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Mexicantown is a neighborhood located in Detroit, Michigan, United States.

Andrew Eckhous, a columnist for the Michigan Daily, said that Mexicantown was "one of Detroit’s most vibrant communities". John Gallagher of the Detroit Free Press said that the commercial activity on West Vernor in Mexicantown is an example of what the Detroit Future City report suggested as something to replicate throughout the city.

History

Detroit's Mexican population began settling in Mexicantown in the 1920s. The Mexican community established itself on Vernor Street. The community was originally known as "La Bagley". The Holy Redeemer Roman Catholic Church began holding weekly masses in Spanish by 1969. At one point, the Lithuanian Hall building was renamed the Hispanos Unidos Hall. Benedict Carey of The New York Times said that Mexicantown was "on the rise" in 2005.

In December 2012, Ford Motor Company announced that it would open the Ford Resource and Engagement Center in the Mexicantown Mercado facility and spend $10 million to finance the operations of the center. Prior to the Ford center opening, the building was closed.

Composition

The main thoroughfares are Bagley Street and Vernor Street. Meghan McEwen of Model D said, "Nebulous are the borders of Mexicantown" and that "Some say it begins at the old train station and ends at Clark Park. Others passionately insist it includes Clark Park. More than a few people expand its spread all the way to Livernois."

Elementary-middle schools:

  • Amelia Earhart Elementary-Middle School

The Cesar Chavez Academy charter school has area campuses.

The area Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit schools are Holy Redeemer School, a grade school, and the Detroit Cristo Rey High School, which is on the site of the former Holy Redeemer High School.

The Detroit Public Library Bowen Branch is in Mexicantown. It was named after a Detroit Library Commission member Herbert Bowen. It opened on December 28, 1912.

In media

A documentary called A Journey to Mexico was created, highlighting travels of people from two Mexican towns to the Mexicantown area of Detroit.

Notable residents

  • Todd Cruz - Baseball player
  • Jack White - Musician

See also

  • History of the Mexican Americans in Metro Detroit

Notes

Further reading

  • Rodríguez, María Elena. Detroit's Mexicantown. Arcadia Publishing, 2011. , 9780738578026.