Grosse Pointe
Grosse Pointe, often called “the Pointes,” is a group of five connected suburbs just northeast of Detroit along Lake St. Clair: Grosse Pointe Park, Grosse Pointe, Grosse Pointe Farms, Grosse Pointe Shores, and Grosse Pointe Woods. They sit mostly in Wayne County, with a small part in Macomb County, and cover about 10 square miles of land (roughly 41 square miles in total). About 46,000 people live there.
The five towns share a strong sense of community, with a central business area known as The Village along Kercheval Avenue that serves all five. Each town has its own government, but the schools and libraries are shared across the area.
History and character: The Pointes began with French settlers in the 1750s. Wealthy Detroit residents started building lakeside estates in the 19th and early 20th centuries, turning the area into a prized suburb known for grand homes, scenic Lake Shore Drive, and notable architecture by designers like Albert Kahn. The Edsel and Eleanor Ford House on Lake Shore Drive is open for guided tours.
Recreation and clubs: The region is known for private clubs such as the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club, The Grosse Pointe Club (the “Little Club”), Lochmoor Club, and Hunt Club. Each town also has parks along Lake St. Clair.
Education: The area has two public high schools, Grosse Pointe South and Grosse Pointe North, which are part of the Grosse Pointe Public School System, plus the private University Liggett School. The five towns share schools and libraries but maintain separate municipal services.
Landmarks and culture: The Dodge Rose Terrace mansion once stood at 12 Lakeshore Drive, and its art collection is now in the Detroit Institute of Arts. The Edsel and Eleanor Ford House at 1100 Lake Shore Drive is a notable historic site. The Village, along Kercheval Avenue, remains the local shopping and dining hub.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 02:52 (CET).