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| official_name = Detroit, Michigan | nickname = Motor City, Motown, Hockey Town | motto = Speramus Meliora; Resurget Cineribus" ( Latin for, "We Hope For Better Things; It Shall Rise From the Ashes") | image_skyline = DetroitSkyline.jpg | image_flag = Detroit flag.png | image_seal = Detroit Seal.png | image_map = Detroit_Wayne.png | map_caption = Location in Wayne County , Michigan | subdivision_type = Country State County | subdivision_name = United States Michigan Wayne County | leader_title = Mayor | leader_name = Kwame Kilpatrick (D) | | area_magnitude = 1 E8 | area_total = 142.9 mile² 370.2 | area_land = 138.8 mile² 359.4 | area_water = 4.2 mile² 10.8 | population_as_of = 2004 | population_total = 900,198 | population_metro = 4,493,165 | population_density = 6,856/mile² 2,647 | timezone = EST | utc_offset = -5 | timezone_DST = EDT | utc_offset_DST = -4 | latd = 42 | latm = 19 | lats = 53.76 | latNS = N | longd = 83 | longm = 2 | longs = 51 | longEW = W | elevation = 623 ft 190 | website = www.ci.detroit.mi.us | footnotes = }} Detroit () 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 Trade rs. 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 Music - legacies celebrated by the city's two familiar nicknames: ''"Motor City"'' and ''"Motown."'' As of 2004, Detroit ranked as the United States' 11th Most Populous City with 900,198 residents, half the peak population it boasted in the 1950s. Detroit leads the nation in terms of declining urban population and its 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 as well as an antiquated Economy . In the 1990s and 2000s the city experienced somewhat of a revival, with the construction of the Compuware headquarters and three gambling Casino s, amid budget shortfalls and cuts in city services. Residents are generally known as "Detroiters." "Detroit" is also sometimes used as shorthand for the Metro Detroit region, which is also unofficially referred to as "Southeast Michigan." History See Also: History of Detroit, Michigan French officer Antoine De La Mothe Cadillac founded a fort and settlement at Detroit called '' Fort Pontchartrain D'Étroit '' in 1701. The British gained control of the area in 1760 following the French And Indian War . Three years later during Pontiac's Rebellion an unsuccessful Siege Of Fort Detroit occurred with Native Americans led primarily by Chief Pontiac , an Ottawa war leader. In 1796, Detroit passed to the United States under the Jay Treaty . Nine years later, in 1805, fire destroyed most of the city, with a river warehouse and brick chimneys of the wooden homes being the sole structures to survive. Ste. Anne of Detroit ''St. Anne Church'' (accessed April 29, 2006). 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 , was recaptured by the United States in 1813 and incorporated as a city in 1815. Prior to the American Civil War , the city's access to the Canadian border made it a key stop along the Underground Railroad .Blockson, Charles and Chase, Henry (4/05). Detroit - Follow the North Star, The Guiding Light of the Underground Railroad . ''American Visions''. Strategically located along the , the river was a major conduit for Canadian Spirits , organized in large part by the notorious Purple Gang . How Prohibition made Detroit a bootlegger's dream town . ''Detroit News''. With the factories came high-profile labor strife, climaxing in the 1930s as the that led to Detroit's nickname as the ''Arsenal of Democracy''.Nolan, Jenny (2003). Willow Run and the Arsenal of Democracy . ''Detroit News'' .]] Detroit has endured a painful decline since the 1950s, and is often held up as a symbol of Rust Belt Urban Blight . The 12th Street Riot in 1967 and Court-ordered Busing accelerated " White Flight " from the city. Large numbers of buildings and homes were abandoned, with many remaining for years in states of decay. The percentage of black residents increased rapidly and the first black mayor, Coleman Young , was elected in 1973. Young's style during his record four terms in office was not well received by many whites. Detroit's 'great warrior,' Coleman Young, dies (November 29, 1997) . ''CNN.com''. The 1960s and 1970s saw the rise of Heroin and the introduction of a Crack Cocaine epidemic. Drug-related property crimes and violence among competing drug dealers rose and urban renewal efforts led to the razing of abandoned homes. Sizeable tracts have reverted back to nature to become a form of Urban Prairie with wild animals spotted migrating into the city. Wild Kingdom . ''Detroit Blog''. Accessed March 8, 2006. "Renaissance" has been a perennial buzzword among leaders since the 1967 riots, solidified with the construction of the gave downtown Detroit its first significant new office building in a decade. Geography and climate According to the and the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel has motor vehicle traffic and the Michigan Central Railway Tunnel has railroad access to and from Canada. Detroit completely encircles the cities of and Macomb counties. Cityscape Detroit buildings have eclectic architectural styles. Art Deco from the 1920s-1930s mingle with more modern structures in the downtown area near the riverfront and in the New Center adjacent to Wayne State University . While the downtown and New Center areas contain high rise buildings, the majority of the city consists of low rise structures and single-family homes. Many abandoned buildings and large tracts of empty land are scattered throughout the city, though several neighborhoods such as Greektown and Indian Village are generally prosperous and show very few signs of urban blight. A number of redevelopment projects, with Campus Martius Park in downtown being one of the most notable, have revitalized sections of the city. Since the 1990s, there are plans to redevelop the riverfront area from the Ambassador Bridge to Belle Isle with a combination of parks, residential buildings, and commercial areas. Climate Detroit and the rest of southeastern Michigan have a typically , 1988 , while the lowest recorded temperature was -17.0 °F (-27.0 °C) on January 19 , 1994 . Records and Averages - Detroit (2006) . ''Yahoo! Weather'' (accessed April 20, 2006). Demographics See Also: Neighborhoods and projects in Detroit, Michigan Overview French Colonial influence can be found in many place names (''Gratiot Avenue'', ''Beaubien Street'', ''Cadieux Road'', ''Chene Park''). 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. 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 area, over 80% within city limits. With the suburban outflux, Metro Detroit is among the nation's most racially segregated regions. Race Relations & Cultural Collaboration . ''New Detroit''. Accessed March 8, 2006. Metro Detroit's ethnic communities are diverse and include descendants of the French founders, as well as tickets, Hard Liquor , and snack foods). The southwest side of the city contains a small Chicano community in the area lately renamed " Mexicantown ." Up until the 1980s, there was a growing Gay presence in the Palmer Park area in the north of the city that migrated to the cities of Ferndale and Royal Oak after the community collapsed.Sharon Gittleman (1/12/06) Gay 'brain drain' . ''Pridesource.com'' Population As of the Census 2 of 2000, 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/km&2). There were 375,096 housing units at an average density of 2,703.0 people per square mi (1,043.6/km&2). The racial makeup of the city was 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 was Hispanic or Latino of any race. 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. 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. The population was 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 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 ," Literacy Volunteers of America-Detroit . ''United Way for Southeastern Michigan (accessed April 20, 2006)''. Some 72% of all Detroit children are born to single unwed mothers. Meeting on Supporting the Role of Fathers in Families - Statement of Travis Ballard (November 27, 1995) . ''National Congress for Fathers and Children'' Economy , headquarters of General Motors.]] Detroit and the surrounding region constitute a manufacturing powerhouse, most notably as home to the s and Pickup Truck s, 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.Woellert , Lorraine (3/3/01). Why Detroit May Swallow Some Bitter CAFE . ''Business Week''. covers the auto industry with Ford's chairman and CEO William Clay Ford, Jr. and its new greener line of automobiles.]] Greater competition from foreign brands and more inexpensive labor in other regions of the world have led to a steady decline of manufacturing jobs in the region. In the early 21st century, General Motors and Ford's declining North American market share, coupled with losses and bankruptcy filings by the area's two largest auto parts manufacturers, Delphi and Visteon , have exacerbated Detroit's economic situation. Another factor contributing to the habitability of the city has been historically high taxes, with many unable to afford the cost of citizenship entailed by levys on property and income.Josar, David (2005) Neighborhood rebirth stalls: High property taxes burden Detroit homeowners . ''Detroit News''. world headquarters, Detroit, Michigan at Campus Martius .]] In recent years, rising . Other and the national pizza chain Little Caesars . Casino Gaming also plays a major economic role, with Detroit currently the largest city in the United States with legalized gaming.Brunker, Mike (3/12/99) Detroit bets big on downtown casinos . ''MSNBC''. Law and government The city government is run by a mayor and city council elected on a nonpartisan ballot. Detroit has a " Strong Mayoral " system, with the mayor approving departmental appointments. The council approves budgets, and the mayor is not obligated to adhere to any earmarking. City ordinances must be approved by the council as well as larger contracts. Municipal Election s for mayor, city council and city clerk are held every year congruent to 1 Modulo 4 (meaning 1993, 1997, 2001, 2005, 2009).Ward, George E. (July 1993). Detroit Charter Revision - A Brief History . ''Citizens Research Council of Michigan'' (pdf file). Detroit's courts are all state-administered and elections are nonpartisan. The Circuit and Probate Courts for Wayne County are located in the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center in downtown Detroit. The city is also home to the 36th District Court, as well as the 1st District of the Michigan Court of Appeals' and the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.
The city consistently supports the Democratic Party in local and national elections. Suburb baiting is another common feature in Detroit politics. In his 1974 inaugural address, former Mayor Coleman Young told the the city's criminals to "hit Eight Mile Road " (the most prominent dividing line between Detroit and northern suburbs). When Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick found himself behind in the polls in the 2005 election, his campaign tried to draw attention to his opponent's, Freeman Hendrix , support in the suburbs. During one debate, Kilpatrick spoke of higher illegal drug use in the suburbs compared to Detroit.Associated Press (9/19/05). Mayor rekindles tensions between Detroit and suburbs . ''USA Today''. In the 2000s, Detroit has had to fight off legislative efforts to turn control of the city-owned Water and Sewer system to the suburbs. Wisely, John (10/25/05). Suburbs ramp up water system fight . ''The Detroit News''. The city also has cut its workforce and closed operations to avoid state-ordered receivership.Lin, Judy (4/28/05). Detroit triggers loan limit . ''The Detroit News''. Detroit has several Sister Cities , including Chongqing ( People's Republic Of China ), Dubai ( United Arab Emirates ), Kitwe ( Zambia ), Minsk ( Belarus ), Nassau, Bahamas , Toyota ( Japan ), and Turin ( Italy ). Online Directory: Michigan, USA (2006) . ''Sister Cities International'' (accessed April 20, 2006). See Also: List of mayors of Detroit, Michigan Crime An analysis of crime in downtown Detroit by the Michigan Metropolitan Information Center at Wayne State University found crime rates in the central city lower than rates for the entire nation, state and other large Michigan metro areas - and improving. Detroit also includes middle-class neighborhoods in which crime is less prevalent than in impoverished areas. Many predominantly White suburbs (though some include sizable African-American and Asian minorities) that boast much higher household income levels than Detroit are among the 25 safest cities in the United States with a population of 75,000 or above.Martindale, Mike (10-18-2005). Farmington Hills crime down . ''The Detroit News''. The city has faced hundreds of Arson s, 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 tens of thousands of volunteers to patrol the streets during Halloween week. The effort has reduced arson: there were 810 fires set in 1984 and this was reduced to 142 in 1996. Urban Community Intervention to Prevent Halloween Arson - Detroit, Michigan, 1985-1996 (4-11-1997) . ''CDC Wonder'' at aepo-xdv-www.epo.cdc.gov/wonder/prevguid/m0047208/m0047208.asp. Brutality and the failure to ensure the rights of suspects has caused problems within the Detroit Police Department. In 2004, following scandals and multiple adverse legal decisions, a court-ordered reorganization of the Detroit Police Department was implemented under the supervision of the Federal Bureau Of Investigation . Quarterly Status Report to the Independent Federal Monitor . ''Detroit Police Department'' Education Primary and secondary education See Also: Detroit Public Schools The city is served by the Detroit Public Schools (DPS) district, various Charter School s, and Private School s, with the Archdiocese Of Detroit running parochial Catholic schools.Kozlowski, Kim (2-27-2005). Catholic schools fight to keep doors open . ''The Detroit News''. Due to rapidly declining enrollment, Detroit Public Schools has projected closing 95 schools by 2009.MacDonald, Christine (11-23-2005). Detroit schools down by 10,000 . ''The Detroit News''. Detroit Public Schools has closed 29 schools,MacDonald, Christine (3-17-2006). Detroit schools lose 11,500 kids at a cost of $63M . ''The Detroit News''. and the state mandated deficit reduction plan calls for the closure of a total of 110 schools.Bukowski, Diane (2006). Where did the first billion go? . ''The Michigan Citizen''. In the early 1970s, the federal courts ordered Busing to desegregate the system, which helped to accelerate the White Flight that had been on-going within the city.Wolfe, Alan (6-21-1998). Enough Blame to Go Around . ''The New York Times'', through the Manhattan Institute at www.manhattan-institute.org/html/_nyt-enough_blame.htm As of 2004, Detroit schools were 91% African-American.Census 2000. School Segregation Data for the School District Area ''U.S. Census (accessed April 20, 2006)''. ''See also'' Detroit Public Schools Attendance Report . ''DPS Schools (accessed April 20, 2006)''. In the mid to late 1990s, the Michigan Legislature removed the locally elected board of education amid allegations of mismanagement and replaced it with a reform board appointed by the mayor and governor. The elected board of education returned following a city referendum in 2005. The first election of the new eleven member board of education occurred on November 8 , 2005 .LewAllen, Dave (8-3-2005). Detroiters Vote for New School Board . ''WXYZ.com''. Higher education Detroit has several universities and colleges within its borders. Wayne State University is an internationally renowned university with medical and law schools. Other institutes of higher education are College For Creative Studies , Lewis College Of Business , Marygrove College , University Of Detroit Mercy , and Wayne County Community College . The Detroit College Of Law , now affiliated with Michigan State University , was founded in the city in 1891 and remained there until 1997, when it relocated to East Lansing . Detroit was once the home of the University Of Michigan , which was founded in Detroit in 1817 but later moved to Ann Arbor in 1837. Culture Music has been the dominant feature of Detroit's nightlife since the late 1940s. The metropolitan area boasts two of the top live music venues in the United States: and the Detroit Opera House. Major theaters include the Fox Theatre , Masonic Temple Theatre , and the Fisher Theatre . Through the 1950s Detroit was a jazz center with stars of the era often came to Detroit's success during the 1960s and early 1970s, founded in Detroit by Berry Gordy, Jr. Also during the late 1960s, Detroiter Aretha Franklin became America's preeminent female Soul artist. In the late 1960s, Metro Detroit also spawned a high-energy rock scene, the precursors of the Punk Rock movement. The area is also generally accepted as the birthplace of the Techno movement. Detroit is more recently home to many prominent hip-hop artists such as Aaliyah and Eminem . There are several annual music events within the city, including the DEMF/Movement/Fuse-In electronic music festival, Ford Detroit International Jazz Festival , and the Concert Of Colors summer music festival. The automobile also plays a major role in Detroit's cultural life, with major events such as the North American International Auto Show and Woodward Dream Cruise occurring within the city. Due its close proximity to Canada, Detroit participates in the Windsor-Detroit International Freedom Festival , which features a fireworks display over the Detroit River and coincides with U.S. Independence Day and Canada Day . The America's Thanksgiving Parade, previously names the Hudson's Thanksgiving Day Parade, is one of the nation's largest and has been held continuously since 1924. Everyone Loves a Parade . ''The Parade Company''. Media The major daily Newspaper s serving Detroit are '' The Detroit Free Press '' and '' The Detroit News '', both Broadsheet publications that are published together under a Joint Operating Agreement . Other Detroit publications are weekly tabloids '' The Metro Times '' and ''Crain's Detroit Business''. Detroit is also home to the weekly '' Michigan Chronicle '', the state's largest African American owned newspaper, and the '' Michigan Citizen ''. The Detroit television market is the eleventh largest in the United States. Nielsen Media Research Local Universe Estimates (9/24/05) ''The Nielson Company''. Broadcast channels in Detroit include WJBK ( Fox ), WDIV-TV ( NBC ), WXYZ ( ABC ), and WWJ-TV ( CBS ). Other Metro Detroit television stations include WDWB ( The WB ), WKBD-TV ( UPN ), WPXD-TV ( Pax TV ) and WADL-TV . WTVS is the city's PBS station. Detroiters also receive broadcasts from CBET , the CBC Television affiliate in Windsor. Depending on location, some viewers can also receive other Canadian networks such as TVOntario , CTV , Global , A-Channel , Citytv , and SRC . Comcast has the one Cable Franchise so far granted by the city. Detroit has the ninth largest stations are WJR 760 (news-talk), WWJ 950 (news), and WDFN 1130 (sports). WDET 101.9 is the city's NPR station. WUOM 91.7 and WEMU 89.1 are also regional NPR affiliates. Windsor radio stations CIMX 88.7 and CBC 89.9 can also be heard in the Detroit area. Sites of interest Guardian Building is on the left]] Many Detroit 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 the Motown Historical Museum , Tuskegee Airmen Museum, Fort Wayne , Dossin Great Lakes Museum, and the Belle Isle Conservatory. 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. History of Eastern Market . ''Eastern Market Mechant's Association (accessed March 8, 2006).'' Major parks include that delivers to Freighter s on the Detroit River. America's Floating ZIP Code 48222 ''J.W. Wescott Homepage''. The most important civic sculpture in Detroit is the " 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.Sarah Karush, ''The Associated Press'' (2/23/04). Police arrest two men suspected of vandalizing Joe Louis statue . ''USA Today''. Sports .]] .]] See Also: U.S. cities with teams from four major sports Like many blue collar cities, Detroit is known for its avid fans, particularly basketball and hockey. Popularity in the latter sport has given the city the moniker of "Hockeytown." Detroit is home to professional teams representing the four major sports in North America. All but two play within the city of Detroit ( ( Detroit Tigers Baseball ), Ford Field ( Detroit Lions Football ), and Joe Louis Arena ( Detroit Red Wings Ice Hockey ). Another team based in the Detroit area is the MCFL Detroit Seminoles football team. 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. Detroit is home to the Gold Cup unlimited Hydroplane boat race, held annually on the Detroit River near Belle Isle. History . ''The Detroit APBA Gold Cup''. Detroit was also the former home of a round of the Formula One World Championship, which held a race on the Streets Of Downtown Detroit from 1982 until 1988, 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 until its final run in 2001. Track History . ''CART''. Comerica Park hosted the 2005 and the 2010 NCAA men's ice hockey Frozen Four . Frozen Four Dates and Sites (6/23/05) . ''National Collegiate Athletic Association''. Infrastructure Medicine Detroit is home to three major medical systems: the Detroit Medical Center (DMC), School of Medicine, the largest single-campus medical school in the United States. Webpage: About the School . ''Wayne State University School of Medicine'' (accessed April 20, 2006). Transportation Because of its proximity to Canada, industrial facilities, major highways, rail connections and international airport, Detroit has been an important transportation hub. There are three international border crossings at the Ambassador Bridge , Detroit-Windsor Tunnel and Michigan Central Railway Tunnel , linking Detroit to Windsor, Ontario . Some 35% of U.S. trade with Canada comes through Detroit.Crawford, Mark (12/04). NAFTA Border Towns . ''Area Development Online''. The Ambassador Bridge alone is the nation's busiest border crossing, carrying 25% of the total trade between the United States and Canada. Ambassador Bridge Crossing Summary (5/11/05) . ''U.S. Department of Transportation''. Detroit is the crossroads for three ( Edsel Ford Freeway), I-96 ( Jeffries Freeway) and I-75 (Fisher and Chrysler Freeways). I-696 ( Walter Reuther Freeway) serves the northern suburbs, while I-275 serves the western suburbs and I-375 is a short extension of the Chrysler Freeway. Other major routes are the John C. Lodge Freeway ( M-10 ), the Southfield Freeway (M-39) and the Davison Freeway (M-8). (DTW), the area's principal airport, is located in nearby Romulus and is a hub for Northwest Airlines and Spirit Airlines . Willow Run Airport , in far western Wayne County near Ypsilanti is a general aviation and cargo airport. Willow Run served as the primary manufacturing center for the B-24 Liberator during World War II . Mass Transit within the city functions within two separate spheres of influence. Bus services within the city are provided by the Detroit Department Of Transportation (DDOT), which terminates at the suburbs' edges. Service in the suburbs is provided by Suburban Mobility Authority For Regional Transportation (SMART). Combining the systems has been problematic and tainted by the racial politics that has affected all aspects of city-suburban relationships.Bagwell, Jennifer (12/22/99). Mass transit off track . ''Metro Times''. An also provides service to Detroit, operating its Wolverine service between Chicago, Illinois , and Pontiac . The current passenger facility north of downtown replaced the still standing but neglected Michigan Central Station , which was opened in 1913 and vacated in 1988. See also
Notes Further reading
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