Detroit is the largest city in the USA state of Michigan and the seat of Wayne County. Detroit is a major port city on the Detroit River, in the Midwest region of the United States. Located north of Windsor, Ontario, Detroit is the only major U.S. city that looks south to Canada. It was founded in 1701 by the Frenchman Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac. For hundreds of years, the area was so important to commerce between Native American tribes that only traders were allowed into the territory.
Detroit wouldn't begin to shape into its current form until roughly three centuries ago. That's when French explorer Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac landed on the banks of the Detroit River and established a fort in 1701. Detroit was incorporated as a city in 1815.
Detroit has a temperate climate with warm, humid summers and very cold winters. Mid-summer temperatures can rise as high as 90°F (32°C), while in the coldest month, January, the mercury usually stays well below freezing point. Rainfall is spread fairly evenly over the year with a few inches being recorded each month. Snow usually falls between November and April.
Automobile manufacturing continues to be a primary force in the Detroit economy. While manufacturing has globalized, virtually all of the key engineering, administrative, and testing functions of the Big Three take place in the Detroit area. Most of the world's suppliers of auto parts, such as Delphi and Guardian Industries are also located in Detroit, and advertising firms such as Campbell-Ewald, BBDO, and McCann-Erickson, do millions of dollars in annual business with the large automakers. There is also a budding industry growing up around firms researching hydrogen fuel cells and other non-petroleum power generating technologies that may drive the automobiles of the future. Metropolitan Detroit is the world headquarters for General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co., DaimlerChrysler Corp. and Volkswagen of America.
There is not much in the way of public transport in Detroit, and the Motor City is still geared resolutely towards the car. Driving is not too challenging and parking is relatively easy to find, but rush hours should be avoided. The People Mover is an elevated monorail that provides a quick and easy way to get around most of the downtown area, while DOT buses operate a meagre inner-city service and the SMART buses serve the suburbs, but service is sparse on weekends. Taxis are a convenient form of transport and can easily be found or ordered by phone.
Wayne State University is Detroit's largest institution of higher education and Michigan's only urban research university. More than 350 major courses of study are offered; particularly strong programs are offered in the college of engineering and the school of fine and performing arts, which includes a nationally recognized drama program. The University of Detroit-Mercy, a Roman Catholic institution run by the Jesuit order of priests for more than 125 years, enrolls more than 6,000 students in baccalaureate, master's, and doctorate programs in the arts and sciences; the university also administers schools of law and dentistry. The Center for Creative Studies in Detroit's Cultural Center is a private, four-year college that offers bachelor of fine arts degrees in animation and digital media, crafts, communication design, fine arts, industrial design, interior design and photography.
Live music has been a prominent feature of Detroit's nightlife since the late 1940s, bringing the city recognition under the nickname Motown. The metropolitan area has two nationally prominent live music venues: DTE Energy Music Theatre and The Palace of Auburn Hills. The city of Detroit has a rich musical heritage and has contributed to a number of different genres over the decades leading into the new millennium. For more than a quarter century, the Detroit Jazz Fest has entertained millions of fans with jazz legends ranging from Herbie Hancock to Yusef Lateef and Ron Carter. Today, it ROARS on six stages over four days, with blues, gospel, R&B, and one of the finest jazz lineups on the planet. The festival also offers educational events, daily second-line parades, fireworks, and rare opportunities to meet the artists.
Detroit has had a profound impact on the world – from the putting the world on wheels to the Motown sound – Detroit has crafted American culture. Metro Detroit has always been a great place to work, live and visit. The region is currently undergoing a renaissance with new developments and attractions. Downtown Detroit’s development boom is unparalleled in the country.
