Detroit is the largest city in the state of Michigan. It is a major port city located north of Windsor, Ontario. The city’s name comes from the Detroit River.

Detroit is the largest city in the state of Michigan. It is a major port city located north of Windsor, Ontario. The city’s name comes from the Detroit River. Detroit was founded in 1701 by Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac, a Frenchman who wanted to establish a major trade post. For almost a hundred years the city changed hands first to the British, and finally to the Americans. It passed to the United States under the Jay Treaty in 1796. The Jay Treaty was actually signed in November 1794, but was finally put into effect in 1796. This treaty prevented war between Great Britain and the United States, and it solved many issues left over from the American Revolution. Furthermore, the Jay Treaty was the beginning of a peaceful trade midst of the French Revolutionary Wars. From 1805 to 1847 Detroit was the capital of Michigan. In 1812 Detroit fell again into British hands, but was recaptured by the United States in 1813. Finally, in 1815 it was incorporated as a city.
 
From the 1870s to 1890s Detroit had its Gilded Age, when many mansions and buildings arose. The city had remarkable architecture. Due to its location along the Great Lakes waterway, Detroit became a transportation center. Since the 1830s the city has grown steadily with the rise of shipbuilding, shipping, and manufacturing industries. In 1896 Henry Ford built his first automobile, and in 1904 the Ford Motor Company manufacturing industries was created. The Ford manufacturing and some others like the Dodge brothers turned Detroit into the world’s automotive capital. During the first half of the twentieth century the industry drew many new residents, mostly workers from the south. In 1940 there was the construction of the world’s first urban depressed freeway.

 

The city faced a crucial period when during World War II thousands of workers migrated to the city to work in the war industries and housing was a real problem. Racial tension was growing in the city and in 1943 a riot erupted. The percentage of Black citizens increased rapidly and whites began to leave the city. In 1973 the first black mayor, Coleman Young, was elected. There was a gasoline crisis between 1973 and 1979, which affected the automotive industry. There were not many high-paying manufacturing jobs and drug-related violence and property crimes rose. In 1980 Detroit hosted the Republican National Convention which nominated Ronald Reagan for president of the United States. In the 1990s the city began to experience a recovery. Casinos and stadiums were constructed. In 2005 the city hosted the MLB- All Star Game and in 2006 the Super Bowl XL. Detroit is now a beautiful city that holds itself through tourism and economic activity.
    

Today, the city has a total area of 143.0 square miles. From these 143 square miles 138.8 square miles is land and 4.2 square miles is water. Detroit has a continental climate. Winters are really cold, temperatures may drop to 10˚F (-12˚C) at night. Summers are very hot, sometimes temperatures are above 90˚F (32˚C).
    

In 2000 the population was said to be of about 951,270 people. 336, 428 households were recorded and an approximate of 218, 341 families were said to be residing in the city. Later on, in 2006, the population was estimated to be 871, 121, which clearly showed a decline. In 2000, Detroit’s population was composed of 82.70% African American, 12.26 white, 0.33% Native American, 0.97% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 2.54% other races, and 2. 32% from two or more races. The records show that 4.96% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race. The city posses a  broad distribution, since 31.1% of the population is under the age of 18, 9.7% are from 18 to 24, 29.5% are from 25 to 44, 19.3% are from 45 to 64, and 10.4% are 65 years old or older. The median age is 31 years old. The median household income is of approximate     $29, 526 and the median income for a family is of $33, 853.

Due to its closeness to Canada and other factors Detroit is an important transportation center. The city has three international border crossings, Detroit –Windsor Tunnel, Ambassador Bridge and Michigan Central Railway Tunnel, which links the city to Windsor, Ontario. The Ambassador Bridge is one of the busiest border crossings, given that it carries 27% of the total trade between the U.S. and Canada. The city has two major airports, Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport and Coleman A. Young International Airport.
    

Detroit has two major daily newspapers, The Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News. Detroit has excellent universities including the University of Detroit Mercy and Wayne State University. The Detroit’s Public Schools district is the largest in Michigan, given that it has 220 schools. The city also has fabulous museums which are located in the historic cultural center neighborhood. Some of the museums are the Detroit Institute of Arts, The Detroit Historical Museum, Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, the Detroit Science Center, and Motown Historical Museum.

 

Since the late 1940s live music has been one of the most attractive entertainments of the city. In the metropolitan area we can find two of the top live music locations in the United States: The DTE Energy Music Theatre and The Palace of Auburn Hills. Annually, The DTE Energy Music Theatre has ranked as one of the top outdoor concert locations in the United States, and The Palace is a sports and entertainment location that has hosted uncountable number of concerts and exclusive events since it opened in 1988. The Detroit Theater District is the second largest of the United States, after Manhattan’s Broadway. The district possesses extraordinary locations, like the Fox Theatre and the Detroit Opera House. In addition, the city has exceptional music events, including the Ford Detroit International Jazz Festival, which is held every year during Labor Day Weekend, and the Detroit Electronic Music Festival, held each Memorial Day Weekend. Since Detroit is the world’s traditional automotive center, the city hosts the North America International Auto Show. The city is also one of the 13 American metropolitan areas that are home to professional teams who represent the four main sports in North America.

 

Detroit is an exclusive and fabulous city with an amazing background and incredible entertainment, so we invite you to come and discover yourself the marvelous things that Detroit has to offer.