Royal Oak is a suburban city in Oakland County, Michigan, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 61,236. It is the 27th most populous municipality in Michigan and the 248th most populous municipality in the United States with a population of 61,236. It is also the county seat of Oakland County. The city is a part of the Detroit metropolitan area.The area where Royal Oak now stands was inhabited by the Odawa people when French explorers arrived in the 17th century. They called the area "Bois Blanc", meaning "white wood". The area was ceded to the United States in 1795 by the Odawa people under the Treaty of Greenville, and was settled by European Americans. It was incorporated as a village in 1819 by territorial governor Lewis Cass. The village was platted in 1827, and became a city in 1921.Royal Oak was one of the first cities in Michigan to adopt a city charter, which was done in 1869. The charter provided for a mayor-council form of government. The city has a council-manager form of government. The city charter was last revised in 1931.Royal Oak is home to a number of historical sites, including the Royal Oak Historical Society (est. 1947), the first European-American settler's log cabin (1819), and the site of the Battle of Bloody Run (1863). The city is also home to the Detroit Zoo (est. 1883), one of the oldest zoos in the United States.The city has a variety of attractions, including the Detroit Zoo, the Royal Oak Music Theatre, the Detroit Science Center, the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, and the Michigan Renaissance Festival. The city also has a number of parks, including Beaumont Park, Baldwin Park, and George George Memorial Park.Royal Oak is located in southeastern Michigan, about 20 miles north of Detroit. The city has a total area of 8.84 square miles, of which 8.82 square miles is land and 0.02 square miles is water.The city is located within the Woodward Avenue Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.The climate of Royal Oak is hot-summer humid continental (Köppen climate classification Dfa), with four distinct seasons. The average yearly precipitation is about 30 inches (760 mm). Snowfall is moderate, averaging about 20 inches (51 cm) per season.Royal Oak experiences on average 180 days per year with measurable precipitation. The rainfall is greatest in May and June, and the snowfall is greatest in December and January.The city is located within the Detroit metropolitan area, which has a population of about 4.3 million people.The closest major airport to Royal Oak is Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW), located about 20 miles (32 km) southeast of the city.Downtown Royal Oak is located along Woodward Avenue, the city's main thoroughfare. Woodward Avenue is a busy street, and parking can be difficult to find. There are a number of public parking lots and garages in the downtown area, as well as metered street parking.