Detroit, Michigan

Detroit (IPA: [dəˈtɹɔɪt]) (French: Détroit, pronounced [detʁwa] (help·info)) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat for Wayne County. The city is located on the Detroit River, north of Windsor, Ontario. Established in 1701 by French fur traders, it is the center of an industrial area in the American Rust Belt. Today 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 ultimately gets its name from the Detroit River, which in turn derives from the French, "Rivière du Détroit," literally, the "River of the Strait." The name alludes to the connection the river forms between Lake St. Clair and Lake Erie, although it is not literally a strait.<ref name=RivièreduDétroit>La rivière du Détroit depuis le lac Sainte-Claire jusqu’au lac Érié, 1764 (French). government of Ontartio. Retrieved on 2 October, 2006.</ref>

In 2005, Detroit ranked as the United States's 11th most populous city, with 886,675 residents; this is half of the peak population it boasted in the 1950s, and Detroit leads the nation in terms of declining urban population. Detroit's crime rate has created international notoriety and a tarnished reputation. The city continues to struggle with the burdens of racial disharmony between itself and its suburban neighbors, and an antiquated economy. In the 1990s and 2000s the city experienced a moderate revival with the construction of the Compuware headquarters and three gambling casinos, amid budget shortfalls and cuts in city services.

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 for the Metropolitan Statistical Area and a population of 5,456,428 for the nine county Combined Statistical Area as of the 2005 Census Bureau estimates. If the adjacent Canadian city of Windsor, Ontario and its suburbs are counted, the area has a total population of about 6 million (see: Windsor-Detroit).

[edit] History

Main article: History of Detroit, Michigan

[edit] 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; 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.<ref>Ste. Anne of Detroit St. Anne Church (accessed April 29, 2006).</ref> Detroit's city flag reflects this French heritage. (See Flag of Detroit, Michigan.)

[edit] War of 1812: British rule Detroit

From 1805 to 1847, Detroit was the capital of Michigan. Detroit fell to British troops during the War of 1812 in the Siege of Detroit, to be recaptured by the United States in 1813 and incorporated as a city two years later. Prior to the American Civil War, the city's access to the Canadian border made it a key stop along the underground railroad.<ref>Blockson, Charles and Chase, Henry (4/05). Detroit - Follow the North Star, The Guiding Light of the Underground Railroad. American Visions.</ref>

[edit] 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."

[edit] The Gilded Age and Industrialization

Detroit's many Gilded Age mansions and buildings arose during the late 1800s. The city was referred to as the "Paris of the West" for its architecture. Due to its location along the Great Lakes waterway, Detroit emerged as a transportation hub. Beginning in the 1830s the city's economy expanded to 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 rapid 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.<ref>Zacharias, Patricia (2003). 'I have to die a man or live a coward' -- the saga of Dr. Ossian Sweet. Detroit News.</ref> With the introduction of prohibition, the river was a major conduit for Canadian spirits, organized in large part by the notorious Purple Gang.<ref> How Prohibition made Detroit a bootlegger's dream town. Detroit News.</ref>

[edit] World War I and World War II

Image:4a22542r.jpg

Following World War I and the Great Depression came high-profile labor strife, climaxing in the 1930s as the United Auto Workers initiated bitter disputes with Detroit's auto manufacturers. The 1940s saw the construction of the world's first urban depressed freeway, the Davison<ref>Michigan Highways. michiganhighways.org (accessed April 30, 2006).</ref> and the industrial growth during World War II that led to Detroit's nickname as the Arsenal of Democracy.<ref>Nolan, Jenny (2003). Willow Run and the Arsenal of Democracy. Detroit News</ref>

[edit] Post War Decline

Detroit endured a painful decline during the 1960s and 1970s and was often held up as a symbol of urban blight that most American cities were undergoing at the time. The 12th Street Riot in 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. Soon large numbers of buildings and homes were abandoned on the southeast side of the city. In 1973, the city elected its first black mayor, Coleman Young.

The gasoline crises of 1973 and 1979 shook the United States auto industry as Japanese and other foreign car makers of small cars 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 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 drug dealers. Sizeable tracts of land have reverted to nature, to become a form of urban prairie with wild animals spotted migrating into the city.<ref>Wild Kingdom. 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 Renaissance Center in the late 1970s.

[edit] 1980 - present

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 Detroit Tigers' 1984 World Series title and the Detroit Pistons' second NBA championship, in 1990.

In the 1990s, the city began to enjoy a revival, much of it centered downtown. In 1994, Comerica Tower with its postmodern architecture and neo-gothic spires arose on the city skyline. In 1996 onwards, three casinos opened: MGM Grand Detroit, Motor City Casino, and Greektown Casino. In 2000, Comerica Park replaced Tiger Stadium as the home of the Detroit Tigers,<ref>Lage, Larry (2003). Comerica Park has what Tiger Stadium didn't - in many ways. The Detroit News</ref> 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. The city hosted the 2005 MLB All-Star Game and Super Bowl XL in 2006, 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 2006, announcements came for the redevelopment of the abandoned Fort Shelby and Book-Cadillac Hotels.

[edit] Geography

[edit] 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 143.0 square miles (370.2 km²); 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 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<ref>Zacharias, Patricia (2001). The ghostly salt city beneath Detroit. The Detroit News.</ref> 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.

[edit] 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.<ref>Detroit Weather & Climate (2006). 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 (–17°C). Summer temperatures can typically exceed 90°F (32°C). Average monthly precipitation ranges from about two to five inches (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 (3 to 25 cm) a month.<ref>Monthly Averages for Detroit, MI (2006). Weather.com (accessed April 20, 2006).</ref> The highest recorded temperature was 103.0°F (39.0°C) on June 25, 1988, while the lowest recorded temperature was –17.0°F (–27.0°C) on January 19, 1994.<ref>Records and Averages - Detroit (2006). Yahoo! Weather (accessed April 20, 2006).</ref>

Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Weather averages for Detroit, Michigan
Avg high °F	31	33	44	58	70	79	83	81	74	62	48	35	58
Avg low °F	16	18	27	37	48	57	62	60	53	41	32	22	39
Avg high °C	-1	1	6	14	21	26	28	27	23	16	8	1	14
Avg low °C	-8	-7	-2	2	8	13	16	15	11	5	0	-5	3
Precipitation (in)	1.9	1.7	2.4	3.0	2.9	3.6	3.1	3.4	2.8	2.2	2.7	2.5	32.3
Precipitation (cm)	4	4	6	7	7	9	7	8	7	5	6	6	82
Source: Weatherbase <ref name=Weatherbase >Weatherbase: Historical Weather for Detroit, Michigan, United States of America (English). Retrieved on Nov 6, 2006.</ref> Nov 2006

[edit] 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.

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 National Trust for Historic Preservation as among America's most endangered landmarks.<ref>Sharoff, Robert (2005). American City: Detroit Architecture 1845-2005 Wayne State University Press</ref>

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

Detroit has an active community of professionals dedicated to urban design, historic preservation, architecture, and investment in the city.<ref>Cityscape Detroit (2006).www.cityscapedetroit.org</ref> 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 city's 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.<ref> Detroit Riverfront Conservancy. (accessed May 27, 2006).</ref>

See also: Neighborhoods in Detroit, Michigan

[edit] Culture

Main articles: Culture of Detroit, Michigan, Black culture of Detroit, and Detroit celebrities

[edit] Contemporary life

Metro Detroit suburbs are among the most affluent in the nation.<ref name=RichSuburbs> 2004-05 Community profile Oakland County (English). Retrieved on 2 October, 2006. “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).Inside Detroit Lofts Model D Media.</ref> 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. Detroit's proximity to Windsor, Ontario provides for spectacular views and a dynamic nightlife, along with Ontario's 19-and-older drinking age.<ref name= Windsornightlife>La Canfora, Jason. Detroit's Big Party Next Door. In Windsor, Temptation Waits for Players, Fans (English). The Washington Post. Retrieved on 2 October, 2006.</ref>

[edit] Performing Arts

Main articles: Music of Detroit and 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: DTE Energy Music Theatre and The Palace of Auburn Hills<ref>DTE Energy Music Theatre Listed as 2004 Top Attended Amphitheatre (1/25/05). DTE Energy Music Theatre.</ref> The city's theater district is the nation's second largest 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.

In the 1940's, Detroit had a bustling blues scene with the long-term residency of John Lee Hooker. 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.<ref>Herb Boyd (9/17/97) Cookin' in the Motor City. The Metro Times.</ref> 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. and spawned acts such as The Temptations, Four Tops, Smokey Robinson, Diana Ross & The Supremes, Marvin Gaye and Aretha Franklin. Gordy moved Motwon to Los Angeles in 1970 to pursue film producing opportunities, but the company has since moved back to Detroit.

Metro Detroit also spawned a high-energy rock scene in the late 1960s and 1970s centered around the Grande Ballroom with artists like Alice Cooper, Ted Nugent, Mitch Ryder, Rare Earth, Brownsville Station, Glenn Frey 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.

In addition, Detroit's garage rock scene of the 1990s rose to national attention with the success of bands such as The White Stripes, Von Bondies, the Dirtbombs, and Electric Six. Its hip hop scene also rose to prominence in the late nineties with the emergence of nationally renowned acts such as Eminem, Slum Village, D12, J Dilla, Obie Trice, Blade Icewood, Big Herk, and Royce Da 5'9 as well as other artists like Insane Clown Posse and Esham

Several annual music events are held around the city, including the Ford Detroit International Jazz Festival, the Motor City Music Conference (MC2), the Concert of Colors, and the hip-hop Summer Jamz music festival.

[edit] Fashion

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.

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.<ref name=Hairwars>Sarah Klein (7 April 2004). Tressed to kill (English). Metrotimes. Retrieved on Sept 25th, 2006.</ref>

[edit] Tourism

Image:DIAfront Detroit USA.jpg

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, the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD), and the Belle Isle Conservatory. Important history of Detroit and the surrounding area is exhihibited at the The Henry Ford, the nation's largest indoor-outdoor museum complex.<ref>America's Story, Explore the States: Michigan (2006). Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village Library of Congress </ref> <ref>State of Michigan: MI Kids (2006).Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village </ref>

Image:Greektown Casino2.jpg

The Detroit Historical Society at the Detroit Historical Museum provides information about tours of Detroit area churches, skyscrapers, and mansions. Of the mansions built by the auto barons in the area, only the Fisher Mansion is in Detroit. 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.<ref>History of Eastern Market. Eastern Market Mechant's Association (accessed March 8, 2006).</ref>

Image:Guardian Building and One Woodward Building in Detroit, Michigan.jpg

Hart Plaza, between the Renaissance Center and Cobo Hall on the riverfront, is the site of many events including the Windsor-Detroit International Freedom Festival in late June with one of the nation's largest displays of fireworks and the Detroit Electronic Music Festival. Within downtown, Campus Martius Park hosts events such as the Motown Winter Blast. As the world's traditional automotive center, Detroit hosts the North American International Auto Show. 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>Everyone Loves a Parade. The Parade Company.</ref>

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.<ref> City of Detroit Budget Cuts Lead to Closure of 101 Year Old Belle Isle Aquarium (1/14/05). Detroit Zoological Association.</ref> The J.W. Westcott II, which delivers mail to freighters on the Detroit River, is the world's only floating post office.<ref>America's Floating ZIP Code 48222 J.W. Wescott Homepage.</ref>

The most important civic sculpture in Detroit is Marshall Fredericks' "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.<ref>Vivian M. Baulch (1998). Marshall Fredericks -- the Spirit of Detroit. The Detroit News.</ref> 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.<ref>Sarah Karush, The Associated Press (2/23/04). Police arrest two men suspected of vandalizing Joe Louis statue. USA Today.</ref>

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.

[edit] 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 itself (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, earning the city the moniker of "Hockeytown."

Image:Ford-Field-from-Comerica-Park.jpg

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.<ref>History. The Detroit APBA Gold Cup</ref> 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.<ref>Track History. CART.</ref> In 2007, open-wheel racing will return to Belle Isle with both Indy Racing League and American Le Mans Series Racing.<ref name=2007IndyRacing> Indy racing will return to Detroit (English). Associated Press (September 29, 2006). Retrieved on 3 October, 2006.</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>Zacharias, Patricia. "Detroit, the City of Champions", Detroit News Online, The Detroit News. Retrieved on 2006-10-02.</ref> 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, surprisingly in 1935, the Detroit Lions won the National Football League championship. The Detroit Tigers won the American League pennant in 1934 and 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<ref>http://info.detnews.com/history/story/index.cfm?id=91&category=sports. Detroit News.</ref><ref>Visit Detroit</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 Detroit Pistons have also had eras of glory, with championships in 1989, 1990, and 2004.

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.<ref>History. FordField.com.</ref>

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 2006 World Series, as the Tigers lost to the St. Louis Cardinals.

[edit] Media

Image:Fisher Building, Detroit.jpg

As the traditional automotive center, Detroit is an important source for news.

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.

Print
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 (the state's largest African American owned newspaper) and the Michigan Citizen. Hour Media publishes Hour Detroit monthly magazine as well as Detroit Home and DBusiness magazines.

Television
The Detroit television market is the 11th largest in the United States;<ref>Nielsen Media Research Local Universe Estimates (9/24/05) The Nielson Company</ref> 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.

Discover Detroit TV which airs every Monday at 5:30 on Detroit's PBS affiliate is sponsored by the Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Radio
Detroit has the ninth largest radio market in the United States,<ref>Market Ranks and Schedule (1-50) (2006). Arbitron.com.</ref> 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 NPR affiliates play classical music besides offering news and talk-radio programming.

Detroit Receives Reception From All Of The Following Radio Stations:

88.7 CIMX- Alternative/Rock
89.1 WPHS- Student Radio out of Cousino High in Warren
90.9 WRCJ- Classical/Jazz
91.5 CJAM- Unknown Format
92.3 WMXD- Urban Adult Contemporary
93.1 WDRQ- Variety Hits
93.9 CIDR- Triple A
94.3 CKSY- Adult Contemporary
94.7 WCSX- Classic Rock
95.1 CKUE- Rock
95.5 WKQI- Top-40
96.3 WDVD- Hot Adult Contemporary
96.7 CHYR- Hot Adult Contemporary
97.1 WKRK- News/Talk
97.9 WJLB- Urban Contemporary
98.7 WVMV- Smooth Jazz
99.5 WYCD- Country
100.3 WNIC- Adult Contemporary
101.1 WRIF- Rock
101.9 WDET- News/Talk
102.7 WHTD- Urban Contemporary
103.5 WMUZ- Christian AC
104.3 WOMC- Oldies
105.1 WMJC- Adult Contemporary
105.9 WDMK- Urban Adult Contemporary
106.7 WDTW- Country
107.5 WGPR- Urban Adult Contemporary/Smooth Jazz

[edit] Economy

Image:GM headquarters in Detroit.JPG 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.<ref>Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers (2006). From the 2003 Study "Contributions of the Automotive Industry to the U.S. Economy" University of Michigan and the Center for Automotive Research.</ref> 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.<ref>Flint, Jerry (9 September 1996). Can Detroit Weather a Downturn?. 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 (27 May 2005) Neighborhood rebirth stalls: High property taxes burden Detroit homeowners. 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 Hurricane Katrina.<ref>Bureau of Labor Statistics (2/2006). Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment Summary. 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 (30 December 2005).Auto woes add to city's budget problems. Detroit Free Press.</ref>

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.<ref>Standard and Poors Report (March 14, 2006). Asia's Auto Makers Think Globally. Business Week</ref> However, in 2003, Cadillac outscored Lexus in 2 of 3 quality surveys by AutoPacific, Strategic Vision, and J.D. Power.<ref>Auto Quality (June 4, 2003). USA Today</ref> The perception of quality from foreign rivals has been called into question, with Toyota experiencing quality issues in 2006.<ref>The Most recalled Cars (July 17, 2006). Business Week Online.</ref><ref>Associated Press (July, 21, 2006). Japan Condemns Toyota on recall practices.</ref> 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.<ref>Woellert , Lorraine (3 March 2001). Why Detroit May Swallow Some Bitter CAFE. 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 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.^{[citation needed]}

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,<ref> Dorinda Elliott (30 January 2006). "Can This Man Save The American Auto Industry?" Time Magazine.</ref> 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,<ref> Kiley, David (13 June 2001). GM buys stake in firm tapping hydrogen power. USA Today.</ref> while Chrysler is focusing much of its research and development into biodiesel.<ref>PRNewswire (22 March 2006). Diesel Jeep Liberty Sales Double Expectations Yahoo News.</ref> 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.<ref>GM announces world's most powerful fuel cell stack (13 September 2001). 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 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 around Detroit include auto parts maker American Axle & Manufacturing, Comerica, and DTE Energy.<ref>Fortune 500 (2006). CNNMoney.com.</ref> Detroit is home to Compuware and the national pizza chain Little Caesars. Downtown Detroit also has major offices for Electronic Data Systems, Visteon, Delphi, Ford Motor Company, Ernst & Young, the Jeep and Dodge Truck arm of DaimlerChrysler and GM's OnStar. Quicken Loans is reportedly considering a consolidation of its suburban offices into a new downtown Detroit headquarters.<ref name=QuickenLoans>Walsh, Tom (September 14, 2006). TOM WALSH: Lending business is lively (English). The Detroit Free Press. Retrieved on 2 October, 2006.</ref> 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.

Urbanists such as James Howard Kunstler 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.

Casino gaming plays a major economic role, with Detroit currently the largest city in the United States to offer major casino hotels.<ref>Brunker, Mike (12 March 1999) Detroit bets big on downtown casinos. MSNBC.</ref> 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.<ref>See the Change (2006) TheWorldisComing.com. City of Detroit Partnership.</ref> Medical service providers such as the Detroit Medical Center and Henry Ford Hospital are major employers in the city.

[edit] Demographics

Population and rank among US cities, 1840–2000 censuses<ref>Population of the 100 Largest Cities and Other Urban Places in the United States: 1790 to 1990 (June 1998). U.S. Bureau of the Census (accessed April 20, 2006).</ref>
Image:Detroit population and rank.svg

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 ², 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 populations

Census

Pop.

%±

1820</td><td align="right">1,422</td><td align="right">—</td></tr><tr><td align="center">

1830</td><td align="right">2,222</td><td align="right">56.0%</td></tr><tr><td align="center"> 1840</td><td align="right">9,102</td><td align="right">309.6%</td></tr><tr><td align="center"> 1850</td><td align="right">21,019</td><td align="right">130.9%</td></tr><tr><td align="center"> 1860</td><td align="right">45,619</td><td align="right">117.0%</td></tr><tr><td align="center"> 1870</td><td align="right">79,577</td><td align="right">74.4%</td></tr><tr><td align="center"> 1880</td><td align="right">116,340</td><td align="right">46.2%</td></tr><tr><td align="center"> 1890</td><td align="right">205,876</td><td align="right">80.0%</td></tr><tr><td align="center"> 1900</td><td align="right">285,704</td><td align="right">38.8%</td></tr><tr><td align="center"> 1910</td><td align="right">465,766</td><td align="right">63.0%</td></tr><tr><td align="center"> 1920</td><td align="right">993,678</td><td align="right">113.3%</td></tr><tr><td align="center"> 1930</td><td align="right">1,568,662</td><td align="right">36.7%</td></tr><tr><td align="center"> 1940</td><td align="right">1,623,452</td><td align="right">3.5%</td></tr><tr><td align="center"> 1950</td><td align="right">1,849,568</td><td align="right">13.9%</td></tr><tr><td align="center"> 1960</td><td align="right">1,670,144</td><td align="right">-9.7%</td></tr><tr><td align="center"> 1970</td><td align="right">1,514,063</td><td align="right">-9.3%</td></tr><tr><td align="center"> 1980</td><td align="right">1,203,368</td><td align="right">-20.5%</td></tr><tr><td align="center"> 1990</td><td align="right">1,027,974</td><td align="right">-14.6%</td></tr><tr><td align="center"> 2000</td><td align="right">951,270</td><td align="right">-7.5%</td></tr>

Image:Map image detroit.jpg

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.<ref>Race Relations & Cultural Collaboration. New Detroit. Accessed March 8, 2006.</ref> 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 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.<ref>Meeting on Supporting the Role of Fathers in Families - Statement of Travis Ballard (November 27, 1995). 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 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."<ref>Literacy Volunteers of America-Detroit. United Way for Southeastern Michigan (accessed April 20, 2006)</ref>

Detroit was ranked the most Liberal city in America by the Bay Area Center for Voting Research.<ref>New Study Ranks America's Most Liberal and Conservative Cities. Bay Area Center for V