An inner-ring suburb of Metro Detroit, Center Line is located roughly 11 miles (17.7 km) north of downtown Detroit, and is completely surrounded by the larger city of Warren.

[3] Historically, the land that Center Line came to occupy was swamp and wilderness until the early nineteenth century.

As land became scarce, French, German, Belgian, and Irish immigrants began clearing the forests and draining the swamps.

[7] The theory is that the French named it "Center Line" because it was the middle of three Potawatomi trails from Fort Detroit to northern trading posts.

[8] The community received its initial start when Catholics decided to build a church so that they would not have to walk to St. Mary's in Detroit for Sunday Mass.

In this era, street car tracks connected Detroit to Center Line along Van Dyke Road, and Ten Mile Road was the final stop of the street car.

[8] Center Line is in southwestern Macomb County and is surrounded entirely by the city of Warren.

Interstate 696 runs along the northern edge of Center Line, with access from Exits 22 through 24.

Highway M-53 (Van Dyke Avenue) runs north-south through the center of town, connecting Detroit and Utica.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city of Center Line has a total area of 1.75 square miles (4.53 km2), all land.

The event began in 2016, the community's 80th Birthday celebration, and continues as an annual celebration of an incorporated city with live bands, carnival, arts and crafts, children's events and activities, local food vendors and restaurants, beer tent, and its always popular fireworks display.

[12] Two recognized Michigan historical markers are at: The mayor of Center Line is Robert Binson.

In the 2014 midterm elections, 63.7% of voters chose Gary Peters (D) over 27.8% for Terri Lynn Land (R).

A small portion of the city is in Van Dyke Public Schools,[20] served by Lincoln High School.< St. Clement Catholic School, of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit, was in Center Line.