Community Profile

Pledge Summary

Sterling Heights is a young city, incorporated on July 1, 1968. The city operates with a “Council/City Manager” form of government. The council is elected by residents, and it sets the policies, enacts the ordinances and adopts the city budget. The city manager is responsible for carrying out the policies set by the council and for supervising all of the departments of city government. Sterling Heights is the third largest in area and the fourth largest in population in the state of Michigan. Sterling Heights has a population of 134,346 (2020 census) people living within 36.8 square miles. Sterling Heights is home to more than 3,500 commercial and industrial businesses. Sterling Heights is located just 20-35 minutes northeast of downtown Detroit in the county of Macomb. The hard work and dedication of our professional staff and community volunteers is responsible for the extensive list of awards earned by the organization.