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Detroit, located in southeast Michigan on the Detroit River between Lake Huron and Lake Erie, is the largest city in the state and the tenth-largest in the country, with around 1,000,000 residents and a metropolitan population 4 times that size. It is the oldest major city west of the original colonies and the only city in the US that allows you to travel south into Canada. Began as a fur-trading town in the 1700s, Detroit took full advantage of its prime geographical location in the 1800s, becoming a major shipping and manufacturing center. With an influx of workers from Europe and the American South, including many African Americans, Detroit was an industrial juggernaut in the early 1900s. During the two World Wars, Detroit was a leading supplier to the military. The birthplace of the automobile and the home of the "Big 3" (General Motors, Ford and Chrysler), Detroit remains the nucleus of the industry despite competition from Japan and Europe. One of the largest manufacturing cities in the country, Detroit is a leader in steel, fabricated-metal, chemicals, paper products, food and beverages. The health industry is also among the city's leading employers.
Perhaps more than any other city, Detroit has contributed great names in the music industry to America's ears. Detroit record producer Berry Gordy created the Motown sound in the 1960s, with legendary Detroit artists such as Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, the Supremes and the Temptations. Even aside from Motown, the seemingly endless list of Detroit musicians reads like a who's who in music, with John Lee Hooker, Aretha Franklin, Madonna, Bob Seger, George Clinton, Anita Baker, Wilson Pickett, Iggy Pop, Alice Cooper, Kid Rock and Eminem.
Music and cars dominate the cultural attractions in the Detroit area. The Motown Museum in the north of the city offers a memorable tribute to Berry Gordy and his influential stable of artists. The International Jazz Festival, held each September at Hart Plaza on the Detroit Riverfront, is the largest free jazz festival in North America, featuring 1000 musicians and over 100 performances. Just west of Detroit in Dearborn, the Henry Ford bills itself as "America's greatest history attraction," where you can watch automobiles being manufactured at the Ford Rouge Factory Tour, experience America's past in Greenfield Village, and see the latest films at an IMAX theatre. Just a half-hour away, the Silverdome in Pontiac produces many major concerts each year.
Detroit has a long sports history in all four major leagues. Baseball's Detroit Tigers play downtown at 40,000-seat, state-of-the-art Comerica Park, which has a Ferris wWheel and a carousel. Adjacent 65,000-seat Ford Field is the domed den of the NFL's Lions. The stadium also hosts national events such as the Super Bowl and NCAA Men's Final Four basketball. The NHL's Detroit Red Wings play at 20,000-seat Joe Louis Arena, which also features college tournaments such as the Great Lakes Invitational in December and the CCHA tournament in March. A half-hour drive northwest of the city, the 2,000-seat Palace at Auburn Hills hosts the NBA's Detroit Pistons, the WNBA's Shock, and Arena Football's Fury. Just 33 miles west of the city in Ann Arbor, the University of Michigan Wolverines play at 107,500-seat Michigan Stadium, the largest in the country. Another 45 miles west is East Lansing, home to the Michigan State University Spartans.
With easy access to water sports on the Great Lakes and Detroit River and skiing in dozens of nearby slopes, Detroit offers an endless array of outdoor activities.
A popular section of Detroit for the young and hip is along the riverfront. The Renaissance Center ("Ren Cen") is a 7-building, 73-story office and hotel complex with restaurants, shops and great views of the lakes. The Greektown neighborhood is another popular area, with places to grab ethnic foods, coffee and libations of all kinds. The downtown area near Comerica Park and Ford Field is another hotspot. A short drive to Ann Arbor ("A-squared" as they say in Michigan) will access a progressive city of 115,000 and a thriving college scene. Home to the University of Michigan's 35,000 students, the area is loaded with hip bars, coffee houses and places to hear live music. Detroit has three casinos within the city and another across the Canadian border in Windsor.
Comparing Detroit to similar size places nationwide (Peers) and to other places in Michigan (State):
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| Characteristic | Compared to Peers | Compared to State |
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| Characteristic | Compared to Peers | Compared to State |
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| People in Middle Class or Better | | |
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| College Educated Adults | |  |
| Characteristic | Compared to Peers | Compared to State |
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| Public Transportation Use | | |
| Walking and Biking to Work | |  |
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| Characteristic | Compared to Peers | Compared to State |
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| Affordability of Rents | | |
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| People Living Alone | |  |
| Studio & One-Bedroom Rentals | | |
| Housing Recently Built | | |
| Seasonal and Vacation Housing | | |
| Characteristic | Compared to Peers | Compared to State |
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| Low Property Crime | | |
| Low Violent Crime | | |
Detailed pages on related topics: Detroit colleges • Detroit travel • Detroit mortgages and property.
 | Detroit Careers Detroit career and employment information. |
 | Detroit Colleges Detroit colleges and trade schools. |
 | Detroit Hotels & Travel Detroit hotels, landmarks, tourism, transportation. |
 | Detroit Mortgage Detroit property, mortgage, and real estate. |
We've crunched the numbers to create PlaceMatch™, which compares thousands of cities and towns to find the places most similar to each.
Select a photo to view (Source):
Detroit (organ at Fort St. Presbyterian Church) between 1900 and 1915
Detroit (Penobscot Building) 1905
S.S. North Land (Detroit River scene) between 1900 and 1915
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