Southfield

About Southfield

Southfield is a thriving Michigan city, a northern suburb of Detroit that's home to a diverse population. The city's skyline is made up of five golden skyscrapers, clustered together and nicknamed "The Golden Triangle." Together, the skyscrapers are home to more than 2 million square feet of office space, a hotel and a major conference center.

The History of Southfield

Before 1700, the area that would eventually become Southfield was home to a Native American village. Although its tribe is unknown, communities of Ottawa, Huron, Potawatomi and many other tribes were known to live in the vicinity. In 1699, Antoine de la Mo the Cadillac traveled to France to propose the installation of a post at Detroit. Count Pontchartrain approved the plan, and Cadillac came back to Detroit in 1701 to establish the post known as Fort Pontchartrain.

In 1823, John Daniels became the first settler of Southfield Township. In the early years, two southern townships were considered one, called Bloomfield Township. On July 12, 1830, Ossewa Township was created as a separate entity. However, 17 days later, the citizens petitioned the state to change the name to Southfield, a name they chose because the new township was in the "south fields" of Bloomfield.

In the 1950s, a group of residents provided $500 of their own money to finance the filing fee for the incorporation of Southfield Township. Southfield became a city on April 28, 1958.

Living in Southfield

The Southfield city motto is "The Center of It All," and the city truly does offer a little bit of everything for you to enjoy. Nearly 800 acres of parks and nature preserves provide generous outdoor space to enjoy a variety of recreational activities, featuring sport courts, playgrounds and picnic areas. More than 50 miles of jogging, cycling and walking trails traverse the community, and you can also take advantage of recreational facilities like a city ice arena, a swimming pool and two public golf courses.

If you enjoy movies, you may be interested to learn that Southfield is home to the one of the busiest movie theater complexes in the nation. A number of public art installations throughout the city, provide an interesting landscape as you walk through downtown. Southfield offers a variety of local restaurants and shopping centers, including the Tel-Twelve Mall and the Shoppes at Greenfield. Plus, all the entertainment, shopping and dining of Detroit is just a short drive away.

Southfield Schools

The Southfield Public Schools district manages the public schools in the city. In addition to its public schools, Southfield has a number of private schools, including several charter schools and an adult education school. The city and its surrounding area are also home to a handful of college and university campuses, including branches of Central Michigan University, Marygrove College and Oakland Community College.

Resources for Moving to Southfield

To make your move to Southfield as easy as possible, make use of the following information:

• Utilities: The city manages water and sewer services, while DTE Energy provides electricity to the area.
• Garbage and Recycling: Rizzo Environmental Services facilitates the weekly collection of trash and recyclables for all single-family homes in Southfield.
  
• Transportation: Southfield is part of the SMART transit network that serves most of the greater Detroit area.

Southfield Housing

Southfield has an affordable housing market with a median home price that's well below the national average. A diverse selection of homes makes it easy to find something to fit your needs, whether you are looking for a high-rise condo or a spacious, single-family home with a backyard.