Dearborn is a city in Wayne County, Michigan, located in the United States. It is a city near Detroit, bordered by Detroit to the north and east, and is about 7 miles west of downtown Detroit. According to the 2020 census, Dearborn had a population of 109,976, making it the seventh-largest city in Michigan. It is most famous as the hometown of the Ford Motor Company and its founder, Henry Ford.

The first recorded settlement in Dearborn dates back to the 18th century, when French Canadian explorers named it La Belle Fontaine or Place aux Fontaines because of the many springs in the area. The name was later changed to Springwells in English. The settlement was connected to the Detroit River and other farms along the Rouge River and the Sauk Trail. In the 19th century, the community grew with the creation of the Detroit Arsenal on the Chicago Road, which linked Detroit to Chicago. During the 20th century, Dearborn became a major center for car manufacturing.

Henry Ford was born on a farm where Ford Road and Greenfield Road now intersect. He later built Fair Lane, his estate, and the River Rouge Complex, the largest factory in his company, in Dearborn. He helped create the mass production of cars and made Dearborn the headquarters of the Ford Motor Company. The city is home to a campus of the University of Michigan and Henry Ford College. The Henry Ford museum is the largest indoor-outdoor historic museum in the United States and a top attraction in Metro Detroit.

Most people in Dearborn are American citizens with European or Middle Eastern backgrounds, many of whom are descendants of immigrants from the 19th and 20th centuries. The census lists the largest European groups as German, Polish, Irish, and Italian. In the late 20th century, more people came from the Middle East, including many Muslims and smaller numbers of Christians from Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen. Dearborn has the largest Muslim population in the United States and the biggest mosque in North America. In 2023, a survey found that 55% of Dearborn residents identified as having Middle Eastern or North African ancestry, making it the first Arab-majority city in the United States.

History

Before Europeans arrived, the area had been home to many First Nations peoples for thousands of years. These groups included tribes that mostly spoke Algonquian languages, such as the Council of Three Fires, the Potawatomi, and related peoples. In contrast, the Huron (Wyandot) spoke Iroquoian languages. French colonists built a trading post at Fort Detroit and started a settlement there during the colonial period. Another settlement developed on the south side of the Detroit River in what is now southwestern Ontario, near a Huron mission village. French and French-Canadian colonists also created farms in the Dearborn area during this time. In 1763, France gave up all its land east of the Mississippi River in North America to Great Britain after losing the Seven Years' War.

After the United States won independence in the American Revolutionary War in 1786, more people from Europe moved to the region, settling in Detroit and the Dearborn area. As the population grew, Dearborn Township was formed in 1833, and the village of Dearbornville was created in 1836. Both places were named after Henry Dearborn, a general in the American Revolution who later became Secretary of War under President Thomas Jefferson. The Town of Dearborn became an official city in 1893. For much of the 19th century, the area was mostly rural and relied on farming.

Because of industrial growth in Detroit and within its own area, Dearborn became a city in 1927. Its current borders were established in 1928 through a vote that combined Dearborn with the neighboring town of Fordson (formerly called Springwells), which wanted to avoid being absorbed into expanding Detroit.

According to historian James W. Loewen in his book Sundown Towns (2005), Dearborn discouraged African Americans from living in the city. In the early 20th century, both white and Black people moved to Detroit for factory jobs. Over time, some residents moved to the suburbs. Many in Dearborn were proud of the saying, "The sun never set on a Negro in Dearborn." Orville Hubbard, the segregationist mayor of Dearborn from 1942 to 1978, claimed it was against the law for Black people to live in his suburb. In the mid-1950s, he told the Montgomery Advertiser, "Negroes can't get in here. Every time we hear of a Negro moving in, we respond quicker than you do to a fire."

The area between Dearborn and Fordson was once farmland and remains partly undeveloped. Much of this land was bought by Henry Ford for his estate, Fair Lane, and for the Ford Motor Company World Headquarters. Later developments in this area included the Ford Airport (later renamed the Dearborn Proving Grounds) and other Ford offices and facilities.

Recent additions to the area include The Henry Ford (a museum and reconstructed historic village), the Henry Ford Centennial Library, the Fairlane Town Center (a large shopping mall), and the Ford Performing Arts Center. Open land in the area is planted with sunflowers and soybeans, a crop Henry Ford enjoyed. These crops are never harvested.

The Arab American National Museum (AANM) opened in 2005 and is the first museum in the world focused on Arab American history and culture. Arab Americans in Dearborn include descendants of Lebanese Christians who arrived in the early 20th century to work in the auto industry, as well as more recent immigrants and their families from Muslim-majority countries.

On February 2, 2024, the Wall Street Journal published an opinion article titled "Welcome to Dearborn, America's Jihad Capital," claiming there were many supporters of Islamic extremism in the area. Mayor Abdullah Hammoud said the article was unfair and caused more online hate speech against the city’s residents. In response, he increased police patrols.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 24.5 square miles (63 km²), of which 24.4 square miles (63 km²) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km²) (0.37%) is water. The city is located on both sides of the Rouge River. An artificial waterfall and a low-head dam were built by Henry Ford on his estate to provide power for his factory. The Upper, Middle, and Lower Branches of the river meet in Dearborn. Near the Rouge Plant, the river is widened and redirected to allow large lake freighters to travel through.

Fordson Island (42°17′38″N 83°08′52″W / 42.29389°N 83.14778°W / 42.29389; -83.14778) is an 8.4-acre (3.4-hectare) island located about three miles (5 km) upriver on the River Rouge from where it joins the Detroit River. It is the only major island in a tributary of the Detroit River. The island was created in 1922 when engineers dug a secondary channel to redirect the River Rouge, improving its navigability for shipping. The island is privately owned, has no public access, and is part of the city of Dearborn, which does not have direct access to the Detroit River.

Dearborn is one of a few cities that own property in other cities. It owns Camp Dearborn, a 626-acre (2.53 km²) area in Milford, Michigan, located 35 miles (56 km) from Dearborn. For a time, the city also owned the Dearborn Towers apartment complex in Clearwater, Florida, but this property was later sold. Camp Dearborn is considered part of the city of Dearborn. Money earned from camp admissions is used to support the city’s budget.

Demographics

In 2020, 54.5% of the population said they had Middle Eastern or North African ancestry. The most common detailed ancestries were:

• Lebanese (20.7%)
• Yemeni (13.2%)
• Arab (8.6%)
• German (8.2%)
• Irish (7.6%)
• English (6.4%)
• Polish (6%)
• Iraqi (4.5%)
• Italian (3.7%)
• African American (2.7%)

As of the 2010 census, the population of Dearborn was 98,153. The racial and ethnic makeup was 89.1% White, 4.0% Black or African-American, 0.2% Native American, 1.7% Asian, 0.2% Non-Hispanic people of other races, 4.0% who reported two or more races, and 3.4% who were Hispanic or Latino. About 41.7% had Arab ancestry, which was classified as "White" in Census data.

In the 2000 census, 61.9% of people spoke only English at home, 29.3% spoke Arabic, 1.9% spoke Spanish, and 1.5% spoke Polish. There were 36,770 households. Of these, 31.3% had children under 18 living with them, 51.0% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.1% were non-families. About 30.9% of all households had only one person, and 14.7% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.65, and the average family size was 3.42.

In the city, 27.8% of the population was under 18, 8.3% was aged 18 to 24, 29.2% was aged 25 to 44, 19.1% was aged 45 to 64, and 15.6% was 65 or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.0 males. For every 100 females aged 18 or older, there were 96.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $44,560, and the median income for a family was $53,060. Males had a median income of $45,114, while females had a median income of $33,872. The per capita income was $21,488. About 12.2% of families and

Economy

The world headquarters of Ford Motor Company is located in Dearborn. The Dearborn campus includes many research, testing, finance, and some production facilities. Ford Land manages the many properties owned by Ford, such as renting and selling spaces to other businesses, including the Fairlane Town Center shopping mall. DFCU Financial, the largest credit union in Michigan, was created to serve employees of Ford and related companies.

One of the largest employers in Dearborn is Oakwood Healthcare System, which is now part of Beaumont Health. Other major employers include auto suppliers like Visteon, education facilities such as Henry Ford College, and museums such as The Henry Ford. Other businesses with headquarters in Dearborn include Carhartt (clothing), Eppinger (fishing lures), AAA Michigan (insurance), and the Society of Manufacturing Engineers.

According to the city's 2022 financial report, the largest employers in the city are:

Education

The University of Michigan–Dearborn and Henry Ford College are located in Dearborn on Evergreen Road and are next to each other. Central Michigan University also offers classes in Dearborn. Career training schools in the area include Kaplan Career Institute.

Dearborn residents, along with a small number of residents from Dearborn Heights, attend Dearborn Public Schools. This school system has 34 schools, including major high schools such as Fordson High School, Dearborn High School, and Edsel Ford High School. The public schools serve more than 18,000 students in the fourth-largest school district in the state.

Private schools in Dearborn include Divine Child High School and Elementary School. The high school is the largest private coed high school in the area. Henry Ford Academy is a charter high school located in Greenfield Village and the Henry Ford Museum. Another charter school is Advanced Technology Academy. Dearborn Schools operated Clara B. Ford High School inside Vista Maria, a non-profit residential treatment center for girls in Dearborn Heights. Clara B. Ford High School became a charter school in the 2007–08 school year.

A small part of Dearborn is within the Westwood Community School District. These areas are zoned for industrial and commercial uses.

The Islamic Center of America runs the Muslim American Youth Academy (MAYA), an Islamic elementary and middle school.

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit operates Sacred Heart Elementary School. It previously operated St. Alphonsus School in Dearborn. In 2003, the archdiocese closed St. Alphonsus High School, and in 2005, it closed St. Alphonsus Elementary School.

Global Educational Excellence operates several charter schools in Dearborn, including Riverside Academy Early Childhood Center, Riverside Academy East Campus (K-5), and Riverside Academy West Campus (6–12).

Dearborn Christian School closed in 2014.

Dearborn Public Library includes the Henry Ford Centennial Library, the main library, and the Bryant and Esper branches.

Dearborn’s first public library opened in 1924 at the building now known as the Bryant Branch. This was the main library until the Ford library opened in 1969. In 1970, the Mason building was classified as a branch library. It was renamed in 1977 after Katharine Wright Bryant, who helped plan and support the library.

In April 1963, Ford Motor Company gave the City of Dearborn $3 million to build a library as a memorial to Henry Ford. On July 30, 1963, the company provided 15.3 acres of land for the library, marking the 100th anniversary of Henry Ford’s birth. The Ford Foundation later gave the library an additional $500,000 for supplies and equipment. The library was dedicated on November 25, 1969. Originally, only the library had offices in the building, but in 1979, the library gave space to the City of Dearborn Health Department.

The Esper Branch, the smallest library, is located in the Arab residential area of the city. It opened in 1953 and was originally named the Warren Branch. It replaced the Northeast Branch, which had opened in a storefront in 1944. In 1961, the branch was renamed after city councilman Anthony M. Esper.

Between 1934 and 1943, during and after the Great Depression, the U.S. government commissioned murals for public buildings through the Section of Painting and Sculpture, later called the Section of Fine Arts. These murals often showed local history. In 1938, artist Rainey Bennett painted a mural titled Ten Eyck's Tavern on Chicago Road for the federal post offices in Dearborn.

Sports facilities in Dearborn include the Dearborn Ice Skating Center and the Dearborn Civic Center.

Transportation

Amtrak, the national passenger rail system, offers service to Dearborn. It operates the Wolverine train three times each day in both directions between Chicago, Illinois, and Pontiac, passing through Detroit. Passengers cannot check baggage at this location, but they may bring up to two suitcases and personal items such as briefcases, purses, laptop bags, and infant equipment on board as carry-ons. There is one rail stop in Dearborn: the John D. Dingell Transit Center. Amtrak uses the Michigan Line, which is managed by the Michigan Department of Transportation. This track runs from Dearborn to Kalamazoo, Michigan. Additional rail lines, including CSX Transportation's Detroit Subdivision, Canadian National Railway/Grand Trunk Western Railroad's Dearborn Subdivision, and Conrail Shared Assets' Junction Yard Running Track, also pass through Dearborn. Most freight traffic on these lines is connected to the automotive industry.

Dearborn is served by buses from both the Detroit Department of Transportation (DDOT) and the Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART) systems.

From 1924 to 1947, Dearborn was home to Ford Airport. The airport had the first concrete runway in the world and the first regular passenger service in the United States.

In March 2021, SMART Flex was launched as an on-demand public transit service created with the help of Via Transportation. SMART Flex allows residents and workers in Dearborn, Troy, the Hall Road corridor between Utica and New Baltimore, Pontiac/Auburn Hills, and Farmington/Farmington Hills to book rides using the SMART Flex app.

Arts and culture

• Arab American National Museum
• Automotive Hall of Fame
• The Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village
• Fair Lane Estate
• Dearborn Historical Museum
• The Stamelos Gallery at the University of Michigan Dearborn Mardigan Library
• The Alfred Berkowitz Gallery at the University of Michigan Dearborn Mardigan Library

• Crowley Park and Field
• Ford Field Park
• Ford Woods Park
• Hemlock Park
• Levagood Park
• Lapeer Park
• Rouge Gateway Park and Trail

• Ford Community and Performing Arts Center
• Ford-Wyoming Drive-In

• Edward Hotel and Convention Center
• Henry Ford II World Center
• Ford World Headquarters
• Ford Homes Historic District
• Islamic Center of America

Many of these buildings were designed by architect Albert Kahn for Henry Ford.

• Dearborn Inn
• Ford Engineering Laboratory
• Ford River Rouge Complex

Government

Dearborn uses a system where a mayor and a council work together to govern the city. As of 2021, the Mayor of the City of Dearborn is Abdullah Hammoud. The City Clerk is George T. Darany, and the City Council President is Michael T. Sareini.

The Dearborn City Hall Complex was built in 1922 and operated until 2014, when government activities moved to the new Dearborn Administrative Center. After this move, the old city hall was redeveloped by Artspace Projects to provide affordable and sustainable space for artists and arts organizations.

Politics

Dearborn has mostly voted for the Democratic Party throughout its history.

In 2016, Bernie Sanders received the most votes in areas of Dearborn with many Muslim and Arab residents during the Democratic Party presidential primaries.

In the 2020 United States presidential election, 68.8% of voters in Dearborn chose Joe Biden, while 29.9% chose Donald Trump.

In 2021, Niraj Warikoo of the Detroit Free Press reported that Yemeni Americans in Dearborn were pushing for greater involvement in city government decisions.

In the 2022 Michigan elections, there was a change in voting patterns in east Dearborn (an area with many Arab and Muslim residents) as debates about LGBTQ+ materials in schools became a topic of discussion. According to Niraj Warikoo of The Detroit News, "Democrats still won the city overall by a clear majority."

In the 2024 Michigan Democratic presidential primary, the Uncommitted vote (a choice for voters who did not support a specific candidate) received the most votes in Dearborn, as well as in Hamtramck and Dearborn Heights. These three cities have large Arab American and Muslim populations. Residents protested against Joe Biden’s actions related to the Gaza war.

Before the 2024 United States presidential election, Mayor Abdullah Hammoud did not support President Joe Biden for re-election due to the government’s actions in the Gaza war. In that election, 42.48% of voters in Dearborn chose Donald Trump, 36.26% chose Kamala Harris, and 18.37% chose Jill Stein, the Green Party candidate. Trump became the first Republican to win the city since the 2000 presidential election.

Media

The city newspapers in the Detroit area are The Detroit News and the Detroit Free Press. The Dearborn & Dearborn Heights Press and Guide provides local news for the cities of Dearborn and Dearborn Heights. The Arab American News is also published in Dearborn.

Timeline

• 1603 – French people claim an unknown area in this region and call it New France.
• July 24, 1701 – Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac and his soldiers arrive at what is now Detroit.
• November 29, 1760 – The British take control of the area from France.
• 1780 – Pierre Dumais clears land for a farm near what later becomes Morningside Street in Dearborn's South End.

• 1783 – The Treaty of Paris, which ends the American Revolutionary War, causes Great Britain to give up land south of the Great Lakes to the United States. However, the British still control the Detroit area and other settlements until 1797.
• 1786 – The first permanent settler arrives in present-day Dearborn.
• 1787 – The area of the United States north and west of the Ohio River is officially named the Northwest Territory.
• December 26, 1791 – The area around Detroit becomes part of Kent County, Ontario.
• 1795 – James Cissne becomes the first settler in what is now west Dearborn.
• 1796 – Wayne County is created by the acting governor of the Northwest Territory. Its original size covers 2,000,000 square miles (5,200,000 km²), stretching from Cleveland, Ohio, to Chicago, Illinois, and northwest to Canada.
• May 7, 1800 – The Indiana Territory is formed from part of the Northwest Territory. However, the eastern half of Michigan, including the Dearborn area, is not part of Indiana Territory until Ohio becomes a state in 1803.
• January 11, 1805 – The Michigan Territory is officially created from part of the Indiana Territory.
• June 11, 1805 – A fire destroys most of Detroit.
• November 15, 1815 – The current boundaries of Wayne County are drawn, and the county is split into 18 townships.
• January 5, 1818 – Springwells Township is established by Gov. Lewis Cass.
• October 23, 1824 – Bucklin Township is created by Gov. Lewis Cass. The area runs from Greenfield to approximately Haggerty and from Van Born to Eight Mile.
• 1826 – Conrad Ten Eyck builds Ten Eyck Tavern at Michigan Avenue and Rouge River.
• 1827 – Wayne County's boundaries change to its current size of 615 square miles (1,593 km²).
• April 12, 1827 – Springwells and Bucklin townships are officially organized and laid out by a gubernatorial act.
• October 29, 1829 – Bucklin Township is split along what is now Inkster Road into Nankin (west half) and Pekin (east half) townships.
• March 21, 1833 – Pekin Township is renamed Redford Township.
• March 31, 1833 – Greenfield Township is created from parts of Springwells Township, including what is now east Dearborn.
• April 1, 1833 – Dearborn Township is created from the southern half of Redford Township south of Bonaparte Avenue (Joy Road).
• 1833 – Detroit Arsenal is built.
• October 23, 1834 – Dearborn Township is renamed Bucklin Township.
• March 26, 1836 – Bucklin Township is renamed Dearborn Township.
• January 26, 1837 – Michigan becomes the 26th state in the United States. Stevens T. Mason is the first governor.
• 1837 – The Michigan Central Railroad is extended through Springwells Township. A small town called Springwells grows near the railroad.
• April 5, 1838 – The village of Dearbornville is incorporated. It later becomes unincorporated on May 11, 1846.
• 1849 – Detroit annexes Springwells Township east of Brooklyn Street.
• April 2, 1850 – Greenfield Township annexes part of Springwells Township.
• February 12, 1857 – Detroit annexes Springwells Township east of Grand Boulevard.
• March 25, 1873 – Springwells Township annexes part of Greenfield Township south of Tireman.
• May 28, 1875 – The postmaster general changes the name of the Dearbornville post office to Dearborn post office, renaming the city.
• 1875 – Detroit Arsenal is closed.
• 1875 – Detroit annexes another part of Springwells Township.
• 1876 – William A. Nowlin writes The Bark-Covered House to honor the country's 100th birthday.
• June 20, 1884 – Detroit annexes Springwells Township east of Livernois.
• 1889 – The first telephone is installed in Dearborn at St. Joseph's retreat.

• March 24, 1893 – The village of Dearborn is incorporated.
• 1906 – Detroit annexes another part of Springwells Township.
• 1916 – Henry, Clara, and Edsel Ford move to Dearborn.
• 1916 – Detroit annexes more of Springwells Township, forming Dearborn's current boundaries.
• 1917 – The Ford Motor Company begins production of the Model T in Highland Park, Michigan.
• 1927 – The Edsel Ford House is built in Dearborn.
• 1933 – The Henry Ford Museum opens in Dearborn.
• 1937 – The Greenfield Village is opened in Dearborn.
• 1941 – World War II begins, and Ford factories in Dearborn produce military vehicles.
• 1951 – The Dearborn Public Schools system is reorganized.
• 1955 – The Ford Motor Company begins testing the first nuclear-powered car in Dearborn.
• 1960 – The remaining parts of Dearborn Township are incorporated as Dearborn Heights, Michigan.
• 1962 – St. Joseph's retreat is closed and torn down.
• 1962 – A new campus for Henry Ford Community College is dedicated.

Notable people

• Myles Amine – won a bronze medal in freestyle wrestling at the 2020 Summer Olympics for San Marino
• Frankie Andreu – professional cyclist who competed in the Tour de France multiple times
• Anthony Bass – Major League Baseball pitcher for the Miami Marlins
• Najah Bazzy – humanitarian and leader who works to bring people of different faiths together
• Robert Bierman – author of books
• Dave Brandon – was the CEO of Toys "R" Us and the chairman of Domino's Pizza
• Claire-Marie Brisson – academic who teaches at Harvard University
• David Burtka – chef and actor who is married to Neil Patrick Harris
• Brian Calley – 63rd Lieutenant Governor of Michigan
• Garrett Clayton – actor
• Jim Cummins – player in the National Hockey League (NHL)
• Haz Al-Din – political theorist and online content creator
• John Dingell – former dean of the U.S. House of Representatives and longest-serving member of Congress
• Agnes Dobronski – teacher and state legislator in Michigan
• Kristen Doute – television personality known for appearing on Vanderpump Rules
• Ronnie Duman – auto racer
• Chad Everett – actor who appeared in Medical Center, The Last Challenge, Made in Paris, and Airplane II: The Sequel
• Rima Fakih – won Miss Michigan USA 2010 and Miss USA 2010
• Henry Ford – founder of the Ford Motor Company
• Edsel Ford – son of Henry Ford and second president of Ford Motor Company; co-namesake of Fordson
• Scott Freidheim – CEO, investor, and author
• Dan Gheesling – winner of Big Brother 10 (U.S.) and runner-up on Big Brother 14 (U.S.)
• Russ Gibb – concert promoter and media figure
• George Z. Hart – state senator in Michigan
• Ahmad Harajly – rugby player for USA Rugby
• Orville L. Hubbard – mayor of Dearborn from 1942 to 1978
• Al Iafrate – NHL defenseman
• Art James – TV quiz-show host
• Ahmad Musa Jibril – Islamic preacher
• Dakota Joshua – professional ice hockey player
• Ali Kabbani – known as "Myth," a YouTube live streamer and professional gamer
• John C. Kornblum – former U.S. Ambassador to Germany
• Mei Lin – chef who won Top Chef: Boston
• Derek Lowe – Major League Baseball pitcher who won the 2004 World Series with the Boston Red Sox
• Don Matheson – actor who appeared in Land of the Giants
• Nancy Milford – author and biographer
• Alan Mulally – CEO of Ford Motor Company
• Dorothy Naum – baseball player
• Johnny Pacar – actor who appeared in Flight 29 Down, Make It or Break It, and Now You See It…
• Eugenia Paul – actress and dancer
• George Peppard – film actor known for Breakfast at Tiffany's and How the West Was Won
• Tom Price – United States Secretary of Health and Human Services
• Brian Rafalski – NHL defenseman for the New Jersey Devils and Detroit Red Wings
• Doug Ross – college ice hockey coach
• Soony Saad – soccer player
• Robert Saleh – NFL head coach of the Tennessee Titans
• Scott Sanderson – All-Star Major League Baseball pitcher who played for seven teams over 19 seasons
• Norbert Schemansky – four-time Olympic medalist in weightlifting
• Suzanne Sena – host of the IFC program Onion News Network and former Fox News anchor
• Serena Shim – Lebanese-American journalist
• Jim Snyder – Major League Baseball player and manager
• Edward Stinson – aviation pioneer
• Pat Shurmur – NFL offensive coordinator and former head coach
• Gary Wayne – former pitcher for the Minnesota Twins