History
Dearborn is the 10th largest city in Michigan with a population of approximately 100,000 within 24.5 square miles. Internationally recognized as the birthplace of Henry Ford, Dearborn is where auto and steel manufacturing, green beltways, fields of sunflowers and wildlife dwell side by side. It is a regional center for employment, health care services, higher education, shopping and transportation along with outstanding cultural, environmental and visitor attractions.
The Dearborn area was first settled by Europeans in 1786. The village of Dearborn was established in 1836 and named after patriot Henry Dearborn, a general in the American Revolution and Secretary of War under President Thomas Jefferson. Its origins as a city trace back to a January 1929 consolidation vote which established its present-day borders by merging Dearborn and neighboring Fordson (previously known as Springwells).
Henry Ford purchased Dearborn farmland to build his home, Fair Lane Estate, and Ford Motor Company World Headquarters. Later developments in this corridor were the Ford airport (later converted to the Dearborn Proving Grounds), other Ford administrative and development facilities, The Henry Ford Village and Museum, the Henry Ford Centennial Library, Fairlane Town Center and the Dearborn Civic Center. Some of the land remains open and is planted with sunflowers and often in Henry Ford's favorite soybeans.
During past years, opportunities for employment in automotive and steel manufacturing have attracted thousands of immigrants to Dearborn and surrounding communities. These have included Germans, Italians, Polish and many other nationalities. In the early 1960s, Dearborn experienced a rapidly growing Arab population--the vast majority Lebanese. Many were newly arrived immigrants, but others were second and third generation Arab Americans seeking a better place to live. Today, Dearborn exemplifies the American “melting pot” where people live, work and play together in harmony.
For more about the history of Dearborn as viewed from different points of view, visit the many helpful links and resources available on this Web site.
Hometown History 0:40 minutes
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