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{{Infobox City {{Infobox City
| official_name = Detroit, Michigan | official_name = Detroit, Michigan
| nickname = Motor City, Motown | nickname = Motor City'', ''Motown, The "D", The Renaissance City.
| motto = "Speramus Meliora; Resurget Cineribus"<br>(] for, "We Hope For Better Things; It Shall Rise From the Ashes") | motto = Speramus Meliora; Resurget Cineribus"<br>(] for, "We Hope For Better Things; It Shall Rise From the Ashes")
| image_skyline = DetroitSkyline.jpg | image_skyline = DetroitSkyline.jpg
| image_flag = Detroit flag.png | image_flag = Detroit flag.png
Line 15: Line 15:
|subdivision_name2 = ] |subdivision_name2 = ]
| leader_title =] | leader_title =]
| leader_name =] | leader_name =] (])
| area_magnitude = 1 E8 | area_magnitude = 1 E8
| TotalArea_sq_mi =143.0 | TotalArea_sq_mi =142.9
| area_total = 370.2 | area_total = 370.2
| LandArea_sq_mi = 138.8 | LandArea_sq_mi = 138.8
Line 26: Line 26:
| MetroArea_sq_mi = 3,650 | MetroArea_sq_mi = 3,650
| population_as_of = 2005 | population_as_of = 2005
| population_total = 886,675 | population_total = 886, 675
| population_metro = 4,488,335<ref></ref>
| population_urban = 3,903,377
| population_metro = 4,488,335 <ref></ref>
| population_density_mi2 = 6,856 | population_density_mi2 = 6,856
| population_density = 2,647 | population_density = 2,647
Line 49: Line 48:
}} }}
{{redirect|Detroit}} {{redirect|Detroit}}
'''Detroit''' (]: {{IPA|}}) ({{lang-fr|Détroit}}, pronounced {{Audio-IPA|Detroit.ogg|}}) is the largest city in the ] of ] and is the ] of ]. Founded in 1701 by French ]rs, it is a major port city, located north of ], on the ] in the ] of the ]. It is known as the world's traditional ] center and an important source of popular-music legacies, celebrated by the city's two familiar nicknames, '''Motor City''' and '''Motown.''' The city's name comes from the Detroit River (in French ''Rivière du Détroit''), meaning "River of the Strait." The name alludes to the connection the river forms between ] and ].<ref name=RivièreduDétroit>{{cite web

'''Detroit''' (]: {{IPA|}}) ({{lang-fr|Détroit}}, pronounced {{Audio-IPA|Detroit.ogg|}}) is the largest city in the ] of ] and is the ] of ].

Founded in 1701 by French ]rs, it is a major port city, located north of ], on the ] in the ] of the ]. It is known as the world's traditional ] center and an important source of popular-music legacies, celebrated by the city's two familiar nicknames, ''Motor City'' and ''Motown.'' The city's name comes from the Detroit River (in French ''Rivière du Détroit''), meaning "River of the Strait," linking ] and ]. <ref name=RivièreduDétroit>{{cite web
| url = http://www.archives.gov.on.ca/french/exhibits/franco_ontarian/big/big_36_map_detroit_river.htm | url = http://www.archives.gov.on.ca/french/exhibits/franco_ontarian/big/big_36_map_detroit_river.htm
| title = La rivière du Détroit depuis le lac Sainte-Claire jusqu’au lac Érié, 1764 | title = La rivière du Détroit depuis le lac Sainte-Claire jusqu’au lac Érié, 1764
Line 61: Line 57:
}}</ref> }}</ref>


In 2005, Detroit ranked as the United States's 11th ], with 886,675 residents. It is the nation's ]. In 2005, Detroit ranked as the United States's 11th ], with 886,675 residents; this number is less than half the peak population in 1950, and Detroit is among the leaders in the nation in terms of declining urban population over the past fifty years. It is the focal city of the nation's ].


Detroit's ] has brought it notoriety,<ref name="Detroit's crime ranking among America's largest city">{{cite web|url=http://www.morganquitno.com/safecity.htm|title=America's Safest (and Most Dangerous) Cities}}</ref> while the city continues to struggle with the burdens of racial disharmony between itself and its ] neighbors. The city has experienced budget shortfalls,<ref name="Detroit's budget shortfall">{{cite web|url=http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-01-23-detroit-mayor_x.htm |title=Detroit's $230 million budget shortfall}}</ref> leading to cuts in city services. Nevertheless, Detroit is experiencing a downtown revival with the construction of the ] headquarters, a renovated ], and three ] hotels. Detroit's ] has brought it notoriety,<ref name="Detroit's cime ranking among America's largest city">{{cite web|url=http://www.morganquitno.com/safecity.htm|title=America's Safest (and Most Dangerous) Cities}}</ref> while the city continues to struggle with the burdens of racial disharmony between itself and its ] neighbors. The city has experienced budget shortfalls<ref name="Detroit's budget shortfall">{{cite web|url=http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-01-23-detroit-mayor_x.htm |title=Detroit's $230 million budget shortfall}}</ref>, leading to cuts in city services. Nevertheless, Detroit is currently experiencing a downtown revival with the construction of the ] headquarters, a recently renovated ], three gambling ]s, new stadiums and the ]. The city serves as an entertainment hub for the metropolitan region.


The name ''Detroit'' sometimes refers to the ] area, a sprawling region with a population of 4,488,335 for the ] and a population of 5,456,428 for the nine county ] as of the 2005 Census Bureau estimates. If the adjacent ] city of ] and its suburbs are counted, the area has a total population of about 6 million (see: ]). Residents are generally known as "Detroiters." The name ''Detroit'' is also sometimes used as shorthand for the entire ] area, a sprawling region with a population of 4,488,335 as of the 2005 Census Bureau estimates. The metropolitan population well exceeds 5 million when bordering Canadian city Windsor and its suburbs are counted. Local ]s for the city are ''The D'' and ''The ]'' (its ]).

The city was called the ''Paris of the West'' in the late ] for its architecture; in the mid-] it was called ''Rock City'' for its contributions to ]. Other ]s for the city include ''The D'', ''The ]'' (its ]) and ''D City''.


==History== ==History==
{{main|History of Detroit, Michigan}} {{main|History of Detroit, Michigan}}


===Early beginnings: Founded by the French===
Traveling up the Detroit River on the ship '']'' (previously captained by ]), Father ] noted the north bank of the river as an ideal location for a settlement. There, in 1701, ] officer ] founded a fort and settlement called '']'', naming it after the ], minister of marine under ]. The settlement prospered as a ] center, and the fort offered protection for French ships plying the ]. Traveling up the Detroit River on the ship '']'' (previously captained by ]), Father ] noted the north bank of the river as an ideal location for a settlement. There, in 1701, ] officer ] founded a fort and settlement called '']'', naming it after the ], minister of marine under ]. The settlement prospered as a ] center, and the fort offered protection for French ships plying the ].


In 1760, during the ], ] troops gained control of the area and shortened the name of the settlement to ''Detroit''. Local Native American tribes, many of whom had developed friendly relations with French colonists, became alarmed at this development. In 1763, several tribes led by ], an ] leader, launched what became known as ], which included a ]; they were ultimately defeated by the British. In 1796, Detroit passed to the ] under the ]. In 1805, fire destroyed most of the settlement; a river warehouse and brick chimneys of the wooden homes were the sole structures to survive.<ref> ''St. Anne Church'' (accessed April 29, 2006).</ref> Detroit's city flag reflects this French heritage. (See ].) In 1760, during the ], ] troops gained control of the area and shortened the name of the settlement to ''Detroit''. Local Native American tribes, many of whom had developed friendly relations with French colonists, became alarmed at this development. In 1763, several tribes led by ], an ] leader, launched what became known as ], which included a ]; they were ultimately defeated by the British. In 1796, Detroit passed to the ] under the ]. In 1805, fire destroyed most of the settlement; a river warehouse and brick chimneys of the wooden homes were the sole structures to survive.<ref> ''St. Anne Church'' (accessed April 29, 2006).</ref> Detroit's city flag reflects this French heritage. (See ].)


===War of 1812: British rule Detroit===
From 1805 to 1847, Detroit was the ]. As the city expanded, the street layout followed a plan developed by ], Chief Justice of the Michigan territory. Detroit fell to British troops during the ] in the ], was recaptured by the United States in 1813 and incorporated as a city in 1815. Prior to the ], the city's access to the Canadian border made it a key stop along the ].<ref>Blockson, Charles and Chase, Henry (4/05). . ''American Visions''.</ref> From 1805 to 1847, Detroit was the ]. As the city expanded, the street layout followed a plan developed by ], Chief Justice of the Michigan territory. Detroit fell to British troops during the ] in the ], was recaptured by the United States in 1813 and incorporated as a city in 1815. Prior to the ], the city's access to the Canadian border made it a key stop along the ].<ref>Blockson, Charles and Chase, Henry (4/05). . ''American Visions''.</ref>


===American Civil War===
Many Detroiters volunteered to fight during the American Civil War. Following the death of President ], ] delivered a eulogy to the thousands gathered near ]. Custer had led the ] during the American Civil War and had called them the "Wolverines." Many Detroiters volunteered to fight during the American Civil War. Following the death of President ], ] delivered a eulogy to the thousands gathered near ]. Custer had led the ] during the American Civil War and had called them the "Wolverines."


===The Gilded Age and Industrialization===
Detroit's many ] mansions and buildings arose during the late 1800s. The city was referred to as the ''"Paris of the West"'' for its fine architecture. Strategically located along the ] waterway, Detroit emerged as a transportation hub. The city had grown steadily from the ] with the rise of shipping, shipbuilding, and manufacturing industries. In ], a thriving carriage trade prompted ] to build his first ] in a rented workshop on Mack Avenue, and in 1904, the ] was produced. Ford's manufacturing—and those of automotive pioneers ], the ] brothers, and ] reinforced Detroit's status as the world's automotive capital. The industry spurred the city's spectacular growth during the first half of the ] as it drew many new residents, particularly workers from the ]. Strained racial relations were evident in the trial of Dr. ], a black Detroit physician acquitted of murder after he shot into a large mob when he moved from the all-black part of the city to an all-white area.<ref>Zacharias, Patricia (2003). . ''Detroit News''.</ref> With the introduction of ], the river was a major conduit for Canadian ], organized in large part by the notorious ].<ref> As of 2005, Detroit's population had dwindled to 886,675. A 6.8% loss from the 2000 Census population
Detroit's many ] mansions and buildings arose during the late 1800's. The city was referred to as the "Paris of America" for its fine architecture. Strategically located along the ] waterway, Detroit emerged as a transportation hub. The city had grown steadily from the ] with the rise of shipping, shipbuilding, and manufacturing industries. In ], a thriving carriage trade prompted ] to build his first ] in a rented workshop on Mack Avenue, and in 1904, the ] was produced. Ford's manufacturing—and those of automotive pioneers ], the ] brothers, and ] reinforced Detroit's status as the world's automotive capital. The industry spurred the city's spectacular growth during the first half of the ] as it drew many new residents, particularly workers from the ]. Strained racial relations were evident in the trial of Dr. ], a black Detroit physician acquitted of murder after he shot into a large mob when he moved from the all-black part of the city to an all-white area.<ref>Zacharias, Patricia (2003). . ''Detroit News''.</ref> With the introduction of ], the river was a major conduit for Canadian ], organized in large part by the notorious ].<ref> As of 2005, Detroit's population had dwindled to 886,675. A 6.8% loss from the 2000 Census population
. ''Detroit News''.</ref> . ''Detroit News''.</ref>


===World War I and World War II===
] Motor Car Company Main Plant on Cass Avenue at Amsterdam Street in Detroit, circa ].]]
]
With the factories came high-profile labor strife, climaxing in the ] as the ] initiated bitter disputes with Detroit's auto manufacturers. The labor activism established during those years brought notoriety to hometown union leaders such as ] and ]. The ] saw the construction of the world's first urban depressed freeway, ]<ref>. ''michiganhighways.org'' (accessed April 30, 2006).</ref> and the industrial growth during ] that led to Detroit's nickname as the '']''.<ref>Nolan, Jenny (2003). . ''Detroit News''</ref>
With the factories came high-profile labor strife, climaxing in the ] as the ] initiated bitter disputes with Detroit's auto manufacturers. The labor activism established during those years brought notoriety to hometown union leaders such as ] and ]. The ] saw the construction of the world's first urban depressed freeway, ]<ref>. ''michiganhighways.org'' (accessed April 30, 2006).</ref> and the industrial growth during ] that led to Detroit's nickname as the '']''.<ref>Nolan, Jenny (2003). . ''Detroit News''</ref>


===1960s===
Detroit endured a painful decline during the ] and ] and was often held up as a symbol of ]. The ] in ] and ] accelerated ] from the city. The percentage of black residents increased rapidly thereafter, as not only did the whites flee the city, but the migration of blacks from the south continued. The city's ] began a steep decline as retailers and small business owners departed the city in the wake of the riots. Within a decade large numbers of buildings and homes were abandoned on the southeast side of the city, with many remaining for years in a state of decay. In 1973, the city elected its first black mayor, ]. Young's style during his record five terms in office was not well received by many whites.<ref>. ''CNN.com''.</ref>
Detroit endured a painful decline during the ] and ] and was often held up as a symbol of ]. The ] in ] ] and ] accelerated ] from the city. The percentage of black residents increased rapidly thereafter, as not only did the whites flee the city, but the migration of blacks from the south continued. The city's ] began a steep decline as retailers and small business owners departed the city in the wake of the riots. Within a decade large numbers of buildings and homes were abandoned on the southeast side of the city, with many remaining for years in a state of decay. In 1973, the city elected its first black mayor, ]. Young's style during his record five terms in office was not well received by many whites.<ref>. ''CNN.com''.</ref>


===1970s===
The gasoline crises of ] and ] shook the United States auto industry as small cars from foreign makers made inroads into the traditional dominance of the Big Three ]. High-paying manufacturing jobs became scarce and the city soon faced the acute ] and ] epidemics which afflicted many U.S. cities at that time. Drug-related violence and property crimes rose steeply, while many abandoned homes were razed as they had become havens for ]s. ], a Detroit-area tradition which occurs the night before ], evolved from a night of pranks to a night of large-scale arson across the city. Sizeable tracts have reverted to nature, to become a form of ] with wild animals spotted migrating into the city.<ref>. ''Detroit Blog''. Accessed March 8, 2006.</ref> "Renaissance" has been a perennial buzzword among city leaders since the 12th Street riot, reinforced by the construction of the ] in the late 1970s.
The ] saw the decline of the US auto industry as Japanese and other foreign car makers made inroads into the traditional dominance of the ]. High-paying manufacturing jobs became scarce and the city soon faced the acute ] and ] epidemics which afflicted many US cities at that time. Drug-related violence and property crimes rose steeply, while many abandoned homes were razed as they had become havens for ]s. ], a Detroit-area tradition which occurs the night before ], evolved from a night of pranks to a night of large-scale arson across the city. Sizeable tracts have reverted to nature, to become a form of ] with wild animals spotted migrating into the city.<ref>. ''Detroit Blog''. Accessed March 8, 2006.</ref> "Renaissance" has been a perennial buzzword among city leaders since the 12th Street riot, reinforced by the construction of the ] in the late 1970's.


===1980 to present===
In 1980, Detroit hosted the ] which nominated ] to a successful bid for ]. The city received limited positive notoriety for much of the rest of the decade, though, as its economy faltered badly and its crime rate gained national headlines; the city's reputation as a dangerous place was reinforced by rioting following the ]' ] title and the ]' second ], in ].
In the 1980s, the national economic malaise hit heavy industrial manufacturing centers such as Detroit the hardest, and it was not until the ] that Detroit enjoyed a revival, much of it centered downtown. In ], ] with its ] and neo-gothic spires arose on the city skyline. From 1996 onwards, three casinos opened: ], ], and ]. In 2000, ] replaced historic ] as the home of the ],<ref>Lage, Larry (2003). . ''The Detroit News''</ref> and in 2002, ] brought the ]'s ] back into Detroit, from ]. The 2004 opening of the ] gave downtown Detroit its first significant new office building in a decade. In 2005 the city hosted the ], and then in 2006 hosted ], which saw the arrival of many improvements to the downtown area. Additionally, the first portions of the Detroit River Walk were laid down. In the summer of ], announcements came for the redevelopment of the abandoned Fort Shelby and ]s Detroit looks foward to the return of the ] in 2007 on the island of ] and the 2009 ] at ].

In the ], the city began to enjoy a revival, much of it centered downtown. In ], ] with its ] and neo-gothic spires arose on the city skyline. In ] onwards, three casinos opened: ], ], and ]. In ], ] replaced historic ] as the home of the ],<ref>Lage, Larry (2003). . ''The Detroit News''</ref> and in 2002, ] brought the ]'s ] back into Detroit, from ]. The 2004 opening of the ] gave downtown Detroit its first significant new office building in a decade. The city hosted the ] ] and ] in ], both of which prompted many improvements to the downtown area. Additionally, the first portions of the Detroit River Walk were laid down. In the summer of ], announcements came for the redevelopment of the abandoned Fort Shelby and ]s.


==Geography== ==Geography==
===Topography=== ===Topography===
]'s ] satellite.]] ]'s ] satellite.]]
According to the ], the city has a total area of 143.0 ]s (370.2 ]); of this, 138.8 square miles (359.4 km²) is land and 4.2 square miles (11 km²) is water. The highest elevation in Detroit is in the University District neighborhood in northwestern Detroit, just west of Palmer Park sitting at a height of 670 feet (204 m). Detroit's lowest elevation is along its riverfront, of course, sitting at a height of 579 feet (176 m). Detroit completely encircles the cities of ] and ]. On its northeast border are the wealthy communities of ]. ] and ] counties lie to the north. ] divides Detroit and Grosse Pointe Park. It divides one of the poorest and most crime-ridden communities in the United States from one of the most affluent, with multi-million dollar mansions on Lake Shore Drive in the Grosse Pointes. According to the ], the city has a total area of 370.2 ] (142.9 ]); of this, 359.4 km² (138.8 square miles) is land and 11 km² (4.2 square miles) is water. The highest elevation in Detroit is in the University District neighborhood in northwestern Detroit, just west of Palmer Park, sitting at a height of 204 m (670 feet). Detroit's lowest, at a height of 176 m (579 feet), is along its riverfront.


The city is crossed by three road systems: the original ] template, radial roads from a ]-inspired system, and true ] from the ] township system. It sits atop a large salt mine<ref>Zacharias, Patricia (2001). . ''The Detroit News''.</ref> and is north of ]. Detroit is the only major city along the U.S.-Canadian border in which one travels south in order to cross into Canada. Detroit has four border crossings: the ] and the ] provides motor vehicle thoroughfare and the ] railroad access to and from Canada. The fourth border crossing is the ], located near the ] and ]. Detroit completely encircles the cities of ] and ]. On its northeast border are the wealthy communities of ]. ] and ] counties lie to the north. ] divides Detroit and Grosse Pointe Park. It divides one of the poorest and most crime-ridden communities in the United States from one of the most affluent, with multi-million dollar mansions on Lake Shore Drive in the Grosse Pointes.
The city is crossed by three road systems: the original ] template, radial roads from a ]-inspired system, and true ] from the ] township system. It sits atop a large salt mine<ref>Zacharias, Patricia (2001). . ''The Detroit News''.</ref> and is north of ]. Detroit is the only major city along the U.S.-Canadian border in which one travels south in order to cross into Canada. Detroit has four border crossings: the ] and the ] provides motor vehicle thoroughfare and the ] railroad access to and from Canada. The fourth border crossing is the ], located near the ] and ].


===Climate=== ===Climate===
Detroit and the rest of southeastern Michigan have a typically ] ] seasonal climate, which is influenced by the ]. Winters are cold with moderate ]; summers are warm.<ref>. ''Michigan Vacations'' (accessed April 20, 2006).</ref> The earliest officially measurable snowfall in Detroit occurred on October 12, 2006. Winters are often cold but temperatures very rarely drop below 0°F (&ndash;17°C). Summer temperatures can typically exceed 90°F (32°C). Average monthly precipitation ranges from about two to four ] (50 to 100 ]), being heaviest in the summer months. Snowfall, which typically occurs from November to early April, ranges from 1 to 10 inches (3 to 25 cm) a month.<ref>. ''Weather.com'' (accessed April 20, 2006).</ref> The highest recorded temperature was 103.0°F (39.0°C) on ], ], while the lowest recorded temperature was &ndash;17.0°F (&ndash;27.0°C) on ], ].<ref>. ''Yahoo! Weather'' (accessed April 20, 2006).</ref> Detroit and the rest of southeastern Michigan have a typically ] ] seasonal climate, which is influenced by the ]. Winters are cold with moderate ]; summers are warm. <ref>. ''Michigan Vacations'' (accessed April 20, 2006).</ref> The average high and low temperatures in July are 85°]/29°] and 65°F/18°C, respectively, and in January, 33°F/1°C and 20°F/-6°C). Summer temperatures can typically exceed 90°F/32°C. Winters are often cold but temperatures very rarely drop below 0°F/-17°C. Average monthly precipitation ranges from about two to five ], or 50 to 130 ], being heaviest in the summer months. Snowfall, which typically occurs from November to early April, ranges from 1 to 10 inches, or 3 to 25 cm, a month.<ref>. ''Weather.com'' (accessed April 20, 2006).</ref> The highest recorded temperature was 103°F/39.5°C on ], ], while the lowest recorded temperature was minus 17°F/-27°C on ], ].<ref>. ''Yahoo! Weather'' (accessed April 20, 2006).</ref>


{| class="wikitable"
<center><!--Infobox begins-->{{Infobox Weather
! style="background: #CCCCCC; color: #000080" height="17" | Month
|location = Detroit, Michigan
! style="background: #CCCCCC; color:#000080;" | Jan
|Jan_Hi_°F = 31
! style="background: #CCCCCC; color:#000080;" | Feb
|Feb_Hi_°F = 33
! style="background: #CCCCCC; color:#000080;" | Mar
|Mar_Hi_°F = 44
! style="background: #CCCCCC; color:#000080;" | Apr
|Apr_Hi_°F = 58
! style="background: #CCCCCC; color:#000080;" | May
|May_Hi_°F = 70
! style="background: #CCCCCC; color:#000080;" | Jun
|Jun_Hi_°F = 79
! style="background: #CCCCCC; color:#000080;" | Jul
|Jul_Hi_°F = 83
! style="background: #CCCCCC; color:#000080;" | Aug
|Aug_Hi_°F = 81
! style="background: #CCCCCC; color:#000080;" | Sep
|Sep_Hi_°F = 74
! style="background: #CCCCCC; color:#000080;" | Oct
|Oct_Hi_°F = 62
! style="background: #CCCCCC; color:#000080;" | Nov
|Nov_Hi_°F = 48
! style="background: #CCCCCC; color:#000080;" | Dec
|Dec_Hi_°F = 35
! style="background: #CCCCCC; color:#000080;" | Year
|Year_Hi_°F = 58
|-
|Jan_Hi_°C = -1
! style="background: #CCCCCC; color:#000080;" | Avg high °F (°C)
|Feb_Hi_°C = 1
| style="background: #9999CC; color: black;" | 31 (0)
|Mar_Hi_°C = 6
| style="background: #9999CC; color: black;" | 33 (0)
|Apr_Hi_°C = 14
| style="background: #99FF33; color: black;" | 44 (6)
|May_Hi_°C = 21
| style="background: #339933; color: black;" | 58 (14)
|Jun_Hi_°C = 26
| style="background: #FF8800; color: black;" | 70 (21)
|Jul_Hi_°C = 28
| style="background: #FF8800; color: black;" | 79 (26)
|Aug_Hi_°C = 27
| style="background: #FF0000; color: black;" | 83 (28)
|Sep_Hi_°C = 23
| style="background: #FF0000; color: black;" | 81 (27)
|Oct_Hi_°C = 16
| style="background: #FF8800; color: black;" | 74 (23)
|Nov_Hi_°C = 8
| style="background: #FFDD00; color: black;" | 62 (16)
|Dec_Hi_°C = 1
| style="background: #99FF33; color: black;" | 48 (9)
|Year_Hi_°C = 14
| style="background: #9999CC; color: black;" | 35 (1)
|Jan_Lo_°F = 16
| style="background: #339933; color: black;" | 58 (14)
|Feb_Lo_°F = 18
|-
|Mar_Lo_°F = 27
! style="background: #CCCCCC; color:#000080;" height="16;" | Avg low °F (°C)
|Apr_Lo_°F = 37
| style="background: #660099; color: black;" | 16 (-8)
|May_Lo_°F = 48
| style="background: #660099; color: black;" | 18 (-7)
|Jun_Lo_°F = 57
| style="background: #6633CC; color: black;" | 27 (-2)
|Jul_Lo_°F = 62
| style="background: #9999CC; color: black;" | 37 (2)
|Aug_Lo_°F = 60
| style="background: #99FF33; color: black;" | 48 (8)
|Sep_Lo_°F = 53
| style="background: #339933; color: black;" | 57 (13)
|Oct_Lo_°F = 41
| style="background: #FFDD00; color: black;" | 62 (16)
|Nov_Lo_°F = 32
| style="background: #FFDD00; color: black;" | 60 (15)
|Dec_Lo_°F = 22
| style="background: #339933; color: black;" | 53 (11)
|Year_Lo_°F = 39
| style="background: #99FF33; color: black;" | 41 (5)
|Jan_Lo_°C = -8
| style="background: #9999CC; color: black;" | 32 (0)
|Feb_Lo_°C = -7
| style="background: #6633CC; color: black;" | 22 (-5)
|Mar_Lo_°C = -2
| style="background: #9999CC; color: black;" | 39 (3)
|Apr_Lo_°C = 2
|-
|May_Lo_°C = 8
! style="background: #CCCCCC; color:#000080;" | Rainfall in inches (millimeters)
|Jun_Lo_°C = 13
| style="background: #66CCFF;" | 1.9 (48.3)
|Jul_Lo_°C = 16
| style="background: #66CCFF;" | 1.7 (43.2)
|Aug_Lo_°C = 15
| style="background: #2288BB;" | 2.4 (61.0)
|Sep_Lo_°C = 11
| style="background: #2266AA;" | 3.0 (76.2)
|Oct_Lo_°C = 5
| style="background: #2288BB;" | 2.9 (73.7)
|Nov_Lo_°C = 0
| style="background: #2266AA;" | 3.6 (91.4)
|Dec_Lo_°C = -5
| style="background: #2266AA;" | 3.1 (78.7)
|Year_Lo_°C = 3
| style="background: #2266AA;" | 3.4 (86.4)
|Jan_Precip_inch = 1.9
| style="background: #2288BB;" | 2.8 (71.1)
|Feb_Precip_inch = 1.7
| style="background: #2288BB;" | 2.2 (55.9)
|Mar_Precip_inch = 2.4
| style="background: #2288BB;" | 2.7 (68.6)
|Apr_Precip_inch = 3.0
| style="background: #2288BB;" | 2.5 (63.5)
|May_Precip_inch = 2.9
| style="background: #2288BB;" | 32.3 (820.4)
|Jun_Precip_inch = 3.6
|-
|Jul_Precip_inch = 3.1
| colspan="14" style="text-align:center;font-size:90%;"|''Source: Weatherbase''<ref>http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=073527&refer=&units=us</ref>
|Aug_Precip_inch = 3.4
|}
|Sep_Precip_inch = 2.8
|Oct_Precip_inch = 2.2
|Nov_Precip_inch = 2.7
|Dec_Precip_inch = 2.5
|Year_Precip_inch = 32.3
|Jan_Precip_cm = 4
|Feb_Precip_cm = 4
|Mar_Precip_cm = 6
|Apr_Precip_cm = 7
|May_Precip_cm = 7
|Jun_Precip_cm = 9
|Jul_Precip_cm = 7
|Aug_Precip_cm = 8
|Sep_Precip_cm = 7
|Oct_Precip_cm = 5
|Nov_Precip_cm = 6
|Dec_Precip_cm = 6
|Year_Precip_cm = 82
|source =Weatherbase <ref name=Weatherbase >{{cite web
| url =http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=073527&refer= | title =Weatherbase: Historical Weather for Detroit, Michigan, United States of America |accessmonthday = Nov 6 |accessyear = 2006 | language = English }}</ref>
|accessdate = Nov 2006
}}<!--Infobox ends--></center>


==Cityscape== ==Cityscape==
] at left. At right, the ], constructed in 1912.]] ] at left. At right, the ], constructed in 1912.]]
The panoramic Detroit skyline shows a variety of architectural styles. The city has one of America's largest surviving collections of 1920's and 1930's skyscrapers and historic structures. The ] style from this period is exemplified by the ] downtown as well as the ] and ] in the ] adjacent to ]. Among the city's prominent structures are the nation's first ], the ], and the ]. These and other historic buildings mingle with the ] neo-gothic ] and the gleaming towers of the ] downtown near the ].


The panoramic Detroit skyline shows a variety of architectural styles. The city has one of America's largest surviving collections of 1920's and 1930's skyscrapers and historic structures. The ] style from this period is exemplified by the ] downtown as well as the ] and ] in the ] adjacent to ]. Among the city's prominent structures are the nation's first ], the ], and the ]. These and other historic buildings mingle with the post modern neo-gothic ] and the gleaming towers of the ] downtown near the ].] (rear left) and the Wayne County Building (right). The giant decal on the Renaissance Center was installed for the ] ]. It is 4,612 feet (1,375 m) from the home plate in ] to the main tower of the Renaissance Center.]]
While the downtown and New Center areas contain high-rise buildings, the majority of the surrounding city consists of low-rise structures and single-family homes. In 2005, Detroit's architecture was heralded as some of America's finest; many of the city's architecturally significant buildings are listed by the ] as among America's most endangered landmarks.<ref>] (2005). Wayne State University Press''</ref>


While the downtown and New Center areas contain high-rise buildings, the majority of the surrounding city consists of low-rise structures and single-family homes. The city's southeast side contains many abandoned buildings and large tracts of empty land, to the north and west several neighborhoods are prosperous and show few signs of urban blight. In 2005, Detroit's architecture was heralded as some of America's finest; many of the city's architecturally significant buildings are listed by the ] as among America's most endangered landmarks.<ref>] (2005). Wayne State University Press''</ref>
] (rear left) and the Wayne County Building (right). The giant decal on the Renaissance Center was installed for the ] ]. It is 4,612 feet (1,375 m) from the home plate in ] to the main tower of the Renaissance Center]]


A number of downtown redevelopment projects — of which ] is one of the most notable — have revitalized parts of the city. In 2006, a state-of-the-art cruise ship dock was added to ]. ] stands near the theater district and ], home of the Detroit Tigers. Since the 1990s, there have been plans to redevelop the riverfront area from the Ambassador Bridge to ] (the largest island park in a U.S. city) with a combination of parks, residential buildings, and commercial areas. Other major parks include Palmer (north of ]), River Rouge (in the southwest side), and ] (on the Detroit River east of downtown).
Detroit has an active community of professionals dedicated to urban design, historic preservation, architecture, and investment in the city.<ref>Cityscape Detroit (2006).</ref>
A number of downtown redevelopment projects — of which ] is one of the most notable — have revitalized parts of the city. In 2006, a state-of-the-art cruise ship dock was added to ]. ] stands near the ] and ], home of the Detroit Tigers. Since the 1990s, there have been plans to redevelop the riverfront area from the Ambassador Bridge to ] (the largest island park in a U.S. city) with a combination of parks, residential buildings, and commercial areas. Other major parks include Palmer (north of ]), River Rouge (in the southwest side), and ] (on the Detroit River east of downtown).


Detroit is constructing a riverfront promenade park similar to the one directly across the river in ]. Windsor replaced acres of train tracks and some abandoned buildings with what is now 3 miles (5 km) of uninterrupted parkland. The ] is spearheading most of this development. A project includes the new ] and Harbor, Michigan's first urban state park. Civic planners envision that the newly reclaimed riverfront with pedestrian parks will spur more residential development.<ref> . (accessed May 27, 2006).</ref> Detroit is constructing a riverfront promenade park similar to the one directly across the river in ]. Windsor replaced acres of train tracks and some abandoned buildings with what is now 3 miles (5 km) of uninterrupted parkland. The ] is spearheading most of this development. A project includes the new ] and Harbor, Michigan's first urban state park. Civic planners envision that the newly reclaimed riverfront with pedestrian parks will spur more residential development.<ref> . (accessed May 27, 2006).</ref>


{{see also|Neighborhoods in Detroit, Michigan}} {{see also|Neighborhoods and projects in Detroit, Michigan}}


==Culture== ==Culture==
{{main|Culture of Detroit, Michigan|Black culture of Detroit, Michigan|Detroit celebrities}} {{main4|Culture of Detroit, Michigan|Black culture of Detroit|Music of Detroit|Detroit celebrities}}
===Contemporary life=== ===Contemporary life===
] suburbs are among the most affluent in the nation.<ref name=RichSuburbs> {{cite web ] suburbs are among the most affluent in the nation.<ref name=RichSuburbs> {{cite web
Line 214: Line 193:
| language = English | language = English
| quote = Oakland County also ranks as the fifth wealthiest county in the nation... | quote = Oakland County also ranks as the fifth wealthiest county in the nation...
}}</ref> Lifestyles for rising professionals in Detroit reflect those of other major cities. This dynamic is luring many younger professionals to the downtown.<ref>Halaas, Jaime (December 20, 2005). Model D Media.</ref> Luxury high rises such as the three ] have views of ] and Canada. Examples abound with developments in the city's ] area. The ] will include a number of luxury condos. The east river development plans include even more luxury condominium developments. A desire to be closer to the urban scene has attracted young professionals to take up residence among the mansions of ] just outside the city. Detroit's proximity to ] provides for spectacular views and a dynamic nightlife, along with Ontario's 19-and-older drinking age.<ref name= Windsornightlife>{{cite web }}</ref> Lifestyles for rising professionals in Detroit reflect those of other major cities. This dynamic is luring many younger professionals to the downtown. Luxury high rises such as the three ] have views of ] and Canada. Examples abound with developments in the city's ] area. The ] will include a number of luxury condos. The east river development plans include even more luxury condominium developments. A desire to be closer to the urban scene has attracted young professionals to take up residence among the mansions of ] just outside the city. The stylish lofts of the refurbished ] downtown are a short walk from the city's ] entertainment district. Detroit's proximity to ] provides for spectacular views and Ontario's 19-and-older drinking age helps provide a dynamic nightlife for Detroiters not yet 21.<ref name= Windsornightlife>{{cite web
| url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/03/AR2006020302747.html | url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/03/AR2006020302747.html
| title = Detroit's Big Party Next Door. In Windsor, Temptation Waits for Players, Fans | title = Detroit's Big Party Next Door. In Windsor, Temptation Waits for Players, Fans
Line 226: Line 205:


===Performing Arts=== ===Performing Arts===
Music has been the dominant feature of Detroit's nightlife since the late 1940s. The metropolitan area boasts two of the top live music venues in the United States: ] and ]<ref>. ''DTE Energy Music Theatre''.</ref> Detroit has the nation's second largest theater district in terms of seats. Major theaters include the ], Masonic Temple Theatre, the ], and the ]. Detroit's ] is the home of the ].
{{main| Music of Detroit, Michigan|Detroit Rap}}
Music has been the dominant feature of Detroit's nightlife since the late 1940s. The metropolitan area boasts two of the top live music venues in the United States: ] and ]<ref>. ''DTE Energy Music Theatre''.</ref> The city's ] is the nation's second largest in terms of seats. Major theaters include the ], ], the ], and the ]. Detroit's ] is the home of the ].


In the 1940's, Detroit's blues scene saw the long-term residency of ]. During the 1950s, the city became a center for jazz, with stars performing in the ] neighborhood. <ref>Herb Boyd (9/17/97) . ''The Metro Times''</ref> ] founded ] which rose to prominence during the 1960s and early 1970s with acts such as ], ], ], ], ] and ]. Gordy moved Motown to Los Angeles in 1970 to pursue film producing opportunities, but the company has since moved back to Detroit. During the 1950s, the city became a center for jazz, in which stars of the era often came to the ] neighborhood to perform.<ref>Herb Boyd (9/17/97) . ''The Metro Times''.</ref> One highlight of Detroit's musical history was ]' success during the 1960s and early 1970s. The label was founded in Detroit by ] During the late 1960s, Detroiter ] became America's preeminent female ] artist. Metro Detroit spawned a high-energy rock scene in the late 1960s and 1970s with artists like ], ], and ]. The group ] captured the essence of Detroit's love for rock music in the song ''Detroit Rock City''. This rock scene is considered one of the precursors of the ] movement, with the ] and ]'s various projects (including ]) being some of the foremost proto-punk bands. The area is generally regarded as the birthplace of the ] movement. Recent prominent musical artists include ], ], ], and ]. In addition, Detroit's ] scene of the 1990s rose to national attention with the success of ]. Eight annual music events are held in the city, including the ] electronic music festival, ], the ] (MC2), the ], and the hip-hop ] music festival.


Artist ] created the controversial street art exhibit known as the ] in the mid 1980s. The exhibit used junk and abandoned cars, clothing, shoes, vacuum cleaners, and other garbage Guyton found in the neighborhood near and on Heidelberg Street on the near East Side of Detroit. Guyton painted polka dots and other symbols on several houses on Heidelberg Street. The city sued Guyton twice for creating a public nuisance, removed large parts of his art project, and tore down two vacant homes he had painted with various symbols. Nevertheless, much of the Heidelberg Project remains today.
Metro Detroit spawned a high-energy rock scene in the late 1960s and 1970s centered around the ] with artists like ], ], ], ], ], ] and ]. The group ] captured the essence of Detroit's love for rock music in the song "Detroit Rock City." This rock scene is considered one of the precursors of the ] movement, with the ] and ]'s various projects (including ]) being some of the foremost proto-punk bands.


===Fashion===
The Detroit area is also generally accepted as the birthplace of ], which has grown since ] through local radio and clubs to dance venues worldwide. Seminal ] artists include ], ] and ]. This groundbreaking musical genre developed at the same time as ]'s ] but was more directly influenced by ] and European electronic pioneers such as ], as well as Atkins's own early ] work. Techno music reached a worldwide audience and in Europe triggered a ] in both ] and ].
]'s Grand Court in ]]]


The ]'s Winter Garden is the site of the annual "Fash Bash", a major fashion event traditionally held in August. Coordinated by the ], the event features celebrities and models showcasing the latest fashion trends. Metro Detroit's ] is one of the nation's leading [[List of leading shopping streets and districts by city|
In addition, Detroit's ] scene of the 1990s rose to national attention with the success of bands such as ], ], ], and ]. Its hip hop scene also rose to prominence in the late nineties with the emergence of nationally renowned acts such as ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and ] as well as other artists like ] and ]
upscale shopping]] areas.

The city hosts several annual music events, including the ], the ] (MC2), the ], and the hip-hop ] music festival.

===Fashion===
The ]'s Winter Garden is the site of the annual "Fash Bash", a major fashion event traditionally held in August. Coordinated by the ], the event features celebrities and models showcasing the latest fashion trends.


In 1991, a cultural phenomenon began among hair salons which evolved into the Detroit ]. A showcase of fantastical hair piece creations, often using human hair as the main content, has since become a national trend among African-American hair-styling tours.<ref name=Hairwars>{{cite web In 1991, a cultural phenomenon began among hair salons which evolved into the Detroit ]. A showcase of fantastical hair piece creations, often using human hair as the main content, has since become a national trend among African-American hair-styling tours.<ref name=Hairwars>{{cite web
Line 257: Line 232:
===Tourism=== ===Tourism===
] located in the Cultural Center]] ] located in the Cultural Center]]

Many of ]'s museums are located in the ] near ]. These museums include ], the Detroit Historical Museum, ], Detroit Science Center, and the main branch of the Detroit Public Library. Other cultural highlights include ], ] Museum, ], Dossin Great Lakes Museum, the ] (MOCAD), and the Belle Isle Conservatory. Important history of Detroit and the surrounding area is exhihibited at the ], the nation's largest indoor-outdoor museum complex.<ref>America's Story, Explore the States: Michigan (2006). ''Library of Congress'' </ref> <ref>State of Michigan: MI Kids (2006). </ref>
Many of ]'s museums are located in the ] near ]. These museums include ], the Detroit Historical Museum, ], Detroit Science Center, and the main branch of the Detroit Public Library. Other cultural highlights include ], ] Museum, ], Dossin Great Lakes Museum, and the Belle Isle Conservatory.


], one of three casinos in Detroit]] ], one of three casinos in Detroit]]
The ] at the ] provides information about tours of Detroit area churches, skyscrapers, and mansions. Of the mansions built by the auto barons in the area, only the ] is in Detroit. The ] farmer's distribution center is the largest open-air flowerbed market in the United States and has more than 150 foods and specialty businesses.<ref>. ''Eastern Market Mechant's Association (accessed March 8, 2006).''</ref> The Detroit Historical Society at the Detroit Historical Museum provides information about tours of Detroit area churches, skyscrapers, and mansions. The mansions of the auto barons open for public tours include ]'s Fairlane Estate, the ], the ], and ]. Detroit's ] is a ] site and serves as a downtown entertainment district with many restaurants. The ] farmer's distribution center is the largest open-air flowerbed market in the United States and has more than 150 foods and specialty businesses.<ref>. ''Eastern Market Mechant's Association (accessed March 8, 2006).''</ref> Favorite shopping destinations include ] and ]. Detroit is the largest city to offer major casino hotels which include ], ], ], and ].


] ] is on the left, ] is on the right]] ] ] is on the left, ] is on the right]]
], between the ] and ] on the riverfront, is the site of many events including the ] in late June with one of the nation's largest displays of fireworks and the ]. Within downtown, ] hosts events such as the Motown Winter Blast. As the world's traditional automotive center, Detroit hosts the ]. The America's Thanksgiving Parade — previously referred to as the Hudson's Thanksgiving Day Parade — is one of the nation's largest and has been held continuously since 1924.<ref>. ''The Parade Company''.</ref> ], between the ] and ] on the riverfront, is the site of many events. As the world's traditional automotive center, Detroit hosts the ], and the city features many festivals including the ] in late June with one of the nation's largest displays of fireworks. The America's Thanksgiving Parade — previously referred to as the Hudson's Thanksgiving Day Parade — is one of the nation's largest and has been held continuously since 1924.<ref>. ''The Parade Company''.</ref>


Other sites of interest are the ], the ], and the ]. The aquarium on Belle Isle is currently closed.<ref> . ''Detroit Zoological Association''.</ref> The ''J.W. Westcott II'', which delivers mail to ]s on the Detroit River, is the world's only floating post office.<ref> ''J.W. Wescott Homepage''.</ref> Other sites of interest are the ], the ], and the ]. The aquarium on Belle Isle is currently closed.<ref> . ''Detroit Zoological Association''.</ref> The ''J.W. Westcott II'', which delivers mail to ]s on the Detroit River, is the world's only floating post office.<ref> ''J.W. Wescott Homepage''.</ref>


The most important civic sculpture in Detroit is ]' "]" at the Coleman Young Municipal Center. The image is often used as a symbol of Detroit and the statue itself is occasionally dressed in sports ]s to celebrate when a Detroit team is doing well.<ref>Vivian M. Baulch (1998). . ''The Detroit News''.</ref> A memorial to ] at the intersection of Jefferson and Woodward Avenues was dedicated on ], ]. The sculpture, commissioned by ] and executed by ], is a 24 foot (7.3 m) long arm with a fisted hand suspended by a pyramidal framework.<ref>Sarah Karush, ''The Associated Press'' (2/23/04). . ''USA Today''.</ref> The most important civic sculpture in Detroit is the "]" at the Coleman Young Municipal Center. The image is often used as a symbol of Detroit and the statue itself is occasionally dressed in sports ]s to celebrate when a Detroit team is doing well.<ref>Vivian M. Baulch (1998). . ''The Detroit News''.</ref> A memorial to ] at the intersection of Jefferson and Woodward Avenues was dedicated on ], ]. The sculpture, commissioned by ] and executed by ], is a 24 foot (7.3 m) long arm with a fisted hand suspended by a pyramidal framework.<ref>Sarah Karush, ''The Associated Press'' (2/23/04). . ''USA Today''.</ref>

Artist ] created the controversial street art exhibit known as the ] in the mid 1980s. The exhibit used junk and abandoned cars, clothing, shoes, vacuum cleaners, and other garbage Guyton found in the neighborhood near and on Heidelberg Street on the near East Side of Detroit. Guyton painted polka dots and other symbols on several houses on Heidelberg Street. The city sued Guyton twice for creating a public nuisance, removed large parts of his art project, and tore down two vacant homes he had painted with various symbols. Nevertheless, much of the Heidelberg Project remains today.


===Sports=== ===Sports===
{{main|Sports in Detroit, Michigan}} {{main|Sports in Detroit}}
{{see also|U.S. cities with teams from four major sports}} {{see also|U.S. cities with teams from four major sports}}
Detroit is home to professional teams representing the four major sports in North America. All but two play within the city of Detroit itself (] ] and ] play in suburban ]). There are three active major sports venues within the city: ] (home of the ] team ]), ] (home of the ] team ]), and ] (home of the ] team ]). Detroit is known for its avid hockey fans, earning the city the moniker of "Hockeytown." Detroit is home to professional teams representing the four major sports in North America. All but two play within the city of Detroit (] ] and ] play in suburban ]). There are three active major sports venues within the city: ] (home of the ] team ]), ] (home of the ] team ]), and ] (home of the ] team ]). Detroit is known for its avid hockey fans. Interest in the sport has given the city the moniker of "Hockeytown."


] is adjacent to ].]] ] is adjacent to ].]]
In college sports, the ] has a ] ] program, and ] has both NCAA Division I and ] programs. The NCAA football ] is held at Ford Field each December. In college sports, the ] has a ] ] program, and ] has both NCAA Division I and ] programs. The NCAA football ] is held at Ford Field each December.


Since 1904, the city has been home to the ] Gold Cup unlimited ] boat race, held annually on the Detroit River near Belle Isle.<ref>. ''The Detroit APBA Gold Cup''</ref> Detroit was the former home of a round of the ] World Championship, which held the race on the ] from 1982 until 1988, after which the sanction moved from Formula One to ] until its final run in 2001.<ref>. ''CART''.</ref> In 2007, open-wheel racing will return to Belle Isle with both ] and ] Racing.<ref name=2007IndyRacing> {{cite web Since 1904, the city has been home to the ] Gold Cup unlimited ] boat race, held annually on the Detroit River near Belle Isle.<ref>. ''The Detroit APBA Gold Cup''</ref>. Detroit was the former home of a round of the ] World Championship, which held the race on the ] from 1982 until 1988, after which the sanction moved from Formula One to ] until its final run in 2001.<ref>. ''CART''.</ref>
| url = http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=133002
| title = Indy racing will return to Detroit
| accessdate =
| accessmonthday = 3 October
| accessyear = 2006
| date = September 29, 2006
| publisher = Associated Press
| language = English
}}</ref>


====City of Champions====
Detroit was given the name "City of Champions" in the 1930s for a series of successes both in individual and in team sport.<ref name=City_of_Champions>{{cite news |first=Patricia |last=Zacharias |title=Detroit, the City of Champions |url=http://info.detnews.com/history/story/index.cfm?id=91&category=sports |work=Detroit News Online | publisher=The Detroit News | accessdate=2006-10-02 }}</ref> ] (a native Detroiter) won the ] for unlimited powerboat racing on the ] in 1931. In the next year, 1932, Eddie "The Midnight Express" Tolan, a black student from Detroit's ], won the 100- and 200-meter races and two gold medals at the ]. ] won the heavyweight championship of the world in 1937. Also, surprisingly in 1935, the ] won the National Football League championship. The ] won the American League pennant in 1934 and the World Series in 1935, defeating the ]. The ] won the National Hockey League's ] in 1936 and 1937<ref>http://info.detnews.com/history/story/index.cfm?id=91&category=sports. ''Detroit News''.</ref><ref></ref>
Detroit was given the name "City of Champions" in the 1930s for a series of successes both in individual and in team sport.<ref name=City_of_Champions>{{cite news |first=Patricia |last=Zacharias |title=Detroit, the City of Champions |url=http://info.detnews.com/history/story/index.cfm?id=91&category=sports |work=Detroit News Online | publisher=The Detroit News | accessdate=2006-10-02 }}</ref> ] (a native Detroiter) won the ] for unlimited powerboat racing on the ] in 1931. In the next year, 1932, Eddie "the Midnight Express" Tolan, a black student from Detroit's Cass Technical High School, won the 100- and 200-meter races and two gold medals at the ]. ] won the heavyweight championship of the world in 1937. Also, suprisingly in 1935, the ] won the National Football League championship. The ] won the American League pennant in 1934 and again in 1935. And the Tigers won the World Series in 1935, defeating the ]. The ] won the National Hockey League's ] in 1936 and 1937 <ref>http://info.detnews.com/history/story/index.cfm?id=91&category=sports. ''Detroit News''.</ref><ref></ref>


The Red Wings would go on to become Detroit's most successful sports team, winning the Stanley Cup again in 1943, 1950, 1952, 1954, 1955, 1997, 1998, and 2002. The Red Wings would go on to become Detroit's most successful sports team, winning the Stanley Cup in 1943, 1950, 1952, 1954, 1955, 1997, 1998, and 2002.


Comerica Park hosted the ] on ],] and ] hosted ] on ], ]. On ], ], the largest crowd in basketball history (78,129) packed Ford Field to watch the ] defeat ], 79-74.<ref>. ''FordField.com''.</ref>
The Detroit Pistons have also had eras of glory, with championships in 1989, 1990, and 2004.


===Media===
Comerica Park hosted the ] on ], ] and ] hosted ] on ], ]. On ], ], the largest crowd in basketball history (78,129) packed Ford Field to watch the ] defeat ], 79-74.<ref>. ''FordField.com''.</ref>
], a National Historic site in the City's ] area, is home to the Fisher Theatre, with the ] radio ]]]
As the traditional automotive center, Detroit is an important source for news. The daily ]s serving Detroit are '' ]'' and '']'', both ] publications that are published together under a ]. Other publications include weekly tabloids '']'' and ''Crain's Detroit Business''. The weekly '']'' is the state's largest African American owned newspaper, and the ''Michigan Citizen''. ''Hour Media, LLC'' publishes ''Hour Detroit'' monthly magazine and produces the television program ''Hour Detroit.'' ''Discover Detroit TV'' which airs every Monday at 5:30 on Detroit's PBS affiliate is sponsored by the Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau. The Detroit media are active in the community through such efforts as the Detroit Free Press high school journalism program and the Old Newsboys' Goodfellow Fund of Detroit. ] offers a widely respected Journalism program.


The Detroit television market is the 11th largest in the United States;<ref> ''The Nielson Company''</ref> however, these estimates do not include large areas of ], ] (] and its surrounding area on broadcast and cable, as well as several other cable markets in Ontario, such as the city of ]) which receive and watch Detroit television stations, so the actual audience ranking may be higher. Broadcast channels in Detroit include ] (]), ] (]), ] (]), and ] (]). Other Metro Detroit television stations include ] (]), ] (]), ] (]) and ]. ] is the city's ] station. Detroiters receive broadcasts from ], the ] affiliate in Windsor. Some viewers can receive Canadian networks such as ], ], ], ], and ].
The Detroit Tigers experienced a renaissance of their own in 2006, becoming an elite team again after decades of losing. After defeating the New York Yankees in the ALDS, and the Oakland Athletics in the ALCS, Comerica Park hosted games 1 and 2 of the ], as the Tigers lost to the St. Louis Cardinals.


Detroit has the ninth largest ] market in the United States.<ref>. ''Arbitron.com''.</ref>, this ranking does not take into account Canadian audiences. The primary ] stations are ] 950 (news), ] 760 (news-talk), ] 1130 (sports), ] 1270 (sports-talk) and ] 1310 (Air America). ] 101.9 is the city's ] station. ] 91.7 and ] 89.1 are also regional NPR affiliates. Many ] radio stations such as ] 88.7, ], ] and ] can be heard in the Detroit area. In fact, CKLW broadcasts University of Michigan football games. ] broadcasts in Detroit on AM 910. ]-FM|90.9 is a recent addition, providing the only local fulltime source of classical music. CBC in Canada, and the PBS affiliates play classical music besides offering news and talk-radio programming.
===Media===
{{Main|Media in metropolitan Detroit}}
An important source for news, the city is the site of the annual ] which hosts the national media. All the major networks have a presence in the Detroit area. '']'' and '']'' are the major daily ]s, both ] publications published together under a ]. Media philanthropy includes the ''Detroit Free Press'' high school journalism program and the Old Newsboys' Goodfellow Fund of Detroit. ] offers a widely respected Journalism program. The Detroit television market is the 11th largest in the United States;<ref> ''The Nielson Company''</ref> however, these estimates do not include large areas of ], ] (] and its surrounding area on broadcast and cable, as well as several other cable markets in Ontario, such as the city of ]) which receive and watch Detroit television stations, so the actual audience ranking may be higher. ''Discover Detroit TV'' which airs every Monday at 5:30 on Detroit's PBS affiliate is sponsored by the Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau. Detroit has the ninth largest ] market in the United States,<ref>. ''Arbitron.com''.</ref> this ranking does not take into account Canadian audiences.


==Economy== ==Economy==
] in Detroit, Michigan, is General Motors' world headquarters. Behind and to the left, is the smaller ].]] ], headquarters of General Motors.]]
Detroit and the surrounding region constitute a ] powerhouse, most notably as home to the ] automobile companies. The city is an important center for global trade with large international law firms having their offices in both Detroit and Windsor. There are hundreds of offices and plants in the automotive support business: parts, electronics, and design suppliers. The domestic auto industry accounts directly and indirectly for one of every ten jobs in the U.S.<ref>Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers (2006). .</ref> The area is an important source of ] job opportunities. Detroit and the surrounding region constitute a ] powerhouse, most notably as home to the ] automobile companies. The city is an important center for global trade with large international law firms having their offices in both Detroit and Windsor. There are hundreds of offices and plants in the automotive support business: parts, electronics, and design suppliers. The domestic auto industry accounts directly and indirectly for one of every ten jobs in the U.S.<ref>Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers (2006). .</ref> The area is an important source of ] job opportunities.


With its dependence on the ], Detroit is more acutely vulnerable to economic cycles than most large cities.<ref>Flint, Jerry (] ]). . ''Forbes'', found at faculty.ncwc.edu/denders/eng112/sample_summary.htm</ref> A rise in automated manufacturing using robot technology, inexpensive labor in other parts of the world, and increased competition from foreign rivals have led to a steady decline in certain types of manufacturing jobs in the region. Other complications for the city include higher taxes than the nearby suburbs, with many unable to afford the cost of citizenship entailed by levies on property and income<ref>Josar, David (] ]) . ''Detroit News''.</ref> and a lack of city services. In February 2006, metropolitan Detroit's unemployment rate was 8.6%, topped only by communities devastated by ].<ref>Bureau of Labor Statistics (2/2006). . ''U.S. Department of Labor''.</ref> In the city, the unemployment rate hovered around 15% at the end of 2005, leaving Detroit as the nation's poorest city with more than one-third of residents below the poverty line.<ref>Bello, Marisol (] ]).. ''Detroit Free Press''.</ref> With its dependence on the ], Detroit is more acutely vulnerable to economic cycles than most large cities.<ref>Flint, Jerry (] ]). . ''Forbes'', found at faculty.ncwc.edu/denders/eng112/sample_summary.htm</ref> A rise in automated manufacturing using robot technology, inexpensive labor in other parts of the world, and increased competition from foreign rivals have led to a steady decline in certain types of manufacturing jobs in the region. Other complications for the city include higher taxes than the nearby suburbs, with many unable to afford the cost of citizenship entailed by levies on property and income <ref>Josar, David (] ]) . ''Detroit News''.</ref> and a lack of city services. In February 2006, metropolitan Detroit's unemployment rate was 8.6%, topped only by communities devastated by ].<ref>Bureau of Labor Statistics (2/2006). . ''U.S. Department of Labor''.</ref> In the city, the unemployment rate hovered around 15% at the end of 2005, leaving Detroit as the nation's poorest city with more than one-third of residents below the poverty line.<ref>Bello, Marisol (] ]).. ''Detroit Free Press''.</ref>


] headquarters in ].]] ] headquarters in ].]]
Some allege that the domestic auto industry's woes can be traced to its own history and devices. The Big Three automakers have collectively lost market share to foreign rivals which many had perceived as having higher quality.<ref>Standard and Poors Report (March 14, 2006). . ''Business Week''</ref> However, in 2003, Cadillac outscored Lexus in 2 of 3 quality surveys by ], ], and ].<ref>. ''USA Today''</ref> The perception of quality from foreign rivals has been called into question, with Toyota experiencing quality issues in 2006.<ref>. ''Business Week Online''.</ref><ref>Associated Press (July, 21, 2006). .</ref> In 1994, with a boom in demand for ]s and ]s, the industry fought the ]'s efforts to impose a 40% increase in ] (CAFE) standards for many trucks and obtained ]'s approval to block the plan to develop stricter regulations.<ref>Woellert , Lorraine (] ]). . ''Business Week''.</ref> In the late 1990s, Detroit's Big Three automakers had gained market share and were enjoying record profits until the recession of 2000 and the subsequent ] caused a severe decline in the stock market along with a pension and benefit funds crisis. Since 2001, losses and bankruptcy filings by some of the area's auto parts manufacturers exacerbated Detroit's economic situation.{{fact}} Some allege that the domestic auto industry's woes can be traced to its own history and devices. The Big Three automakers have collectively lost market share to foreign rivals which many had perceived as having higher quality.<ref>Standard and Poors Report (March 14, 2006). . ''Business Week''</ref> However, in 2003, Cadillac outscored Lexus in 2 of 3 quality surveys by ], ], and ].<ref>. ''USA Today''</ref> The perception of quality from foreign rivals has been called into question, with Toyota experiencing quality issues in 2006.<ref>. ''Business Week Online''.</ref><ref>Associated Press (July, 21, 2006). .</ref> In 1994, with a boom in demand for ]s and ]s, the industry fought the ]'s efforts to impose a 40% increase in ] (CAFE) standards for many trucks and obtained ]'s approval to block the plan to develop stricter regulations.<ref>Woellert , Lorraine (] ]). . ''Business Week''.</ref> In the late 1990s, Detroit's Big Three automakers had gained market share and were enjoying record profits until the recession of 2000 and the subsequent ] caused a severe decline in the stock market along with a pension and benefit funds crisis. Since 2001, losses and bankruptcy filings by some of the area's auto parts manufacturers exacerbated Detroit's economic situation.


Initially, GM and Ford had sought to avoid or delay the introduction of unprofitable hybrids in favor of the all fuel cell vehicle; however, with rising ] prices and foreign rivals marketing hybrid cars, Detroit's auto makers responded by introducing hybrids amid criticism for the delay. In 2006, ] announced a dramatic increase in production of its ] ]-] models,<ref> Dorinda Elliott (] ]). "Can This Man Save The American Auto Industry?" ''Time Magazine''.</ref> as well as promote the use of existing technologies to equip vehicles with ] systems. ] has invested heavily in all ] equipped vehicles,<ref> Kiley, David (] ]). . ''USA Today''.</ref> while ] is focusing much of its research and development into ].<ref>PRNewswire (] ]). ''Yahoo News''.</ref> Two days after the ], GM announced it had developed the world's most powerful fuel cell stack capable of powering large commercial vehicles.<ref>] ])]. ''GM Press Release''.</ref> In 2002, the state of Michigan established NextEnergy, a non-profit corporation whose purpose is to enable commercialization of various energy technologies, especially hydrogen fuel cells. Its main complex is located north of ]. Initially, GM and Ford had sought to avoid or delay the introduction of unprofitable hybrids in favor of the all fuel cell vehicle; however, with rising ] prices and foreign rivals marketing hybrid cars, Detroit's auto makers responded by introducing hybrids amid criticism for the delay. In 2006, ] announced a dramatic increase in production of its ] ]-] models,<ref> Dorinda Elliott (] ]). "Can This Man Save The American Auto Industry?" ''Time Magazine''.</ref> as well as promote the use of existing technologies to equip vehicles with ] systems. ] has invested heavily in all ] equipped vehicles,<ref> Kiley, David (] ]). . ''USA Today''.</ref> while ] is focusing much of its research and development into ].<ref>PRNewswire (] ]). ''Yahoo News''.</ref> Two days after the ], GM announced it had developed the world's most powerful fuel cell stack capable of powering large commercial vehicles.<ref>] ])]. ''GM Press Release''.</ref> In 2002, the state of Michigan established NextEnergy, a non-profit corporation whose purpose is to enable commercialization of various energy technologies, especially hydrogen fuel cells. Its main complex is located north of ].
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With many new business in the suburbs, the region is very competitive in ] including ], ], ], ], and ] development. Detroit has made efforts to lure the region's growth companies downtown with advantages such as a wireless Internet zone, business tax incentives, entertainment, an International Riverfront, and residential high rises. With many new business in the suburbs, the region is very competitive in ] including ], ], ], ], and ] development. Detroit has made efforts to lure the region's growth companies downtown with advantages such as a wireless Internet zone, business tax incentives, entertainment, an International Riverfront, and residential high rises.


Other ] companies headquartered around Detroit include auto parts maker ], ], and ].<ref>. ''CNNMoney.com''.</ref> Detroit is home to ] and the national pizza chain ]. Downtown Detroit also has major offices for ], ], ], ], ], the ] and ] arm of ] and GM's ]. ] is reportedly considering a consolidation of its suburban offices into a new downtown Detroit headquarters.<ref name=QuickenLoans>{{cite web Other ] companies headquartered in Detroit include auto parts maker ], ], and ].<ref>. ''CNNMoney.com''.</ref> Detroit is home to ] and the national pizza chain ]. ], ], ], and GM's OnStar are new major presences downtown. ] is reportedly considering a consolidation of its suburban offices into a new downtown Detroit headquarters. Some major industries include advertising, law, finance, chemicals, and computer software. Compuware's new headquarters, GM's move to the ], and the State of Michigan's redevelopment of ] in the ] district have provided new synergies for the redevelopment of downtown.
| url = http://freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060914/BUSINESS06/609140395/1002/BUSINESS
| title = TOM WALSH: Lending business is lively
| accessmonthday = 2 October
| accessyear = 2006
| last = Walsh
| first = Tom
| date = September 14, 2006
| publisher = The Detroit Free Press
| language = English
}}</ref> Some major industries include advertising, law, finance, chemicals, and computer software. Compuware's new headquarters, GM's move to the ], and the State of Michigan's redevelopment of ] in the ] district have provided new synergies for the redevelopment of downtown.

Urbanists such as ] have suggested that if Detroit is to survive as a city, it will have to continue to diversify its economy. Kunstler charged in his book "The Geography of Nowhere" that the changes in American urbanism wrought by the automobile were probably no greater and more destructive than in the American automobile industry's chief city of operations. He noted that Detroit was one of the first cities in the United States to build expressways through its core, blighting neighborhoods, and the city's overreliance on automobile manufacturing caused Detroit to fail when its economy failed with it. Kunstler further argued, and has argued since, that the auto industry in the United States commenced a death in 1973 that is still in progress, and, like the city's politicians, he is no fan of the ring of suburban communities that were spawned in the postwar years. Kunstler sees these suburban areas of Detroit sapping the city's lifeblood, just as suburban communities do to other cities in America. Detroit, Kunstler believes, is the best argument for saving cities and against the greater development of suburbia.


] plays a major economic role, with Detroit currently the largest city in the United States to offer major casino hotels.<ref>Brunker, Mike (] ]) . ''MSNBC''.</ref> ], Canada's largest, complements the ], ], and ] in Detroit. The casinos have brought new tax revenue to the city. In 2006, downtown Detroit reported $1.3 billion in restorations and new developments which increased the number of construction jobs in the city.<ref>See the Change (2006) . City of Detroit Partnership.</ref> Medical service providers such as the ] and ] are major employers in the city. ] plays a major economic role, with Detroit currently the largest city in the United States to offer major casino hotels.<ref>Brunker, Mike (] ]) . ''MSNBC''.</ref> ], Canada's largest, complements the ], ], and ] in Detroit. The casinos have brought new tax revenue to the city. In 2006, downtown Detroit reported $1.3 billion in restorations and new developments which increased the number of construction jobs in the city.<ref>See the Change (2006) . City of Detroit Partnership.</ref> Medical service providers such as the ] and ] are major employers in the city.


==Demographics== ==Demography==
{| class="infobox" font-size:95%; text-align:left;" align="right" {| class="infobox" font-size:95%; text-align:left;" align="right"
|- |-
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The Detroit suburbs in ] and ] are primarily white. Oakland County is among the most affluent counties in the nation. The suburbs of ] and ] are filled with grandiose mansions. As of 2001, the city of Detroit was 81.55% ] (]). ] has a higher percentage of blacks than any other northern U.S. metropolitan area — roughly one quarter of the area population. More than one million African-Americans live in the metropolitan area, with about 80% living within the Detroit city limits. With the suburban outflux, Metro Detroit is among the nation's most racially segregated regions.<ref>. ''New Detroit''. Accessed March 8, 2006.</ref> Within the city limits there are 81.55% ], 12.26% of residents are ] & ] 0.33% ], 0.97% ] 0.03% ], 2.54% from ], and 2.32% from two or more races. 4.96% of the population was ] or ] of any race. The city's foreign-born population stood at 4.8%, one of the lowest percentages of the 50 largest cities in the country. The Detroit suburbs in ] and ] are primarily white. Oakland County is among the most affluent counties in the nation. The suburbs of ] and ] are filled with grandiose mansions. As of 2001, the city of Detroit was 81.55% ] (]). ] has a higher percentage of blacks than any other northern U.S. metropolitan area — roughly one quarter of the area population. More than one million African-Americans live in the metropolitan area, with about 80% living within the Detroit city limits. With the suburban outflux, Metro Detroit is among the nation's most racially segregated regions.<ref>. ''New Detroit''. Accessed March 8, 2006.</ref> Within the city limits there are 81.55% ], 12.26% of residents are ] & ] 0.33% ], 0.97% ] 0.03% ], 2.54% from ], and 2.32% from two or more races. 4.96% of the population was ] or ] of any race. The city's foreign-born population stood at 4.8%, one of the lowest percentages of the 50 largest cities in the country.


Metro Detroit's ethnic communities are diverse and include descendants of the French founders, as well as ], ], ], ], ], ] and ] who settled during the city's early 20th century industrial boom. Metro Detroit has the largest concentration of ] outside of ]. In Detroit and the Metro area, there is a large ] population and the country's largest concentration of Arab Americans resides in Dearborn. ], on the southwest side of the city of Detroit, is the historical center of a small ] community. Metro Detroit's ethnic communities are diverse and include descendants of the French founders, as well as ], ], ], ], ], ] and ] who settled during the city's early 20th century industrial boom. Metro Detroit has the largest concentration of ] outside of ]. In the Detroit and the Metro area, there is a large ] population and the country's largest concentration of Arab Americans resides in Dearborn. ], on the southwest side of the city of Detroit, is the historical center of a small ] community.


There were 336,428 households out of which 33.9% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 26.7% were ] living together, 31.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.1% were non-families. Some 72% of all Detroit children are born to single mothers.<ref>. ''National Congress for Fathers and Children''</ref> 29.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.2% had someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.45. There were 336,428 households out of which 33.9% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 26.7% were ] living together, 31.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.1% were non-families. Some 72% of all Detroit children are born to single mothers.<ref>. ''National Congress for Fathers and Children''</ref> 29.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.2% had someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.45.
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The National Institute for Literacy declared in 1998 that 47% of Detroiters were "]."<ref>. ''United Way for Southeastern Michigan (accessed April 20, 2006)''</ref> The National Institute for Literacy declared in 1998 that 47% of Detroiters were "]."<ref>. ''United Way for Southeastern Michigan (accessed April 20, 2006)''</ref>

Detroit was ranked the most ] city in America by the Bay Area Center for Voting Research.<ref>. ''Bay Area Center for Voting Research (accessed October 25, 2006)''</ref>


==Law and government== ==Law and government==
{{main|Government of Detroit, Michigan}} {{main|Government of Detroit, Michigan}}
], housing the Detroit and Wayne County governments]] ], housing the Detroit and Wayne County governments]]
The city government is run by a mayor and nine-member city council and clerk elected on an at-large nonpartisan ballot. Since voters approved the city's charter in 1974, Detroit has had a "]" system, with the mayor approving departmental appointments. The council approves budgets but the mayor is not obligated to adhere to any earmarking. City ordinances and substantially large contracts must be approved by the council. The city clerk supervises elections and is formally charged with the maintenance of municipal records. Municipal ]s for mayor, city council and city clerk are held at four-year intervals, in the year after presidential elections (so that there are Detroit elections scheduled in 1993, 1997, 2001, 2005, 2009, etc.).<ref>Ward, George E. (July 1993). . ''Citizens Research Council of Michigan'' (pdf file).</ref> The city government is run by a mayor and nine-member city council and clerk elected on an at-large nonpartisan ballot. Since voters approved the city's charter in 1974, Detroit has had a "]" system, with the mayor approving departmental appointments. The council approves budgets but the mayor is not obligated to adhere to any earmarking. City ordinances and substantially large contracts must be approved by the council. The city clerk supervises elections and is formally charged with the maintenance of municipal records. Municipal ]s for mayor, city council and city clerk are held every year congruent to 1 ] 4 (meaning 1993, 1997, 2001, 2005, 2009).<ref>Ward, George E. (July 1993). . ''Citizens Research Council of Michigan'' (pdf file).</ref>


] from I-94, with 8 Mile being the city's northern border]]
Politically, the city consistently supports the ] in local and national elections. Suburb baiting is another common feature in Detroit politics. In his 1974 inaugural address, former Mayor ] told the city's criminals to "hit ]" (the most prominent dividing line between Detroit and northern suburbs). When Mayor ] found himself behind in the polls in the 2005 election, his campaign tried to draw attention to the support his opponent, ], received in the suburbs. During one debate, Kilpatrick spoke of higher illegal drug use in the suburbs compared to Detroit.<ref>Associated Press (9/19/05). . ''USA Today''.</ref> Many opponents have criticized Kilpatrick on the basis that many of his policies facilitate the ] taking place in the city.
Politically, the city consistently supports the ] in local and national elections. Suburb baiting is another common feature in Detroit politics. In his 1974 inaugural address, former Mayor ] told the city's criminals to "hit ]" (the most prominent dividing line between Detroit and northern suburbs). When Mayor ] found himself behind in the polls in the 2005 election, his campaign tried to draw attention to the support his opponent, ], received in the suburbs. During one debate, Kilpatrick spoke of higher illegal drug use in the suburbs compared to Detroit.<ref>Associated Press (9/19/05). . ''USA Today''.</ref> However, many opponents have criticized Kilpatrick on the basis that many of his policies facilitate the ] taking place in the city.


With a decreasing population and decline in the automotive industry, the city's finances have been adversely affected. Detroit has cut its workforce and closed operations, including recreational facilities, to avoid state-ordered receivership.<ref>Lin, Judy (4/28/05). . ''The Detroit News''.</ref> In addition, Detroit has demanded pay cuts and other dramatic "give backs" from the municipal ]s that represent city employees.<ref> Heath, B., ''et al.'' (1/13/05). . ''Detroit News''.</ref> In the 2000s, Detroit has fought off legislative efforts to turn control of the city-owned Water and Sewer system to the suburbs.<ref> Wisely, John (10/25/05). . ''The Detroit News''.</ref> With a decreasing population and decline in the automotive industry, the city's finances have been adversely affected. Detroit has cut its workforce and closed operations, including recreational facilities, to avoid state-ordered receivership.<ref>Lin, Judy (4/28/05). . ''The Detroit News''.</ref> In addition, Detroit has demanded pay cuts and other dramatic "give backs" from the municipal ]s that represent city employees.<ref> Heath, B., ''et al.'' (1/13/05). . ''Detroit News''.</ref> In the 2000s, Detroit has fought off legislative efforts to turn control of the city-owned Water and Sewer system to the suburbs.<ref> Wisely, John (10/25/05). . ''The Detroit News''.</ref>
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|- style="text-align:right;" |- style="text-align:right;"
! Crime ! Crime
! USA
! Detroit ! Detroit
! USA
|- |-
|| Rape || Rape
|| 81
|| 32 || 32
|| 81
|- |-
|| Robbery || Robbery
|| 611
|| 137 || 137
|| 611
|- |-
|| Assault || Assault
|| 291
|| 1,049 || 1,049
|| 291
|- |-
|| Burglary || Burglary
|| 1,368
|| 730 || 730
|| 1,368
|- |-
|| Larceny || Larceny
|| 2,314
|| 2,366 || 2,366
|| 2,314
|- |-
|| Auto Theft || Auto Theft
|| 421
|| 2,755 || 2,755
|| 421
|-''' |-'''
|} |}


According to a 2005 study, crime in downtown Detroit is much lower than national, state and metro averages. The analysis of crime in downtown Detroit by the Michigan Metropolitan Information Center at ] found crime rates in the central city lower than rates for the entire nation, state and other large Michigan metro areas - and improving. Detroit includes a number of prosperous neighborhoods in which crime is less prevalent than in impoverished areas.<ref> Metzger, Kurt, Metropolitan Information Center (2005). Wayne State University</ref> According to a 2005 study, crime in downtown Detroit is actually much lower than national, state and metro averages. The analysis of crime in downtown Detroit by the Michigan Metropolitan Information Center at ] found crime rates in the central city lower than rates for the entire nation, state and other large Michigan metro areas - and improving. Detroit includes more prosperous neighborhoods in which crime is less prevalent than in impoverished areas.<ref> Metzger, Kurt, Metropolitan Information Center (2005). Wayne State University</ref>


The city's ] sections have brought it notoriety.<ref name="Detroit's crime ranking among America's largest city">{{cite web|url=http://www.morganquitno.com/safecity.htm|title=America's Safest (and Most Dangerous) Cities}}</ref> Detroit's ] figures are often among the highest in the U.S. The city is currently listed as the most dangerous city with a population over 500,000 by the ]'s statistics,<ref>. ''Morgan Quitno'' at www.morganquitno.com/cit06pop.htm#500,000+.</ref> but comes after ] overall.<ref> Morgan Quitno Awards. City Crime Rankings, 13th edition. Last accessed November 6, 2006.</ref> Detroit is consistently in the top five for homicide rates. Murders peaked at 714 in 1974 (garnering Detroit the nickname "Murder City", a play on "Motor City") though the highest murder rate was recorded in 1991, when there were 615 homicides and the city's population was just over a million, which factors into a murder rate of roughly 60 per 100,000.{{fact}} In 2003, there were 361 homicides, the lowest count in recent years.{{fact}} Yet the city's ] sections have brought it notoriety.<ref name="Detroit's crime ranking among America's largest city">{{cite web|url=http://www.morganquitno.com/safecity.htm|title=America's Safest (and Most Dangerous) Cities}}</ref> Despite improvement in recent years, Detroit's ] figures are often among the highest in the U.S. The city is currently listed as the most dangerous city with more than 500,000 by the ]'s statistics,<ref>. ''Morgan Quitno'' at www.morganquitno.com/cit06pop.htm#500,000+.</ref> but comes after ] overall. Detroit is consistently in the top five for homicide rates. Murders peaked at 714 in 1974 (garnering Detroit the nickname "Murder City", a play on "Motor City") though the highest murder rate was recorded in 1991, when there were 615 homicides and the city's population was just over a million, which factors into a murder rate of roughly 60 per 100,000. In 2003, there were 361 homicides, the lowest count in recent years.


Many of these problems are blamed on the widespread white flight (which has contributed greatly to ]), poverty, de facto ] of the region, and unemployment.<ref>. ''The Detroit News''.</ref> Some credit years of divisive, racially polarized government under ] with accelerating this flight;{{fact}} during the administration of ], who succeeded Young, Detroit saw middle-class residents moving into the city, and a large growth in residential and commercial development. Many of these problems are blamed on the widespread white flight (which has contributed greatly to ]), poverty, de facto ] of the region, and unemployment.<ref>. ''The Detroit News''.</ref> Some credit years of divisive, racially polarized government under ] with accelerating this flight; during the administration of ], who succeeded Young, Detroit saw middle-class residents moving into the city, and a large growth in residential and commercial development.


Abandoned and burned out shells of buildings are a frequent sight, with some 16,037 empty houses recorded in 1999. The city lacks funding to demolish the properties and the homes are often used for the production, sale, and use of illicit drugs, with drug gangs such as ].<ref>Woolley, Wayne and Hunter, George (1999). . ''Detroit News''.</ref> Abandoned and burned out shells of buildings are a frequent sight, with some 16,037 empty houses recorded in 1999. The city lacks funding to demolish the properties and the homes are often used for the production, sale, and use of illicit drugs, with drug gangs such as ].<ref>Woolley, Wayne and Hunter, George (1999). . ''Detroit News''.</ref>
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==Education== ==Education==
The city is served by the ] (DPS) district, various ]s and ]s schools, and parochial ] schools run by the ].<ref>Kozlowski, Kim (] ]). . ''The Detroit News''.</ref> In the early 1970s, the federal courts ordered ] to desegregate the system, which helped to accelerate the ] that had been ongoing in the city.<ref>Wolfe, Alan (] ]). . ''The New York Times'', through the Manhattan Institute at www.manhattan-institute.org/html/_nyt-enough_blame.htm</ref> As of 2004, Detroit schools were 91% African-American.<ref>Census 2000. ''U.S. Census (accessed April 20, 2006)''. ''See also'' . ''DPS Schools (accessed April 20, 2006)''.</ref> The city is served by the ] (DPS) district, various ]s and ]s schools, and parochial ] schools run by the ].<ref>Kozlowski, Kim (] ]). . ''The Detroit News''.</ref> In the early 1970s, the federal courts ordered ] to desegregate the system, which helped to accelerate the ] that had been ongoing in the city.<ref>Wolfe, Alan (] ]). . ''The New York Times'', through the Manhattan Institute at www.manhattan-institute.org/html/_nyt-enough_blame.htm</ref> As of 2004, Detroit schools were 91% African-American.<ref>Census 2000. ''U.S. Census (accessed April 20, 2006)''. ''See also'' . ''DPS Schools (accessed April 20, 2006)''.</ref>
] ]
In the mid-to-late 1990s, the ] removed the locally elected board of education amid allegations of mismanagement and replaced it with a reform board appointed by the mayor and governor. The elected board of education returned<!--do you mean 'was re-established'?--> following a city referendum in 2005. The first election of the new eleven member board of education occurred on ], ].<ref>LewAllen, Dave (] ]). . ''WXYZ.com''.</ref> Due to rapidly declining enrollment, Detroit Public Schools has projected the closure of 95 schools by 2009.<ref>MacDonald, Christine (11-23-2005). . ''The Detroit News''.</ref> Detroit Public Schools has closed 29 schools,<ref>MacDonald, Christine (] ]). . ''The Detroit News''.</ref> and the state mandated deficit reduction plan calls for the closure of a total of 110 schools.<ref>Bukowski, Diane (2006). . ''The Michigan Citizen''.</ref> In the mid-to-late 1990s, the ] removed the locally elected board of education amid allegations of mismanagement and replaced it with a reform board appointed by the mayor and governor. The elected board of education returned<!--do you mean 'was re-established'?--> following a city referendum in 2005. The first election of the new eleven member board of education occurred on ], ].<ref>LewAllen, Dave (] ]). . ''WXYZ.com''.</ref> Due to rapidly declining enrollment, Detroit Public Schools has projected the closure of 95 schools by 2009.<ref>MacDonald, Christine (11-23-2005). . ''The Detroit News''.</ref> Detroit Public Schools has closed 29 schools,<ref>MacDonald, Christine (] ]). . ''The Detroit News''.</ref> and the state mandated deficit reduction plan calls for the closure of a total of 110 schools.<ref>Bukowski, Diane (2006). . ''The Michigan Citizen''.</ref>
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===Transportation=== ===Transportation===
Because of its proximity to Canada and its industrial facilities, major highways, rail connections and international airport, Detroit has been an important transportation hub. There are three international border crossings at the ], ] and ], linking Detroit to ]. Some 35% of U.S. trade with Canada passes through Detroit.<ref>Crawford, Mark (12/04). . ''Area Development Online''.</ref> The Ambassador Bridge is the nation's busiest border crossing, carrying 25% of the total trade between the U.S. and Canada.<ref>. ''U.S. Department of Transportation''.</ref> Because of its proximity to Canada and its industrial facilities, major highways, rail connections and international airport, Detroit has been an important transportation hub. There are three international border crossings at the ], ] and ], linking Detroit to ]. Some 35% of U.S. trade with Canada passes through Detroit.<ref>Crawford, Mark (12/04). . ''Area Development Online''.</ref> The Ambassador Bridge is the nation's busiest border crossing, carrying 25% of the total trade between the U.S. and Canada.<ref>. ''U.S. Department of Transportation''.</ref>

Detroit is also connected via ] to ] and to major ] cities such as ] and the ] along ]. Upon construction and completion of a third border crossing, Detroit and the surrounding area would have a third direct link to the ] freeway network, and have a direct connection to Kings Highway 401, eliminating (or greatly diminishing) the traffic jams that plague the Ambassador Bridge, and the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel.


] bus along Woodward Avenue.]] ] bus along Woodward Avenue.]]
Detroit is the crossroads for three ]s: ] (] Freeway), ] (] Freeway) and ] (Fisher and ] Freeways). ] (] Freeway) serves the northern suburbs, while ] serves the western suburbs and ] is a short extension of the Chrysler Freeway. Other major routes are the ] Freeway (]), the ] (M-39) and the ] (M-8). Detroit and surrounding close suburbs are also served by a square ]. Detroit is the crossroads for three ]s: ] (] Freeway), ] (] Freeway) and ] (Fisher and ] Freeways). ] (] Freeway) serves the northern suburbs, while ] serves the western suburbs and ] is a short extension of the Chrysler Freeway. Other major routes are the ] Freeway (]), the ] (M-39) and the ] (M-8). Detroit and surrounding close suburbs are also served by a square ].


] (SMART) bus traveling along Woodward Avenue]] ] (SMART) bus traveling along Woodward Avenue]]
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An ] system known as the ] provides a 2.9 mile (4.6 km) loop in the downtown area and usually operates daily.<ref>. ''focalhost.com (accessed April 20, 2006)''.</ref> ] provides service to Detroit, operating its ] service between ], and ]. The current passenger facility north of downtown replaced the presently unused ], which was opened in 1913 and vacated in 1988. An ] system known as the ] provides a 2.9 mile (4.6 km) loop in the downtown area and usually operates daily.<ref>. ''focalhost.com (accessed April 20, 2006)''.</ref> ] provides service to Detroit, operating its ] service between ], and ]. The current passenger facility north of downtown replaced the presently unused ], which was opened in 1913 and vacated in 1988.


Currently, a study is underway to investigate the feasibility of a Detroit-] ],<ref> at annarbordetroitrapidtransitstudy.com.</ref> which would service the nearly 100,000 daily commuters between the two regional hubs. The proposed system would be funded by a ]100 million federal grant that is secured based on the results of the study. Recently, the city also announced it would begin studies for mass transit on a greater scale for the entire metropolitian area.<ref name="TRU announces Detroit to begin mass transit study">{{cite web|url=http://www.detroittransit.org/ |title=TRU announces Detroit to begin mass transit study}}</ref> Currently, a study is underway to investigate the feasibility of a Detroit-] ],<ref> at annarbordetroitrapidtransitstudy.com.</ref> which would service the nearly 100,000 daily commuters between the two regional hubs. The proposed system would be funded by a ]100 million federal grant that is secured based on the results of the study. Recently, the city also announced it would begin studies for mass transit on a greater scale for the entire metropolitian area. <ref name="TRU announces Detroit to begin mass transit study">{{cite web|url=http://www.detroittransit.org/ |title=TRU announces Detroit to begin mass transit study}}</ref>


==See also== ==See also==
* ] *]
* ] *]
* ] *]
* ] *]
* ] *]
* ] *]
*]
* ]
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*{{Cite book | author=Chafets, Zev | title=Devil's Night: And Other True Tales of Detroit | publisher=Random House Publishing Group | year=1990 | id=ISBN 0-394-58525-9}} *{{Cite book | author=Chafets, Zev | title=Devil's Night: And Other True Tales of Detroit | publisher=Random House Publishing Group | year=1990 | id=ISBN 0-394-58525-9}}
*{{Cite book | author=Farley, Reynolds, et al. | title=Detroit Divided | publisher=Russell Sage Foundation Publications | year=2002 | id=ISBN 0-87154-281-1}} *{{Cite book | author=Farley, Reynolds, et al. | title=Detroit Divided | publisher=Russell Sage Foundation Publications | year=2002 | id=ISBN 0-87154-281-1}}
*{{Cite book | author=Farmer, Silas | year=1889 | title=History of Detroit and Wayne County and Early Michigan | publisher=Omnigraphics Inc; Reprint edition (October 1998) | id=ISBN 1-55888-991-4}}
*{{Cite book | author=Peter Gavrilovich and Bill McGraw | title=The Detroit Almanac | year=2000 | publisher=Detroit Free Press | id=ISBN 0-937247-34-0}} *{{Cite book | author=Peter Gavrilovich and Bill McGraw | title=The Detroit Almanac | year=2000 | publisher=Detroit Free Press | id=ISBN 0-937247-34-0}}
*Powell, L. P (1901). "Detroit, the Queen City," ''Historic Towns of the Western States'' (New York).
*{{Cite book | author=Eric J. Hill and John Gallagher | title= AIA Detroit: The American Institute of Architects Guide to Detroit Architecture| year=2002 | publisher= Wayne State University Press | id=ISBN 0-8143-3120-3}}
*{{Cite book | author=Farmer, Silas | year=1889 | title=History of Detroit and Wayne County and Early Michigan | publisher=Omnigraphics Inc; Reprint edition (October 1998) | id=ISBN 1-55888-991-4}}
*{{Cite book | author=Parkman, Francis | title=The Conspiracy of Pontiac | year=1994 | publisher=University of Nebraska Press | id=ISBN 0-8032-8737-2}} *{{Cite book | author=Parkman, Francis | title=The Conspiracy of Pontiac | year=1994 | publisher=University of Nebraska Press | id=ISBN 0-8032-8737-2}}
*{{Cite book | author=Poremba, David Lee | title=Detroit: A Motor City History | publisher=Arcadia Publishing | year=2003 | id=ISBN 0-7385-2435-2}} *{{Cite book | author=Poremba, David Lee | title=Detroit: A Motor City History | publisher=Arcadia Publishing | year=2003 | id=ISBN 0-7385-2435-2}}
*Powell, L. P (1901). "Detroit, the Queen City," ''Historic Towns of the Western States'' (New York).
*{{Cite book | author= ] | title=American City: Detroit Architecture| publisher=Wayne State University Press| year=2005| id=ISBN 0-8143-3270-6}}

*{{Cite book | author=Sugrue, Thomas J | title=The Origins of the Urban Crisis | publisher=Princeton University Press | year=1998 | id=ISBN 0-691-05888-1}} *{{Cite book | author=Sugrue, Thomas J | title=The Origins of the Urban Crisis | publisher=Princeton University Press | year=1998 | id=ISBN 0-691-05888-1}}


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Revision as of 07:29, 13 December 2006

Place in Michigan, United States
Detroit, Michigan
Flag of Detroit, MichiganFlagOfficial seal of Detroit, MichiganSeal
Nickname(s): Motor City, Motown, The "D", The Renaissance City.
Motto(s): Speramus Meliora; Resurget Cineribus"
(Latin for, "We Hope For Better Things; It Shall Rise From the Ashes")
Location in Wayne County, MichiganLocation in Wayne County, Michigan
CountryUnited States
StateMichigan
CountyWayne County
Government
 • MayorKwame Kilpatrick (D)
Elevation623 ft (190 m)
Population
 • City886 675
 • Metro4,488,335
Time zoneUTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
Websitehttp://www.detroitmi.gov/
"Detroit" redirects here. For other uses, see Detroit (disambiguation).

Detroit (IPA: ) (Template:Lang-fr, pronounced ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and is the seat of Wayne County. Founded in 1701 by French fur traders, it is a major port city, located north of Windsor, Ontario, on the Detroit River in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is known as the world's traditional automotive center and an important source of popular-music legacies, celebrated by the city's two familiar nicknames, Motor City and Motown. The city's name comes from the Detroit River (in French Rivière du Détroit), meaning "River of the Strait." The name alludes to the connection the river forms between Lake St. Clair and Lake Erie.

In 2005, Detroit ranked as the United States's 11th most populous city, with 886,675 residents; this number is less than half the peak population in 1950, and Detroit is among the leaders in the nation in terms of declining urban population over the past fifty years. It is the focal city of the nation's tenth-largest metropolitan area.

Detroit's crime rate has brought it notoriety, while the city continues to struggle with the burdens of racial disharmony between itself and its suburban neighbors. The city has experienced budget shortfalls, leading to cuts in city services. Nevertheless, Detroit is currently experiencing a downtown revival with the construction of the Compuware headquarters, a recently renovated Renaissance Center, three gambling casinos, new stadiums and the Detroit Riverwalk. The city serves as an entertainment hub for the metropolitan region.

Residents are generally known as "Detroiters." The name Detroit is also sometimes used as shorthand for the entire Metro Detroit area, a sprawling region with a population of 4,488,335 as of the 2005 Census Bureau estimates. The metropolitan population well exceeds 5 million when bordering Canadian city Windsor and its suburbs are counted. Local colloquialisms for the city are The D and The 313 (its area code).

History

Main article: History of Detroit, Michigan

Early beginnings: Founded by the French

Traveling up the Detroit River on the ship Le Griffon (previously captained by La Salle), Father Louis Hennepin noted the north bank of the river as an ideal location for a settlement. There, in 1701, French officer Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac founded a fort and settlement called Fort Pontchartrain du Détroit, naming it after the comte de Pontchartrain, minister of marine under Louis XIV. The settlement prospered as a fur-trading center, and the fort offered protection for French ships plying the Great Lakes.

In 1760, during the French and Indian War, British troops gained control of the area and shortened the name of the settlement to Detroit. Local Native American tribes, many of whom had developed friendly relations with French colonists, became alarmed at this development. In 1763, several tribes led by Chief Pontiac, an Ottawa leader, launched what became known as Pontiac's Rebellion, which included a siege of Fort Detroit; they were ultimately defeated by the British. In 1796, Detroit passed to the United States under the Jay Treaty. In 1805, fire destroyed most of the settlement; a river warehouse and brick chimneys of the wooden homes were the sole structures to survive. Detroit's city flag reflects this French heritage. (See Flag of Detroit, Michigan.)

War of 1812: British rule Detroit

From 1805 to 1847, Detroit was the capital of Michigan. As the city expanded, the street layout followed a plan developed by Augustus B. Woodward, Chief Justice of the Michigan territory. Detroit fell to British troops during the War of 1812 in the Siege of Detroit, was recaptured by the United States in 1813 and incorporated as a city in 1815. Prior to the American Civil War, the city's access to the Canadian border made it a key stop along the underground railroad.

American Civil War

Many Detroiters volunteered to fight during the American Civil War. Following the death of President Abraham Lincoln, George Armstrong Custer delivered a eulogy to the thousands gathered near Campus Martius Park. Custer had led the Michigan Brigade during the American Civil War and had called them the "Wolverines."

The Gilded Age and Industrialization

Detroit's many Gilded Age mansions and buildings arose during the late 1800's. The city was referred to as the "Paris of America" for its fine architecture. Strategically located along the Great Lakes waterway, Detroit emerged as a transportation hub. The city had grown steadily from the 1830s with the rise of shipping, shipbuilding, and manufacturing industries. In 1896, a thriving carriage trade prompted Henry Ford to build his first automobile in a rented workshop on Mack Avenue, and in 1904, the Model T was produced. Ford's manufacturing—and those of automotive pioneers William C. Durant, the Dodge brothers, and Walter Chrysler reinforced Detroit's status as the world's automotive capital. The industry spurred the city's spectacular growth during the first half of the 20th century as it drew many new residents, particularly workers from the Southern United States. Strained racial relations were evident in the trial of Dr. Ossian Sweet, a black Detroit physician acquitted of murder after he shot into a large mob when he moved from the all-black part of the city to an all-white area. With the introduction of prohibition, the river was a major conduit for Canadian spirits, organized in large part by the notorious Purple Gang.

World War I and World War II

File:4a22542r.jpg
A photograph of the Cadillac Motor Car Co. Main Plant on Cass Ave. at Amsterdam St. in Detroit, circa 1910

With the factories came high-profile labor strife, climaxing in the 1930s as the United Auto Workers initiated bitter disputes with Detroit's auto manufacturers. The labor activism established during those years brought notoriety to hometown union leaders such as Jimmy Hoffa and Walter Reuther. The 1940s saw the construction of the world's first urban depressed freeway, the Davison and the industrial growth during World War II that led to Detroit's nickname as the Arsenal of Democracy.

1960s

Detroit endured a painful decline during the 1960s and 1970s and was often held up as a symbol of urban blight. The 12th Street Riot in July 1967 and court-ordered busing accelerated white flight from the city. The percentage of black residents increased rapidly thereafter, as not only did the whites flee the city, but the migration of blacks from the south continued. The city's tax base began a steep decline as retailers and small business owners departed the city in the wake of the riots. Within a decade large numbers of buildings and homes were abandoned on the southeast side of the city, with many remaining for years in a state of decay. In 1973, the city elected its first black mayor, Coleman Young. Young's style during his record five terms in office was not well received by many whites.

1970s

The 1970s saw the decline of the US auto industry as Japanese and other foreign car makers made inroads into the traditional dominance of the Big Three automakers. High-paying manufacturing jobs became scarce and the city soon faced the acute heroin and crack cocaine epidemics which afflicted many US cities at that time. Drug-related violence and property crimes rose steeply, while many abandoned homes were razed as they had become havens for drug dealers. Devil's Night, a Detroit-area tradition which occurs the night before Halloween, evolved from a night of pranks to a night of large-scale arson across the city. Sizeable tracts have reverted to nature, to become a form of urban prairie with wild animals spotted migrating into the city. "Renaissance" has been a perennial buzzword among city leaders since the 12th Street riot, reinforced by the construction of the Renaissance Center in the late 1970's.

1980 to present

In the 1980s, the national economic malaise hit heavy industrial manufacturing centers such as Detroit the hardest, and it was not until the 1990s that Detroit enjoyed a revival, much of it centered downtown. In 1994, Comerica Tower with its postmodern architecture and neo-gothic spires arose on the city skyline. From 1996 onwards, three casinos opened: MGM Grand Detroit, Motor City Casino, and Greektown Casino. In 2000, Comerica Park replaced historic Tiger Stadium as the home of the Detroit Tigers, and in 2002, Ford Field brought the NFL's Detroit Lions back into Detroit, from Pontiac. The 2004 opening of the Compuware Center gave downtown Detroit its first significant new office building in a decade. In 2005 the city hosted the MLB All-Star Game, and then in 2006 hosted Super Bowl XL, which saw the arrival of many improvements to the downtown area. Additionally, the first portions of the Detroit River Walk were laid down. In the summer of 2006, announcements came for the redevelopment of the abandoned Fort Shelby and Book-Cadillac Hotels Detroit looks foward to the return of the Detroit Grand Prix in 2007 on the island of Belle Isle and the 2009 Final Four at Ford Field.

Geography

Topography

A simulated-color satellite image of Detroit, with Windsor across the river, taken on NASA's Landsat 7 satellite.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 370.2 km² (142.9 square miles); of this, 359.4 km² (138.8 square miles) is land and 11 km² (4.2 square miles) is water. The highest elevation in Detroit is in the University District neighborhood in northwestern Detroit, just west of Palmer Park, sitting at a height of 204 m (670 feet). Detroit's lowest, at a height of 176 m (579 feet), is along its riverfront.

Detroit completely encircles the cities of Hamtramck and Highland Park. On its northeast border are the wealthy communities of Grosse Pointe. Oakland and Macomb counties lie to the north. Alter Road divides Detroit and Grosse Pointe Park. It divides one of the poorest and most crime-ridden communities in the United States from one of the most affluent, with multi-million dollar mansions on Lake Shore Drive in the Grosse Pointes.

The city is crossed by three road systems: the original French template, radial roads from a Washington, D.C.-inspired system, and true north–south roads from the Northwest Ordinance township system. It sits atop a large salt mine and is north of Windsor, Ontario. Detroit is the only major city along the U.S.-Canadian border in which one travels south in order to cross into Canada. Detroit has four border crossings: the Ambassador Bridge and the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel provides motor vehicle thoroughfare and the Michigan Central Railway Tunnel railroad access to and from Canada. The fourth border crossing is the Detroit-Windsor Truck Ferry, located near the Windsor Salt Mine and Zug Island.

Climate

Detroit and the rest of southeastern Michigan have a typically Midwestern temperate seasonal climate, which is influenced by the Great Lakes. Winters are cold with moderate snowfall; summers are warm. The average high and low temperatures in July are 85°F/29°C and 65°F/18°C, respectively, and in January, 33°F/1°C and 20°F/-6°C). Summer temperatures can typically exceed 90°F/32°C. Winters are often cold but temperatures very rarely drop below 0°F/-17°C. Average monthly precipitation ranges from about two to five inches, or 50 to 130 mm, being heaviest in the summer months. Snowfall, which typically occurs from November to early April, ranges from 1 to 10 inches, or 3 to 25 cm, a month. The highest recorded temperature was 103°F/39.5°C on June 25, 1988, while the lowest recorded temperature was minus 17°F/-27°C on January 19, 1994.

Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Avg high °F (°C) 31 (0) 33 (0) 44 (6) 58 (14) 70 (21) 79 (26) 83 (28) 81 (27) 74 (23) 62 (16) 48 (9) 35 (1) 58 (14)
Avg low °F (°C) 16 (-8) 18 (-7) 27 (-2) 37 (2) 48 (8) 57 (13) 62 (16) 60 (15) 53 (11) 41 (5) 32 (0) 22 (-5) 39 (3)
Rainfall in inches (millimeters) 1.9 (48.3) 1.7 (43.2) 2.4 (61.0) 3.0 (76.2) 2.9 (73.7) 3.6 (91.4) 3.1 (78.7) 3.4 (86.4) 2.8 (71.1) 2.2 (55.9) 2.7 (68.6) 2.5 (63.5) 32.3 (820.4)
Source: Weatherbase

Cityscape

Penobscot Building at left. At right, the Dime Building, constructed in 1912.

The panoramic Detroit skyline shows a variety of architectural styles. The city has one of America's largest surviving collections of 1920's and 1930's skyscrapers and historic structures. The Art Deco style from this period is exemplified by the Guardian Building downtown as well as the Fisher Building and Cadillac Place in the New Center adjacent to Wayne State University. Among the city's prominent structures are the nation's first Fox Theatre, the Detroit Opera House, and the Detroit Institute of Arts. These and other historic buildings mingle with the post modern neo-gothic Comerica Tower and the gleaming towers of the Renaissance Center downtown near the Detroit River.

A view looking south down Brush Street at the Renaissance Center (rear left) and the Wayne County Building (right). The giant decal on the Renaissance Center was installed for the 2005 MLB All-Star Game. It is 4,612 feet (1,375 m) from the home plate in Comerica Park to the main tower of the Renaissance Center.

While the downtown and New Center areas contain high-rise buildings, the majority of the surrounding city consists of low-rise structures and single-family homes. The city's southeast side contains many abandoned buildings and large tracts of empty land, to the north and west several neighborhoods are prosperous and show few signs of urban blight. In 2005, Detroit's architecture was heralded as some of America's finest; many of the city's architecturally significant buildings are listed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation as among America's most endangered landmarks.

A number of downtown redevelopment projects — of which Campus Martius Park is one of the most notable — have revitalized parts of the city. In 2006, a state-of-the-art cruise ship dock was added to Hart Plaza. Grand Circus Park stands near the theater district and Comerica Park, home of the Detroit Tigers. Since the 1990s, there have been plans to redevelop the riverfront area from the Ambassador Bridge to Belle Isle (the largest island park in a U.S. city) with a combination of parks, residential buildings, and commercial areas. Other major parks include Palmer (north of Highland Park), River Rouge (in the southwest side), and Chene Park (on the Detroit River east of downtown).

Detroit is constructing a riverfront promenade park similar to the one directly across the river in Windsor, Ontario. Windsor replaced acres of train tracks and some abandoned buildings with what is now 3 miles (5 km) of uninterrupted parkland. The Detroit Riverfront Conservancy is spearheading most of this development. A project includes the new Tri-Centennial State Park and Harbor, Michigan's first urban state park. Civic planners envision that the newly reclaimed riverfront with pedestrian parks will spur more residential development.

See also: Neighborhoods and projects in Detroit, Michigan

Culture

Template:Main4

Contemporary life

Metro Detroit suburbs are among the most affluent in the nation. Lifestyles for rising professionals in Detroit reflect those of other major cities. This dynamic is luring many younger professionals to the downtown. Luxury high rises such as the three Riverfront Towers have views of Hart Plaza and Canada. Examples abound with developments in the city's New Center area. The Westin Book-Cadillac Hotel will include a number of luxury condos. The east river development plans include even more luxury condominium developments. A desire to be closer to the urban scene has attracted young professionals to take up residence among the mansions of Grosse Pointe just outside the city. The stylish lofts of the refurbished Metropolitan Building downtown are a short walk from the city's Greektown entertainment district. Detroit's proximity to Windsor, Ontario provides for spectacular views and Ontario's 19-and-older drinking age helps provide a dynamic nightlife for Detroiters not yet 21.

Performing Arts

Music has been the dominant feature of Detroit's nightlife since the late 1940s. The metropolitan area boasts two of the top live music venues in the United States: DTE Energy Music Theatre and The Palace of Auburn Hills Detroit has the nation's second largest theater district in terms of seats. Major theaters include the Fox Theatre, Masonic Temple Theatre, the Detroit Opera House, and the Fisher Theatre. Detroit's Orchestra Hall is the home of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.

During the 1950s, the city became a center for jazz, in which stars of the era often came to the Black Bottom neighborhood to perform. One highlight of Detroit's musical history was Motown Records' success during the 1960s and early 1970s. The label was founded in Detroit by Berry Gordy, Jr. During the late 1960s, Detroiter Aretha Franklin became America's preeminent female soul artist. Metro Detroit spawned a high-energy rock scene in the late 1960s and 1970s with artists like Alice Cooper, Ted Nugent, and Bob Seger. The group KISS captured the essence of Detroit's love for rock music in the song Detroit Rock City. This rock scene is considered one of the precursors of the punk rock movement, with the MC5 and Iggy Pop's various projects (including The Stooges) being some of the foremost proto-punk bands. The area is generally regarded as the birthplace of the Techno movement. Recent prominent musical artists include Aaliyah, Eminem, Kid Rock, and Sufjan Stevens. In addition, Detroit's garage rock scene of the 1990s rose to national attention with the success of The White Stripes. Eight annual music events are held in the city, including the DEMF/Movement/Fuse-In electronic music festival, Ford Detroit International Jazz Festival, the Motor City Music Conference (MC2), the Concert of Colors, and the hip-hop Summer Jamz music festival.

Artist Tyree Guyton created the controversial street art exhibit known as the Heidelberg Project in the mid 1980s. The exhibit used junk and abandoned cars, clothing, shoes, vacuum cleaners, and other garbage Guyton found in the neighborhood near and on Heidelberg Street on the near East Side of Detroit. Guyton painted polka dots and other symbols on several houses on Heidelberg Street. The city sued Guyton twice for creating a public nuisance, removed large parts of his art project, and tore down two vacant homes he had painted with various symbols. Nevertheless, much of the Heidelberg Project remains today.

Fashion

File:Somerst main.jpg
Somerset Collection's Grand Court in Metro Detroit

The Renaissance Center's Winter Garden is the site of the annual "Fash Bash", a major fashion event traditionally held in August. Coordinated by the Detroit Institute of Arts, the event features celebrities and models showcasing the latest fashion trends. Metro Detroit's Somerset Collection is one of the nation's leading upscale shopping areas.

In 1991, a cultural phenomenon began among hair salons which evolved into the Detroit Hair Wars. A showcase of fantastical hair piece creations, often using human hair as the main content, has since become a national trend among African-American hair-styling tours.

Tourism

Entrance to the Detroit Institute of Arts located in the Cultural Center

Many of Metro Detroit's museums are located in the Cultural Center near Wayne State University. These museums include Detroit Institute of Arts, the Detroit Historical Museum, Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, Detroit Science Center, and the main branch of the Detroit Public Library. Other cultural highlights include Motown Historical Museum, Tuskegee Airmen Museum, Fort Wayne, Dossin Great Lakes Museum, and the Belle Isle Conservatory.

Greektown Casino, one of three casinos in Detroit

The Detroit Historical Society at the Detroit Historical Museum provides information about tours of Detroit area churches, skyscrapers, and mansions. The mansions of the auto barons open for public tours include Henry Ford's Fairlane Estate, the Edsel & Eleanor Ford House, the Fisher Mansion, and Meadowbrook Hall. Detroit's Greektown is a National Historic Landmark site and serves as a downtown entertainment district with many restaurants. The Eastern Market farmer's distribution center is the largest open-air flowerbed market in the United States and has more than 150 foods and specialty businesses. Favorite shopping destinations include Somerset Collection and Great Lakes Crossing. Detroit is the largest city to offer major casino hotels which include MGM Grand Detroit, MotorCity Casino, Greektown Casino, and Casino Windsor.

Downtown Detroit buildings, the historic Art Deco Guardian Building is on the left, One Woodward Avenue is on the right

Hart Plaza, between the Renaissance Center and Cobo Hall on the riverfront, is the site of many events. As the world's traditional automotive center, Detroit hosts the North American International Auto Show, and the city features many festivals including the Windsor-Detroit International Freedom Festival in late June with one of the nation's largest displays of fireworks. The America's Thanksgiving Parade — previously referred to as the Hudson's Thanksgiving Day Parade — is one of the nation's largest and has been held continuously since 1924.

Other sites of interest are the Detroit Zoo, the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory, and the Belle Isle Aquarium. The aquarium on Belle Isle is currently closed. The J.W. Westcott II, which delivers mail to freighters on the Detroit River, is the world's only floating post office.

The most important civic sculpture in Detroit is the "Spirit of Detroit" at the Coleman Young Municipal Center. The image is often used as a symbol of Detroit and the statue itself is occasionally dressed in sports jerseys to celebrate when a Detroit team is doing well. A memorial to Joe Louis at the intersection of Jefferson and Woodward Avenues was dedicated on October 16, 1986. The sculpture, commissioned by Sports Illustrated and executed by Robert Graham, is a 24 foot (7.3 m) long arm with a fisted hand suspended by a pyramidal framework.

Sports

Main article: Sports in Detroit See also: U.S. cities with teams from four major sports

Detroit is home to professional teams representing the four major sports in North America. All but two play within the city of Detroit (basketball's Detroit Pistons and Detroit Shock play in suburban Auburn Hills). There are three active major sports venues within the city: Comerica Park (home of the baseball team Detroit Tigers), Ford Field (home of the football team Detroit Lions), and Joe Louis Arena (home of the ice hockey team Detroit Red Wings). Detroit is known for its avid hockey fans. Interest in the sport has given the city the moniker of "Hockeytown."

Ford Field is adjacent to Comerica Park.

In college sports, the University of Detroit Mercy has a NCAA Division I program, and Wayne State University has both NCAA Division I and II programs. The NCAA football Motor City Bowl is held at Ford Field each December.

Since 1904, the city has been home to the American Power Boat Association Gold Cup unlimited hydroplane boat race, held annually on the Detroit River near Belle Isle.. Detroit was the former home of a round of the Formula One World Championship, which held the race on the streets of downtown Detroit from 1982 until 1988, after which the sanction moved from Formula One to Indycars until its final run in 2001.

City of Champions

Detroit was given the name "City of Champions" in the 1930s for a series of successes both in individual and in team sport. Gar Wood (a native Detroiter) won the Harmsworth Trophy for unlimited powerboat racing on the Detroit River in 1931. In the next year, 1932, Eddie "the Midnight Express" Tolan, a black student from Detroit's Cass Technical High School, won the 100- and 200-meter races and two gold medals at the 1932 Olympics. Joe Louis won the heavyweight championship of the world in 1937. Also, suprisingly in 1935, the Detroit Lions won the National Football League championship. The Detroit Tigers won the American League pennant in 1934 and again in 1935. And the Tigers won the World Series in 1935, defeating the Chicago Cubs. The Detroit Red Wings won the National Hockey League's Stanley Cup in 1936 and 1937

The Red Wings would go on to become Detroit's most successful sports team, winning the Stanley Cup in 1943, 1950, 1952, 1954, 1955, 1997, 1998, and 2002.

Comerica Park hosted the MLB All-Star Game on July 12,2005 and Ford Field hosted Super Bowl XL on February 5, 2006. On December 13, 2003, the largest crowd in basketball history (78,129) packed Ford Field to watch the University of Kentucky defeat Michigan State University, 79-74.

Media

The Fisher Building, a National Historic site in the City's New Center area, is home to the Fisher Theatre, with the WJR radio antenna

As the traditional automotive center, Detroit is an important source for news. The daily newspapers serving Detroit are The Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News, both broadsheet publications that are published together under a joint operating agreement. Other publications include weekly tabloids The Metro Times and Crain's Detroit Business. The weekly Michigan Chronicle is the state's largest African American owned newspaper, and the Michigan Citizen. Hour Media, LLC publishes Hour Detroit monthly magazine and produces the television program Hour Detroit. Discover Detroit TV which airs every Monday at 5:30 on Detroit's PBS affiliate is sponsored by the Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau. The Detroit media are active in the community through such efforts as the Detroit Free Press high school journalism program and the Old Newsboys' Goodfellow Fund of Detroit. Wayne State University offers a widely respected Journalism program.

The Detroit television market is the 11th largest in the United States; however, these estimates do not include large areas of Ontario, Canada (Windsor and its surrounding area on broadcast and cable, as well as several other cable markets in Ontario, such as the city of Ottawa) which receive and watch Detroit television stations, so the actual audience ranking may be higher. Broadcast channels in Detroit include WJBK (Fox), WDIV-TV (NBC), WXYZ (ABC), and WWJ-TV (CBS). Other Metro Detroit television stations include WMYD (My Network TV), WKBD-TV (The CW), WPXD-TV (i: Independent Television) and WADL-TV. WTVS is the city's PBS station. Detroiters receive broadcasts from CBET, the CBC Television affiliate in Windsor. Some viewers can receive Canadian networks such as TVOntario, CTV, Global, Citytv, and SRC.

Detroit has the ninth largest radio market in the United States., this ranking does not take into account Canadian audiences. The primary AM stations are WWJ 950 (news), WJR 760 (news-talk), WDFN 1130 (sports), WXYT 1270 (sports-talk) and WDTW 1310 (Air America). WDET 101.9 is the city's NPR station. WUOM 91.7 and WEMU 89.1 are also regional NPR affiliates. Many Windsor radio stations such as CIMX 88.7, CIDR 93.9, CKLW AM 800 and CBC 89.9 can be heard in the Detroit area. In fact, CKLW broadcasts University of Michigan football games. Radio Disney broadcasts in Detroit on AM 910. WRCJ-FM|90.9 is a recent addition, providing the only local fulltime source of classical music. CBC in Canada, and the PBS affiliates play classical music besides offering news and talk-radio programming.

Economy

A United States Coast Guard Cutter passes the Renaissance Center, headquarters of General Motors.

Detroit and the surrounding region constitute a manufacturing powerhouse, most notably as home to the Big Three automobile companies. The city is an important center for global trade with large international law firms having their offices in both Detroit and Windsor. There are hundreds of offices and plants in the automotive support business: parts, electronics, and design suppliers. The domestic auto industry accounts directly and indirectly for one of every ten jobs in the U.S. The area is an important source of engineering job opportunities.

With its dependence on the auto industry, Detroit is more acutely vulnerable to economic cycles than most large cities. A rise in automated manufacturing using robot technology, inexpensive labor in other parts of the world, and increased competition from foreign rivals have led to a steady decline in certain types of manufacturing jobs in the region. Other complications for the city include higher taxes than the nearby suburbs, with many unable to afford the cost of citizenship entailed by levies on property and income and a lack of city services. In February 2006, metropolitan Detroit's unemployment rate was 8.6%, topped only by communities devastated by Hurricane Katrina. In the city, the unemployment rate hovered around 15% at the end of 2005, leaving Detroit as the nation's poorest city with more than one-third of residents below the poverty line.

File:Detroit-Skaters in front of Compuware.jpg
Skaters at Compuware headquarters in Campus Martius Park.

Some allege that the domestic auto industry's woes can be traced to its own history and devices. The Big Three automakers have collectively lost market share to foreign rivals which many had perceived as having higher quality. However, in 2003, Cadillac outscored Lexus in 2 of 3 quality surveys by AutoPacific, Strategic Vision, and J.D. Power. The perception of quality from foreign rivals has been called into question, with Toyota experiencing quality issues in 2006. In 1994, with a boom in demand for sport-utility vehicles and pickup trucks, the industry fought the Clinton administration's efforts to impose a 40% increase in Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards for many trucks and obtained Congress's approval to block the plan to develop stricter regulations. In the late 1990s, Detroit's Big Three automakers had gained market share and were enjoying record profits until the recession of 2000 and the subsequent September 11, 2001 attacks caused a severe decline in the stock market along with a pension and benefit funds crisis. Since 2001, losses and bankruptcy filings by some of the area's auto parts manufacturers exacerbated Detroit's economic situation.

Initially, GM and Ford had sought to avoid or delay the introduction of unprofitable hybrids in favor of the all fuel cell vehicle; however, with rising gasoline prices and foreign rivals marketing hybrid cars, Detroit's auto makers responded by introducing hybrids amid criticism for the delay. In 2006, Ford announced a dramatic increase in production of its hybrid gas-electric models, as well as promote the use of existing technologies to equip vehicles with mixed ethanol and gasoline fuelled systems. General Motors has invested heavily in all fuel cell equipped vehicles, while Chrysler is focusing much of its research and development into biodiesel. Two days after the September 11, 2001 attacks, GM announced it had developed the world's most powerful fuel cell stack capable of powering large commercial vehicles. In 2002, the state of Michigan established NextEnergy, a non-profit corporation whose purpose is to enable commercialization of various energy technologies, especially hydrogen fuel cells. Its main complex is located north of Wayne State University.

With many new business in the suburbs, the region is very competitive in emerging technologies including biotechnology, nanotechnology, information technology, cognotechnology, and hydrogen fuel cell development. Detroit has made efforts to lure the region's growth companies downtown with advantages such as a wireless Internet zone, business tax incentives, entertainment, an International Riverfront, and residential high rises.

Other Fortune 500 companies headquartered in Detroit include auto parts maker American Axle & Manufacturing, Comerica, and DTE Energy. Detroit is home to Compuware and the national pizza chain Little Caesars. Electronic Data Systems, Visteon, Ernst & Young, and GM's OnStar are new major presences downtown. Quicken Loans is reportedly considering a consolidation of its suburban offices into a new downtown Detroit headquarters. Some major industries include advertising, law, finance, chemicals, and computer software. Compuware's new headquarters, GM's move to the Renaissance Center, and the State of Michigan's redevelopment of Cadillac Place in the New Center district have provided new synergies for the redevelopment of downtown.

Casino gaming plays a major economic role, with Detroit currently the largest city in the United States to offer major casino hotels. Casino Windsor, Canada's largest, complements the MGM Grand Detroit, Motor City Casino, and Greektown Casino in Detroit. The casinos have brought new tax revenue to the city. In 2006, downtown Detroit reported $1.3 billion in restorations and new developments which increased the number of construction jobs in the city. Medical service providers such as the Detroit Medical Center and Henry Ford Hospital are major employers in the city.

Demography

Population and rank among US cities, 1840–2000 censuses

Detroit's population increased more than sixfold during the first half of the 20th century, fed largely by an influx of Eastern European and Southern migrants — both white and black — who came to work in the burgeoning automobile industry. As of the 2000 census, there were 951,270 people, 336,428 households, and 218,341 families residing in the city. The population density was 6,855.1 people per square mile (2,646.7/km²). There were 375,096 housing units at an average density of 2,703.0 people per square mile (1,043.6/km²). As of 2005, Detroit's population has dwindled to 886,675, representing a 6.8% loss from the 2000 Census population.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
18201,422—    
—
1830—    
2,22256.0%—    
18409,102—    
309%1850—    
21,019130.9%—    
186045,619—    
117%1870—    
79,57774.4%—    
1880116,340—    
46.2%1890—    
205,87680.0%—    
1900285,704—    
38.8%1910—    
465,76663.0%—    
1920993,678—    
113%1930—    
1,568,66236.7%—    
19401,623,452—    
3.5%1950—    
1,849,56813.9%—    
19601,670,144—    
-9.7%1970—    
1,514,063-9.3%—    
19801,203,368—    
-20.5%1990—    
1,027,974-14.6%—    
2000951,270—    
-7.5%—    
Detroit in the 1880s.

The Detroit suburbs in Oakland County and Macomb County are primarily white. Oakland County is among the most affluent counties in the nation. The suburbs of Grosse Pointe and Bloomfield Hills are filled with grandiose mansions. As of 2001, the city of Detroit was 81.55% Black (African American). Metro Detroit has a higher percentage of blacks than any other northern U.S. metropolitan area — roughly one quarter of the area population. More than one million African-Americans live in the metropolitan area, with about 80% living within the Detroit city limits. With the suburban outflux, Metro Detroit is among the nation's most racially segregated regions. Within the city limits there are 81.55% African American, 12.26% of residents are White & Middle Eastern 0.33% Native American, 0.97% Asian 0.03% Pacific Islander, 2.54% from other races, and 2.32% from two or more races. 4.96% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race. The city's foreign-born population stood at 4.8%, one of the lowest percentages of the 50 largest cities in the country.

Metro Detroit's ethnic communities are diverse and include descendants of the French founders, as well as Germans, Poles, Irish, Italians, Scots, Armenians and Greeks who settled during the city's early 20th century industrial boom. Metro Detroit has the largest concentration of Belgians outside of Belgium. In the Detroit and the Metro area, there is a large Chaldean population and the country's largest concentration of Arab Americans resides in Dearborn. Mexicantown, on the southwest side of the city of Detroit, is the historical center of a small Chicano community.

There were 336,428 households out of which 33.9% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 26.7% were married couples living together, 31.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.1% were non-families. Some 72% of all Detroit children are born to single mothers. 29.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.2% had someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.45.

There is a wide age distribution in the city, with 31.1% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 29.5% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 10.4% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 89.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.5 males.

The median household income in the city was $29,526, and the median income for a family was $33,853. Males had a median income of $33,381 versus $26,749 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,717. 26.1% of the population and 21.7% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 34.5% of those under the age of 18 and 18.6% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

The National Institute for Literacy declared in 1998 that 47% of Detroiters were "functionally illiterate."

Law and government

Main article: Government of Detroit, Michigan
The Coleman A. Young Municipal Center, housing the Detroit and Wayne County governments

The city government is run by a mayor and nine-member city council and clerk elected on an at-large nonpartisan ballot. Since voters approved the city's charter in 1974, Detroit has had a "strong mayoral" system, with the mayor approving departmental appointments. The council approves budgets but the mayor is not obligated to adhere to any earmarking. City ordinances and substantially large contracts must be approved by the council. The city clerk supervises elections and is formally charged with the maintenance of municipal records. Municipal elections for mayor, city council and city clerk are held every year congruent to 1 modulo 4 (meaning 1993, 1997, 2001, 2005, 2009).

File:800px-Eight Mile Road-fixed.jpg
Exit onto 8 Mile Road from I-94, with 8 Mile being the city's northern border

Politically, the city consistently supports the Democratic Party in local and national elections. Suburb baiting is another common feature in Detroit politics. In his 1974 inaugural address, former Mayor Coleman Young told the city's criminals to "hit Eight Mile Road" (the most prominent dividing line between Detroit and northern suburbs). When Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick found himself behind in the polls in the 2005 election, his campaign tried to draw attention to the support his opponent, Freman Hendrix, received in the suburbs. During one debate, Kilpatrick spoke of higher illegal drug use in the suburbs compared to Detroit. However, many opponents have criticized Kilpatrick on the basis that many of his policies facilitate the gentrification taking place in the city.

With a decreasing population and decline in the automotive industry, the city's finances have been adversely affected. Detroit has cut its workforce and closed operations, including recreational facilities, to avoid state-ordered receivership. In addition, Detroit has demanded pay cuts and other dramatic "give backs" from the municipal unions that represent city employees. In the 2000s, Detroit has fought off legislative efforts to turn control of the city-owned Water and Sewer system to the suburbs.

Detroit's courts are all state-administered and elections are nonpartisan. The Probate Court for Wayne County are located in the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center in downtown Detroit. The Circuit Court is located across Gratiot Ave. in the Frank Murphy Hall of Justice, also in downtown Detroit. The city is also home to the 36th District Court, as well as the 1st District of the Michigan Court of Appeals' and the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.

Detroit has several sister cities, including Chongqing (People's Republic of China), Dubai (United Arab Emirates), Kitwe (Zambia), Minsk (Belarus), Nassau, Bahamas, Toyota (Japan), and Turin (Italy).

See also: List of mayors of Detroit, Michigan

Crime

2004 Crime statistics
(per 100,000)
Crime Detroit USA
Rape 81 32
Robbery 611 137
Assault 1,049 291
Burglary 1,368 730
Larceny 2,314 2,366
Auto Theft 2,755 421

According to a 2005 study, crime in downtown Detroit is actually much lower than national, state and metro averages. The analysis of crime in downtown Detroit by the Michigan Metropolitan Information Center at Wayne State University found crime rates in the central city lower than rates for the entire nation, state and other large Michigan metro areas - and improving. Detroit includes more prosperous neighborhoods in which crime is less prevalent than in impoverished areas.

Yet the city's crime-ridden sections have brought it notoriety. Despite improvement in recent years, Detroit's crime figures are often among the highest in the U.S. The city is currently listed as the most dangerous city with more than 500,000 by the Morgan Quitno's statistics, but comes after Camden, New Jersey overall. Detroit is consistently in the top five for homicide rates. Murders peaked at 714 in 1974 (garnering Detroit the nickname "Murder City", a play on "Motor City") though the highest murder rate was recorded in 1991, when there were 615 homicides and the city's population was just over a million, which factors into a murder rate of roughly 60 per 100,000. In 2003, there were 361 homicides, the lowest count in recent years.

Many of these problems are blamed on the widespread white flight (which has contributed greatly to urban decay), poverty, de facto segregation of the region, and unemployment. Some credit years of divisive, racially polarized government under Coleman Young with accelerating this flight; during the administration of Dennis Archer, who succeeded Young, Detroit saw middle-class residents moving into the city, and a large growth in residential and commercial development.

Abandoned and burned out shells of buildings are a frequent sight, with some 16,037 empty houses recorded in 1999. The city lacks funding to demolish the properties and the homes are often used for the production, sale, and use of illicit drugs, with drug gangs such as Young Boys Inc..

File:Copy of DSC00439.JPG
Abandoned buildings are often left to the elements with the city government having no funds for restoration or removal.

The city has faced hundreds of arsons, often in the city's many abandoned homes, each year on Devil's Night, the evening before Halloween. The Angel's Night campaign, launched in the late 1990s, draws many volunteers to patrol the streets during Halloween week. The effort has reduced arson: while there were 810 fires set in 1984, this was reduced to 142 in 1996.

Brutality and the failure to ensure the rights of suspects has caused problems within the Detroit Police Department. In 2004, following scandals and multiple adverse legal decisions, a court-ordered reorganization of the Detroit Police Department was implemented under the supervision of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

From 2005 to 2006, the Detroit Police Department has more recently undergone large scale cuts and reorganization, cutting the number of precincts from 12 to 6 "districts." While the stated purpose of this reorganization was to improve services, it has resulted in widespread dissatisfaction within the Detroit Police Department, where members cite such problems as overcrowding, overwork, greatly increased response times, and constant change in the administrative structure of the department as senior officers are moved, promoted, and replaced.

Education

The city is served by the Detroit Public Schools (DPS) district, various charters and privates schools, and parochial Catholic schools run by the Archdiocese of Detroit. In the early 1970s, the federal courts ordered busing to desegregate the system, which helped to accelerate the white flight that had been ongoing in the city. As of 2004, Detroit schools were 91% African-American.

File:Hilberry.jpg
Wayne State University's Hilberry Theatre

In the mid-to-late 1990s, the Michigan Legislature removed the locally elected board of education amid allegations of mismanagement and replaced it with a reform board appointed by the mayor and governor. The elected board of education returned following a city referendum in 2005. The first election of the new eleven member board of education occurred on November 8, 2005. Due to rapidly declining enrollment, Detroit Public Schools has projected the closure of 95 schools by 2009. Detroit Public Schools has closed 29 schools, and the state mandated deficit reduction plan calls for the closure of a total of 110 schools.

The Detroit area has several universities and colleges. Wayne State University is a national research university with medical and law schools in the Midtown area. Other institutes of higher education include the University of Detroit Mercy with its schools of Law and Dentistry, the College for Creative Studies, Lewis College of Business, Marygrove College, and Wayne County Community College, Lawrence Technological University in Southfield, Henry Ford Community College in Dearborn, Oakland University and Rochester College in Rochester, and Ave Maria College in Ypsilanti, and Ave Maria School of Law in Ann Arbor. The Detroit College of Law, now affiliated with Michigan State University, was founded in the city in 1891 and remained there until 1997, when it relocated to East Lansing. The University of Michigan in Ann Arbor has campuses in Flint and Dearborn.

Infrastructure

Emergency entrance to Detroit Receiving Hospital

Medicine

The city of Detroit has three major medical systems: the Detroit Medical Center (DMC), Henry Ford Health System, and the St. John Hospitals. The DMC, a regional Level I trauma center, consists of Detroit Receiving Hospital and University Health Center, Children's Hospital of Michigan, Harper University Hospital, Hutzel Women's Hospital, Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan, Sinai-Grace Hospital, and the Karmanos Cancer Institute. The DMC has more than 2,000 licensed beds and 3,000 affiliated physicians. The center is staffed by physicians from the Wayne State University School of Medicine, the largest single-campus medical school in the United States. The Metro Detroit area has many other medical facilities.

Transportation

Because of its proximity to Canada and its industrial facilities, major highways, rail connections and international airport, Detroit has been an important transportation hub. There are three international border crossings at the Ambassador Bridge, Detroit-Windsor Tunnel and Michigan Central Railway Tunnel, linking Detroit to Windsor, Ontario. Some 35% of U.S. trade with Canada passes through Detroit. The Ambassador Bridge is the nation's busiest border crossing, carrying 25% of the total trade between the U.S. and Canada.

A Detroit Department of Transportation bus along Woodward Avenue.

Detroit is the crossroads for three Interstate Highways: I-94 (Edsel Ford Freeway), I-96 (Jeffries Freeway) and I-75 (Fisher and Chrysler Freeways). I-696 (Walter Reuther Freeway) serves the northern suburbs, while I-275 serves the western suburbs and I-375 is a short extension of the Chrysler Freeway. Other major routes are the John C. Lodge Freeway (M-10), the Southfield Freeway (M-39) and the Davison Freeway (M-8). Detroit and surrounding close suburbs are also served by a square grid network of major arterial roads.

A Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART) bus traveling along Woodward Avenue

Coleman A. Young International Airport (DET), previously called Detroit City Airport, is on Detroit's northeast side. Although Southwest Airlines once flew from the airport, there is currently only charter service. Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW), the area's principal airport, is located in nearby Romulus and is a hub for Northwest Airlines and Spirit Airlines. Toledo Express Airport in Toledo, Ohio, is a secondary commercial passenger airport. Willow Run Airport, in far-western Wayne County near Ypsilanti is a general aviation and cargo airport.

Mass transit in the city functions in two separate spheres of influence. Bus services are provided by the Detroit Department of Transportation (DDOT), which terminates at the outer edges of the suburbs. Services in the suburbs are provided by the Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART). Combining the systems has been problematic and tainted by the racial politics that has affected all aspects of city–suburban relationships. Cross border service between the downtown areas of Windsor and Detroit is provided by Transit Windsor via the Tunnel Bus.

An automated guideway transit system known as the People Mover provides a 2.9 mile (4.6 km) loop in the downtown area and usually operates daily. Amtrak provides service to Detroit, operating its Wolverine service between Chicago, Illinois, and Pontiac. The current passenger facility north of downtown replaced the presently unused Michigan Central Station, which was opened in 1913 and vacated in 1988.

Currently, a study is underway to investigate the feasibility of a Detroit-Ann Arbor commuter line, which would service the nearly 100,000 daily commuters between the two regional hubs. The proposed system would be funded by a $100 million federal grant that is secured based on the results of the study. Recently, the city also announced it would begin studies for mass transit on a greater scale for the entire metropolitian area.

See also

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Further reading

  • Burton, Clarence M (1896). Cadillac's Village: A History of the Settlement, 1701-1710. Detroit Society for Genealogical Research. ISBN 0-943112-21-4.
  • Burton, Clarence M (1912). Early Detroit: A sketch of some of the interesting affairs of the olden time. Burton Abstracts. ASIN B00085GX94.
  • Chafets, Zev (1990). Devil's Night: And Other True Tales of Detroit. Random House Publishing Group. ISBN 0-394-58525-9.
  • Farley, Reynolds; et al. (2002). Detroit Divided. Russell Sage Foundation Publications. ISBN 0-87154-281-1. {{cite book}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |author= (help)
  • Peter Gavrilovich and Bill McGraw (2000). The Detroit Almanac. Detroit Free Press. ISBN 0-937247-34-0.
  • Powell, L. P (1901). "Detroit, the Queen City," Historic Towns of the Western States (New York).
  • Farmer, Silas (1889). History of Detroit and Wayne County and Early Michigan. Omnigraphics Inc; Reprint edition (October 1998). ISBN 1-55888-991-4.
  • Parkman, Francis (1994). The Conspiracy of Pontiac. University of Nebraska Press. ISBN 0-8032-8737-2.
  • Poremba, David Lee (2003). Detroit: A Motor City History. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 0-7385-2435-2.
  • Sugrue, Thomas J (1998). The Origins of the Urban Crisis. Princeton University Press. ISBN 0-691-05888-1.

External links

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