Introduction to Southfield, Michigan
Southfield, Michigan, in Oakland county, is 13 miles NW of Detroit, Michigan. Southfield is recognized as a suburb of Detroit. It's also a major commercial center and features the Southfield Town Center, which is a well known upscale office center for the region. The city is home to the corporate headquarters of notable companies such as Federal-Mogul, Electronic Data Systems, Denso and Lear Corporation. A vast number of Fortune 500 companies have office space in the city.
The daytime population swells due to the commuters who work in the city's vast number of offices. It's a modern city with skyscrapers but it also features numerous tree-lined neighborhoods. Southfield has a large number of hotels and is popular for conventions and conferences. The city includes a vast amount of parkland and nationally recognized school districts. The Rogue River flows through the town.
Southfield History
The original settlers arrived from Birmingham and Royal Oak Michigan as well as from New York and Vermont. The city was established in 1823 by John Daniels. The name was given due to being located in the "south fields" of Bloomfield Township. The municipality experienced significant population growth from the 1950's to 1990 primarily due to citizens of Detroit choosing to move to suburban areas. By the early 1990s a large number of middle-class African Americans relocated in Southfield.
Southfield Activities and Entertainment
The city features more than 700 acres of parkland, and an extensive system of nature and fitness trails. It's home to almost 200 restaurants and features a wide variety of cuisine. The prominent Star Southfield Entertainment Center is popular for watching movies and for it's restaurants. The Civic Center Park features an ice skating facility, a sports arena, a popular golf course and other recreational facilities.
The Southfield Sports Arena includes an indoor ice skating facility that is also utilized for ice hockey. Popular shopping destinations include the Northland Mall and Greenfield. The Millennium Center offers Broadway shows, ballet and a variety of musicals. Residents can easily travel to nearby Detroit for entertainment and watching professional sports.
Southfield Transportation
The city is served by the nearby Detroit Metropolitan International and Oakland County International airports. SMART provides bus services for the area.
Southfield Higher Education
Southfield is home to the Lawrence Technological University and the National Institute of Technology. Oakland Community College is nearby.
