Earth Day Network
 Urban Environment Report: How Does Your City Perform?
 
CITY ENVIRONMENT DATA
Detroit, Michigan
State Michigan
City Detroit
County1 Wayne*
City Population (2005)2 836,056 8.5% of state population
City Population Rank in United States, largest 50 Cities (2005) 11 (of top 50 in U.S.)
City Population Rank in Urban Environment Report (2005) 11 (of 72 in EDN study)
City Population Rank in State (2005) 1
City Size Classification - Population Large
City Size Classification - Population Density Medium High Density
State Capitol City Lansing
State Population (2005)2 9,865,583
 
 
CIVIC LEADERSHIP INFORMATION
Mayor Name (as of 1/1/2007) Kwame Kilpatrick
Mayor/City Website (as of 1/1/2007) http://www.ci.detroit.mi.us/mayor/deafult.htm
Mayor/City Contact (as of 1/1/2007) 313-224-3400
Mayor Political Affiliation (as of 1/1/2007) Democrat
Next General Mayoral Election Tuesday, November 3, 2009
US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement as of 10/18/06 No
State Governor Name Jennifer M. Granholm
State/Governor Website http://www.michigan.gov/
State/Governor Contact Information 517-373-3400
State/Governor Party Affiliation Democrat
State Governor Current Term Ends January 1, 2011
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Note: All rank information is out of 72 cities, though not all may have reported in every category.
1 is the 'best' (least polluting, most tree cover, etc) and 72 is the 'worst'.
 

(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
 
EDN VULNERABLE POPULATION INDEX (EDN VPI) 1.60    
Vulnerable Population Estimate 24.4%    
     Disability Status 21.4% 62  
     Emphysema 1.21% 46  
     Cardiovascular Disease 24.13% 39  
     Diabetes 5.10% 42  
     Pediatric Asthma 8.50% 31  
     Adult Asthma 8.45% 41  
     Adult Obesity 24.4%   49
     People Without Health Insurance 11.5%   15
     Age: Children under 5 years 7.5% 38  
     Age: 65 years and over 10.4% 31  
     Not Literate (Adult Level 1 Literacy) 47.0% 70  
     Adults without High School Degree (or higher) 26.8% 9  
     High School Drop-Out Rate (Not Available) (Not Available)  
     Unemployed (Civilian Labor Force) 20.5% 67  
     Individuals Below Poverty 33.6% 72  
     Children (under 18 years old) Below Poverty 34.5% 64  
     Free or Reduced Lunch 65.9% 42  
     Other Languages Spoken at Home (primary language is not English) 8.4% 16  
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
1 • TOXICS & WASTE     (metadata) (score) 3.4    
Overall Toxics Rank Average 35.3 (of 51) 46  
Cumulative Cancer-Causing Chemical Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 108,416,586 pounds   44
Cumulative Developmental Toxicant Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 161,754,945 pounds 43
Cumulative Reproductive Toxicant Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 8,168,455 pounds 36
Cumulative Suspected Neurological Toxicant Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 802,234,690 pounds 42
Cumulative Suspected Respiratory Toxicant Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 944,214,410 pounds 43
Dioxin Releases by State (grams in 2000) 31.1 grams 23
Number of Superfund Sites in County 1 site 16  
Municipal Solid Waste Generation, tons per person (1997) 1.234 tons per person 41
Recycling Rate (1997) 25.0% 27
Tons Municipal Solid Waste Generated by State (2004) 15,010,032 tons 43
Municipal Solid Waste Generated Per Capita by State, tons/person (2004) 1.5 tons/person 40
Tons Municipal Solid Waste Recycled by State (2004) 2,594,940 tons 14
% Municipal Solid Waste Recycled by State (2004) 17.3% 33
% Municipal Solid Waste to Waste-to-Energy (2004) 6.9% 15
% Change in Municipal Solid Waste Generated (1997 to 2004) 21.6% 23
% Change in State Recycling Rate (1997 to 2004) -30.8% 37
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
2 • AIR QUALITY     (metadata) (score) 3.7    
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) Released, Tons in 2002 343,000 tons   37
Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) Released, Tons in 2002 132,600 tons   35
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Released, Tons in 2002 75,529,700 tons   37
Mercury Released, Pounds in 2002 2,480 pounds   36
High Ozone Days (annual # of, Weighted Average) (2001-2003) 8.7 days 41  
Short-term Particle Pollution Weighted Average, 24 Hour (2001 - 2003) 14.5 PM2.5 65  
Year-Round Particle Pollution - Design Value (Annual PM2.5) (2001 - 2003) 19.5 PM2.5 60  
High Ozone Days (annual # of, Weighted Average) (2002 - 2004) 5.7 days 35  
Short-term Particle Pollution Weighted Average, 24 Hour (2002 - 2004) 8.8 PM2.5 62  
Year-Round Particle Pollution - Design Value (Annual PM2.5) (2002 - 2004) 18.6 PM2.5 60  
EPA Ambient Carbon Monoxide (CO) (8-hr ppm) 3 ppm 16  
EPA Ambient Lead (PB) Q Max (ug/m3) 0.04 ug/m3 15  
EPA Mean Ambient Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2 ppm) 0.022 ppm 43  
EPA Larger Particle (PM10) 24-hr (ug/m3) 45 ug/m3 58  
EPA Mean Ambient Sulfur Dioxide (SO2 ppm) 0.007 ppm 46  
EPA Days over 100 AQI (Warning Level) 19 days 39  
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
3 • DRINKING & SURFACE WATER     (metadata) (score) 2.6    
DRINKING WATER QUALITY
Tap Water Quality & Compliance Grade Good ---  
Right to Know Report, What's in your Tap Water Grade Good ---  
Drinking Water Source Protection Grade Poor ---  
WATERSHED & RESOURCES
Watershed Name Detroit ---  
# of Units in Watershed 19 units 48  
# of Assessed Watershed Units 19 units 39  
# of Threatened & Impaired Watershed Units 10 units 21  
% of Watershed Units Assessed as Impaired or Threatened 52.6% 23  
% of Watershed Units Not Assessed 0.0% 1  
U.S. Census Annual Rainfall, inches (1961-1990) 32.09 inches 42  
Water Area Total, square miles 39,895 square miles 2  
Water Area Inland, square miles 1,704 square miles 27  
Water Area Coastal, square miles 0 square miles 35  
Water Area Great Lakes, square miles 38,192 square miles 1  
Average # of Days with Precipitation of .01 Inch or More to 1998, Station Detroit ---  
Average # of Days with Precipitation of .01 Inch or More to 1998, Length of record in years 40 years 55  
Average # of Days with Precipitation of .01 Inch or More to 1998, Annual 135 days 8  
Snow & Ice Pellets (thru 1998), Station Detroit ---  
Snow & Ice Pellets (thru 1998), Length of record in years 40 years 57  
Snow & Ice Pellets, Annual inches (thru 1998) 40.7 inches 16  
WATER WITHDRAWN
Water Withdrawn - Total, gallons/day 12,100,000,000 gallons/day 23  
Fresh Water Withdrawn - Per capita, gallons/day 1,260,000,000 gallons/day 35  
Ground water, gallons/day 862,000,000 gallons/day 41  
Surface water, gallons/day 11,200,000,000 gallons/day 23  
Irrigation, gallons/day 227,000,000 gallons/day 43  
Public Supply, gallons/day 1,490,000,000 gallons/day 23  
Industrial, gallons/day 1,910,000,000 gallons/day 11  
Thermo-Electric, gallons/day 8,370,000,000 gallons/day 20  
Fresh Water Consumption, gallons/day 667,000,000 gallons/day 44  
WATER POLLUTION
Water Supplier City of Detroit ---  
Number of People Served by Water Supplier 944,985 people 18  
Year(s) Included in Summary 1999-2003 ---  
Total Contaminants Detected 18 contaminants 42  
Contaminants Detected, Over Health Based Limits 5 contaminants 52  
Agricultural Pollutants Detected 2 contaminants 14  
Agricultural Pollutants Detected, Over Health Based Limits 0 contaminants 1  
Sprawl and Urban Pollutants Detected 5 contaminants 42  
Sprawl and Urban Pollutants Detected, Over Health Based Limits 2 contaminants 49  
Industrial Pollutants Detected 7 contaminants 26  
Industrial Pollutants Detected, Over Health Based Limits 2 contaminants 43  
Water Treatment & Distribution By-Products Detected 10 contaminants 52  
Water Treatment & Distribution By-Products Detected, Over Health Based Limits 4 contaminants 39  
Naturally Occurring Contaminants Detected 6 contaminants 32  
Naturally Occurring Contaminants Detected, Over Health Based Limits 2 contaminants 48  
WATER HEALTH & TESTING SUMMARY
Contaminants in Tap Water 18 contaminants 42  
Contaminants in Tap Water, Over Health Based Limits 5 contaminants 52  
Contaminants Reported as Tested by this Water Supplier 152 contaminants 16  
Contaminants with Federal Legal Limit in Tap Water 73 contaminants ---  
Regulated Contaminants Tested 122 contaminants 16  
Unregulated Contaminants Tested 30 contaminants 17  
WATER VIOLATION SUMMARY
Total Violations 0 violations 1  
Health Violations 0 violations 1  
Monitoring Violations 0 violations 1  
Reporting Violations 0 violations 1  
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
4 • QUALITY OF LIFE (SITES4)     (metadata) (score)    3.5***    
DENSITY & SPRAWL
Population Density, people per square mile of land area 6,855.1 people per square mile 16  
Housing Density, units per square mile of land area 2,703.0 housing units per square mile 19  
TRANSPORTATION
Mean Travel Time to Work, minutes (2000) 28.4 minutes 61  
Mean Travel Time to Work, minutes (2004) 25.5 minutes 57  
Means of Transportation - % Carpool (2000) 17.1% 6  
Means of Transportation - % Public (2000) 8.7% 21  
Means of Transportation - % Walk or Bike (2000) 3.0% 42  
Means of Transportation - % Work @ Home (2000) 1.8% 64  
Cost of Living: Transportation, % of National Average 102.6 30  
Motor Vehicle Registrations per 100 Residents (2003) 86.6 MV registrations   32
% Change in Motor Vehicle Registrations (1980 to 2003) 31.6%   12
Motor Vehicle Registrations - Autos Only per 100 Residents (2003) 48.7 MV registrations   34
Motor Vehicle Registrations per Licensed Driver (2003) 1.21 MV registrations   31
Total State Highway Mileage (2003) 122,222 miles   44
Total State Highway Mileage, Estimated % of Land Area (2003) 0.489%   37
Urban Highway Mileage, % of Total State Highway Mileage (2003) 28.7%   16
Total Highway Mileage per Licensed Driver (2003) 0.02 miles   19
Total Highway Mileage per Motor Vehicle Registration (2003) 14.31 miles   16
State $ Disbursements for Highways (2003) $2,799,000,000   40
State $ Disbursements for Highways, per highway mile (2003) $22,901 per mile   25
% Change in State Disbursements for Highways (1995 to 2003) 41.8%   13
Annual Person Hours of Delay, per person (2003) 30.0 hours per person 42  
Annual Congestion Cost, $ per person (2003) $499 per person 42  
Annual Congestion Delay and Fuel Cost (2003) $2,019,000,000 41  
Fuel Wasted, gallons per person (2003) 18 gallons per person 40  
INCOME & EMPLOYMENT
Median Household Income (2004) $27,871 67  
Median Household Income (2000) $29,526 65  
Per capita income (2004) $14,573 71  
Per capita Personal Income (2000) $14,717 69  
% of Families Below Poverty Level (2004) 29.1% 72  
% of Individuals Below Poverty Level (1999) 26.1% 66  
% of Individuals Below Poverty Level (2004) 33.6% 72  
% of Households with Public Assistance Income (2000) 11.4% 71  
% of Children Under 18 Years Old Below Poverty Level (1999) 34.5% 64  
People In the Labor Force, Unemployed (2005) 71,775 people 62  
% In the Labor Force: Unemployed (2005) 11.8% 67  
% of the Civilian Labor Force: Unemployed (2005) 20.5% 67  
% In the Labor Force: Unemployed (2000) 7.8% 70  
% of the Civilian Labor Force Unemployed (2000) 13.8% 70  
% Change in the Labor Force Unemployed (2000 to 2005) 34.1% 53  
% Change in the Civilian Labor Force Unemployed (2000 to 2005) 32.7% 54  
State Minimum Wage Laws (2006) Same as Federal ---  
State Minimum Wage Rates (2006) $5.15 per hour 28  
EDUCATION
# of School Age Kids K-12 (ages 5 to 17) 191,769 kids (1.9% of total pop.) 10  
Largest School District Enrollment 162,194 kids (1.6% of total pop.) 9  
% on Free or Reduced Lunch 65.9% 42  
Cumulative Promotion Index (CPI) Graduation Rate (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Level of Education: % with High School Degree or Higher (2004) 73.2% 64  
Level of Education: % with Bachelor's Degree or Higher (2004) 10.6% 71  
Adult Level 1 Literacy Rate 47% 70  
State School Bus Efficiency (2002) Middle of the Road   ---
State School Bus Soot Pollution Grade C   ---
State School Bus Cleanup Program Rank (2006) Poor   ---
State School Bus Smog Pollution Rank (2006) Average   ---
HOUSING & COST OF LIVING
Occupied Housing Units (2004) 309,725 units 12  
% of Owner Occupied Housing 46.5% 35  
Cost of Living: Housing 48.0 8  
Cost of Living: Utilities 104.6 40  
Cost of Living: Miscellaneous 98.6 26  
Cost of Living: Overall 83.6 12  
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
Voter Turnout in the Election of November 2004 66.86%   13
State Voter Turnout Rate: 2002 Election 48.40%   11
State Voter Turnout Rate: 2004 Election 64.60%   16
State Volunteering Rate: 2002-2005 Combined 31.8%   18
SAFETY/SECURITY
Total Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2004) 8,019.7 incidents per 100,000 people 52  
Violent Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2004) 1,740.4 incidents per 100,000 people 68  
Property Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2004) 6,279.3 incidents per 100,000 people 49  
Total Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2003) 9,007.7 incidents per 100,000 people 60  
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
5 • PARKS & RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES     (metadata) (score)    4.1***    
Average # of Parks, per square mile 0.4 parks per square mile 44  
Average Area Dedicated to Parks, per city square mile 27.6 park acres per city square mile 31  
Park Area per 1000 Residents, acres 6.2 acres 41  
Parkland as % of City Area 6.6% 30  
Adjusted Park Spending, per resident (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Total City Tree Canopy % 18.3% 18  
Total City Urbanized Area % 59.5% 39  
Park Programs to Assist Low-Income Park Users (Not Available) ---  
Disability Advisory Committees (Not Available) ---  
Collection of Data on Crime in Parks (Not Available) ---  
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
6 • HUMAN & PUBLIC HEALTH     (metadata) (score) 3.1    
Pediatric Asthma, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 8.50% 31
Adult Asthma, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 8.45% 41
Chronic Bronchitis, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 3.04% 28
Emphysema, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 1.21% 46
Cardiovascular Disease, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 24.13% 39
Diabetes, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 5.10% 42  
% of Adults with Obesity (2001) 24.4% 49
Change in % of Adults with Obesity (1991-2001) 9.2% 31
CDC Obesity Trends U.S. Adults 1992 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Prevalence Rate (1992) 15%-19% ---
CDC Obesity Trends U.S. Adults 1997 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Prevalence Rate (1997) 15%-19% ---
CDC Obesity Trends U.S. Adults 2003 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Prevalence Rate (2003) 20%-24% ---
% of Adults Lacking Healthcare Insurance, ages 18 - 65 (2001) 8.0% 4
Infant Mortality Rate (2002) 8.1% 38
Number of Cancer Deaths per 100,000 people (2002) 199.0 28
Cost of Living: Health 111.3 43  
% of People without Health Insurance Coverage by State (2003-04 Average) 11.3% 14
% of People without Health Insurance Coverage by State (2004-05 Average) 11.5% 15
Rate of Change in People without Health Insurance Coverage, between 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 1.8% 32
Change in People without Health Insurance Coverage, between 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 0.2% 30
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Farms 3 farms 59
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Farmers' Markets 7 markets 42
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Restaurants 1 restaurant 28
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Groceries 3 grocery stores 18
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Other 2 other sources 36
Cost of Living: Food 107.9 51
Lung Cancer Deaths/100,000 Men (1999-2003) 85.7% 57
Lung Cancer Deaths/100,000 Women (1999-2003) 49.3% 58
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
7 • GLOBAL WARMING CLIMATE CHANGE     (metadata) (score)    3.7***    
Mini-Kyoto Participant, US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement (as of 10/18/06) No ---
Number of State and Local Net Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Programs 0 programs   32
Net Metering Net Metering Offered by only one or more Individual Utilities   ---
Net Metering Residential Size Limit 30 kW   19
Net Metering Commercial Size Limit 30 kW   26
Completed Climate Action Plans No State Climate Action Plan   ---
Regional Initiatives No   ---
States with Greenhouse Gas Inventories No   ---
States with Greenhouse Gas Reporting & Registries Yes   ---
States with Public Benefit Funds Funds Support Energy Efficiency   ---
States with Renewable Portfolio Standards 0%   20
Date set for Renewable Portfolio Standards (Not Available)   (Not Available)
States with Green Pricing Programs Optional   ---
States with Renewable Energy Credit Tracking Systems No   ---
States with Mandates and Incentives Promoting Ethanol Exercises Tax credit/exemption and/or grant supporting ethanol use   ---
States with Residential Energy Codes No Residential Energy Codes   ---
States with Commercial Energy Codes No Commercial Energy Codes   ---
Green Building Standards for State Buildings LEED Required   ---
ICLEI's Cities for Climate Protection Participant (US CCP) No ---
% of State Generation that is from Renewable sources (2003) 3.8%   31
Average percentage of possible sunshine thru 1998: Length of record (years) 37 years 54
Average percentage of Possible Sunshine: Annual 49% 53
Annual Average wind speed, m.p.h. 10.3 mph 19
January Average wind speed, m.p.h. 12 mph 7
July Average wind speed, m.p.h. 8.5 mph 22
Heating Degree Days 6,569 days 50
Cooling Degree Days 626 days 15
Average Relative Humidity (%), Length of record (years) 40 years 13
Annual Morning Average Relative Humidity (%) 81% 33
Annual Afternoon Average Relative Humidity (%) 60% 42
Elevation, feet 600 feet 40
 
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
BACKGROUND INFORMATION      
SIZE & CLASSIFICATION
City Population (2005)2 836,056 11 (of 72 in EDN study) 8.5% of state population
City Population (2000) 951,270 10 (of 72 in EDN study)  
State Population (2005)2 9,865,583 8 (of 51 in EDN study)  
General Region Midwest ---  
EPA Region 5 ---  
PHYSICAL QUALITIES
City Land Area, square miles 139.0 square miles 31 0.3% of state land area
State Land Area, square miles 56,809 square miles 22  
Watershed Name Detroit ---  
Elevation, feet 600 ft. (182.5 m) 35  
Average Daily Temperature - January 24.5°F (-4.2°C) 60
Average Daily Temperature - July 73.5°F (23.1°C) 23  
DEMOGRAPHIC SUMMARY
Median Age 32.4 years 29  
18 years and older, % of population (2004) 69.7% 65  
65 years and older, % of population (2004) 10.4% 41  
Under 5 years of age 62,955 kids (7.5% of total pop.) 12  
One Race-White % (2005) 11.1% 72  
One Race - Non-white % (2005) 88.9% 1  
Hispanic or Latino, of any race % (2005) 5.6% 52  
% of Population who Speak a non-English Language at Home (2004) 8.4% 57  
Largest School District Name Detroit City School District ---  
 
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1 Use of the * within the County field indicates the city is in multiple counties. Typically the county for which the city serves as a county seat was selected.
2 Use of the * within the Population Rank Indicates year 2000 data was used since year 2004 data was not available.
3 Scores in parenthesis indicate partial scores, e.g. at least one scored indicator was not available or reported for this city.
4 SITES is an acronym developed by EDN as a summary for the 'Safety, Income, Transportation, Education and Sprawl' Topic.
 
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© 2006 Earth Day Network