Royal Oak is in
Oakland County, and in the
Southeast Region. This community is located just north of
Detroit between Detroit and
Pontiac along Interstate 75 near Anchor Bay and the Detroit River. Royal Oak is part of the
Detroit, Michigan metro area.
In 1818, Governor Lewis Cass camped under a huge oak tree in the area. He named the place after recalling the story of the Royal Oak in Scotland under which the Pretender to the throne hid to escape his pursuers. Royal Oak was incorporated as a city in 1921.
Today, the 28-mile Woodward Avenue (M-1), connecting 10 communities from the Detroit River north to downtown Pontiac, holds the honorary designation of Michigan Heritage Route. The designation was awarded because of the historical and cultural significance of over 350 sites along Woodward Avenue, which includes 42 historic churches.
