic hub of the motor city "wheel" with cultural, educational, and tourist venues within 10 minutes by car in resurgent Detroit and Windsor, Canada. The school district of the city of Highland Park was established in 1889. It has an area of 2.98 square miles, coterminous with the City of Highland Park. The Population (1990) census was 20,121. The fall of 1998 enrollment was 4007 including 401adult education. The city population median age: 1990 32. The mission of the School District of the City of Highland Park is to provide the best educational enviroment and process which assure for all children the opportunity to develop the knowledge, physical, intellectual, and life skills, feelings, and attitudes that will enable them to reach their fullest potential for themselves, for the community, and for society. The essential premise of the School District is that all children can learn and all children will learn. SOUTHFIELD Early records indicate some of the first settlers came from the Mohawk Valley region of central New York State, as well as Rutland County, Vermont. Most were of Irish, German or English decent. They traveled west to Michigan by way of the Erie Canal. John Daniels is generally acknowledged as the first settler of Southfield Town-ship. The first child born in Southfield was the son of George White, in the fall of 1825. David Stewart, from New York came to Southfield in 1831 at the age of 65 and settled a few miles S/W of Birmingham. He was the great grandfather of Mary E. Thompson who in 1960 sold the city 166 acres of property for the Southfield city complex. Southfield's public library is named in his memory. In the early years of Oakland County, the two southern townships were considered one and referred to as Bloomfield township. On July 12, 1830, Township 1N Range 10E was designated as Ossewa Township; 17 days later, a group of citizens petitioned the state and changed the name to Southfield. It is believed the citizens choose this name because of the townships location in the "south fields" of Bloomfield. In 1933, the Southfield post office was established and a
mail route to Birmingham was opened. On 12-14-1950, two petitions were filed at the
Oakland County courthouse in Pontiac. Mr Kell of Lathrop Village, filed to incorporate his
community and, minutes later Emanuel Christenson filed to incorporate the entire township.
The city of Southfield incorporated in April of 1958. At the time of incorporation
Southfield had 29,000 residents. POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS: The Southfield Police Department began in 1953 with Phillip La Vigne as its first Chief. With La Vigne as the only officer, the first department hdqts. was located at the township hall at The Burgh. In 1954 the department moved to a new hdqtrs. at Ten Mile and Evergreen Rd.,adjacent to the then Howard Johnson's resturant. A second officer, Milton Sackett was added that year and later became Police Chief. |
