Flat Rock, Michigan

Flat Rock, Michigan
City
City of Flat Rock
Flat Rock Municipal Building
Seal
Location within Wayne County
Flat Rock Location within the state of Michigan Flat Rock Location within the United States Show map of MichiganShow map of the United StatesShow all
Coordinates: 42°06′07″N 83°16′22″W / 42.10194°N 83.27278°W / 42.10194; -83.27278Coordinates: 42°06′07″N 83°16′22″W / 42.10194°N 83.27278°W / 42.10194; -83.27278
Country	United States
State	Michigan
Counties	Monroe and Wayne
Incorporated	1923 (village) 1965 (city)
Government
• Type	Mayor–council
• Mayor	Mark Hammond
• Clerk	Meaghan Bachman
Area [1]
• City	6.71 sq mi (17.37 km2)
• Land	6.55 sq mi (16.95 km2)
• Water	0.16 sq mi (0.42 km2)
Elevation	597 ft (182 m)
Population  (2010)[2]
• City	9,878
• Estimate  (2019)[5]	10,004
• Density	1,528.26/sq mi (590.07/km2)
• Metro	4,285,832 (Metro Detroit)
Time zone	UTC−5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP code(s)	48134 48183 (Trenton)
Area code(s)	734
FIPS code	26-28360[3]
GNIS feature ID	0626146[4]
Website	Official website

Flat Rock is a city mostly in Wayne County of the U.S. state of Michigan. A very small portion of the city extends into Monroe County. At the 2010 census, the city population was 9,878.^[6]

History[]

Flat Rock began as a Wyandot settlement. It was later designated as a reservation for the Wyandot, and still functioned as such in 1830.^[7]

The first European-American settlers in Flat Rock were Michael Vreeland and his five grown sons between 1811 and 1820. Michael had been captured by British Rangers during the Revolutionary War and released after American independence. The family purchased 800 acres (3.2 km²). The town was called the Village of Vreeland until 1838 when the Vreeland family sold off the majority of the land and relinquished control of the area. The Vreeland families built the first grain and lumber mill, having brought the grinding stones from New York. Descendants of Michael Vreeland still live in the town and attend Flat Rock public schools, being the seventh generation to reside in the town their family founded.

The first mention of any settlers in the area later to become Flat Rock was made by a French priest, Father Jean Dilhet. In describing his parish in 1798 he included "Grosse Roche", referring to a settlement named after the outcropping of limestone rock on the south side of the Huron River.

In 1818, a land office opened in Detroit, and Soloman Sibley purchased 330.93 acres (1.3392 km²) of land. In 1824 it was sold to Michael and Jacob Vreeland. The villages of Vreelandt and Smooth Rock were platted on part of this acreage. At this time there were Huron, Seneca, and Wyandot Indian villages in the area.

With the opening of the Erie Canal in 1825, large numbers of people, especially from New York, came to Michigan to settle. By 1828 the village had four stores, two saw mills, a wool carding mill, a flour mill, and 250 inhabitants - serving as a center mainly for farmers who lived in the area immediately surrounding the settlement.

The village of Flat Rock was platted and recorded in 1838 by the Gibraltar and Flat Rock Land Co. They were attempting to build a canal to connect Lake Erie with Lake Michigan. This effort ultimately failed.

Henry Ford was attracted to the water power of the Huron River, and in 1925 he established the Ford Motor Company Lamp Factory along its banks. The Flat Rock Dam was constructed to provide hydroelectricity to the factory.

The area was incorporated as a village in 1923 and as a city in 1965. While Flat Rock is a rapidly growing community today, even with its growth, it remains a unique "small town" with many of its residents having roots reaching back to the 1800s.

From the 1930s until the early 1960s an airport was located in Flat Rock. The grass airfield was known as Nan-Bar Airport, named for the owner's two daughters, Nancy and Barbara. During World War II Nan-Bar Airport served as an accessory airfield for Naval Air Station Grosse Ile. Navy pilots used the airfield for short field landing instruction, as well as for emergency landings.^[8]

Geography[]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.68 square miles (17.30 km²), of which 6.53 square miles (16.91 km²) is land and 0.14 square miles (0.36 km²) is water.^[9] The city is primarily within Wayne County, but a portion of the city lies in Monroe County, because the border along the Huron River follows the course of the river in 1923, the year Flat Rock was incorporated as a village. At the time, the river had two meanders, but they have since been filled in.^{[citation needed]}

Flat Rock has a higher overall tornado average than the state of Michigan as a whole, and a 40% greater average than the United States as a whole.^[10] Two F4 tornadoes have hit Flat Rock—one in 1956 and another in 1965 resulting in 23 deaths and over 300 injuries.^{[citation needed]}

The city is listed by the U.S. Census Bureau as belonging to both Wayne County to the north and Monroe County to the south. In the 2010 Census, the city is listed as having a total land area of 6.67 square miles (17.28 km²), while mentioning no measurable land area or population statistics within Monroe County. However, the city is still listed in several categories as being part of Monroe County.^[11] The official Flat Rock city website also mentions the city's boundaries extending into Monroe County.^[12]

Economy[]

In December 2019 Flat Rock had an unemployment rate of 6.5%, higher than the US average of 3.7%. Per capita income in Flat Rock was $27,549, below the US average of $31,177. The average household income was $63,375, above the US average of $57,652. The family median income was $76,481, above the US average of $70,850.^[13]

Demographics[]

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1880	373		—
1930	1,231		—
1940	1,467		19.2%
1950	1,931		31.6%
1960	4,696		143.2%
1970	5,643		20.2%
1980	6,853		21.4%
1990	7,290		6.4%
2000	8,488		16.4%
2010	9,878		16.4%
2019 (est.)	10,004	[5]	1.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[14]

2010 census[]

As of the census^[2] of 2010, there were 9,878 people, 3,754 households, and 2,684 families living in the city. The population density was 1,512.7 inhabitants per square mile (584.1/km²). There were 3,995 housing units at an average density of 611.8 per square mile (236.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 91.1% White, 4.1% African American, 0.5% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 0.6% from other races, and 2.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race were 4.4% of the population.

There were 3,754 households, of which 38.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.8% were married couples living together, 16.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 28.5% were non-families. 23.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.10.

The median age in the city was 36.9 years. 27.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.6% were from 25 to 44; 27.1% were from 45 to 64; and 10.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.1% male and 51.9% female.

2000 census[]

As of the census^[3] of 2000, there were 8,488 people, 3,181 households, and 2,306 families living in the city. The population density was 1,266.9 per square mile (489.1/km²). There were 3,291 housing units at an average density of 491.2 per square mile (189.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.32% White, 1.43% African American, 0.49% Native American, 0.47% Asian, 0.64% from other races, and 1.65% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.70% of the population.

There were 3,181 households, out of which 39.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.7% were married couples living together, 16.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.5% were non-families. 22.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.12.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 29.3% under the age of 18, 10.1% from 18 to 24, 30.3% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 9.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $44,084, and the median income for a family was $54,186. Males had a median income of $43,967 versus $27,348 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,256. About 8.5% of families and 8.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.3% of those under age 18 and 4.8% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people[]

• Dann Florek, actor^[15]

Education[]

Flat Rock is served by Flat Rock Community Schools.

See also[]

•  Michigan portal

References[]

Specific

General

• Fucini, Joseph J. (2008). Working for the Japanese. Simon & Schuster. ISBN 9781439106488.

External links[]

• City of Flat Rock official website
• Flat Rock Downtown Development Authority
• Flat Rock Historical Society