Sterling Heights, Michigan

Sterling Heights is a city in Macomb County in the state of Michigan. It is a northern suburb of Detroit, about 18 miles north of Downtown.

The city is large, with many people living there. It is the second-largest suburb of Detroit and the fourth-most populous city in Michigan. It is an important place for families and businesses.

History

The area that is now Sterling Heights was first mapped out in 1818 after the War of 1812. It started as part of Shelby Township and was later called Sterling Township.

In the 1950s, the area began to grow as people moved there to work in Detroit’s automobile factories. It became a city in 1968 and was named Sterling Heights. Many people from eastern Europe and Iraq moved to the city, making it a diverse place.

Geography

Sterling Heights is a city about 14 to 20 miles north of downtown Detroit. It is surrounded by other cities and towns, including Warren to the south, Troy to the west, and Utica to the north. The city covers an area of about 36.72 square miles, most of which is land with a small amount of water.

The climate in Sterling Heights has warm summers and cold winters. The city has important roads and highways that help connect it to nearby areas, such as M-53 and M-59, as well as many "mile roads" that run east to west.

Demographics

2020 census

In 2020, Sterling Heights had many people from different backgrounds. A lot of people were Chaldean, and some were Assyrian.

2010 census

In 2010, many people lived in Sterling Heights. Most were White, but there were also African American, Native American, Asian, and people from other races. Many families lived together, and the city had both younger and older residents.

2000 census

In 2000, Sterling Heights had people from many places. Many were born in Iraq, and others came from North Macedonia, Italy, and Poland. Families were common, and people of many ages lived there. Different ancestries lived there, including Polish, German, Italian, Macedonian, and English.

Law and government

Sterling Heights uses a council-manager form of government. The mayor and six other council members are chosen by the city's residents. Before 2021, these positions had two-year terms, but now they have four-year terms.

As of January 2021, the mayor was Michael C. Taylor. He became mayor after Richard Notte passed away in December 2014. Notte was the city’s longest-serving mayor, winning elections from 1993 until his passing. The city’s main building was renamed the Richard J. Notte Sterling Heights City Center in his honor. The city manager, Mark Vanderpool, has been in that role since 2004.

Sterling Heights is part of Michigan’s 57th and 58th House of Representatives districts, represented by Republican Thomas Kuhn and Republican Ron Robinson. It is also in Michigan’s 9th Senate district, represented by Republican Michael Webber. Nationally, the city is in Michigan’s 10th congressional district, represented by Republican John James.

In the 2020 presidential election, Donald Trump received most of the votes, while Joe Biden received some.

Mayors

• Gerald N. Donovan, 1968–1971
• Al Martin, 1972–1973
• Anthony Dobry, 1974–1981
• Jerry Mann, 1982–1983
• Arthur Madar, 1984–1985
• Jean DiRezze Gush, 1986–1991
• Stephen M. Rice, 1992–1993
• Richard J. Notte, 1994–2014
• Michael C. Taylor, 2015–2024

Crime

The Sterling Heights Police Department helps keep the city safe.

In 2018, Sterling Heights had a lower crime rate than many nearby places. It was safer than Michigan and the United States on average. Only three nearby cities — Rochester, Troy, and Fraser — had even lower crime rates than Sterling Heights. The city also had a lower crime rate than Utica, Madison Heights, Clinton Township, and Warren.

Education

Sterling Heights has two main public school districts. The northern part of the city is served by Utica Community Schools, which includes Stevenson High School and Henry Ford II High School. The southern part is served by Warren Consolidated Schools, which runs Sterling Heights High School. There is also a private school called Parkway Christian School for students from kindergarten through 12th grade.

Media

Sterling Heights has three local newspapers: The Macomb Daily, the Sterling Heights Sentry, and the Sterling Heights Source. Two of these newspapers are delivered for free to homes in the city. The city also has two local television channels. One channel, SHTV, shows local events and community news. The other channel is for the public library and includes educational shows and library updates.

The city’s official radio station is AM 1700. Sterling Heights also publishes a seasonal magazine and a free calendar for residents and businesses.

WKEG is based in Sterling Heights and works with Relevant Radio.

SHTV can be watched on local cable channels and online, while the library channel is also available on cable.

Sister cities

Sister City programs help people in different cities learn about each other's cultures. These programs make it easier for schools, businesses, and governments to work together. Sterling Heights has sister cities around the world, including:

• Tetovo, North Macedonia (1982)
• Legazpi, Philippines (1999)
• Cassino, Italy (2006)
• Sorsogon City, Philippines (2008)
• Sant'Elia Fiumerapido, Italy (2010)
• Shëngjin, Albania (2013)
• Jaffna, Sri Lanka (2016)
• Ankawa, Iraq (2024)

Notable people

This is a list of famous people who are from or lived in Sterling Heights.

Some well-known individuals include:

• Porcelain Black (Alaina Marie Beaton) – industrial-pop singer
• Matt Busch – filmmaker and Star Wars artist
• Pete Chryplewicz – former NFL player
• Shawn Hunwick – retired NHL goaltender
• Tom Jankiewicz – screenwriter; raised in Sterling Heights
• Craig Krenzel – former NFL player
• Kalin Lucas – former NBA player
• Greg Pateryn – NHL defenseman
• Frank Zombo – NFL linebacker for Kansas City Chiefs