Detroit

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What is Detroit?

Detroit is a city in the state of Michigan, USA.

The most populous city in the state of Michigan.

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Timeline

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Boom

-1900-1930: rapid urbanisation with population growth of 0.3 to 1.5 million approximately. Between these years, migrants came from all over the US, in particualr the southern states where blacks came for better employment oppurtunities - 'The Great Migration'.  

-1903, the founding of the Ford company prompted this migration.

-1908 - General Motors also prompted this migration.

-1925, Chrysler as well.

-In 1913, Ford pioneered its assembly-line production.

-By the mid-twentieth century, the "Big Three" auto firms (Ford, General Motors and Chrysler) were all based in metropolitan Detroit. This meant that 1 in every 6 working Americans was employed by the automobile industry. Workers for the automobile industry came from all over, but particularly black African Americans who wanted to escape the racial persecution experienced by the KKK. 

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Decline

-1950, Detroit fell into decline both in terms of its population and economic prosperity.

This is because there had been a globa lshift in manufacture that saw car manufacturing collapse in a wave of deindustrialisation. 

-1950s - 'white flight'

-1967 - the race riots were occuring, serving to increase the divide between the white and growing black population. 

-1970 - 'Murder Capital of the USA'

-1973, there was an oil crisis which lead to drivers buying vehicles with greater fuel economy from competitors such as Honda and Nissan - as they produced more desirable models than the gas guzzles produced in Detroit.

The oil crisis (1973) lead to the local government cutting taxes for its citizens, meaning less investment in the area. This made Detroit run-down and unattractiveto potential investors. More people left the city.

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Detriot: In The Present

  • There has been a wave of gentrification and surge in Detroit tech, the arts, in design and in independent businesses.
  • Low overhead costs and available office spaces have created welcoming turf for a new generation of entrepreneurs in the city.
  • Twitter & uber = HQ in Detroit due to low rents and ample office space.
  • According to recent statistics, Detroit growing faster than Silocon Valley.
  • TechTown is based in Detroit - a business accelerator and hub of innovation.
  • All this has contributed to Detroit's new sense of place - a centre of innovation, oppurtunity and affordable living. Can be seen as a 'city of oppurtunities' due to its varied and accesible economic base.
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