Dearborn Heights

Dearborn Heights is a city in Wayne County, in the Detroit metropolitan area, in the State of Michigan. The population was 57,774 at the 2010 census.HistoryDearborn Heights was incorporated from the two discontinuous sections of Dearborn Township and a quarter-mile connecting strip of land from the village of Inkster. Incorporation petitions were filed on Friday, March 4, 1960, while Inkster officials delivered their petitions for incorporation on Monday, March 7, 1960. The residents approved Dearborn Heights incorporation on an election held June 20, 1960, which is the official date of incorporation. Inkster, a predominantly black community, filed a lawsuit, claiming that the shape of Dearborn Heights reflected a racial gerrymander. The Michigan Supreme Court held that Inkster had failed to demonstrate any legally cognizable harm and dismissed the lawsuit.Dearborn Heights is considered a bedroom community.GeographyAccording to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 11.75sqmi, of which 11.74sqmi is land and 0.01sqmi is water. The southern portion of the city is in the watershed of the north branch of the Ecorse Creek (also known as Ecorse River). The area surrounding the Ecorse is subject to flooding. The northern portion of the city is in the Rouge River watershed.