This page will contain videos about Detroit, Michigan, as they become available.Detroit, Michigan
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| City motto:
Speramus Meliora; Resurget Cineribus ("We Hope For Better Things; It Shall Rise From the Ashes") |
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| City nicknames: "The Motor City" and "Motown" | |
Location in the state of Michigan |
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| Founded | July 24, 1701 |
| County | Wayne County |
| Mayor | Kwame Kilpatrick (Dem) |
| Area - Total - Water |
370.2 km² (142.9 sq. mi.) 10.8 km² (4.2 mi²) 2.92% |
| Population (2000) - City - Density - Metropolitan - Density |
951,270 2,647/km² (6,858/sq. mi.) 4,441,551 440.1/km² (1,143/sq. mi.); |
| Time zone | Eastern: UTC−5 |
| Location | 42° 23′ 00″ N 83° 05′ 00″ W (http://kvaleberg.com/extensions/mapsources/index.php?params=42_23_00_N_83_05_00_W_region:GR) |
| www.ci.detroit.mi.us | |
Detroit (IPA:
/dɪˈtʰɹɔɪt/; French:
Détroit, pronounced
/detʀwa/) is a city in Wayne County
in the state of Michigan, in the Midwest region of the United States. Established in 1701 by
French fur traders, today it is best known as the world's automotive center and an important music capital — legacies
celebrated by the city's two familiar nicknames, Motor City and Motown.
Located along the Detroit River — French: Rivière du Détroit, i.e. "River of the Strait" — and across from the Canadian city of Windsor, Ontario, the city is the seat of Wayne County and the center of a tri-county industrial zone (including Oakland and Macomb counties) that is among the most significant in the American Rust Belt. The Interstate 75 corridor running through Oakland County has been nicknamed by civic leaders as Automation Alley.
Detroit is the United States' 10th most populous city, with 951,000 residents in 2000, according to United States Census Bureau.
"Detroit" is sometimes used as shorthand for the Metro Detroit region, which is also unofficially referred to as "Southeast Michigan." Residents are generally known as "Detroiters."
French officer Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac founded a fort and settlement at the site of Detroit in 1701. Originally the settlement was called Fort Pontchartrain du Détroit after the comte de Pontchartrain, minister of marine under Louis XIV and for the river that connects Lakes St. Clair and Erie. The British gained control of the area in 1760 and thwarted an Indian attack three years later during Pontiac's Rebellion. In 1796 Detroit and its surrounding areas passed to the United States, and from 1805 to 1847 the town was the territorial and state capitol of Michigan. Though Detroit fell to the British for a short time during the War of 1812 (see: Battle of Detroit), it was recaptured by Gen. William Henry Harrison in 1813.
Detroit was incorporated as a city in 1815.
Situated strategically on a strait along the Great Lakes waterway, Detroit emerged as a key transportation center. The city grew steadily during the 1830s, and subsequent decades saw substantial growth in the shipping, shipbuilding and manufacturing industries. A thriving carriage trade set the stage for the work of Henry Ford, who in 1899 built his first automobile factory in Highland Park, an independent city within Detroit. Ford's manufacturing innovations as well as significant contributions from many other automotive pioneers such as William C. Durant, the Dodge brothers and Louis Chevrolet, solidified Detroit's status as the world's car capital, and the blossoming industry spurred the city's spectacular growth during the first half of the 20th century.
With the factories came high-profile labor strife, climaxing in the 1930s as the United Auto Workers initiated bitter battles with Detroit's auto manufacturers. The labor activism established during those years, which brought fame and notoriety to hometown union leaders such as Jimmy Hoffa and Walter Reuther, remains a key feature on the city's cultural and political landscape.
Detroit has endured a painful decline during the past several decades, and is often held up as a symbol of Rust Belt urban blight. The city's population has plummeted since 1950 as residents have moved to the suburbs, particularly following the 12th Street Riot in 1967. Large numbers of buildings and homes were abandoned, with many remaining for years in states of decay. Recent urban renewal efforts have led to the demolition or renovation of several abandoned skyscrapers and large buildings, the razing of old houses for new housing developments, and an expedited process to remove abandoned homes near schools.
During the latter half of the twentieth century, Detroit's crime figures were often among the highest in the country. Though those figures have decreased in recent years, the crime rate remains high.
"Renaissance" has been a perennial buzzword among generations of city leaders, particularly during the construction and completion of the Renaissance Center, but it was not until the 1990s that Detroit enjoyed something of a bona fide revival, much of it centered downtown. In 1996 a state referendum paved the way for three Detroit casinos—MGM Detroit, Motor City Casino and Greektown Casino—with the goal of increasing tourism and stemming the flow of gambling dollars to nearby Windsor, Ontario.
In 2000, Comerica Park replaced historic Tiger Stadium as the home of the Detroit Tigers—a move that brought some controversy—and Ford Field (2002) brought football's Detroit Lions back into Detroit from suburban Pontiac. The 2004 opening of the Compuware Center gave downtown Detroit its first significant new office building in a decade. Significant landmarks such as the Fox Theater and the Gem Theater have been restored and now host concerts, musicals and plays. Many downtown centers draw partons and host activities; Greektown, Eastern Market and the Michigan State Fairgrounds and the new Campus Martius Park.
Detroit is located on the north bank of the Detroit River, between Lake Erie and Lake St. Clair, in southeastern Michigan. It lies north of Windsor, Ontario—Detroiters sometimes quip that Canada is "our neighbor to the south." Detroit features two public border crossings, the Ambassador Bridge and Detroit-Windsor Tunnel, with a railroad tunnel also connecting the two countries.
Detroit completely encircles the cities of Hamtramck and Highland Park.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 370.2 km² (142.9 mi²). 359.4 km² (138.8 mi²) of it is land and 10.8 km² (4.2 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 2.92% water.
In the satellite photograph [left], the two large bodies of water are Lake St. Clair (northernmost) and Lake Erie. Also notice the three systems of roads: the oldest French roads running perpendicular to the river, radial roads from a Washington, D.C.-inspired system and true north-south roads from the Northwest Ordinance township system.
Detroit sits atop a large salt mine[1] (http://info.detnews.com/history/story/index.cfm?id=17&category=business).
Detroit is sometimes called Murda-Town or The D by locals, notably those within the hip-hop community.
Within the entertainment industry, Detroit is widely regarded as one the country's strongest markets—perhaps the strongest in per capita terms—particularly in live music and theater. In 2004, as in most previous years, DTE Energy Music Theater in nearby Clarkston, Michigan was the No. 1 summer concert venue in the United States in both attendance and box office gross, according to Pollstar and Billboard magazines. Sister arena The Palace of Auburn Hills typically ranks in the top three, often ahead of such high-profile venues as New York's Madison Square Garden. Music has been the dominant feature of Detroit's nightlife since the late 1940s, and both city and suburbs teem with live music venues.
One of the highlights of Detroit's musical history was the success of Motown Records during the 1960s and early 1970s. The label, founded in Detroit by Berry Gordy, Jr., and housed at the "Hitsville U.S.A." building on West Grand Ave. until 1972, was home to some of the most popular recording acts in the world, including Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, and Detroit area natives Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross & the Supremes, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, The Four Tops, and Martha Reeves & the Vandellas. The city is also regarded as the quintessential Rock 'n Roll town, due to its receptive and enthusiastic rock music audiences. Notable 1970s and 1980s rock music performers hailing from the Detroit area include the Stooges, the MC5, and the Romantics.
In recent years, Detroit has assumed a kind of gritty, hip cachet around the world, thanks largely to such modern ambassadors as the White Stripes, Eminem, the Electric Six, and Kid Rock. Detroit is also considered the birthplace of techno music, and hosts a large electronic music festival in Hart Plaza each Spring.
Downtown Detroit contains an eclectic combination of architectural styles: buildings from the 1920s are intermixed with more modern structures.The Detroit Institute of Arts houses what is considered to be one of the most prominent American collections outside New York City, and features showcase pieces by Diego Rivera, Picasso and Van Gogh along with such hometown artists as Charles McGee.
The city is home to the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and the Detroit Opera House. Major theaters include the Fox Theatre, Masonic Temple Theatre, Fisher Theatre, State Theatre, Music Hall, and the Detroit Repertory Theatre.
Major parks include Belle Isle, Palmer Park, River Rouge Park, Chene Park and Campus Martius Park. Other city recreational facilities include municipal golf courses (William Rogell, Rouge, Belle Isle, Palmer Park), Northwest Activities Center, Detroit Zoo and the Belle Isle Aquarium (though unfortunately, the Belle Isle Aquarium and Zoo are closed as of April 2005, though there is a movement to reopen them).
Other cultural centers include the Motown Historical Museum, Detroit Historical Museum, Museum of African American History, Detroit Science Center, Tuskegee Airmen Museum, Historic Fort Wayne, Dossin Great Lakes Museum and the Belle Isle Conservatory.
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 magazine and executed by Robert Graham, is a 24-foot-long arm with a fisted hand suspended by a 24-foot-high pyramidal framework.
Founded in 1907 by two Russian immigrant brothers in Detroit, Faygo soda remains a Detroit tradition, and is sold internationally.
On the festival of Fat Tuesday (also known as Pączki Day, though traditionally celebrated by Poles on Fat Thursday), occurring on the last Tuesday before Lent, many metro Detroiters join in the festivity by indulging in jelly-filled donuts called pączkis. The nearby city of Hamtramck is noted for its pączkis.
Detroit is said to be home to the Nain Rouge, the red dwarf who is said to attack people and bring bad luck to the city.
Information on the Nain Rouge and other Detroit oddities has been compiled at the Web site Mythic Detroit (http://www.davidaspitzley.org/MythicDetroit).
Griswold Street on a cloudy December day.Detroit (and its suburbs) is the setting for a number of novels and short story collections, including:
Detroit is a setting and/or filming location for several Hollywood feature films including as well as some television series:
For a more extensive list, see: Detroit in the movies
The city 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 thousands of volunteers to patrol the streets during Halloween week. The effort has largely squelched Devil's Night arson: In 2002, there were just 110 fires during the Oct. 29–31 period, according to city officials, representing a 30 percent decline in total fires and a 41 percent decline in suspicious fires. In 2003, the three-day number was 117.
Throughout the city, French colonial influence is found prominently in place names (Gratiot Ave., Beaubien St., Cadieux Rd., Chene Park), though only a small percentage of area residents are descended from 18th-century French settlers.
Detroit's population increased more than sixfold during the first half of the 20th century, thanks largely to a massive influx of Southern migrants—both white and black—who came to the area for the burgeoning automobile industry jobs. Metro Detroit residents with Southern origin possibly comprise a majority of the region's population; they most certainly do in suburban sectors such as Downriver, where newcomers established communities upon their arrival. Traces of the Southern accent can still be heard in these areas, mingling with the more nasal Midwest accent to create a distinctive pattern of speech.
Detroit's ethnic communities are largely the descendants of those Poles, Irish, Italians and Greeks who made their way to the city during its early 20th-century industrial boom.
Detroit is also home to large Chaldean and Arab American populations, and suburban Dearborn is home to the country's largest concentration of Arab Americans. Recently, the area has witnessed the growth of Asian American and Hispanic communities. The southwest side of the city contains a large Mexican American community, while significant populations of Chinese, Indian, Korean and Filipino ancestry are found in Oakland County, notably in Troy.
African Americans are a major racial group in the area, numbering more than 1 million. About three-fourths of them live within the city limits. Other communities with large black populations include Southfield, Pontiac and Oak Park, which are all north of the former segregation boundary 8 Mile Road. The Michigan Chronicle, the state's largest black-owned newspaper, is based in Detroit.
While less prevalent than in the 1970s and 1980s, perceptions of racial segregation continue to provoke criticism and soul-searching in the Detroit area. 8 Mile Road, the boundary between the city and suburban Oakland and Macomb counties, is more than a line on a map; it is often held up by politicians and sociologists as a symbolic dividing wall between blacks and whites. On the east side, the aptly (although unintentionally) named Alter Road separates Detroit from affluent Grosse Pointe. Detroit is more than four-fifths African-American, while nearby Livonia (pop. 100,545) has been described in news reports as "the whitest American city" as the 2000 census revealed that 97 percent of its population identified themselves as white.
Some of the Current and historic neighborhoods in Detroit include: Black Bottom, Brush Park, Corktown, Chaldean Town, Cultural Center, Del Ray, East English Village, Eastern Market, Greektown, Indian Village, Mexicantown, New Center, Old Redford, Palmer Woods, Poletown, Rosedale Park, Springwells, and Warrendale.
As of the census2 of 2000, there are 951,270 people, 336,428 households, and 218,341 families residing in the city. The population density is 6,855.1/mi² (2,646.7/km²). There are 375,096 housing units at an average density of 2,703.0/mi² (1,043.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city is 81.55% Black or African American, 12.26% White, 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 are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 336,428 households out of which 33.9% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 26.7% are married couples living together, 31.6% have a female householder with no husband present, and 35.1% are non-families. 29.7% of all households are made up of individuals and 9.2% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.77 and the average family size is 3.45.
In the city the population is spread out 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 is 31 years. For every 100 females there are 89.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 83.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $29,526, and the median income for a family is $33,853. Males have a median income of $33,381 versus $26,749 for females. The per capita income for the city is $14,717. 26.1% of the population and 21.7% of families are 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 are living below the poverty line.
In 2004, Men's Fitness magazine named Detroit the fattest city in the U.S.
Detroit and its suburbs constitute a manufacturing powerhouse, most notably as home to the American automobile industry and the Big Three auto companies. General Motors is based in Detroit, Ford Motor Company in nearby Dearborn, and one of the two world headquarters for DaimlerChrysler in Auburn Hills (the other is in Stuttgart, Germany). Dotting the Detroit landscape are countless offices and plants in the automotive support business: parts, supplies, electronics, and design. It is not uncommon in Detroit to hear radio ads or to spy billboards in which multimillion-dollar auto corporations make insider sales pitches to one another. But there's a flip side to the automotive dominance: Because of its almost singular dependence on the auto industry, Detroit is more acutely vulnerable to economic cycles than most large cities. According to one saying, "When the auto industry hiccups, Detroit coughs, and when the auto industry catches a cold, Detroit gets pneumonia."
Including the Big Three, there are 17 Fortune 500 companies headquartered in metro Detroit, including Kmart Corporation, Borders Books and Music, Comerica Inc., Federal-Mogul, Kelly Services and Lear Corporation. Metro Detroit is also home to the national pizza chains Domino's and Little Caesars.
Other major industries include advertising, computer software and casino gambling.
In addition to property tax, the city levies an income tax of 2.65% on residents, 1.325% on non-residents, and 1.6% on corporations.
City has looming budget deficit estimated at $214 to $400 million, and default or rising of taxes is expected.
Listed as the second most dangerous city by the Morgan Quitno Corporation's statistics [2] (http://www.morganquitno.com/) (after Camden, New Jersey), Detroit has been one of the most crime-ridden cities in the United States. Many of these problems can be blamed on the widespread urban decay, poverty, de facto segregation of African Americans, and unemployment that has struck Detroit. Major crimes in Detroit include burglary, theft, carjacking, robbery, rape, assault, and homicide. The various street gangs which patrol the streets have caused much of the violence and crime.
Sharply contrasting the dangerous streets of Detroit, many of the suburbs to the north of 8 Mile Road in Oakland and Macomb counties are among the 25 safest cities in the United States with a population of 75,000 or above. They include Farmington Hills, Troy, and Sterling Heights. Most of the suburbs mentioned are predominantly white and have contrasting demographics.
Despite its high crime rates, the local communities and the government are working together to curb the street crimes and are working into the local neighborhoods to provide better housing and economic conditions. Instead of just locking criminals behind prison bars, Detroit is beginning to realize that community ties, dealing with poverty and educating the youth are the most effective methods of prevention.
The city is run by the mayor and a nine member city council, elected at large on a nonpartisan ballot. Municipal elections are held every year congruent to 1 modulo 4 (e.g., 1993, 1997, 2001, 2005, 2009, ...). The current mayor is Kwame Kilpatrick. See also List of mayors of Detroit, Michigan.
As with most large urban centers in the United States, Detroit consistently supports the U.S. Democratic Party. No Republican has been elected mayor of Detroit in the past 40 years.
Widely considered a hot rising political star when he won election in 2001, Democratic Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick has been dubbed "America's hip-hop mayor" because of his fond appreciation for black youth culture. Since taking office, however, the mayor and his administration have found themselves dogged by ongoing accusations of scandal and impropriety. Detroit's major media have relentlessly pursued the stories, including reports of wild parties involving strippers at the mayoral mansion [3] (http://www.freep.com/news/locway/probe15_20030515.htm), though the mayor has strongly denied accusations of wrongdoing. He has also been criticised for his lack in improving the city.
In 2004, following numerous scandals and legal decisions, a court-ordered reorganization of the Detroit Police Department was underway with supervision of the FBI.
Once the home of the University of Michigan, which was founded in Detroit in 1817 then later moved to Ann Arbor in 1837, Detroit has several universities and colleges within its borders, including:
Detroit is home to professional teams representing the four major sports in North America. All but one play within the city of Detroit (basketball's Detroit Pistons play in suburban Auburn Hills). (See also: U.S. cities with teams from four major sports.)
There are three active major sports venues in the city: Comerica Park for baseball, Ford Field for football and Joe Louis Arena for ice hockey.
Like many industrial cities, Detroit is known for its avid fans, particularly in such blue-collar sports as football (Detroit Lions) and hockey (Detroit Red Wings). Detroit is perhaps the most fervent hockey hotbed in the United States. A Red Wings marketing campaign in the late 1990s launched the nickname Hockeytown, a city moniker subsequently embraced by local fans and national media.
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.
A world record was set on December 13, 2003, when the largest crowd in basketball history — 78,129 — packed Ford Field to watch the University of Kentucky defeat Michigan State University, 79–74.
Detroit is home to the Detroit International Marathon, which crosses the border into Canada via the Ambassador Bridge and returns to the United States through the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel. It is the world's only cross-national marathon.
Detroit was also the former home of a round of the Formula One World Championship, holding a race on the streets of downtown Detroit from 1982 until 1987, after which the sanction moved from Formula One to Indycars. CART continued downtown until 1992, when the race was moved to another temporary course on Belle Isle where the race remained through 2001.
Comerica Park will host the 2005 MLB All Star Game in July 2005, and Ford Field will host Super Bowl XL in February 5, 2006.
Because of its gateway between the United States and Canada and its major industrial status — along with its major highways, rail connections and international airport — Detroit has been an important transportation hub.
Detroit is the crossroads for six major Interstate Highways, including I-75, I-94, I-96, I-696, I-275, and I-375. Also the city has two international border crossings, the Ambassador Bridge and the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel, both linking Detroit to Windsor, Ontario on the Canadian side by crossing the Detroit River.
Transit services in the City of Detroit are provided by the Detroit Department of Transportation (DDOT), they provide an extensive, if not erratic, bus service throughout the city and very near suburbs. Service in the suburbs is provided by Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART). In recent years the Southeast Michigan Transportation Authority has been established with the goal of expanding and integrating the transit systems located in the Detroit Metro area.
Detroit also has a light rail system known as the People Mover, providing a 2.9 mile loop in the downtown area. Although it has faced massive criticism for its lack of punctual service and high cost, the People Mover continues to operate daily.
Detroit's rich musical heritage has produced a vast roster of hit makers, from R&B artists such as Smokey Robinson and Aretha Franklin to rockers such as Bob Seger and Ted Nugent. Artists such as Eminem and Aaliyah are among the celebrities who have kept the musical pipeline flowing.
The auto industry has spawned its own cast of significant names, particularly such pioneers as Henry Ford, William C. Durant and the Dodge Brothers.
Detroit has been home to luminaries from virtually every major sport, including boxing Joe Louis, baseball (Ty Cobb and Al Kaline of the Detroit Tigers), hockey (Gordie Howe of the Detroit Red Wings), basketball Isiah Thomas of the Pistons) and football (Barry Sanders of the Lions).
For a more extensive list see People from Detroit.
Detroit has several sister cities, including
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Detroit has several sister cities, including. The auto industry has spawned its own cast of significant names, particularly such pioneers as Henry Ford, William C. The Atlanta Falcons are a National Football League team based in Atlanta, Georgia. Artists such as Eminem and Aaliyah are among the celebrities who have kept the musical pipeline flowing. Eugene Robinson. Detroit's rich musical heritage has produced a vast roster of hit makers, from R&B artists such as Smokey Robinson and Aretha Franklin to rockers such as Bob Seger and Ted Nugent. Andre Rison. Detroit also has a light rail system known as the People Mover, providing a 2.9 mile loop in the downtown area. Although it has faced massive criticism for its lack of punctual service and high cost, the People Mover continues to operate daily. Bill Fralic. In recent years the Southeast Michigan Transportation Authority has been established with the goal of expanding and integrating the transit systems located in the Detroit Metro area. Chris Miller. Service in the suburbs is provided by Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART). Jamal Anderson. Transit services in the City of Detroit are provided by the Detroit Department of Transportation (DDOT), they provide an extensive, if not erratic, bus service throughout the city and very near suburbs. Deion Sanders. Also the city has two international border crossings, the Ambassador Bridge and the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel, both linking Detroit to Windsor, Ontario on the Canadian side by crossing the Detroit River. Billy "White Shoes" Johnson. Detroit is the crossroads for six major Interstate Highways, including I-75, I-94, I-96, I-696, I-275, and I-375. Jessie Tuggle. Because of its gateway between the United States and Canada and its major industrial status — along with its major highways, rail connections and international airport — Detroit has been an important transportation hub. Mike Kenn. Comerica Park will host the 2005 MLB All Star Game in July 2005, and Ford Field will host Super Bowl XL in February 5, 2006. 10 Steve Bartkowski. CART continued downtown until 1992, when the race was moved to another temporary course on Belle Isle where the race remained through 2001. Falcon"). Detroit was also the former home of a round of the Formula One World Championship, holding a race on the streets of downtown Detroit from 1982 until 1987, after which the sanction moved from Formula One to Indycars. 60 Tommy Nobis ("Mr. It is the world's only cross-national marathon. 57 Jeff Van Note. Detroit is home to the Detroit International Marathon, which crosses the border into Canada via the Ambassador Bridge and returns to the United States through the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel. 31 William Andrews. A world record was set on December 13, 2003, when the largest crowd in basketball history — 78,129 — packed Ford Field to watch the University of Kentucky defeat Michigan State University, 79–74. Duckett. 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. T.J. A Red Wings marketing campaign in the late 1990s launched the nickname Hockeytown, a city moniker subsequently embraced by local fans and national media. Alge Crumpler. Detroit is perhaps the most fervent hockey hotbed in the United States. Warrick Dunn. Like many industrial cities, Detroit is known for its avid fans, particularly in such blue-collar sports as football (Detroit Lions) and hockey (Detroit Red Wings). Patrick Kerney. There are three active major sports venues in the city: Comerica Park for baseball, Ford Field for football and Joe Louis Arena for ice hockey. Michael Vick. cities with teams from four major sports.). Rich Coady. All but one play within the city of Detroit (basketball's Detroit Pistons play in suburban Auburn Hills). (See also: U.S. Keith Brooking. Detroit is home to professional teams representing the four major sports in North America. The team advances to NFC Championship game before falling to the Philadelphia Eagles 27-10. Once the home of the University of Michigan, which was founded in Detroit in 1817 then later moved to Ann Arbor in 1837, Detroit has several universities and colleges within its borders, including:. Mora, the Falcons go 11-5 and win NFC South easily. In 2004, following numerous scandals and legal decisions, a court-ordered reorganization of the Detroit Police Department was underway with supervision of the FBI. 2004 - Buoyed by the return of QB Michael Vick and energized by new head coach Jim L. He has also been criticised for his lack in improving the city. The Falcons draft Virginia Tech CB DeAngelo Hall with the 8th pick in the 2004 NFL Draft. Since taking office, however, the mayor and his administration have found themselves dogged by ongoing accusations of scandal and impropriety. Detroit's major media have relentlessly pursued the stories, including reports of wild parties involving strippers at the mayoral mansion [3] (http://www.freep.com/news/locway/probe15_20030515.htm), though the mayor has strongly denied accusations of wrongdoing. With 3 games left in the season, coach Dan Reeves resigns, handing the team to his defensive coordinator and former Bills coach Wade Phillips. Widely considered a hot rising political star when he won election in 2001, Democratic Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick has been dubbed "America's hip-hop mayor" because of his fond appreciation for black youth culture. 2003 - After star QB Michael Vick breaks his leg in the preseason, the Falcons suffer through a 5-11 season. No Republican has been elected mayor of Detroit in the past 40 years. Who is to become the face of the franchise. Democratic Party. With that pick they selected Mike Vick. As with most large urban centers in the United States, Detroit consistently supports the U.S. 2001 - Trade the #3 pick along with Tim Dwight to the San Diego Chargers for the #1 pick in the draft. See also List of mayors of Detroit, Michigan. Once there, however, they lost, 34-19 to the Denver Broncos. The current mayor is Kwame Kilpatrick. With a 14-2 final record and winners of the NFC West, the Falcons would reach Super Bowl XXXIII after upsetting the 15-1 Vikings at Minnesota in the NFC Championship Game. Municipal elections are held every year congruent to 1 modulo 4 (e.g., 1993, 1997, 2001, 2005, 2009, ...). On November 8, they won 41-10 over the Patriots at New England, snapping a streak of 22 consecutive losses at cold-weather sites in November and December that had dated back to 1982. The city is run by the mayor and a nine member city council, elected at large on a nonpartisan ballot. 1998 - Led by QB Chris Chandler and RB Jamal Anderson, the Falcons have their greatest season to date. Instead of just locking criminals behind prison bars, Detroit is beginning to realize that community ties, dealing with poverty and educating the youth are the most effective methods of prevention. They go on to lose to the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Despite its high crime rates, the local communities and the government are working together to curb the street crimes and are working into the local neighborhoods to provide better housing and economic conditions. 1995 - In the final game of the season, the Falcons beat the San Francisco 49ers to secure a playoff spot. Most of the suburbs mentioned are predominantly white and have contrasting demographics. 1992 - The Georgia Dome becomes the new home for the Atlanta Falcons, as they move from the Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium. They include Farmington Hills, Troy, and Sterling Heights. 1982 - The Falcons make the playoffs in this strike-shortened season with a record of 5-4, and lose to the Minnesota Vikings in Minnesota. Sharply contrasting the dangerous streets of Detroit, many of the suburbs to the north of 8 Mile Road in Oakland and Macomb counties are among the 25 safest cities in the United States with a population of 75,000 or above. 1980 - Another playoff berth for the Falcons, as they win the NFC West, but again lose to the Dallas Cowboys in the playoffs. The various street gangs which patrol the streets have caused much of the violence and crime. 1978 - The Falcons make the playoffs for the first time, and beat visiting Philadelphia Eagles, but lose to the Dallas Cowboys in Dallas. Major crimes in Detroit include burglary, theft, carjacking, robbery, rape, assault, and homicide. 1977 - The Falcons defense sets an NFL record for the fewest points allowed in a 14 game season, 129. Many of these problems can be blamed on the widespread urban decay, poverty, de facto segregation of African Americans, and unemployment that has struck Detroit. 1972 - The Falcons finish second in the NFC West — their highest division finish in franchise history up to that point. Listed as the second most dangerous city by the Morgan Quitno Corporation's statistics [2] (http://www.morganquitno.com/) (after Camden, New Jersey), Detroit has been one of the most crime-ridden cities in the United States. 1971 - The Falcons finish with a winning record for the first time, at 7-6-1. City has looming budget deficit estimated at $214 to $400 million, and default or rising of taxes is expected. Miami Dolphins. In addition to property tax, the city levies an income tax of 2.65% on residents, 1.325% on non-residents, and 1.6% on corporations. 30 vs. Other major industries include advertising, computer software and casino gambling. 1970 - First Monday Night Football game in Atlanta - Nov. Metro Detroit is also home to the national pizza chains Domino's and Little Caesars. He amasses 294 total tackles a franchise record that stands today. Including the Big Three, there are 17 Fortune 500 companies headquartered in metro Detroit, including Kmart Corporation, Borders Books and Music, Comerica Inc., Federal-Mogul, Kelly Services and Lear Corporation. The aforementioned Nobis wins the NFL Rookie of the Year Award and becomes the first Falcon named to the Pro Bowl. According to one saying, "When the auto industry hiccups, Detroit coughs, and when the auto industry catches a cold, Detroit gets pneumonia.". 1966 - The Falcons play their first NFL season. But there's a flip side to the automotive dominance: Because of its almost singular dependence on the auto industry, Detroit is more acutely vulnerable to economic cycles than most large cities. They draft Tommy Nobis, LB, University of Texas with the 1st pick of the 1966 NFL Draft (http://www.profootballhof.com/history/general/draft/1966.jsp) held on November 27, 1965, making him the first ever Falcon. It is not uncommon in Detroit to hear radio ads or to spy billboards in which multimillion-dollar auto corporations make insider sales pitches to one another. Smith Sr. Detroit and its suburbs constitute a manufacturing powerhouse, most notably as home to the American automobile industry and the Big Three auto companies. General Motors is based in Detroit, Ford Motor Company in nearby Dearborn, and one of the two world headquarters for DaimlerChrysler in Auburn Hills (the other is in Stuttgart, Germany). Dotting the Detroit landscape are countless offices and plants in the automotive support business: parts, supplies, electronics, and design. NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle, grants ownership to Rankin M. In 2004, Men's Fitness magazine named Detroit the fattest city in the U.S. 1965 - The Atlanta Falcons are born. Out of the total population, 34.5% of those under the age of 18 and 18.6% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line. 26.1% of the population and 21.7% of families are below the poverty line. The per capita income for the city is $14,717. Males have a median income of $33,381 versus $26,749 for females. The median income for a household in the city is $29,526, and the median income for a family is $33,853. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 83.5 males. For every 100 females there are 89.1 males. The median age is 31 years. In the city the population is spread out 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 average household size is 2.77 and the average family size is 3.45. 29.7% of all households are made up of individuals and 9.2% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. There are 336,428 households out of which 33.9% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 26.7% are married couples living together, 31.6% have a female householder with no husband present, and 35.1% are non-families. 4.96% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race. The racial makeup of the city is 81.55% Black or African American, 12.26% White, 0.33% Native American, 0.97% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 2.54% from other races, and 2.32% from two or more races. There are 375,096 housing units at an average density of 2,703.0/mi² (1,043.6/km²). The population density is 6,855.1/mi² (2,646.7/km²). As of the census2 of 2000, there are 951,270 people, 336,428 households, and 218,341 families residing in the city. Some of the Current and historic neighborhoods in Detroit include: Black Bottom, Brush Park, Corktown, Chaldean Town, Cultural Center, Del Ray, East English Village, Eastern Market, Greektown, Indian Village, Mexicantown, New Center, Old Redford, Palmer Woods, Poletown, Rosedale Park, Springwells, and Warrendale. 100,545) has been described in news reports as "the whitest American city" as the 2000 census revealed that 97 percent of its population identified themselves as white. Detroit is more than four-fifths African-American, while nearby Livonia (pop. On the east side, the aptly (although unintentionally) named Alter Road separates Detroit from affluent Grosse Pointe. While less prevalent than in the 1970s and 1980s, perceptions of racial segregation continue to provoke criticism and soul-searching in the Detroit area. 8 Mile Road, the boundary between the city and suburban Oakland and Macomb counties, is more than a line on a map; it is often held up by politicians and sociologists as a symbolic dividing wall between blacks and whites. The Michigan Chronicle, the state's largest black-owned newspaper, is based in Detroit. Other communities with large black populations include Southfield, Pontiac and Oak Park, which are all north of the former segregation boundary 8 Mile Road. About three-fourths of them live within the city limits. African Americans are a major racial group in the area, numbering more than 1 million. The southwest side of the city contains a large Mexican American community, while significant populations of Chinese, Indian, Korean and Filipino ancestry are found in Oakland County, notably in Troy. Recently, the area has witnessed the growth of Asian American and Hispanic communities. Detroit is also home to large Chaldean and Arab American populations, and suburban Dearborn is home to the country's largest concentration of Arab Americans. Detroit's ethnic communities are largely the descendants of those Poles, Irish, Italians and Greeks who made their way to the city during its early 20th-century industrial boom. Traces of the Southern accent can still be heard in these areas, mingling with the more nasal Midwest accent to create a distinctive pattern of speech. Metro Detroit residents with Southern origin possibly comprise a majority of the region's population; they most certainly do in suburban sectors such as Downriver, where newcomers established communities upon their arrival. Detroit's population increased more than sixfold during the first half of the 20th century, thanks largely to a massive influx of Southern migrants—both white and black—who came to the area for the burgeoning automobile industry jobs. Throughout the city, French colonial influence is found prominently in place names (Gratiot Ave., Beaubien St., Cadieux Rd., Chene Park), though only a small percentage of area residents are descended from 18th-century French settlers. In 2003, the three-day number was 117. 29–31 period, according to city officials, representing a 30 percent decline in total fires and a 41 percent decline in suspicious fires. The Angel's Night campaign, launched in the late 1990s, draws thousands of volunteers to patrol the streets during Halloween week. The effort has largely squelched Devil's Night arson: In 2002, there were just 110 fires during the Oct. The city faced hundreds of arsons, often in the city's many abandoned homes, each year on Devil's Night, the evening before Halloween. For a more extensive list, see: Detroit in the movies. Detroit is a setting and/or filming location for several Hollywood feature films including as well as some television series:. Detroit (and its suburbs) is the setting for a number of novels and short story collections, including:. Information on the Nain Rouge and other Detroit oddities has been compiled at the Web site Mythic Detroit (http://www.davidaspitzley.org/MythicDetroit). Detroit is said to be home to the Nain Rouge, the red dwarf who is said to attack people and bring bad luck to the city. The nearby city of Hamtramck is noted for its pączkis. On the festival of Fat Tuesday (also known as Pączki Day, though traditionally celebrated by Poles on Fat Thursday), occurring on the last Tuesday before Lent, many metro Detroiters join in the festivity by indulging in jelly-filled donuts called pączkis. Founded in 1907 by two Russian immigrant brothers in Detroit, Faygo soda remains a Detroit tradition, and is sold internationally. The sculpture, commissioned by Sports Illustrated magazine and executed by Robert Graham, is a 24-foot-long arm with a fisted hand suspended by a 24-foot-high pyramidal framework. A memorial to Joe Louis at the intersection of Jefferson and Woodward Avenues was dedicated on October 16, 1986. Other cultural centers include the Motown Historical Museum, Detroit Historical Museum, Museum of African American History, Detroit Science Center, Tuskegee Airmen Museum, Historic Fort Wayne, Dossin Great Lakes Museum and the Belle Isle Conservatory. Other city recreational facilities include municipal golf courses (William Rogell, Rouge, Belle Isle, Palmer Park), Northwest Activities Center, Detroit Zoo and the Belle Isle Aquarium (though unfortunately, the Belle Isle Aquarium and Zoo are closed as of April 2005, though there is a movement to reopen them). Major parks include Belle Isle, Palmer Park, River Rouge Park, Chene Park and Campus Martius Park. Major theaters include the Fox Theatre, Masonic Temple Theatre, Fisher Theatre, State Theatre, Music Hall, and the Detroit Repertory Theatre. The city is home to the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and the Detroit Opera House. The Detroit Institute of Arts houses what is considered to be one of the most prominent American collections outside New York City, and features showcase pieces by Diego Rivera, Picasso and Van Gogh along with such hometown artists as Charles McGee. Detroit is also considered the birthplace of techno music, and hosts a large electronic music festival in Hart Plaza each Spring. In recent years, Detroit has assumed a kind of gritty, hip cachet around the world, thanks largely to such modern ambassadors as the White Stripes, Eminem, the Electric Six, and Kid Rock. Notable 1970s and 1980s rock music performers hailing from the Detroit area include the Stooges, the MC5, and the Romantics. The city is also regarded as the quintessential Rock 'n Roll town, due to its receptive and enthusiastic rock music audiences. until 1972, was home to some of the most popular recording acts in the world, including Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, and Detroit area natives Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross & the Supremes, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, The Four Tops, and Martha Reeves & the Vandellas. The label, founded in Detroit by Berry Gordy, Jr., and housed at the "Hitsville U.S.A." building on West Grand Ave. One of the highlights of Detroit's musical history was the success of Motown Records during the 1960s and early 1970s. Music has been the dominant feature of Detroit's nightlife since the late 1940s, and both city and suburbs teem with live music venues. Sister arena The Palace of Auburn Hills typically ranks in the top three, often ahead of such high-profile venues as New York's Madison Square Garden. 1 summer concert venue in the United States in both attendance and box office gross, according to Pollstar and Billboard magazines. In 2004, as in most previous years, DTE Energy Music Theater in nearby Clarkston, Michigan was the No. Within the entertainment industry, Detroit is widely regarded as one the country's strongest markets—perhaps the
strongest in per capita terms—particularly in live music and theater. Detroit is sometimes called Murda-Town or The D by locals, notably those within the hip-hop community. Detroit sits atop a large salt mine[1] (http://info.detnews.com/history/story/index.cfm?id=17&category=business). Clair (northernmost) and Lake Erie. In the satellite photograph [left], the two large bodies of water are Lake St. The total area is 2.92% water. 359.4 km² (138.8 mi²) of it is land and 10.8 km² (4.2 mi²) of it is water. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 370.2 km² (142.9 mi²). Detroit completely encircles the cities of Hamtramck and Highland Park. It lies north of Windsor, Ontario—Detroiters sometimes quip that Canada is "our neighbor to the south." Detroit features two public border crossings, the Ambassador Bridge and Detroit-Windsor Tunnel, with a railroad tunnel also connecting the two countries. Clair, in southeastern Michigan. Detroit is located on the north bank of the Detroit River, between Lake Erie and Lake St. Many downtown centers draw partons and host activities; Greektown, Eastern Market and the Michigan State Fairgrounds and the new Campus Martius Park. Significant landmarks such as the Fox Theater and the Gem Theater have been restored and now host concerts, musicals and plays. The 2004 opening of the Compuware Center gave downtown Detroit its first significant new office building in a decade. In 2000, Comerica Park replaced historic Tiger Stadium as the home of the Detroit Tigers—a move that brought some controversy—and Ford Field (2002) brought football's Detroit Lions back into Detroit from suburban Pontiac. In 1996 a state referendum paved the way for three Detroit casinos—MGM Detroit, Motor City Casino and Greektown Casino—with the goal of increasing tourism and stemming the flow of gambling dollars to nearby Windsor, Ontario. "Renaissance" has been a perennial buzzword among generations of city leaders, particularly during the construction and completion of the Renaissance Center, but it was not until the 1990s that Detroit enjoyed something of a bona fide revival, much of it centered downtown. Though those figures have decreased in recent years, the crime rate remains high. During the latter half of the twentieth century, Detroit's crime figures were often among the highest in the country. Recent urban renewal efforts have led to the demolition or renovation of several abandoned skyscrapers and large buildings, the razing of old houses for new housing developments, and an expedited process to remove abandoned homes near schools. Large numbers of buildings and homes were abandoned, with many remaining for years in states of decay. The city's population has plummeted since 1950 as residents have moved to the suburbs, particularly following the 12th Street Riot in 1967. Detroit has endured a painful decline during the past several decades, and is often held up as a symbol of Rust Belt urban blight. The labor activism established during those years, which brought fame and notoriety to hometown union leaders such as Jimmy Hoffa and Walter Reuther, remains a key feature on the city's cultural and political landscape. With the factories came high-profile labor strife, climaxing in the 1930s as the United Auto Workers initiated bitter battles with Detroit's auto manufacturers. Durant, the Dodge brothers and Louis Chevrolet, solidified Detroit's status as the world's car capital, and the blossoming industry spurred the city's spectacular growth during the first half of the 20th century. Ford's manufacturing innovations as well as significant contributions from many other automotive pioneers such as William C. A thriving carriage trade set the stage for the work of Henry Ford, who in 1899 built his first automobile factory in Highland Park, an independent city within Detroit. The city grew steadily during the 1830s, and subsequent decades saw substantial growth in the shipping, shipbuilding and manufacturing industries. Situated strategically on a strait along the Great Lakes waterway, Detroit emerged as a key transportation center. Detroit was incorporated as a city in 1815. William Henry Harrison in 1813. Though Detroit fell to the British for a short time during the War of 1812 (see: Battle of Detroit), it was recaptured by Gen. In 1796 Detroit and its surrounding areas passed to the United States, and from 1805 to 1847 the town was the territorial and state capitol of Michigan. The British gained control of the area in 1760 and thwarted an Indian attack three years later during Pontiac's Rebellion. Clair and Erie. Originally the settlement was called Fort Pontchartrain du Détroit after the comte de Pontchartrain, minister of marine under Louis XIV and for the river that connects Lakes St. French officer Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac founded a fort and settlement at the site of Detroit in 1701. "Detroit" is sometimes used as shorthand for the Metro Detroit region, which is also unofficially referred to as "Southeast Michigan." Residents are generally known as "Detroiters.". Detroit is the United States' 10th most populous city, with 951,000 residents in 2000, according to United States Census Bureau. The Interstate 75 corridor running through Oakland County has been nicknamed by civic leaders as Automation Alley. "River of the Strait" — and across from the Canadian city of Windsor, Ontario, the city is the seat of Wayne County and the center of a tri-county industrial zone (including Oakland and Macomb counties) that is among the most significant in the American Rust Belt. Located along the Detroit River — French: Rivière du Détroit, i.e. Established in 1701 by
French fur traders, today it is best known as the world's automotive center and an important music capital — legacies
celebrated by the city's two familiar nicknames, Motor City and Motown. Toyota, Japan. Nassau, Bahamas. Minsk, Belarus. Kitwe, Zambia. Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Chongqing, People's Republic of China. Willow Run Airport (YIP). Young International Airport (DET), no current commercial passenger service, also formerly known as Detroit City Airport. Coleman A. Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County International Airport (DTW), the Detroit area's principal airport is located in nearby Romulus, Michigan and is a hub for Northwest Airlines and Spirit Airlines. 2006 MISL expansion franchise. Detroit Demolition, National Women's Football Association. Detroit Shock, Women's National Basketball Association. Detroit Red Wings, National Hockey League. Detroit Pistons, NBA (although the name holds, the Pistons play in suburban Auburn Hills). Detroit Lions, National Football League. Detroit Tigers, Major League Baseball. Wayne County Community College. Sacred Heart Major Seminary. College for Creative Studies. Lewis College of Business. Marygrove College. Wayne State University. University of Detroit Mercy. Assult on Precinct 13 (2004). Home Improvement (TV) (1991-99). Tiger Town (TV) (1983). Scarecrow (1973). RoboCop (1987) and sequels. Presumed Innocent (1990). Hoffa, (1992). The Crow (1994). Beverly Hills Cop (1984). 8 Mile (2002). Harold Robbins, The Betsy 1971. Joyce Carol Oates, Them 1968. Elmore Leonard, City Primeval: Detroit at High Noon 1980. Kienzle, The Rosary Murders 1979. William X. Arthur Hailey, Wheels 1971. Jeffrey Eugenides, The Virgin Suicides 1993 and Middlesex 2002. Jim Ray Daniels, Detroit Tales 2003. Harriette Arnow, The Dollmaker 1954. America's Thanksgiving Parade (Thanksgiving). Woodward Dream Cruise (August). Concert of Colors diverse music festival (Summer). Ford Detroit International Jazz Festival (September). Detroit Thunder Fest hydroplane race (July). Comerica Tastefest (July). Windsor-Detroit International Freedom Festival (June–July). DEMF/Movement/Fuse-In electronic music festival (May). Downtown Hoedown country music festival (May). North American International Auto Show (January). |