Hamtramck Michigan MI Warrant Search

Hamtramck, Michigan Hamtramck (pronounced /hæmˈtræmɨk/) is a city in Wayne County of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 22,976. Hamtramck is surrounded by the city of Detroit except for a small portion of the western border that touches the similarly surrounded city of Highland Park. Hamtramck is named for the French-Canadian soldier Jean François Hamtramck who was the first American commander of Fort Shelby, the fortification at Detroit.Hamtramck was originally settled by German farmers, but Polish immigrants flooded into the area when the Dodge Brothers plant opened in 1914. Poles used to make up a large proportion of the population. It is sometimes confused with Poletown, a traditional Polish neighborhood, which used to lie mostly in the city of Detroit and includes a small part of Hamtramck. As of the 2000 census, over 22% of Hamtramck's population is of Polish origin; in 1970, it was 90% Polish.Over the past thirty years, a large number of immigrants from the Middle East (especially Yemen) and South Asia (especially Bangladesh) have moved to the city. As of the 2000 census, the city's foreign born population stood at 41.1%, making it Michigan's most internationally diverse city (see more at Demographics below). Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.1 square miles (5.4 km2), all land.Hamtramck is mostly surrounded by Detroit except a small common border with the city of Highland Park, which is in turn surrounded by Detroit. Hamtramck lies about 5 miles (8.0 km) from the center of Detroit. The I-75 freeway roughly runs along this city's western border and I-94 runs near its southern border. Culture Hamtramck flourished from 1910 to 1920 as thousands of European immigrants, particularly Polish, were attracted by the growing automobile industry. The city has grown increasingly ethnically diverse but still bears many reminders of its Polish ancestry in family names, street names and businesses. A recent survey found 26 native languages spoken by Hamtramck schoolchildren. The city's motto was 'A League of Nations'.At the time of the 2000 census, Hamtramck was again experiencing considerable growth, with over 8,000 households and a population of almost 23,000.In 1997, the Utne Reader named Hamtramck one of 'the 15 hippest neighborhoods in the U.S. and Canada' in part for its punk and alternative music scene, its Buddhist temple, its cultural diversity, and its laid back blue-collar neighborhoods. And in May 2003, Maxim Blender selected Hamtramck as the second 'Most Rock N' Roll City' in the U.S., behind Williamsburg in Brooklyn, New York City. Hamtramck is home of several of Michigan's most distinguished music venues.In January 2004, members of the Al-Islah Islamic Center requested permission to use loudspeakers for the purpose of broadcasting the Islamic call to prayer. This request set off a contentious debate in the city, ostensibly about the noise that would be caused by the call to prayer, eventually garnering national attention. Ultimately, Hamtramck amended its noise ordinance in July 2004 regulating all religious sounds. Pączki Day Polish immigrants, residents of Hamtramck, and southeastern Michigan celebrate 'Fat Tuesday' (known locally as Pączki Day) by lining up at the city's numerous Polish bakeries to purchase pączki. On Pączki Day, several local bars host parties with live entertainment, some starting as early as 7 A.M. Hamtramck Blowout The 'Hamtramck Blowout' is an annual music festival said to be the largest festival of its sort in the world. There are usually over 200 bands and the festival lasts for four days, in bars throughout the neighborhood. By comparison, Summerfest in Milwaukee, WI runs for twice as long, and hosts twice as many bands. St. Florian Strawberry Festival Held annually in the first weekend in May at grounds at St. Florian Church. Hamtramck Labor Day Festival Held Labor Day weekend, ending with the Polish Day Parade on Labor Day. Live music on three stages, carnival area, beer, and food tents line a half-mile (1 km) stretch of Joseph Campau Street, from Caniff to Carpenter. Planet Ant Film & Video Festival in Hamtramck Held at the Planet Ant Theater, the festival celebrates independent movies and the people who make them, featuring comedies, dramas, documentaries, animation and music videos. Economy On November 17, 2010 the city sought permission from the state to file bankruptcy, an unusual move by a city.General Motors' Detroit/Hamtramck Assembly plant, one of the automaker's premiere facilities, produces the Cadillac DTS and the Buick Lucerne. GM has announced it will begin manufacturing the new plug-in hybrid Chevrolet Volt at the plant in 2010.Detroit Axle maintains a plant there. However, in April, 2009, American Axle & Manufacturing announced that it planned to close it plant at the Hamtramck/Detroit border and move production to Mexico, resulting in the elimination of several hundred jobs.The Polish Art Center, at 9539 Joseph Campau Street, is a local institution in Hamtramck. There, one can find many Polish art objects, books, foods, and art from other areas of Europe. The center's selection of Communist-era Polish theatrical and operatic posters is unusual.The Ukrainian American Archives & Museum of Detroit is located at 11756 Charest Street. The Museum's purpose is “to educate and inform the general public about the culture, art, and history of Ukrainians, their immigration to the United States and the contributions of Americans of Ukrainian descent to America; to engage in research in these areas; to maintain archives for the deposit of documents and other records relating to these topics; to acquire, preserve, exhibit artifacts of artistic, historical, and scientific value relating to these subjects; to sponsor public programs in order to study and preserve the heritage of Ukrainian Americans.”For more than 85 years, Kowalski Sausage Co. manufactured meat products at 2270 Holbrook Street, which are distributed in the metropolitan Detroit area.Notwithstanding the statement in the credits that it was filmed 'in Detroit, Michigan', the 1998 Indie film Polish Wedding was filmed mainly in Hamtramck, and particularly at a house on Wyandotte Street. Theresa Connelly, who wrote and directed the film, had spent her childhood in Hamtramck. Demographics As of the census of 2000, there were 22,976 people, 8,033 households, and 4,851 families residing in the city. The population density was 10,900.5 per square mile (4,208.7 /km2), making it the most densely populated city in Michigan. There were 8,894 housing units at an average density of 4,219.6 per square mile (1,629.2 /km2). The racial makeup of the city was 60.96% white (which includes people of Middle Eastern ancestry), 15.12% African American, 0.43% Native American, 10.37% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 1.14% from other races, and 11.89% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.31% of the population.In the 2000 census, major ancestry groups reported by Hamtramck residents were as follows:Polish22.9% Black orAfrican American15.1% Yugoslav10.5% Arab(Excluding Iraqi and Lebanese) 8.2% Asian Indian5.4% Ukrainian3.2% German2.9% Albanian2.8% Bangladeshi2.7% Irish2.2% Italian1.8% Russia1.4% American1.1% French(exceptBasque) 0.8% Lebanese0.7% Scottish0.7% Mexican0.6% Pakistani0.6% Macedonian0.5% Iraqi0.5% 3.1% of Hamtramck's population reported Albanian ancestry. This made it the second most Albanian place in the United States by percentage of the population, second only to Fairview, North Carolina.There were 8,033 households out of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.3% were married couples living together, 16.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.6% were non-families. 32.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.59.In the city the population was spread out with 27.8% under the age of 18, 10.8% 18 through 24, 31.9% 25 through 44, 17.7% 45 through 64, and 11.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 110.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 109.6 males.The median income for a household in the city was $26,616, and the median income for a family was $30,496. Males had a median income of $29,368 versus $22,346 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,691. About 24.1% of families and 27.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 36.9% of those under age 18 and 18.1% of those age 65 or over. Government Hamtramck is governed under a council-manager form of government in which the elected mayor of the city is the chief executive officer. The city council hires a city manager, who becomes the city's chief administrative officer. The city manager has the vested powers and responsibility to appoint and remove all city employees and department heads, prepare the city's budget, and other city functions.The city council consists of six seats. The mayor is elected separately, and votes only in the case of a tie and on ordinances and contracts.As of the end of the year, 2010, the city has been beset by budget woes. It has pleaded with the state to be allowed to declare bankruptcy, but still has not been allowed to do so. http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20101228/ZNYT02/12283008/2055/NEWS?Title=Michigan-Town-Is-Left-Pleading-for-BankruptcyThe United States Postal Service operates the Hamtramck Post Office at 2933 Caniff Street. The post office annex is located at 14600 Dequindre Street in the City of Detroit. Education Hamtramck is served by Hamtramck Public Schools. Hamtramck High School is the public high school of Hamtramck.Hamtramck Public Library Albert J. Zak Memorial is located at 2360 Caniff. The Tau Beta Association founded the library in November 1918. The library opened at its second location, the second floor of a professional building, on November 14, 1938. In 1951 the City Hall branch opened in the first floor of the municipal building; it was dedicated on January 22, 1952. The current library received its groundbreaking ceremony on July 5, 1955. It was completed on May 31, 1956 and dedicated on July 1, 1956. Timeline 1796: ColonelJean Francois Hamtramcktook possession of Detroit after British troops evacuated. 1798: The Township of Hamtramck was established. 1901: Hamtramck was established as a village. 1908:Saint FlorianRoman Catholic Churchparish is the first Catholic church in Hamtramck. 1910:Dodge Brothers Motor Car Companybreak ground for an automotive plant in Hamtramck; rapid influx of European immigrants begins. 1914: Dodge Brothers plant begins operations. 1922: Hamtramck is incorporated as a city to protect itself from annexation by Detroit; Peter C. Jezewski is the first mayor. 1926: St. Florian's present edifice is built.It has a 1928Austin OrganOpus #1528 that contains 3 Manuals and 40 ranks,which was newly refurbished in 2008. 1959: WonLittle League World Seriesof Baseball.Hamtramck was a hotbed of baseball activity at the time, and it is the only Michigan city to win that title. 1996: In November, voters pass theOrdinance to Preserve Parkland in Hamtramckby a 64% vote, after a year long campaign, marking the first time an ordinance was ever enacted in the City by a referendum vote of the population. 2000: Hamtramck goes into Emergency Financial Status after running million dollar deficits and political in-fighting. Gov. Engler appoints Louis Schimmel as Emergency Financial Manager. 2005: Hamtramck voters ratify a new City Charter 2007: Hamtramck emerges from state-mandated Emergency Financial Status. 2010: Hamtramck asked the state ofMichiganpermission to file for bankruptcy protection. In 1910 Hamtramck, then a village, had 3,559 residents. Between 1910 and 1920 Hamtramck's population grew by 1,266 percent. The growth of Hamtramck and neighboring Highland Park broke records for increases of population; both municipalities withstood annexation efforts from Detroit. Notable residents Jane Bartkowicz, tennis player and girls single winner atThe Championships, Wimbledon, was born in Hamtramck, and her skills were developed under the tutelage of the Hoxies. Albert M. Bielawski,MichiganState Representative, lived in Hamtramck. Art 'Pinky' Deras, led Hamtramck to theLittle LeagueWorld Series championship in 1959 and thePony LeagueWorld Series championship in 1961, and considered to be the greatest Little Leaguer of all time.Only two cities have ever won both the Little League and Pony League Championships in the same year, the other beingMarietta, Georgia. Bob Franke, singer-songwriter, born in Hamtramck. John Hodiak(1914–1955), actor, raised in Hamtramck. Jean Hoxie, Hamtramcktennisplayer and coachinducted into theMichigan Sports Hall of Famein 1965.She andJerry Hoxie(her husband) developed 16 singles champions in Class A and 13 doubles teams, winning state titles for the Hamtramck Cosmos. Their tightly disciplined program had a surprising 18 boys state championships between 1949 and 1969 in high school competition. Some great players fostered by their program were Ken Angyal, Chuck Brainard, Pancho Castillo, Jerry Dubie, Al Hetseck, Ted Jax, George Korol, Fred Kovaleski, John Lamerato, Tony Lamerato, Bill Petrick, Dick Potter, and Ray Senkowski. Winning national honors, some girls includedPeaches Bartkowicz, Elaine Lewicki, Joyce Pniewski and Stephanie Prychitko.The Hoxies contribution has been summarized as: 'If asked to name the dominating force in Michigan tennis history, any person even remotely aware of our sport would undoubtedly arrive at the names of Jean and Jerry Hoxie. Indeed, the list of state and national junior champions produced from that most unlikely location, Hamtramck, is a testament to the true greatness of what these two astonishing people achieved.'Hamtramck tennis was of such import that it has been treated in works of fiction. Gail Kobe, actor, born and raised in Hamtramck. Warith Deen Mohammed(1933–2008), son ofElijah Muhammad, leader ofAmerican Society of Muslims, born in Hamtramck. Tom Paciorek, Major League Baseball star, played on the 1961 Hamtramck team that won the Pony League World Series championship. Mitch Ryder, singer,The Detroit Wheels, born in Hamtramck. Rudy Tomjanovich, professional basketball player, coach Tom Tyler(1903–1954), actor, retired to and died in Hamtramck. Roger Zatkoff(born 1931),NFLplayer for theGreen Bay PackersandDetroit Lions. Raymond ZussmanJewish recipient of the Medal of Honor