Southgate, city in Wayne County, Michigan, United States
Southgate is a city in Wayne County, Michigan, spanning about 6.5 square miles across a flat landscape. The city features residential neighborhoods, commercial areas with shops and restaurants, and parks connected by a straightforward grid-pattern street system.
Southgate was founded in the late 1790s when Pierre Michel Campau settled in the area, with farming as the main livelihood. The city grew rapidly after World War II as suburban development expanded, and its name referenced the location south of Detroit.
The name Southgate refers to the city's location south of Detroit, reflecting its role as a suburban gateway. Today, residents and visitors experience a welcoming community where people gather at local shops, parks, and city events throughout the year.
The city is easiest to navigate by car since a grid street pattern makes finding your way straightforward, and Interstate 75 runs through the area. Public bus routes connect it to Detroit and surrounding communities if you prefer not to drive.
The city's name comes from a 1950s plan for a shopping center in the southeast corner, which the first mayor Thomas J. Anderson deliberately chose. The Southgate Shopping Center that later opened became a gathering place for shopping and socializing for decades.
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