Royal Oak, MI
| Royal Oak | |
|---|---|
| City | |
| City of Royal Oak | |
Pictured left to right: Downtown Royal Oak, the National Shrine of the Little Flower church, the Rackham Memorial Fountain at the Detroit Zoo, and the Woodward Dream Cruise.
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 Location in Oakland County and in the state of Michigan |
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| Coordinates: 42°29′20″N 83°8′34″W / 42.48889°N 83.14278°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Michigan |
| County | Oakland |
| Incorporated | 1895 (village) |
| 1921 (city) | |
| Government | |
| • Type | Commission-Manager |
| • Mayor | Mike Fournier |
| • City Manager | Don Johnson |
| Area | |
| • City | 11.79 sq mi (30.54 km2) |
| • Land | 11.79 sq mi (30.54 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0 km2) |
| Elevation | 663 ft (202 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • City | 57,236 |
| • Estimate (2013) | 58,946 |
| • Density | 4,854.6/sq mi (1,874.4/km2) |
| • Metro | 4,285,832 (US: 13th) |
| Time zone | EST (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP codes | 48067, 48068, 48073 |
| Area code(s) | 248 |
| FIPS code | 26-70040 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0636352 |
| Website | http://www.ci.royal-oak.mi.us |
Royal Oak is a city in Oakland County of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a suburb of Detroit. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 57,236. It is the 8th-largest municipality in Oakland County and the 27th largest municipality in Michigan by population.
Royal Oak was incorporated as a village, in 1891, and as a city in 1921. The name originated in 1819, during one of Territorial Governor Lewis Cass' surveying expeditions. A large oak tree located near the present-day intersection of Crooks, Rochester, and Main reminded Cass of the Royal Oak which King Charles II of England hid in to escape capture by the Roundheads after the Battle of Worcester.
In the 1920s, Father Charles Coughlin became the founding pastor of the Shrine of the Little Flower, a prominent landmark in the city. Through his ministry, he raised funds to build the present limestone Church complex and tower from which he aired his radio show.
Throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s, Royal Oak's downtown grew into an entertainment and nightlife destination. A number of large condominiums and lofts have been built in the area. The city also has a Farmers Market located at the corner of 11 Mile Road and Troy Street, adjacent to the 44th District Court. The Royal Oak Farmers Market opened as a truck market, at the corner of 4th and Troy streets, on October 14, 1925 as a cooperative venture between the then-new City of Royal Oak and Oakland County, Michigan. The present structure was erected in the spring of 1927 and dedicated July 1 of that year.
Downtown Royal Oak features a wide assortment of nightlife venues, including the Royal Oak Music Theatre and the Landmark Main Art Theatre. Royal Oak is home to the Detroit Zoo, one of the region's leading tourist attractions. Mark Ridley's Comedy Castle, a comedy club, was an early venue for performers such as Tim Allen and Dave Coulier. The many restaurants range in fare from take-out sandwiches to high-end establishments specializing in cuisines like Italian, Belgian, Nepali, and others. Pubs include biker bars, dance clubs, upscale breweries, sports bars, and rooftop bars. During the summer, downtown Royal Oak becomes host to hordes of motorcycle enthusiasts from around Metro Detroit. On Wednesday nights Main Street is often lined with Harley-Davidsons, whereas on Thursday night the streets fill up with sport bikes.
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