Country | United States |
Population | 639111 |
Area | 142.89 sq mi (370.09 km2) |
Time Zone | UTC−5 (EST) |
Coordinates | 42.33143, -83.04575 |
Highest elevation | 656 ft (200 m) |
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City Description
Detroit, the most populous city in Michigan, serves as the largest U.S. city on the United States-Canada border and is the county seat of Wayne County. With a population of 639,111 as of the 2020 census, Detroit ranks as the 29th-most populous city in the United States. The city has seen a dramatic population decline from its peak of 1,849,568 in 1950, losing two-thirds of its residents by 2020.
The Metro Detroit area, home to 4.3 million people, is the second-largest in the Midwest after Chicago and the 14th-largest in the United States. Known for its rich cultural contributions in music, art, architecture, and design, Detroit also has a storied automotive history.
Founded in 1701 by Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac and Alphonse de Tonty as Fort Pontchartrain du Détroit, Detroit became a crucial industrial hub by the late 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly with the rise of the automotive industry. By 1920, it was the fourth-largest city in the nation, and the Detroit River became the world’s busiest commercial hub, facilitating over 65 million tons of shipping annually.
However, mid-20th century industrial restructuring, job losses in the auto industry, and suburbanization led to urban decay. This decline culminated in Detroit filing for bankruptcy in 2013, the largest U.S. city to do so, and successfully exiting bankruptcy in December 2014.
Detroit remains a key port on the Detroit River, connecting the Great Lakes system to the St. Lawrence Seaway. The city anchors the second-largest regional economy in the Midwest and is a pivotal center for the U.S. automotive industry, home to the “Big Three” automakers: General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis North America (Chrysler). Detroit Metropolitan Airport is a significant hub, and the city, along with Windsor in Canada, forms the second-busiest international crossing in North America.
The city’s diverse cultural heritage, particularly in music, has had a profound influence locally and internationally, giving rise to Motown, techno, and contributing to jazz, hip-hop, rock, and punk. Detroit’s rapid growth during its boom years left it with a unique stock of architectural monuments and historic places. Recent conservation efforts have revitalized many of these structures, including historic theaters, entertainment venues, high-rise buildings, new sports stadiums, and a revitalized riverfront.
Today, Detroit is an increasingly popular tourist destination, attracting 16 million visitors annually. In 2015, UNESCO named Detroit a “City of Design,” making it the first U.S. city to receive this designation.
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