The city of Lathrup Village is an outgrowth of the development known as Lathrup Townsite, the dream of its developer Louise Lathrup Kelley. In 1923 she purchased a tract of 1,000 acres (4 km2) in Southfield Township, in southern Oakland County, and proceeded to plant a residential neighborhood that encompasses the city of 1.5 square miles (3.9 km2). Lathrup Townsite was conceived as a controlled community with rigorous standards, including houses built only of masonry construction; early integration of attached garages; as well as established minimums for construction cost to ensure quality. The community also had housing covenants to prevent the sale of homes to African American families, part of a larger trend in the mid-20th century of racist white Detroiters fleeing to the suburbs to avoid living near black residents (see white flight). As the community developed, Mrs. Kelley implemented numerous innovative directives, including operating a shuttle service to local shopping areas, and allowing the financing of automobiles as part of the financing of houses, which created a stronger connection between the relatively isolated townsite and more established suburbs, as well as the city of Detroit. Mr. Charles Kelley, who had been a real estate writer for the Detroit News, assisted his wife in bringing talented architects to the community to design many of the custom homes that are features of the community.[5]
The City of Lathrup Village was incorporated in 1953 as the first incorporated community in Southfield Township.[6] The residents thwarted an attempt by township residents to include Lathrup Townsite in their planned incorporation of the city of Southfield, resulting in Southfield's incorporation being delayed until 1958. Louise Lathrup Kelley played an active role in the new city until her death in 1963, after which her remaining real estate holdings in the city were sold and developed.[7]
Lathrup Village Historic District
In 1998 much of Lathrup Village was included on the National Register of Historic Places as the Lathrup Village Historic District.[8] The district includes approximately 1,200 properties, primarily residential, that reflect characteristic housing styles from the first half of the 20th century. These include Colonial Revival, Tudor and ranch houses. According to the Michigan State Historic Preservation Office: “The district possesses a strong geometric street pattern integrated with curvilinear patterns that provide a rural character. This layering of patterns produces octagonal, circular and semi-circular focal points and a series of small triangular parks scattered throughout the district. It also creates unique and changing perspectives, as views of significant buildings suddenly appear at surprising moments. Likewise, at the uniquely configured intersections of many streets, one is met with a new perspective as suddenly several sections of the district become visible.” The developer of the district was Louise Lathrup Kelley. According to the Michigan State Historic Preservation Office “As a woman acting as developer starting in the 1920s, she was essentially alone, however her dogged persistence and insistence on quality resulted in a unique community that was the summation of her career.”[9]
Lathrup Village city, Michigan - Demographic Profile (NH = Non-Hispanic) Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
As of the census[14] of 2010, there were 4,075 people, 1,610 households, and 1,157 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,716.7 inhabitants per square mile (1,048.9/km2). There were 1,698 housing units at an average density of 1,132.0 per square mile (437.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 34.6% White, 61.2% African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.5% from other races, and 3.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.5% of the population.
There were 1,610 households, of which 30.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.1% were married couples living together, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 28.1% were non-families. 22.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 2.99.
The median age in the city was 45.8 years. 20.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.2% were from 25 to 44; 36.1% were from 45 to 64; and 15.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.0% male and 52.0% female.
2000 census
As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 4,236 people, 1,621 households, and 1,207 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,806.1 inhabitants per square mile (1,083.4/km2). There were 1,647 housing units at an average density of 1,091.0 per square mile (421.2/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 49.81% African American, 47.03% White, 0.09% Native American, 0.61% Asian, 0.21% from other races, and 2.24% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.94% of the population.
There were 1,621 households, out of which 33.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.9% were married couples living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.5% were non-families. 21.5% 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 2.60 and the average family size was 3.05.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.6% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 28.8% from 25 to 44, 29.0% from 45 to 64, and 12.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $89,303, and the median income for a family was $98,213. Males had a median income of $65,641 versus $49,375 for females. The per capita income for the city was $35,998. About 1.5% of families and 2.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.8% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.
Lathrup Village was formerly served by the Annie Lathrup School, an elementary school located on Southfield Rd. in the center of the city.[19] The school was built in 1926 and opened in 1927, opposite the Town Hall Sales Office, in an effort to give Lathrup Village a focal point.[20] The building originally had four classrooms, a kindergarten, and a gymnasium.[21] Additional classrooms were built in the 1950s.[22] It was incorporated into the Southfield Public School system, and eventually closed in the late 1970s.[23]
The school building is Lathrup Village's only historical landmark.[24] According to the city's Economic Development Strategy, "With the demolition of the town hall in the 1990s, the school remains the only historic structure on Southfield Road." The Lathrup Village Redevelopment Report relates that "The Annie Lathrup School was included in the Lathrup Village Local Historic District when it was established in 1999" and "is listed on the National Register of Historic Places."[25] All existing efforts to redevelop the city center of Lathrup Village must contend with the difficult question of how to treat this building, and as such none of the many redevelopment plans have been accepted.[26]
The school was named for Annie Lathrup (1861-1954), mother of developer Louise Lathrup Kelley. The school mascot was a beaver, and the sports teams were known as the Lathrup Beavers.[27] Muriel Stacey established the library at the school.[28]
After the school was closed, the building was purchased by Yeshivat Akiva, which was based there until 1999. In the late 1990s the building was sold to a real estate developer, who hoped to use the land for a shopping center. The residents of Lathrup Village protested against this plan and instead another academic organization, the Academy of America, rented the building and opened a branch called The Academy of Lathrup Village.[29] As of December 2013 the building was up for lease.[23]
Notable people
Nick Plummer (born 1996) is a professional baseball outfielder for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball (MLB).
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