Sterling Heights

About Sterling Heights

Sterling Heights is an expansive and populous city on the banks of Michigan's Clinton River. The city is part of Macomb County, and its closest neighbors include Warren, Mount Clemens and Troy. Michigan's largest city, Detroit, is just 25 miles southwest. The city features numerous attractions, including the historical Upton House, the GM Heritage Center, a trampoline park and a go-kart track.

The History of Sterling Heights

People began settling in the area that would become Sterling Heights soon after the Revolutionary War. Farmers were attracted to its fertile soil and soon established farms for wheat, corn and other crops. Originally called Sterling Township, Sterling Heights changed its name when it was incorporated as a city in 1968. This new name sought to avoid confusion with Arenac County's village called Sterling. Sterling Heights continued to grow and prosper as a result of the thriving auto industry based in Detroit, and in 2006 it earned a spot on a national publication's "Best Small Cities" list.

The Sterling Heights Economy

Sterling Heights is one of the most significant commercial and industrial centers in the Detroit metropolitan area. Its unemployment rate is below both the state and national averages, making it a good place to hunt for a job.

A majority of Michigan's defense work comes from Sterling Heights and its surrounding communities. Macomb County alone has more than 400 defense firms, which produced billions of dollars in defense contracts between 2000 and 2010. General Dynamics Land Systems, BAE Systems and Lockheed Martin are just a few of the defense firms based in Sterling Heights, all providing a number of local jobs.

Sterling Heights is also home to the Fiat-Chrysler Sterling Heights Assembly Plant, the Fiat-Chrysler Stamping Plant, the Ford Van Dyke Transmission Plant and the Ford Axle Plant.

Sterling Heights Schools

Utica Community Schools is responsible for the public elementary, middle and high schools of Sterling Heights. There are also many private schools in the city, serving children from preschool to grade 12. One of the largest private schools in the Sterling Heights area is Parkway Christian School, a pre-K through grade 12 campus.

Resources for Moving to Sterling Heights

Here's some helpful information to make planning your move to Sterling Heights a little easier:

• Utilities: DTE Energy supplies electricity to the homes and businesses of Sterling Heights, while Consumer Gas provides natural gas services. The city manages water and sewer services and billing.
• Garbage and Recycling: Trash and recyclables are generally collected on the same day, once per week. Yard waste collection is a seasonal service.
• Transportation: As part of the greater Detroit metro area, Sterling Heights is within the SMART transit network. Several SMART bus routes run through the city, providing intercity transportation as well as access to neighboring communities.

Sterling Heights Housing

Many homes in Sterling Heights were built in the 1970s, but the city also has a good supply of properties built before and after that time. With everything from pre-war houses to more modern homes built in the 21st century, there's something to suit many different tastes in Sterling Heights. You can expect homes to be priced fairly similarly to the national average, and also relatively level with prices in the Detroit metro area.