Detroit, Michigan

History

:Main article: History of Detroit, Michigan

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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 Louis Phélypeaux, 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.

Related Topics:
French - Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac - 1701 - Louis Phélypeaux - Comte de Pontchartrain - Louis XIV - Lakes St. Clair - Erie - British - 1760 - Pontiac's Rebellion - 1796 - United States - 1805 - 1847 - Michigan - British - War of 1812 - Battle of Detroit - William Henry Harrison - 1813 - 1815

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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 1896 built his first automobile. Ford's first plant was a rented workshop on Mack Avenue in Detroit; this was soon outgrown, and the first factory built and owned by Ford was constructed in 1904 on Piquette Avenue. The famous Model T Ford was conceived in this plant. By 1909, the Model T's success outstripped the Piquette plant's capabilities, and production was moved to 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.

Related Topics:
Great Lakes - 1830s - Henry Ford - 1896 - Automobile - 1904 - 1909 - Highland Park - William C. Durant - Dodge - Louis Chevrolet

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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.

Related Topics:
1930s - United Auto Workers - Jimmy Hoffa - Walter Reuther

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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 the 1950s 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.

Related Topics:
Rust Belt - 1950s - 12th Street Riot - 1967

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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.

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"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. Nevertheless, it should be noted that one of the city's high schools is named Renaissance High School. 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.

Related Topics:
Renaissance Center - 1990s - Renaissance High School - 1996 - MGM Detroit - Motor City Casino - Greektown Casino - Windsor, Ontario

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In 2000, Comerica Park replaced historic Tiger Stadium as the home of the Detroit Tigers—a move that brought some controversy—and in 2002, Ford Field 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 Theatre, Detroit Opera House and the Gem Theater have been restored and now host concerts, musicals, and plays. Many downtown centers such as Greektown, Eastern Market, the Michigan State Fairgrounds, and the new Campus Martius Park draw partons and host activities.

Related Topics:
2000 - Comerica Park - Tiger Stadium - Detroit Tigers - 2002 - Ford Field - Football's - Detroit Lions - Pontiac - 2004 - Compuware Center - Fox Theatre - Detroit Opera House - Campus Martius Park

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