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HISTORY OF THE CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF ROYAL OAK Part 1 of 2
The history of the Charter Township of Royal Oak parallels the development of Detroit and Oakland County. As the economy of the area changed from an agricultural base in the 1800’s and early 1900’s, to one dependent of the transportation industry (railroads, carriages, streetcars, trolleys and support industries), so also changed the economy of Royal Oak Township.
With the launching of the auto industry in Detroit in 1903, the scene began to change even though at that time, nearly 80% of Oakland County was still being used for farming. The economy saw the greatest fluctuations with the occurrence and aftermath of World War I and World Ware II. It was thereafter that the economic situation made a dramatic change to an industrial base, which in turn was followed by a period of severe depression. The citizens of Royal Oak Township played and active part in the war production, but also suffered tremendous hardship during this period.
Royal Oak Township was originally a 36-mile section of Oakland County, but gradually diminished in size between 1921 and 1950 as cities broke off and became incorporated. What remains today of the Charter Township of Royal Oak is 0.7 square miles composed of town non-adjacent portions of land know as the 8-mile section and the 10-mile section. The former is an area of predominately African-American families, and the latter was primarily Jewish families.
The Eight Mile segment of the Township is imprinted with the social history of the country. It reflects the social status and the physical segregation of African-Americans throughout the country’s history. Families in advance of Detroit’s outward growth settled the Eight Mile area. Its initial development represented a hopeful “leapfrog” movement of African-American families from the inner city to out lying areas beyond the normal growth are of Detroit.
African-American families had settled in Detroit prior to 1763, when the British took possession of the city and found them in residence. Aided by the Underground Railroad, which used Detroit because of its proximity to Canada as a dispersal point, growth of the African-American population was fairly rapid. By 1860, the African-American population in Detroit had grown to 1,403 people, with a few of such families settling on scattered farm locations throughout the region. These farmland holdings later were sold to White families, with the exception of an area spanning Eight Mile, centered around Wyoming Road.
The Eight Mile segment is now a distinguished African-American residential community developed at an intimate, low-density scale. Residents of this segment can and do relate easily to this community. The area is an African-American enclave, which reflects both its historical origins and more recent urban renewal efforts.
The 10-mile segment was part of more diffuse higher density area occupied almost exclusively by elderly and middle-income white families.
Because of the effectiveness of restrictive covenants and other discriminatory practices, African-Americans seeking less dense areas were constrained from relocating to the immediate surrounding areas of city, as then defined. The Wyoming/Eight Mile Road area was a feasible and desirable option for African-American families seeking an escape from crowded areas of the City.
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THE CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF ROYAL OAK 21131 GARDENLANE – SECOND FLOOR FERNDALE, MI 48220-2266 |
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To contact us:
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Phone: 248-547-9800 Fax: 248-547-1415
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Part 2 |