"It's All Good in the 'Wood!" The History of the Woodbridge Neighborhood As it stands today Woodbridge is one of the fastest-growing areas of Detroit. The inhabitants of the neighborhood are very diverse--in lifestyle, cultural background and income. History The land originated as a farm owned by a governor of Michigan, William Woodbridge. After his death in the mid-1800's, the land was divided into parcels. This is when the largest and most opulent housing was built, mostly on Trumbull Avenue, and on the corners of most every block. By the turn of the century, many middle-income and working-class Detroiters filled in the land with more moderate single-family and two-family homes. By the Depression, the inhabitants changed to lower-income residents, and many landlords divided two-family homes into tenements and rooming houses. In the 1980's, college professors took interest in restoring the houses. By this time, much of the housing stock was lost to the wrecking ball through the efforts of Wayne State University to develop the land. The university was forced to stop when the State of Michigan officially recognized the neighborhood as historic. Some of the inhabitants have lived in Woodbridge for more than 40 years. Some of them can trace their roots in the neighborhood back three or more generations. The Community A mix of such housing attracts a wide spectrum of inhabitants, from homeowners to renters, with low-, middle- and high-income levels. With its proximity to Wayne State University, Woodbridge houses many students and professors, as well as artists, musicians, politicians, professionals, community activists and most of all families. Many landlords rely on referrals for their rentals, as opposed to advertising--the neighborhood is special enough to offer such exclusivity. Woodbridge is home to many community organizations and amenities, including a modern art gallery, The Detroit Contemporary; the Dick and Sandy Dauch Boy Scout Center--the Boy Scouts’ headquarters in Detroit; several schools, including a performing arts high school and a school for the deaf; The Woodbridge Star, an ornate Victorian home turned bed and breakfast; several churches; the Trumbullplex--a commune/cooperative of sorts, which offers movie nights, live theater, a community information kiosk and weekly food drives for the homeless. The neighborhood is home to Detroit’s gay community as well. Woodbridge residents organize through monthly neighborhood meetings, and connect daily through a subscription email list.