Romeo is a village located in Macomb County, which is part of the U.S. state of Michigan. According to the 2020 census, the population of Romeo was 3,767. The village is situated on the edge of the Detroit metropolitan area, where rural and urban regions meet. Many people who live in Romeo travel to work in the city of Detroit.
History
A settlement here was first occupied by the Chippewa (Ojibwe), a group of people who spoke an Algonquian language. This language was shared by many tribes that lived from the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Coast. Tribes near the Great Lakes are believed to have moved to this area by the 12th century.
Early European-American settlers called the Chippewa settlement "Indian Village." In the 1820s and 1830s, more European-American families arrived, building homes and starting businesses. They renamed the area "Hoxie's Settlement" after a man who opened an inn on Main Street. In 1839, the settlement became an official village and was renamed Romeo. The name was chosen by the wife of local merchant Nathaniel Taylor because it was "short, musical, classical, and uncommon." Romeo celebrated its 175th anniversary on March 9, 2013.
Romeo once served as a center for trading timber. Many mills processed wood from the region, and wealthy timber families lived there. Many grand Victorian homes still remain. Romeo is unique in the area for having a strong, traditional downtown that never experienced a major fire. Because of this, some stores and restaurants downtown have original tin ceilings from the Civil War era. In the early 1900s, Romeo was the location of a business that helped develop the automobile industry. The Detroit Auto Vehicle Company operated there from 1904 to 1908.
Geography
The village is located in northwestern Macomb County, in the southeast corner of Bruce Township. Part of the village is in Washington Township to the south. Armada Township is next to the village on the east, and Ray Township is to the southeast. M-53 runs along the east side of the village, going north 16 miles (26 km) to Imlay City and south 30 miles (48 km) to the eastern side of Detroit.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the village of Romeo has a total area of 2.05 square miles (5.31 km²), with 0.002 square miles (0.005 km²), or 0.10%, covered by water. East Pond Creek flows through the eastern part of the village, moving east to the North Branch of the Clinton River, which is part of the Lake St. Clair watershed.
Government
The government of the village of Romeo is made up of people who are chosen by voters and those who are assigned to specific roles. The chosen officials include six council members, one president, one treasurer, and one clerk. The assigned officials include the Chief of Police, the Director of the Department of Public Works, and the Village Administrator. Right now, the clerk who was chosen also has the assigned job of Village Administrator. The Clerk/Administrator is responsible for managing the everyday tasks of the village.
Since the year 2000, Romeo has worked to improve its buildings and systems. It has made changes to the streetscape on Van Dyke Avenue, which is the main road in the village, and built a new water tower. Earlier, Romeo created one of the few sewage treatment plants in the area. Most of the larger area around Romeo gets water and sewage services from the City of Detroit, but Romeo has its own water supply and handles its own sewage treatment. This was helpful during a blackout that happened across the northeastern United States on August 14, 2003. Romeo was one of the few places in the Detroit area that still had clean, running water. More recent improvements include fixing the entire village water system and replacing all the sidewalks in the village.
Schools
Romeo has one high school, which also has a ninth grade academy, one middle school, and five elementary schools. Most of these schools are not inside the village.
Demographics
In 2010, the census reported 3,596 people, 1,501 households, and 979 families living in the village. The population density was 1,780.2 people per square mile (687.3 per square kilometer). There were 1,659 housing units, with an average density of 821.3 units per square mile (317.1 per square kilometer). The racial makeup of the village was 91.9% White, 3.8% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 1.1% from other races, and 2.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino individuals of any race were 5.7% of the population.
There were 1,501 households, of which 32.2% had children under 18 living with them, 46.2% were married couples living together, 14.9% had a female head of household without a husband, 4.1% had a male head of household without a wife, and 34.8% were non-families. 30.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36, and the average family size was 2.96.
The median age in the village was 40.9 years. 23.5% of residents were under 18; 7.7% were between 18 and 24; 24.1% were from 25 to 44; 29.4% were from 45 to 64; and 15.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 46.4% male and 53.6% female.
In 2000, the census reported 3,721 people, 1,528 households, and 993 families living in the village. The population density was 1,842.8 people per square mile (711.5 per square kilometer). There were 1,605 housing units, with an average density of 794.9 units per square mile (306.9 per square kilometer). The racial makeup of the village was 92.66% White, 4.35% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.40% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 0.67% from other races, and 1.64% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino individuals of any race were 2.74% of the population.
There were 1,528 households, of which 33.3% had children under 18 living with them, 48.2% were married couples living together, 13.5% had a female head of household without a husband, and 35.0% were non-families. 31.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40, and the average family size was 3.04.
In the village, the population was distributed across different age groups: 26.1% under 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 30.1% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 14.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.5 males.
The median income
Events
Romeo hosts the Michigan Peach Festival every year during Labor Day weekend. The festival began in 1931 to support local orchards. In the early 2000s, the festival includes events such as a 5K/10K run, a car show, three parades, a craft show, Kidsfest, and carnival rides. Each year, a Peach Queen is selected to lead festival activities and represent Romeo. The Michigan Peach Festival is organized by the Romeo Lions Club, a fraternal group.
Tillson Street in Romeo is famous for its detailed Halloween decorations. Thousands of people visit Tillson Street each Halloween to view the unique Halloween displays created by homeowners.
Every February 14, the village of Romeo provides a special dual postmark with the community of Juliette, Georgia. This tradition started in 1994 to honor the William Shakespeare play Romeo and Juliet.
Notable people
- Frank Bowerman, Major League Baseball catcher
- Harold Courlander, writer, folklorist, and anthropologist
- Edwin Henry Hackley, lawyer
- Jill Ritchie, actress
- Kid Rock, rapper
- Tom Sharpe, drummer for Mannheim Steamroller and Dennis DeYoung
- Ben Stephens, Major League Baseball pitcher
- Henry Stephens, lumber baron