Auburn Hills, Michigan

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Auburn Hills, Michigan
settlement_type = City
nickname =
website = http://www.auburnhills.org

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imagesize =
image_caption = Chrysler Headquarters and Technology Center


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mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location in the state of Michigan


mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_name1 = Michigan
subdivision_name2 = Oakland
government_footnotes = [http://www.auburnhills.org/ Auburn Hills Web Site ] ]
government_type =
leader_title = Manager
leader_name = Pete Auger
leader_title1 = Mayor
leader_name1 = James D McDonald
leader_title2 =
leader_name2 =
leader_title3 =
leader_name3 =
established_title = Settled
established_date = 1821
established_title2 = Incorporated [ [http://www.auburn-hills.org/Shared%20Documents/Auburn%20Hills%20History.aspx Auburn Hills Web Site ] ]
established_date2 = 1983
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 43.0
area_land_km2 = 43.0
area_water_km2 = 0.1
population_footnotes =
population_as_of = 2000
population_total = 19837
population_metro = 5456428
population_density_km2 = 461.1
timezone = EST
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
elevation_ft = 961
latd = 42 |latm = 41 |lats = 15 |latNS = N
longd = 83 |longm = 14 |longs = 03 |longEW = W
area_total_sq_mi = 16.6
area_land_sq_mi = 16.6
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0
elevation_m = 293
website = [http://www.auburn-hills.org/ City of Auburn Hills]
postal_code_type = ZIP codes
postal_code = 48321, 48326
area_code = 248
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 26-04105GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 1675443GR|3
footnotes =

Auburn Hills is a city in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 19,837 at the 2000 census. The city was formed in 1983 from the now defunct Pontiac Township.

Auburn Hills is home to the world headquarters of Chrysler, the Walter P. Chrysler Museum, Volkswagen of America, BorgWarner, Great Lakes Crossing shopping center, as well as The Palace of Auburn Hills, home of both the National Basketball Association's Detroit Pistons and the Women's National Basketball Association's Detroit Shock.

Geography

Auburn Hills is bordered to the east by the city of Rochester Hills.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 43.0 km² (16.6 mi²). 43.0 km² (16.6 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 mi²) of it (0.12%) is water.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 19,837 people, 8,064 households, and 4,604 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,194.5 per square mile (461.1/km²). There were 8,822 housing units at an average density of 531.2/sq mi (205.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 75.92% White, 13.22% African American, 0.32% Native American, 6.33% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.56% from other races, and 2.61% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.50% of the population.

There were 8,064 households out of which 26.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.0% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.9% were non-families. 33.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.92.

The age distribution is 20.4% under the age of 18, 15.9% from 18 to 24, 38.1% from 25 to 44, 18.2% from 45 to 64, and 7.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 98.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $51,376, and the median income for a family was $60,849. Males had a median income of $45,686 versus $34,015 for females. The per capita income for the city was $25,529. About 3.9% of families and 6.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.4% of those under age 18 and 4.4% of those age 65 or over.

Culture and history

Auburn Hills began as the town of Auburn in 1821 at what is today the corner of Auburn and Squirrel Roads. Situated on the Clinton River, it was named by Aaron Webster, the first settler, for Auburn, New York. His sawmill and grist mill attracted settlers to Auburn. After the streets were laid out in 1826, Auburn rivaled nearby Pontiac until the 1860s, when it lost its prosperity. The town was renamed Amy in 1880, and it officially became Auburn Heights in 1919. The area to the north was Pontiac Township, which bordered the city of Pontiac on two sides.

In 1908, automobile pioneer John Dodge bought a farmhouse 3 miles northeast of Auburn Heights to use as his country retreat. His oldest child, Winifred Dodge, married real estate baron Wesson Seyburn, who built his own country retreat 2.5 miles north of Auburn Heights. The estate included hunting land, dog kennels, a swimming pool, horse stables, and a 5,000 square foot Colonial Revival house. Pontiac Township purchased the estate in 1976, and adapted the buildings for government use. Today, it is known as the Auburn Hills Civic Center.

Pontiac Township and Auburn Heights together became the City of Auburn Hills in 1983. The first use of the name "Auburn Hills," in 1964, was by Oakland Community College. They named their campus (a former Nike missile base) at Featherstone and Squirrel roads for the town and the hilly terrain in the area. Besides Oakland Community College, two other colleges, Oakland University, and Baker College, have campuses partially within the city limits.

Auburn Hills roughly follows the course of Interstate 75 and is home to a prosperous business community. In the early 1980s, Oakland University partnered with developers to create a technology and research park on unused land it owned. The Oakland Technology Park was approved by the city in 1985, with Comerica, EDS, and Chrysler to build campuses there. Today, the city's many tech and office buildings cause its population to swell to 80,000 during the workday.

Many areas of the city still have a rural atmosphere, but land is being developed fast. Great Lakes Crossing, a shopping mall, opened in 1998. In 2002, the small downtown area at Auburn and Squirrel was revitalized as the "Village Center" with streetscape improvements. Pedestrian-friendly development is encouraged in this district.

ee also

*

References

*Randall, Natalie Kilmer. "Pontiac Township 1827-1983: The End of an Era". Pontiac, MI: 1983
* [http://www2.oakland.edu/oakland/OUportal/index.asp?item=5193&site=19&centeronly=y Oakland University history page]
* [http://www.auburnhillschamber.com/economy.htm Auburn Hills Chamber of Commerce] "Auburn Hills Welcome Video". Program Source International, 2007. Available at [http://www.program-source.com/clientvideos/auburnhills_psienglish.wmv]

External links

* [http://www.auburnhills.org City of Auburn Hills]
* [http://auburn-hills.lib.mi.us Auburn Hills Public Library]
* [http://www.theoaklandcounty.com The Oakland County]