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| County | Wayne County, Michigan | |||||
| Area - Total - Water | 370.2 km² (142.9 mi²) 10.8 km² (4.2 mi²) 2.92% | |||||
| Population |
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| Time zone | Eastern: UTC-5 | |||||
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Latitude
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42°23' N | |||||
Detroit is a city located in Wayne County in the state of Michigan, in the Midwest region of the United States. In the 2003 U.S. Census estimate , the city had a total population of 911,000, down from 951,270 in the 2000 census, but is still the tenth largest city in the country. It is the anchor of Metro Detroit, the eighth largest metropolitan area in the United States with 5.5 million people.
Located between Lake St. Clair and Lake Erie, it is the seat of Wayne County. Detroit and its suburbs are the home of the modern American automobile industry, the Big Three companies. General Motors is based in Detroit, Ford Motor Company is based in nearby Dearborn and one of the two world headquarters for DaimlerChrysler is in Auburn Hills (the other is in Stuttgart, Germany). The Detroit metro area is also home to two national pizza chains, and nearby Troy is home to Kmart. Detroit is also known for its musical heritage as it was the birthplace of Motown and has been highly influential in the origins of punk and techno music. Detroit has several sister cities including Toyota, Japan; Minsk, Belarus; Chongqing, People's Republic of China; Nassau, Bahamas and Kitwe, Zambia.
Long a symbol of rust belt urban blight, Detroit has endured a painful decline over several decades. The city's population fell to half its peak and large numbers of buildings and homes were abandoned. Devil's Night, on the night before Halloween saw large numbers of arsons every year, often in abandoned houses. The city's crime rate led the nation. During recent urban renewal, several abandoned skyscrapers and large buildings were demolished or renovated, large numbers of old houses were torn down for new housing developments and an expedited procedure was established to remove abandoned homes near schools. The Angel's Night campaign, which brings out thousands of volunteers to patrol the streets on the days around Halloween, has ended Devil's Night arson. While Detroit's rate of violent and property crime has fallen recently, the numbers are still among the highest in the country as is the murder rate, which is inextricably tied to the city's drug trade. The Detroit Police Department, after numerous scandals and court decisions, was being reorganized in 2004 under supervision of the FBI. Large numbers of abandoned buildings still remain in numerous blighted areas. As the city prepares to host a number of major events in coming years, including the 2005 Baseball All-Star Game and Super Bowl XL in 2006, it faces the challenge of cleaning up and improving its image for an international audience.
Detroit is located on the north bank of the Detroit River, in southeastern Michigan. It lies north of Windsor, Ontario, leading to the saying in Detroit that Canadians are "our neighbor to the south". Two border crossings exist: the Ambassador Bridge and the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel. A railroad tunnel also connects 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, 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.
Major parks include Belle Isle, Palmer Park, Rouge Park, Chene Park. Other city recreational facilities include municipal golf courses (William Rogell, Rouge, Belle Isle, Palmer Park), Northwest Activities Center, Detroit Zoo, Belle Isle Zoo, Belle Isle Aquarium. Cultural centers include Detroit Institute of Arts, Museum of African American History, Detroit Science Center, Detroit Historical Museum, Motown Historical Museum, Tuskegee Airmen Museum, Historic Fort Wayne, Dossin Great Lakes Museum, and the Belle Isle Conservatory.
Detroit is home to the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and the Detroit Opera House.
Detroit is said to be home to the Nain Rouge, the red dwarf who is said to both attack people and more importantly be a harbinger of doom for the city.
Current and historic neighborhoods in Detroit include: Black Bottom, Corktown, Chaldean Town, Mexicantown, Poletown, Greektown, Indian Village, New Center, Old Redford, Palmer Woods, Rosedale Park, Warrendale, Springwells, and census2 of 2000, there are 951,270 people, 336,428 households, and 218,341 families residing in the city. The population density is 2,646.7/km² (6,855.1/mi²). There are 375,096 housing units at an average density of 1,043.6/km² (2,703.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 12.26% White, 81.55% African American, 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 people living in poverty, 34.5% are under the age of 18 and 18.6% are 65 or older.
Major industries and products include motor vehicles, 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.
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; earlier mayors are listed here.
The Detroit International Marathon course crosses the border into Canada on the Ambassador Bridge and returns to America through a tunnel.
On December 13, 2003 a world record was set when the largest crowd in basketball history (amateur or professional) packed the Lions' home stadium, Ford Field, to watch Michigan State University play the University of Kentucky. Kentucky won 79-74 in front of 78,129 fans.
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:
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