River Rouge, Michigan
River Rouge is a city of 7,008 people in Wayne County, Michigan, founded in 1899.
Why visit River Rouge
Townapedia lists 15 museums and landmarks, 22 parks and trails, 21 places to eat and 4 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Ambassador Bridge, Assumption University, Detroit Savings Bank Southwest Branch and Ford River Rouge Complex.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 84°F; January lows average 19°F.
Weather in River Rouge
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About River Rouge
River Rouge (, French: Rivière Rouge, lit. 'red river') is a city in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. An inner-ring, Downriver suburb of Detroit, River Rouge is located roughly 7 miles (11.3 km) southwest of downtown Detroit. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 7,224.
From the Wikipedia article River Rouge, Michigan (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do4
Ambassador Bridge
Bridge · 3.6 mi
Privately owned suspension bridge that connects Detroit, Michigan, with Windsor, Ontario
Assumption University
School · 3.6 mi
Catholic university in Windsor, Ontario, Canada
Gordie Howe International Bridge
Bridge · 1.6 mi
Crossing of the Detroit River
Grassy Island Light
Lighthouse · 3.5 mi
Lighthouse in Michigan, United States
Museums and landmarks15
Detroit Savings Bank Southwest Branch
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.7 mi
Branch bank building located at 5705 West Fort Street in Detroit, Michigan
Ford River Rouge Complex
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.0 mi
Industrial park in Dearborn, Michigan, United States
Fort Street–Pleasant Street and Norfolk & Western Railroad Viaduct
Bridge · National Register of Historic Places · 1.4 mi
Bridge in United States of America
Fort Wayne
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.2 mi
Historic fort in Detroit, Michigan, USA
James A. Garfield School
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.3 mi
Detroit, Michigan, listed on the NRHP in Wayne County
Lincoln Park Post Office
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.3 mi
Place in Michigan listed on National Register of Historic Places
Mellus Newspapers Building
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.0 mi
Place in Michigan listed on National Register of Historic Places
West Jefferson Avenue–Rouge River Bridge
Bridge · National Register of Historic Places · 0.5 mi
NRHP-listed bridge in Michigan
West Vernor-Junction Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.2 mi
Human settlement in Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
West Vernor-Lawndale Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.4 mi
Human settlement in Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
West Vernor-Springwells Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.6 mi
Human settlement in Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
Ste. Claire
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.0 mi
3 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds22
Council Point Park
Park · 3.3 mi
Park in Lincoln Park, Michigan, United States
John D. Dingell Park
Park · 2.7 mi
Park in Michigan, United States of America
_2.jpg){kind=link}
Ojibway Prairie Complex
Park · 3.0 mi
Complex of parks and nature reserves in Windsor, Ontario, Canada
10 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes21
Billy's Fish & Chicken
Restaurant · Fish, Chicken · 1.7 mi
3964 West Jefferson Avenue, Detroit
Mo-Fr 11:00-21:30; Sa,Su 12:00-21:30
A&L Ham Palace
Restaurant · Barbecue · 1.5 mi
9405 West Fort Street
Mo-Sa 06:00-15:00
Auburn Cafe
Restaurant · Greek · 1.2 mi
3520 West Jefferson Avenue, Ecorse
Mr. Fish & Chicken
Restaurant · Fish, Chicken · 0.7 mi
10844 West Jefferson Avenue, River Rouge
9 more on the map.
History
The small settlement incorporated as a village in 1899 within Ecorse Township. In 1922 as the city of Detroit expressed interest in annexing land in the township, the Village of River Rouge incorporated as a city on April 3 to avoid being annexed. A month later Detroit completed annexation of land in the township immediately to the west of River Rouge.
One of the most important historical associations with River Rouge is its relationship to a Great Lakes freighter, the SS Edmund Fitzgerald, which sank in 1975 in a fierce storm in Lake Superior, with the loss of all 29 crew. The ship was constructed in 1958 at the Great Lakes Engineering Works in River Rouge and was the largest ship on the lakes at the time.
The city had its peak of population in 1950, when industry was the mainstay of the local economy. Restructuring of heavy industry and movement of jobs offshore have taken a toll of the city; the loss of jobs resulted in loss of population. In 2020 the population is 35% of what it was in 1950. Many workers who had the flexibility to seek jobs in other areas moved away. Outward migration has resulted in a shift in the racial demographics of the city.
From the History section of River Rouge, Michigan on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Churches and places of worship30
Fews Memorial Christian Church
Church · Methodist Episcopal · 1.2 mi
456 Palmerston Street, River Rouge
Shopping2
Gas and EV charging8
Schools, colleges and libraries44
Academy For Business And Technology Elementary
School · 4.4 mi
5277 Calhoun St, Dearborn
Academy For Business And Technology High School
School · 3.7 mi
19625 Wood St, Melvindale
Burton International Academy
School · 5.1 mi
2001 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Detroit
Covenant High School Central
School · 4.6 mi
2959 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Detroit
Map of River Rouge
146 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 33°F | 19°F | 2.1 in |
| Feb | 36°F | 20°F | 2.1 in |
| Mar | 46°F | 27°F | 2.5 in |
| Apr | 59°F | 37°F | 3.2 in |
| May | 70°F | 48°F | 3.7 in |
| Jun | 79°F | 59°F | 3.7 in |
| Jul | 84°F | 63°F | 3.4 in |
| Aug | 82°F | 62°F | 3.5 in |
| Sep | 75°F | 54°F | 3.0 in |
| Oct | 62°F | 43°F | 2.8 in |
| Nov | 49°F | 33°F | 2.6 in |
| Dec | 37°F | 25°F | 2.4 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Dearborn #2 (6 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Wayne County has had 9 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2024-02-08: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Flood)
- 2021-07-15: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes (Severe Storm)
- 2020-03-27: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2014-09-25: Severe Storms And Flooding (Flood)
- 2005-09-07: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation (Hurricane)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Coleman A. Young Municipal Airport (DET) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 11 miles away.
- Ecorse 2 mi southwest, about 3 min by car
- Melvindale 3 mi west, about 5 min by car
- Lincoln Park 4 mi southwest, about 6 min by car
- Allen Park 5 mi west, about 7 min by car
- Wyandotte 5 mi south, about 8 min by car
- Dearborn 5 mi northwest, about 8 min by car
- Southgate 6 mi southwest, about 10 min by car
- Detroit 8 mi north, about 12 min by car
- Taylor 8 mi southwest, about 13 min by car
- Riverview 8 mi southwest, about 13 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- River Rouge City Hall (Michigan) 2, Notorious4life ( talk ), Public domain
- MellusNewspaperBuildingLincolnParkMiDEMOLISHED, Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Vernor-Springwells Detroit Michigan 2, Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Detroit Savings Bank-w fort-campbell-restored, Msmith487, CC BY-SA 4.0
- FortStreetPleasantStBridge, Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Fort Wayne Barracks, Detroit, Taubuch at https://www.flickr.com/, CC BY 2.0
- JeffersonRougeRiverBridge, Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0
- LincolnParkMiPostOffice, Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0
- DEARBORN SKYLINE. FORD RIVER ROUGE PLANT IN BACKGROUND, Joe Clark, Public domain
- Vernor-Lawndale Detroit 1, Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 4.0
- James A Garfield School Detroit Michigan, Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Vernor-Junction Detroit Michigan 1, Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Steamer Ste Claire c 1915, Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain
- Our Lady of the Assumption, Windsor (3380352409), PDru2014 from Detroit, United States, CC BY 2.0
- DetroitRivericeflowsAmbridge, Mikerussell at English Wikipedia, GFDL
- Assumption University, User:Copystar, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Sandwich First Baptist Church National Historic Site of Canada, jodelli, CC BY 2.0
- Holy Redeemer Church (Detroit) 2, Notorious4life ( talk ), Public domain
- Ojibaymarsh, Angela2109, Public domain
- Mariners Memorial Lighthouse 2025, Antony-22, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Gordie Howe Bridge 2025d, Antony-22, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Suburbs of the Detroit city 02, Doc Searls, CC BY 2.0
- Ecorse Mi 1909 - panoramio, Richard Landskroener, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 20190814 34 Jefferson & Cary Sts, davidwilson1949, CC BY 2.0
- Gordie Howe International Bridge - July 2026, WMrapids, CC0
- Fort Wayne Detroit main fort 2025l, Antony-22, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Fort Wayne Detroit main fort 2025k, Antony-22, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Windsor, Ontario (21514642888), Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Fort Wayne Detroit main fort 2025e, Antony-22, CC BY-SA 4.0
- United States Customs and Border Protection Officers conduct daily operations at the Detroit Windsor Tunnel Port of Entry at the Port of Detroit, Michigan on August 24, 2022 - 24, CBP Photography, Public domain
- United States Customs and Border Protection Officers conduct daily operations at the Detroit Windsor Tunnel Port of Entry at the Port of Detroit, Michigan on August 24, 2022 - 20, CBP Photography, Public domain
- Gordie Howe International Bridge 2026-06-10 1013, TheWxResearcher, CC0
- Fort Wayne Detroit main fort 2025h, Antony-22, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Gordie Howe Bridge under construction Feb 2024, Judith Jackson, CC BY 2.0
- Zug Island 2026, WMrapids, CC0
- Gordie Howe International Bridge US Tower, Blkmagik98, CC BY 4.0
- Gordie Howe Bridge 2025c, Antony-22, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Gordie Howe Bridge 2025c2, Antony-22, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Gordie Howe International Bridge during clear morning 2025-09-30, TheWxResearcher, CC0
- Gordie Howe International Bridge at night 2026-05-16, TheWxResearcher, CC0
.jpg){kind=link}
_2.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.