Best Web Design in Oak Park, MI (2026)

Web Design for Oak Park, Michigan

Oak Park is a 5.15-square-mile inner-ring suburb bordering Detroit's north side, once dismissed as land "not fit for habitation" before it became one of the fastest-growing cities in America. Post-war it became a haven for Jewish and minority families shut out of covenant-restricted suburbs, and today it is the heart of Metro Detroit's Orthodox Jewish community while also being majority African American. It is celebrated as one of the few genuinely stable, diverse communities in the country.

AppWT works with Oak Park businesses from Livonia, a short drive away.

About Oak Park

Also known as. America's Fastest Growing City (1950s-60s).

History. Incorporated as a village in 1927 with fewer than 1,000 residents; incorporated as a city in 1945. Population exploded roughly sevenfold in the 1950s-60s, from about 5,000 to over 36,000, earning the label "America's Fastest Growing City." After World War II, Jewish land developers and buyers were drawn to Oak Park because it had no covenants restricting homeownership by race or religion; the GI Bill made financing accessible. In the 1970s many white residents left as Black families moved in, straining municipal revenue, though many Jewish families stayed and embraced the diversity. The Jewish Federation launched the Neighborhood Project in 1988, offering interest-free home-buying and improvement loans that helped stabilize the city.

Local economy. Window manufacturer WeatherGard relocated its headquarters to the city in 1995. A FedEx distribution center opened in 2017. Its location roughly 10 minutes from four freeways (near I-696 and I-75) makes it attractive to regional distribution and service businesses. Completion of I-696 and the widening of I-75 improved access to jobs and suppliers across metro Detroit.

Culture and community. Oak Park is the center of Metro Detroit's Orthodox Jewish community, home to Young Israel of Oak Park and multiple full-time learning kollels including the Kollel Institute and DBN Kollel on Lincoln Road. The Orthodox neighborhood is served by an established eruv (a ritual boundary permitting carrying on Shabbat) covering Oak Park and Southfield. Kosher dining lines Lincoln Road, including meat restaurants such as Dave's Gourmet Burgers, and even a local 7-Eleven offers certified-kosher Slurpees. The city blends strong Jewish, African American, Chaldean, Arab, Russian, and Ukrainian communities within a small footprint, a diversity it actively promotes. Shepherd Park (formerly Major Park) offers an outdoor swimming pool and ice rink built during the 1950s boom.

What makes Oak Park distinct. In 2011, resident Julie Bass faced criminal charges for growing a vegetable garden in her front yard, a case that drew national media attention. In 2015, city employees were found to have embezzled about $433,000 over two years; the loss was covered by insurance. The land was once officially described as "worthless, not fit for habitation." Oak Park has produced an unusually broad roster of notable people, including Detroit Tigers Hall of Famer Al Kaline, "Hamilton" and "Rent" producer Jeffrey Seller, economist Jeffrey Sachs, and members of Was (Not Was).

One of metro Detroit's most diverse cities, home to large African American, Orthodox Jewish, and Chaldean communities side by side

Notable. The city's official motto is 'Community. Culture. Commerce.', and it was recognized as America's fastest-growing city during its sevenfold boom of 1950-1960.

Oak Park Landmarks and Local Life

• Shepherd Park - Former Major Park renamed for mayor David H. Shepherd, with an outdoor swimming pool and ice rink at 24198 Church Street
• Young Israel of Oak Park - The area's largest Modern Orthodox synagogue, an anchor of the city's Orthodox Jewish community
• Nine Mile corridor - Commercial spine bordering the Detroit Zoo area across I-696
• Shepherd Park pool and rink - City swimming and skating facilities in the central park
• Oak Park recreation programs - City recreation serving one of Michigan's most diverse communities

Oak Park at a Glance

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2023.

• Median household income: $65,882
• Adults with a bachelor degree or higher: 39.5%
• Housing: 59.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied
• Housing: 73.6% of housing units are single-family detached homes