Transportation Directory - Detroit USA

Description: Detroit is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is the largest U.S. city on the United States–Canada border, and the seat of government of Wayne County. Detroit had a population of 639,111 at the 2020 census, making it the 29th-most populous city in the United States.

The Metro Detroit area, home to 4.3 million people, is the second-largest in the Midwest after the Chicago metropolitan area and the 14th-largest in the United States. A significant cultural center, Detroit is known for its contributions to music, art, architecture and design, in addition to its historical automotive background.

Population: 639,111

Demographics: According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Detroit was: Black or African American: 77.82%, White: 12.22%, Other race: 4.23%, Two or more races: 3.75%, Asian: 1.61%, Native American: 0.36%, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 0.01%.

History: Detroit is named after the Detroit River, connecting Lake Huron with Lake Erie. The name comes from the French word détroit meaning ‘strait’ as the city was situated on a narrow passage of water linking the two lakes. The river was known as le détroit du Lac Érié in French, which means ‘the strait of Lake Erie’. In the historical context, the strait included the St. Clair River, Lake St. Clair and the Detroit River. Paleo-Indians inhabited areas near Detroit as early as 11,000 years ago including the culture referred to as the Mound Builders.

The first Europeans did not penetrate into the region and reach the straits of Detroit until French missionaries and traders worked their way around the Iroquois League, with whom they were at war in the 1630s.

By 1773, after the addition of Anglo-American settlers, the population of Detroit was 1,400. By 1778, its population reached 2,144 and it was the third-largest city in what was known as the Province of Quebec since the British takeover of French colonies following their victory in the Seven Years’ War.

From 1805 to 1847, Detroit was the capital of Michigan as a territory and as a state. In 1903, Henry Ford founded the Ford Motor Company. Ford’s manufacturing—and those of automotive pioneers Horace and John Dodge, James and William Packard, and Walter Chrysler—established Detroit’s status in the early 20th century as the world’s automotive capital. Industrial mergers in the 1950s, especially in the automobile sector, increased oligopoly in the American auto industry. Detroit manufacturers such as Packard and Hudson merged into other companies and eventually disappeared.

At its peak population of 1,849,568, in the 1950 Census, the city was the fifth-largest in the United States. In November 1973, the city elected Coleman Young as its first black mayor. After taking office, Young emphasized increasing racial diversity in the police department, which was predominantly white. Young also worked to improve Detroit’s transportation system, but the tension between Young and his suburban counterparts over regional matters was problematic throughout his mayoral term.

Elevation: 200 m

Climate: Hot-summer humid continental climate. The average annual temperature in Detroit is 9 C (48 F), the average for July is 23 C (73 F), the average for January is -3 C (26 F).

Attractions: Detroit Institute of Arts, Motown Museum, The Guardian Building, Belle Isle Park, Greektown, Fox Theatre, Detroit Historical Museum

Airports: Detroit Metro Airport DTW, Willow Run Airport YIP

Distance To City Centre: 34 km

Commute Length: 30 min

Average Transportation Cost: 85 USD

Traffic Hours: 6 am – 10 am, 3 pm – 7 pm