"I sing a State of all the best, / Michigan, my Michigan; / I sing a State with riches blest, / Michigan, my Michigan; / Thy mines unmask a hidden store, / But richer thy historic lore, / More great the love thy builders bore, / Oh, Michigan, my Michigan." - "Michigan, My Michigan" by William Otto Miessner
Ferndale was established in the late 19th century as a farming community. With the name fern and the farming history, you'd think that this town would be all about the nature. If you thought that, though, you'd be wrong, since this place was, at one point, all about industry! The population grew rapidly after Henry Ford developed the automobile assembly line in Detroit, and Ferndale was incorporated as a village in 1918. The City of Ferndale was established in 1927, and many of Detroit's auto workers took the trolley to further-slung suburbs of Detroit like Ferndale. By this point, there were so many people and so many businesses, that there basically wasn't a fern or a farm in sight. City amenities were added throughout the years, including a downtown area... and city parks, too, so that there was ultimately some nature to roam around in. Ferndale today has a population of 19,900 as of the 2010 census.
An apartment search in Ferndale might turn up a duplex for rent, condo rentals and apartment homes all within very close proximity
"I sing a State of all the best, / Michigan, my Michigan; / I sing a State with riches blest, / Michigan, my Michigan; / Thy mines unmask a hidden store, / But richer thy historic lore, / More great the love thy builders bore, / Oh, Michigan, my Michigan." - "Michigan, My Michigan" by William Otto Miessner
Ferndale was established in the late 19th century as a farming community. With the name fern and the farming history, you'd think that this town would be all about the nature. If you thought that, though, you'd be wrong, since this place was, at one point, all about industry! The population grew rapidly after Henry Ford developed the automobile assembly line in Detroit, and Ferndale was incorporated as a village in 1918. The City of Ferndale was established in 1927, and many of Detroit's auto workers took the trolley to further-slung suburbs of Detroit like Ferndale. By this point, there were so many people and so many businesses, that there basically wasn't a fern or a farm in sight. City amenities were added throughout the years, including a downtown area... and city parks, too, so that there was ultimately some nature to roam around in. Ferndale today has a population of 19,900 as of the 2010 census.
Moving to Ferndale
An apartment search in Ferndale might turn up a duplex for rent, condo rentals and apartment homes all within very close proximity. Homes with yards account for 78 percent of the housing stock and a good portion of the property rentals. There are also lots of small and large apartment buildings and complexes. When renting, be sure to have all the right documents with you; that means having photocopies of IDs, letters of reference, a credit check, bank statements and the all-important deposit.
Ferndale Neighborhoods
Now that you know ferns don't overrun the city, it's time to decide which neighborhood you want to call home. Review the information below for a better idea of what Ferndale's neighborhoods have to offer.
Northern Ferndale: Northern Ferndale is the greenest part of town. Home to several parks, including Harding Park, Green Acres Park and Martin Road Park, it's a great place to be if you like to escape into nature. It has lots of residential property, too, so consider it if you're looking for a property rental or purchasable home.
Southern Ferndale: Southern Ferndale is also relatively green with a beautiful old cemetery (Machpelah Cemetery) and parks like Garbutt Park or Wilson Park. If you want somewhere to live that feels suburban, this is a great part of town to choose.
Central Ferndale: This is the hustling and bustling part of town. Want to be in the heart of all the action? This is the place to consider. It has lots of restaurants, businesses, shopping opportunities and more!
Living in Ferndale
Ferndale is a city that's not too exciting unto itself, but it does provide pleasant, comfortable living with easy access to the nearby big city. The city's downtown area revolves around 9 Mile Road and Woodward Avenue, and at its peak contained many popular stores, bowling alleys, movie theaters, bakeries and supermarkets. Revitalization of the Ferndale downtown area has included making it more pedestrian-friendly and adding bicycle lanes, as well as on-street parking. Lighting the traffic has helped the city to become more accessible to its people. And while Ferndale doesn't have much fern, it does have 15 community parks and a good community recreation program for its residents.
