What Exactly Are the Borders of Michigan’s Downriver Region?

Metro Detroit is largely defined by the city and its northern suburbs in Oakland and Macomb counties.

Somewhat more overlooked is the suburban area to the south of Detroit, the Downriver region. So where and exactly what is Downriver and what isn't?

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The question came up recently on the Detroit subreddit of Reddit asking if Dearborn is part of Downriver?

Before we consider Dearborn, what exactly is Downriver?

The region is defined as the communities of Metro Detroit that exist south of the city along the Detroit River and north of where the strait opens into Lake Erie.

Dearborn is to the west of the city of Detroit but not to the south. It's separated from the Detroit River by Detroit, Melvindale and River Rogue. The city is generally not considered Downriver, but some make the case for it:

It’s south of Detroit, located somewhat close to the Detroit River (about as far off as Taylor, which is unanimously considered downriver) made up of working class to middle class people heavily tied to the local industry. The houses are built very close together and there are several local staples that make the food in this region delicious.

I always thought it was weird to not consider Dearborn a downriver city as someone who moved here, but it’s probably due to the cultural differences between Dearborn and the surrounding communities.

The emphasis on cultural difference is ours. That's a defining connection of the Downriver cities.

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So if Dearborn is not Downriver, what is? The communities of Allen Park, Ecorse, Grosse Ile, Lincoln Park, River Rogue, Riverview, Southgate, Taylor, Trenton Woodhaven and Wyandotte.

Downriver communities are marked by growth in the early to mid 1900s as industry built up around Detroit, much of it is centered around this region and the communities became home to blue-collar workers in modest housing.

Importantly, Downriver is considered to have a unique and distinct culture within the Detroit region that's separate from the city's northern suburbs.

A Downriver River Rogue native once told Michigan Public of the region's ethic and culture:

it’s the steel workers of River Rouge who helped build Detroit.

“Downriver means, it’s pretty much working class people that are kind of the lifeblood of America and the lifeblood of the city of Detroit....”

“We worked for a living. We busted our butts. We didn’t get nothing handed to us and we got our hands dirty and things like that.”

Interestingly, there are Detroit neighborhoods, specifically Boynton and Oakwood Heights that are surrounded by the downriver cities of River Rogue, Ecorse and Melvindale - but because they are part of Detroit, are not immediately recognized at part of Downriver.