Detroit, << dih TROYT, >> is the largest city in Michigan and an important industrial center. More automobiles are produced in the Detroit area than anywhere else in the United States. Detroit is often called the Motor City. Detroit is also a chief U.S. port and transportation center.
Detroit lies on the southeastern border of Michigan, where the Detroit River separates the United States and Canada. The Detroit River, which is actually a strait, connects Lakes Erie and St. Clair. The French word Detroit means strait.
Antoine de Lamothe Cadillac, a French colonizer, founded Detroit in 1701. Much of the city’s early development resulted from fur trading and agriculture. The automobile industry grew rapidly during the 1900’s, and the population of Detroit boomed. In 1950, Detroit ranked as the 5th largest city in the United States. However, during the last half of the 1900’s, Detroit lost many people to the surrounding suburbs. Between 2000 and 2010, Detroit lost another 25 percent of its population.
The city
Downtown Detroit lies along the Detroit River. Because of a bend in the river, Detroit is directly north of the Canadian city of Windsor, Ontario.
Detroit’s Civic Center borders the river at the foot of Woodward Avenue. Gardens and a plaza set off its handsome buildings. The GM Renaissance Center, east of the plaza, consists of seven interconnected skyscrapers. The towering buildings dominate the skyline. The center serves as world headquarters for the General Motors Company (GM). Its 73-story central skyscraper is a hotel. At 726 feet (221 meters), this tower is Detroit’s tallest building.
Other buildings in Detroit’s Civic Center include the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center. The Young Municipal Center houses government offices and courtrooms. Also part of the Civic Center is Huntington Place (originally called Cobo Hall). It includes exhibition space and a 12,000-seat arena. These structures were named after two former Detroit mayors, Coleman A. Young and Albert E. Cobo.
Inland from the waterfront, downtown Detroit spreads over more than 40 square blocks. Within this area is Greektown, a district of restaurants, shops, and entertainment spots. Also downtown is the Theater District, which has undergone major restoration. The Fox Theatre, a magnificent movie house built in 1928, reopened in 1988 as a theater for stage shows. Near the Theater District are the baseball park and football stadium where Detroit’s professional teams play. The city’s basketball and hockey teams play in an arena just west of the baseball and football facilities.
Detroit’s residential areas spread outward from downtown. Like many other large industrial cities, Detroit has poor and declining neighborhoods. These areas stand in sharp contrast to the clean, modern, and relatively wealthy suburbs that surround the city.
The Detroit-Warren-Dearborn metropolitan area covers 3,892 square miles (10,080 square kilometers) of land in Lapeer, Livingston, Macomb, Oakland, St. Clair, and Wayne counties. This metropolitan area has a population of 4,392,041. Approximately 45 percent of Michigan’s people live in this area. The Detroit-Dearborn-Livonia metropolitan division covers 612 square miles (1,585 square kilometers) of land. This metropolitan division consists of Wayne County and has a population of 1,793,561.
The people
African Americans make up about 80 percent of Detroit’s population. Other groups include those of Arab, English, French, German, Hispanic, Irish, Italian, and Polish descent. Hamtramck is a city surrounded by Detroit. Many of the people of Hamtramck are of Arab or Polish ancestry. Many people of Arab ancestry live in metropolitan Detroit, making up the largest Middle Eastern community in the United States.
Economy
Industry.
The thousands of factories in the Detroit metropolitan area produce billions of dollars’ worth of goods yearly. A large percentage of workers in metropolitan Detroit are employed in manufacturing. The automobile industry is by far the largest employer.
Detroit ranks as one of the nation’s leading producers of business machines, chemicals, hardware, machine tools, and plumbing fixtures. One of the largest salt mines in the United States lies under the city. This salt mine covers nearly 2 square miles (5 square kilometers). It contains corridors and large rooms hollowed out of what was once solid salt.
Manufacturing has brought prosperity to Detroit. But the city’s many factories have also created problems. For example, Detroit is usually one of the first cities to suffer during major slumps in the nation’s economy. A sharp drop in automobile production may also cause hardship for thousands of Detroit workers. In addition, long labor strikes—especially in the automobile industry—can hurt Detroit’s economy. The city’s many factories also polluted the environment. However, major investments by local industries and municipal governments have greatly reduced air and water pollution in Detroit.
Shipping.
Detroit is Michigan’s largest port. The city is a gateway for commerce between eastern and western Great Lakes ports. The opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway in 1959 made Detroit an international seaport. The seaway enables oceangoing ships to sail from the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes. Numerous shipping lines use the Port of Detroit. Many foreign ships dock there annually.
The Detroit River is one of the world’s busiest inland waterways. Every year, ships carry many millions of tons of cargo on the river.
Transportation.
The Detroit Metropolitan Airport, west of the city, provides air service for the Detroit area. Railroad passenger trains, freight rail lines, and trucking lines also serve the city. The Detroit People Mover, an elevated rail system, makes a loop of Detroit’s central business district. The People Mover connects hotels, convention halls, shopping areas, and office buildings. The QLine, a streetcar system, operates on a 3.3-mile (5.3-kilometer) stretch of Woodward Avenue. Detroit has more than 75 miles (121 kilometers) of freeways that connect with major highways.
Communication.
Detroit’s two daily newspapers are the Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News. Station WWJ, which began broadcasting in Detroit in 1920, was one of the nation’s first commercial radio stations.
Education
Property taxes and state aid provide the chief sources of income for Detroit’s public schools. A seven-member school board heads the city’s public school system. The board members are elected to four-year terms. Private and parochial schools serve thousands of students.
Universities and colleges in Detroit include the College for Creative Studies, Sacred Heart Major Seminary, the University of Detroit Mercy, and Wayne State University. The University of Michigan is in nearby Ann Arbor.
Cultural life
The Detroit Symphony Orchestra presents concerts in Orchestra Hall. The hall is part of the Max M. Fisher Music Center. The orchestra gives outdoor concerts every summer at the Meadow Brook Amphitheatre in nearby Oakland County. The Michigan Opera Theatre performs at the Detroit Opera House.
The Detroit Institute of Arts owns a fine collection of sculptures and paintings. Highlights of its collection include murals by the Mexican artist Diego Rivera and paintings by the Dutch artist Vincent van Gogh.
The Detroit Historical Museum has exhibits on the city as it looked during the 1800’s. The Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit is housed in a former auto dealership. The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History is the world’s largest institution dedicated to African American culture. The International Institute of Metropolitan Detroit displays arts and crafts from many nations. The Michigan Science Center offers science demonstrations and exhibits on the space program. These five museums, along with the Institute of Arts and the main branch of the Detroit Public Library, are part of Detroit’s Cultural Center. It lies along Woodward Avenue north of downtown.
Another museum in Detroit is the Dossin Great Lakes Museum. It features models of historic ships and other exhibits related to shipping on the Great Lakes.
Recreation
Parks.
Detroit has hundreds of parks, play fields, and playgrounds. The largest park, 1,184-acre (479-hectare) River Rouge Park, has a golf course, swimming pools, and tennis courts. Belle Isle, a park on an island in the Detroit River, has athletic facilities, a beach, a conservatory, and a golf course. The Dossin Great Lakes Museum is in the park. The Detroit Zoo covers 125 acres (51 hectares) in Royal Oak.
Sports.
Detroit has a number of professional sports teams. The Detroit Tigers play baseball in the American League. The Detroit Red Wings play in the National Hockey League. The Detroit Pistons compete in the National Basketball Association. The Detroit Lions play in the National Football League.
Other interesting places to visit
include:
Cranbrook,
in Bloomfield Hills. This 319-acre (129-hectare) educational center includes three private schools, a graduate academy of art, an art museum, and a science institute.
Greenfield Village and Henry Ford Museum,
in Dearborn. The village has nearly 100 restored Early American homes, schools, and stores. The museum, next to the village, features the world’s largest collection of antique cars. See Greenfield Village.
Government
Detroit has a mayor-council form of government. The people elect the mayor and the nine members of the City Council—all to four-year terms. These elections are nonpartisan—that is, party labels do not appear on the ballots. Detroit’s mayor has broad powers. For example, the mayor can veto acts of the City Council. He or she can also appoint most key officials, including the police chief. The council is the city’s legislative body. It passes laws, holds public hearings, and provides money for city services.
The government’s main sources of revenue are a property tax and a city income tax. The income tax applies to all Detroit residents as well as to suburbanites who work in the city.
History
Early settlement.
The Indigenous (native) Wyandot people lived in the Detroit region before the first Europeans arrived. In 1701, French settlers led by Antoine de Lamothe Cadillac built Fort Pontchartrain on the north bank of the Detroit River. The fort became a major fur-trading post.
The British gained control of the fort in 1760, during the French and Indian War. Pontiac, an Ottawa chief, led an attack on the fort in 1763. However, he could not capture it (see Pontiac). The British began to build Fort Lernoult on the site in 1778, during the American Revolution. The war ended in 1783, but the British wanted to keep their valuable fur trade in the Michigan region. They refused to surrender Fort Lernoult until 1796. Lieutenant Colonel John Francis Hamtramck became the fort’s first American commander. Also in 1796, the surrounding area was named Wayne County. Detroit became the county seat. The county was named for General “Mad Anthony” Wayne, who had become known for his reckless courage during the Revolution.
The 1800’s.
Detroit was incorporated as a town in 1802. Fire destroyed the entire settlement in 1805. In rebuilding their community, the people followed a street plan suggested by the layout of Washington, D.C.
British forces captured the city during the War of 1812 (1812-1815) and held it briefly. In 1815, Detroit was incorporated as a city. Detroit served as Michigan’s first capital from 1837 until 1847, when Lansing became the capital. The opening of the Erie Canal in 1825 provided a cheap water route between the East and Northwest. Thousands of settlers moved to Detroit from New York and New England. The city became a commercial center.
In 1855, the Soo Canals were completed on the United States-Canadian border. With the canals, shipping on the Great Lakes increased. This traffic aided the growth of industry in Detroit. The city’s population climbed to 45,600 by 1860. At that time, Detroit served mainly as a marketing center for the farm products of the area.
During the late 1800’s, manufacturing became the city’s chief activity. By 1880, Detroit had 116,000 people and more than 900 factories.
The early 1900’s.
During the early 1900’s, a group of inventors helped make the city the center of the U.S. automobile industry. They included Henry Ford, John and Horace Dodge, and Ransom E. Olds. The automobile industry grew rapidly in Detroit, partly because the city had a large labor supply. In addition, land and lake routes made it easy and cheap to bring raw materials to Detroit. From 1900 to 1910, the city’s population rose from 285,704 to 465,766.
During World War I (1914-1918), Detroit produced airplane motors, armored vehicles, and trucks for the Allies. Detroit’s population soared and reached over 1 1/2 million by 1930. The city suffered widespread unemployment during the Great Depression of the 1930’s. In 1935, the United Automobile Workers (UAW) labor union was organized in Detroit. A UAW strike in 1937 caused the General Motors Corporation to recognize the union and greatly strengthened the labor movement in the United States.
The mid-1900’s.
During World War II (1939-1945), Detroit’s automobile plants switched to the manufacture of military products. They made aircraft, artillery, and jeeps. The city manufactured huge amounts of military equipment and became known as the Arsenal of Democracy.
The war created thousands of jobs in Detroit. Many people from other parts of the United States came to the city seeking work. The newcomers included great numbers of African Americans from the South. Competition between Black and white workers for jobs and housing led to a race riot in 1943. Thirty-four people were killed and more than 1,000 were injured in the outbreak.
By 1950, Detroit’s population had reached 1,849,568. The city was ranked as the fifth largest in the United States. The rapid population growth created several problems. Schools became overcrowded, crime increased, and race relations grew more tense.
Detroit began many urban renewal projects during the 1950’s and 1960’s. Slums were cleared in 17 areas. The city erected nine large, low-rent housing developments and a medical center. The $106-million Civic Center was built along the waterfront.
A trend toward suburban living developed in the 1950’s. Thousands of white middle-class families moved from Detroit to new developments outside of the city. The population of Detroit fell to 1,670,144 by 1960.
In July 1967, rioting broke out in a chiefly African American section of Detroit. Rioters burned buildings, looted stores, and shot at police officers and firefighters. National Guard and U.S. Army troops helped restore order. The riot lasted a week and resulted in 43 deaths and 1,200 injuries. About 2,500 stores were burned or looted, and more than 7,000 people were arrested. After this riot, many civic organizations were formed to ease racial tension. They helped improve education, housing, and job opportunities for Black residents.
The late 1900’s.
In 1973, Coleman A. Young was elected the first African American mayor of Detroit. He was reelected four times and remained in office until 1993.
The Renaissance Center, one of the largest renewal projects in U.S. history, opened on the downtown riverfront in 1977. The $340-million project included four 39-story office buildings, a circular 73-story hotel, and several shopping malls. Two additional 21-story office buildings opened in 1981. In 1996, the complex became the world headquarters for the General Motors Corporation (now General Motors Company).
From the mid-1980’s to the early 1990’s, some development took place along the route of Detroit’s People Mover system, which began operating in 1987. For example, Cobo Hall (now the TCF Center) doubled its exhibition space.
Detroit’s automobile industry experienced periods of decline and periods of recovery during the late 1900’s. The declines caused hardships to the city’s economy. By 1990, Detroit’s population had fallen to 1,027,974.
The early 2000’s.
In 2001, Detroit celebrated the 300th anniversary of its founding. Tricentennial festivals and programs were offered throughout the year in the Detroit area.
By 2001, Detroit had become the largest U.S. city to offer casino gambling. In the early 1990’s, after 20 years of bitter debate, Detroiters had voted to approve casino gambling.
In March 2008, Wayne County prosecutors charged Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick with perjury (lying under oath), obstruction of justice, and official misconduct. The charges related to a sex scandal and the controversial settlement of a lawsuit against the city of Detroit. In September, Kilpatrick pleaded guilty to two obstruction of justice charges. He resigned from office and agreed to pay $1 million to the city of Detroit. Kilpatrick also spent 99 days in jail, followed by five years of probation. In May 2010, a judge sent Kilpatrick back to prison for violating his probation, and he served 14 months.
Federal prosecutors indicted Kilpatrick in June 2010. Prosecutors later filed additional counts against the former mayor. The combined indictment charged Kilpatrick and three associates with bribery, conspiracy, extortion (illegally obtaining money), and fraud. The four pleaded not guilty. A trial began in 2012. In March 2013, a federal jury convicted Kilpatrick on most of the charges against him. Two associates—including Kilpatrick’s father, Bernard Kilpatrick—also were found guilty of some charges. A fourth defendant pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge after the trial had begun. In October, Kwame Kilpatrick was sentenced to 28 years in prison. President Donald J. Trump commuted (reduced) Kilpatrick’s sentence in 2021.
In May 2009, Dave Bing, a former professional basketball star for the Detroit Pistons, won a special election to serve out the last eight months of Kilpatrick’s term as mayor. Bing won election to a full term in November. A centerpiece of Bing’s administration was his program that demolished 10,000 abandoned, run-down buildings in the city by the end of 2013.
General Motors and Chrysler, automobile companies with major operations in the Detroit area, struggled in 2009 during a worldwide economic downturn. The companies filed for bankruptcy protection, and the federal government took over some operations. Both companies emerged from bankruptcy later that year.
In 2011, state education officials ordered the city’s public school system to take measures to balance its budget. The school system closed some schools and turned others over to charter school operators. In 2012, city and state officials approved a consent agreement that gave the state more control of Detroit’s financial affairs. In March 2013, Michigan Governor Rick Snyder declared that Detroit faced a fiscal emergency. Snyder’s declaration allowed the State of Michigan to appoint an emergency manager to run Detroit’s finances.
In July 2013, Detroit became the largest American city ever to file for bankruptcy. Officials said that the city owed $18 billion to creditors and faced challenges related to high pension and health care costs. A steady decline in population has shrunk the city’s tax base and reduced its revenues. In November, voters elected Mike Duggan to succeed Bing as mayor. Duggan took office in January 2014. In December, the city emerged from bankruptcy after implementing a court-approved plan that allowed the city to eliminate a portion of its debt. The plan also provided funding to demolish blighted buildings and to improve basic services.
