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Detroit
From Outcyclopedia, the free and queer encyclopedia. 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 along the Detroit River 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, Germanya). The Detroit metro area is also home to Domino's Pizza and Little Ceasar's, Inc. (two national pizza chains), and nearby Troy is home to Kmart Corporation. 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. Geography:
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.
Detroit is notable for its 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.
Detroit sits atop a large salt mine.
History:
Founding and early history:
Detroit was founded in 1701 by Antoine de Lamothe Cadillac, with his lieutenant Alphonse de Tonty and a company of 100 men, as a trading post on the Detroit River under orders from the French King Louis XIV. They named it Fort Pontchartrain du Détroit at the present site of Detroit, with détroit being the French for strait and Pontchartrain being the name of the Count of Pontchartrain, the Royal Minister of Marine. Ste. Anne de Detroit Catholic Church was the first building built in Detroit, started within two days of Cadillac's landing. In 1760 Major Robert Rogers and a group of his Roger's Rangers took formal command of Fort Detroit in the name of Great Britain after the French defeat in the French and Indian War. Chief Pontiac besieged Detroit during Pontiac's Rebellion in 1763.
American control over Detroit was established in 1796, 13 years after it was assigned by treaty to the United States at the end of the American Revolutionary War. On June 11, 1805, a fire burned virtually the entire city. The city's motto: Speramus meliora; resurget cineribus, "We hope for better things, it will rise from the ashes," dates from this event. On August 16, 1812, Detroit surrendered without firing a shot to the British army under General Isaac Brock in the War of 1812. In September, 1813 the British retreat from Detroit served as a base for the American invasion of Canada. Detroit was formally incorporated as a city in 1815 and was the capital of Michigan from 1837 to 1847. The Patriot War of 1837 saw small bands of self-proclaimed "Patriots," some operating out of Detroit, attempt another invasion of Canada. The US Civil War saw an anti-draft and race riot similar to those occuring in New York and other Northern cities rage in Detroit in 1863. In 1890, the reforming mayor Hazen Pingree established vegetable gardens for the poor which came to be called Pingree's Potato Patches.
Twentieth century
In 1903 the Ford Motor Company was founded by Henry Ford in Detroit, bringing new growth to the city. Construction of the Ambassador Bridge was completed in 1929, and on the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel in 1930. Both structures link Detroit to the city of Windsor, Ontario. Competition by black and white residents for wartime factory jobs spurred race riots in 1943, resulting in 34 deaths. In 1950, Detroit's population reached its height at 1.85 million.
The 1960s and 1970s saw both great social tensions and social change in the city. Jerome Cavanagh became mayor in 1962 and inaugurated a series of reforms. The Great March to Freedom was held here in 1963. On July 23, 1967 the 12th Street Riot, one of the worst riots in United States history, began on 12th Street in the predominantly African American inner city (43 killed, 342 injured and ~1,400 buildings burned). In 1968 the "Focus: Hope" project was founded by Fr. William Cunningham. Coleman Young was elected Detroit's first Black mayor, a position he held for 20 years, in 1973. On November 5, 1992 Black motorist Malice Green was beaten to death by policemen Larry Nevers and Walter Budzyn during a struggle. The officers were later convicted and sentenced to prison.
In November of 1996 Michigan voters voted to allow the operation of three casinos in the City of Detroit. The year 1999 saw the Detroit Tigers play their final baseball game in classic Tiger Stadium, which had opened in 1912. The team relocated to new Comerica Park downtown the following year. The status of Tiger Stadium remains uncertain. In 2002 the Detroit Lions football team returned to downtown Detroit after a 27-year absence to state-of-the-art Ford Field, located adjacent to Comerica Park.
Local LGBT community:
The Triangle Foundation and Affirmations are local organizations which provide referrals and support for members of the GLBT community. Local gay publications include Cruise and Between the Lines. Motor City Pride, the main pride event, is held in the suburb of Ferndale. Hotter Than July is an annual pride event organized by Detroit Gay Black Pride, Inc., and is the oldest such event for people of color in the Midwest. Gay bars and dance clubs in Detroit include Adam's Apple, The Back Pocket, Bambi's Bottoms Up, Club Flamingo, Club Triangle, Crow Bar, Diamond Jim's Saloon, Numbers, Off Broadway, Sugarbaker's, The Rainbow Room, and The Male Box. Members of the leather/levi community can socialiize at the Detroit Eagle, while drag shows and/or male dancers can be watched at Gigi's and Club Gold Coast. The city's oldest gay nightclub is Menjo's, in operation for over 26 years. TNT Healthclub and The Body Zone are the local bathhouses. HIV services and counseling are available through both Wellness House and Men of Color.
Culture:
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.
Folklore:
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.
Neighborhoods:
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 Del Ray.
Demographics:
As of the census 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.
Economy:
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.
Law and government:
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.
Sports:
Detroit's professional sports teams are: Detroit Red Wings (National Hockey League), Detroit Tigers (Major_League_Baseball), Detroit Lions (National_Football_League), Detroit Shock (Women's National Basketball Association, Detroit Pistons (National Basketball_Association>, Detroit Rockers (Major Indoor Soccer League), and Detroit Demolition (National Women's Football Association).
The Detroit International Marathon course crosses the border into Canada on the Ambassador Bridge and returns to America through The Detroit-Windsor 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.
Airports:
Detroit has two airports, the Detroit City Airport, for which there is no current commercial passenger service, and the Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, located in Romulus, Michigan.
Festivals:
Festival events in Detroit include: Windsor-Detroit International Freedom Festival, Detroit Electronic Music Festival, Downtown Hoedown (free country music festival), Ford Detroit International Jazz Festival, Detroit Thunder Fest (hydroplane race), Woodward Avenue Dream Cruise (officially in Detroit's suburbs). and North American International Auto Show.
Notable persons in LGBT history who were born or lived in Detroit:
External links:
City of Detroit official website
Between the Lines/Pride Source
Hotter Than July/Detroit Gay Black Pride, Inc.
Detroit Synergy - Grassroots nonprofit group connecting Detroiters to their city
Entry revised 5 December, 2004. This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License |
