River Rouge, city in Michigan
River Rouge is a small city in Wayne County, Michigan, located along the Detroit River and the waterway it is named after. The city features historic industrial facilities, established residential neighborhoods with mid-20th century homes including ranches and bungalows, and direct access to the river and nearby parks.
The area was settled in 1808 and became a village in 1899 before gaining city status in 1922. Its growth was driven by access to iron ore from the Upper Peninsula and coal from nearby sources, which attracted shipyards and manufacturing plants that shaped the region's economy.
The name River Rouge comes from French and means Red River, a heritage from early French colonial settlement in the region. This connection to water and the river's role in daily life remains central to how residents experience and identify with their city.
The city is accessible by highways I-75 and I-94 and offers affordable housing in established neighborhoods with stable prices. Proximity to Detroit Metropolitan Airport and nearby cities makes commuting practical, while riverfront parks provide outdoor recreation spaces.
The SS Edmund Fitzgerald was built here in 1958 and was the largest ship on the Great Lakes at that time before sinking in a storm in 1975. This shipbuilding heritage illustrates the city's role in regional industrial development and maritime history.
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