French officer Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac founded a fort and settlement at the site of Detroit in 1701. Originally the settlement was called Fort Pontchartrain du Détroit after the comte de Pontchartrain, minister of marine under Louis XIV of France and for the river that connects Lakes St. Clair and Erie. The British gained control of the area in 1760 and thwarted an Indian attack three years later during Pontiac's Rebellion. In 1796 Detroit and its surrounding areas passed to the United States. Statue of Cadillac commemorating his landing in Detroit Antoine Laumet, dit de La Mothe, sieur de Cadillac (March 5, 1658-October 15, 1730), a French explorer, was a colourful figure in the history of New France. ... Building and origins of Fort Detroit Fort Detroit began as a settlement on the Detroit River called Fort Ponchartrain. ... For the musical group of the same name, see Louis XIV (band). ... There are a number of lakes named Lake Saint Clair or Lake St Clair. ... Lake Erie, looking southward from a high rural bluff near Leamington, Ontario Lake Erie (ee ree) is is one of the five large freshwater Great Lakes in North America, among the worlds largest such lakes. ... Combatants Pontiacs confederacy Great Britain Commanders Pontiac Wasson Henry Gladwin Donald Campbell † Strength Casualties For the action in the War of 1812, see the Siege of Detroit The Siege of Fort Detroit was an ultimately unsuccessful attempt by North American Indians to capture Fort Detroit during Pontiacs Rebellion. ... Pontiacs Rebellion was a war launched in 1763 by Native Americans who were dissatisfied with British rule in the Great Lakes region and the Ohio Country after the British victory in the French and Indian War. ...

Detroit was incorporated as a Town by the Legislature of the Northwest Territory at Chillicothe on January 18, 1802, effective February 1, 1802. Government was administered by a five-person board of trustees and there was no office of mayor. Following this, Ohio became a state and the eastern half of Michigan was attached to the Indiana Territory. Because the difficulty in traveling from Detroit to the capital of the territory in Vincennes over 400 miles away, Michigan Territory was established effective June 30, 1805, as a separate territory with Detroit as the capital. The Northwest Territory, also known as the Old Northwest and the Territory North West of the Ohio, was a government and region within the early United States. ... Chillicothe is a city located in Ross County, Ohio. ... January 18 is the 18th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... --69. ... February 1 is the 32nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... --69. ... Official language(s) None Capital Columbus Largest city Columbus (largest metropolitan area is Cleveland) Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 34th 116,096 km² 355 km 355 km 8. ... Indiana Territory was an organized territory of the United States from 1800 to 1816, created by Act of Congress and signed into law by President John Adams on May 7, 1800, effective on July 4. ... The city of Vincennes is the county seat of Knox County, Indiana. ... From 1805-1818, the western border was a line through Lake Michigan. ... June 30 is the 181st day of the year (182nd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 184 days remaining. ... 1805 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ...

1805 fire destroys most of Detroit

However, before the new territorial government officially began, the fire of June 11, 1805, destroyed nearly all of Detroit. The newly appointed Governor, William Hull, and the Territorial Judges, Augustus B. Woodward, Frederick Bates, James Witherell, and John Griffin, constituting the territorial government, essentially established martial law over affairs of the city. They convinced the U.S. Congress to pass an act on April 21, 1806, which authorized them to lay out a town that included all of the old town of Detroit plus an additional 10,000 acres (40 km²) to be used compensate persons who lost their house in the fire. [1] On September 13, 1806, they passed an act incorporating the new City of Detroit. The governor appointed Solomon Sibley as mayor. Shortly afterward, Sibley resigned and Elijah Brush was appointed in his stead. The mayor was appointed by the governor and, under the act of incorporation, was able to disapprove legislation passed by the popularly elected council without any recourse for overriding the mayor. Because of this, many felt that the real aim of the governor in incorporating the city was to remove the popularly elected town officers and exert a more direct influence over governance of the city. [2] This form of government was extremely unpopular, and was repealed on February 4, 1809. However, to prevent ressurection of the popularly elected town government, on September 16, 1810, an act passed repealing all laws pertaining to Michigan that had been passed by the Legislature of the Northwest Territory. This effectively eradicated any trace of legitimacy for the former popularly elected town government. June 11 is the 162nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (163rd in leap years), with 203 days remaining. ... 1805 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... Portrait of William Hull William Hull (June 24, 1753–November 29, 1825) was an American soldier and politician. ... Augustus Brevoort Woodward (born Elias Brevoort Woodward November 1774, died July 12, 1827) was the first Chief Justice of the Michigan Territory. ... Frederick Bates (June 23, 1777 - August 4, 1825), brother of Edward Bates and James Woodson Bates, was an American politician. ... John Howard Griffin (June 16, 1920 - September 9, 1980) was a noted 20th century American writer best known for his critically acclaimed Black Like Me, an account of his journeys through the Deep South while disguised as an African-American. ... Congress in Joint Session. ... April 21 is the 111th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (112th in leap years). ... 1806 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... September 13 is the 256th day of the year (257th in leap years). ... 1806 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Solomon Sibley (October 7, 1769–April 4, 1846) was a United States politician and jurist in the Michigan Territory. ... February 4 is the 35th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1809 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... September 16 is the 259th day of the year (260th in leap years). ... 1810 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ...

War of 1812

This state of affairs continued through the War of 1812, during which Governor Hull surrendered Detroit to the British. Lewis Cass, who replaced Hull as Territorial Governor, on October 24, 1815, restored control of local affairs to the people of Detroit, with the election of a five-person board of trustees and enactment of a charter for the City of Detroit. The War of 1812 was fought between the United States and British Empire from 1812 to 1815, on land in North America and at sea around the world. ... Combatants Britain United States Commanders Isaac Brock William Hull Strength 100 regulars 300 militia 150 natives 2,500 Casualties None 2,500 captured For the 1763 action in Pontiacs Rebellion, see the Siege of Fort Detroit The Siege of Detroit, also known as the Surrender of Detroit or the... Lewis Cass Campaign poster for 12th United States Presidential campaign, 1848. ... October 24 is the 297th day of the year (298th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 68 days remaining. ... The Battle of New Orleans 1815 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ...

Creation of Common Council

Government under the board of trustees continued until an act of the Territorial Legislature on August 5, 1824, created a Common Council of the City of Detroit. The Council consisted of five aldermen, the mayor, and the recorder. In an act of April 4, 1827, the number of aldermen increased to seven. In 1839, it increased to 14, two aldermen from six wards plus the mayor and recorder. A seventh ward was created in 1848, an eighth in 1849, the ninth and tenth wards in 1857. Also in 1857, a new city charter provided that the mayor and recorder would no longer sit as members of the council. At this time, the council consisted of 20 members, two aldermen from ten wards. In 1873, a twelfth ward was added and aldermen from an illegally constituted eleventh ward also temporarily sat on the council. In 1875, a properly constituted eleventh ward and a thirteenth ward were added. The city charter of 1883 changed the name of the body to the Board of Aldermen. A few years earlier in 1881, a separately elected ten-person body named Board of Councilmen (also called the City Council), was established. This body was abolished in 1887. August 5 is the 217th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (218th in leap years), with 148 days remaining. ... 1824 was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... April 4 is the 94th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (95th in leap years). ... 1827 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ...

Henry Ford

A thriving carriage trade set the stage for the work of Henry Ford, who in 1899 built his first automobile factory in Highland Park, an independent city within Detroit. Ford's manufacturing innovations solidified Detroit's status as the world's car capital, and the blossoming industry spurred the city's spectacular growth during the first half of the 20th century. Time Magazine, January 14, 1935 Henry Ford (July 30, 1863 – April 7, 1947) was the founder of the Ford Motor Company and the Henry Ford Company (which later became Cadillac). ... Highland Park is a city located in Wayne County, Michigan. ...

Population increases as auto industry develops

The development of the automobile industry led to a massive increase in industrial production in the city. This in turn led to rising demands for labor, which were filled by huge numbers of newcomers from Europe and the American South. Between 1900 and 1930, the city's population soared from 265,000 to over 1.5 million. The landscape of the city also changed dramatically. Once known as the "Paris of the Midwest" for its tree-shaded avenues, the city took on a more blue-collar appearance as its riverfront became lined with factories and grain silos. At the same time, Detroit's downtown flourished architecturally, largely under the leadership of Albert Kahn, who designed a number of Art Deco skyscrapers. The city also experienced a cultural flowering, with a major expansion of the Detroit Institute of Arts and the founding of other institutions. World map showing Europe Europe is conventionally considered one of the seven continents which, in this case, is more a cultural and political distinction than a physiogeographic one. ... The U.S. Southern states or The South, known during the American Civil War era as Dixie, is a distinctive region of the United States with its own unique historical perspective, customs, musical styles, and cuisine. ... See Albert Kahn (banker) for the French banker. ... Asheville City Hall. ... The front entrance of the DIA on Woodward Avenue. ...

Labor disputes arise

With the factories came high-profile labor strife, climaxing in the 1930s as the United Auto Workers initiated bitter battles with Detroit's auto manufacturers. The labor activism established during those years, which brought fame and notoriety to hometown union leaders such as Jimmy Hoffa and Walter Reuther, remains a key feature on the city's cultural and political landscape. The United Auto Workers (UAW), officially the United Automobile, Aerospace & Agricultural Implement Workers of America International Union, is one of the largest labor unions in North America, with more than 700,000 members in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico organized into approximately 950 union locals. ... James Riddle Jimmy Hoffa (born 14 February 1913, disappeared 30 July 1975) was a noted American labor leader who is also well-known in popular culture for the mysterious circumstances surrounding his still-unexplained disappearance and presumed death. ...

Urban decline

Detroit has endured a painful decline during the past several decades, and is often held up as a symbol of Rust Belt urban blight. After peaking in 1950 with 1.85 million residents, the city's population has plummeted as residents have moved to the suburbs, particularly following the 12th Street Riot in 1967. Large numbers of buildings and homes were abandoned, with many remaining for years in states of decay. Recent urban renewal efforts have led to the demolition or renovation of several abandoned skyscrapers and large buildings, the razing of old houses for new housing developments, and an expedited process to remove abandoned homes near schools. Still, large numbers of abandoned buildings remain in numerous blighted areas. The Rust Belt, highlighted in red The Rust Belt, formerly known as the Manufacturing Belt, is an area in the northeastern and upper midwestern United States, roughly between Chicago and New York City, whose economy was formerly based largely on heavy industry, manufacturing, and associated industries. ... The 12th Street Riot in Detroit began in the early morning hours of Sunday, July 23, 1967, after vice squad officers executed a raid at an illegal after-hours drinking establishment (colloquially referred to as a blind pig) on the corner of 12th Street (today also known as Rosa Parks...

High crime rates in latter 20th Century

During the latter half of the twentieth century, Detroit's crime figures were often among the highest in the country. Though those figures have decreased in recent years, the crime rate remains high, and the murder rate--partly caused by gang-related activity--is one of the highest in the United States.

Urban revival in 1990's

"Renaissance" has been a perennial buzzword among generations of city leaders, particularly during the construction and completion of the Renaissance Center, but it was not until the 1990's that Detroit enjoyed something of a bona fide revival, much of it centered downtown. In 1996 a state referendum paved the way for three Detroit casinos—MGM Detroit, Motor City Casino and Greektown Casino—with the goal of increasing tourism and stemming the flow of gambling dollars to nearby Windsor, Ontario. MotorCity Casino is one of three 75,000 square foot casinos located in Detroit, Michigan. ... Greektown Casino is one of three commercial casinos located in Detroit, Michigan. ... Template:Hide = Motto: Template:Unhide = City of Windsor, Ontario, Canadas Location. ...

Changes in area sports facilities

In 2000, Comerica Park replaced historic Tiger Stadium as the home of the Detroit Tigers—a move that brought some controversy—and Ford Field (2002) brought football's Detroit Lions back into Detroit from suburban Pontiac. The 2004 opening of the Compuware Center gave downtown Detroit its first significant new office building in a decade. Comerica Park is a baseball stadium located in downtown Detroit, Michigan. ... This article is about Tiger Stadium in Detroit. ... Major league affiliations American League (1901-present) Central Division (1998-present) East Division (1969-1997) Major league titles World Series titles (4) 1984 â€¢ 1968 â€¢ 1945 â€¢ 1935 AL Pennants (9) 1984 â€¢ 1968 â€¢ 1945 â€¢ 1940 1935 â€¢ 1934 â€¢ 1909 â€¢ 1908 1907 Central Division titles (0) None East Division Champs (3) 1987 â€¢ 1984 â€¢ 1972... Ford Field is an indoor American football stadium located in Detroit, Michigan that is the home of the Detroit Lions of the NFL. It is across the street from Comerica Park. ... City Detroit, Michigan Other nicknames {{{nicknames}}} Team colors Honolulu Blue, Silver, and Black Head Coach Rod Marinelli Owner William Clay Ford, Jr. ... Pontiac is a city located in Oakland County, Michigan. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Upcoming world-class events

As the city prepares to host a number of major events in coming years, including the 2005 Baseball All-Star Game and 2006 Super Bowl, it faces the challenge of cleaning up and improving its image for an international audience.

Timeline of Events

• 1701 - On July 24, Antoine de Lamothe Cadillac, with his lieutenant Alphonse de Tonty and a company of 100 men, established 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, in homage to the Count of Pontchartrain, the Royal Minister of Marine.
• 1701 - Ste. Anne de Detroit Catholic Church was the first building built in Detroit, started within two days of Cadillac's landing.
• 1760 - Major Robert Rogers and a group of his Rogers' Rangers took formal command of Fort Detroit in the name of Great Britain after the French defeat in the French and Indian War.
• 1763 - Chief Pontiac besieged Detroit during Pontiac's Rebellion.
• 1796 - American control over Detroit was established, 13 years after it was assigned by treaty to the United States at the end of the American Revolutionary War.
• 1802 - February 1, the Town of Detroit is incorporated by the territorial legislature.
• 1805 - On June 11, 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.

Statue of Cadillac commemorating his 1701 landing along the Detroit River

• 1806 - September 13, the City of Detroit is incorporated by the territorial governing council.
• 1809 - February 24, the territorial governing council repeals the 1806 incorporation of the city.
• 1812 - On August 16, Detroit surrendered without firing a shot to British army under General Isaac Brock in the War of 1812.
• 1813 - September: British retreated from Detroit, which served as a base for the invasion of Canada.
• 1815 - October 24, the territorial governing council enacts the charter for the City of Detroit to be governed by a five-person board of trustees.
• 1824 - August 5, the newly formed territorial legislature reorganizes city government, creating the Common Council and office of mayor.
• 1837 - Detroit became capital of the State of Michigan (until 1847).
• 1837 - 1838 Small bands of self-proclaimed "Patriots", some operating from Detroit, invaded Canada in the Patriot War.
• 1863 - Anti-draft and race riot in Detroit.
• 1890 - Reforming mayor Hazen Pingree established vegetable gardens for the poor, which came to be called Pingree's Potato Patches.
• 1903 - Ford Motor Company was founded by Henry Ford in Detroit.
• 1929 - Ambassador Bridge construction completed.
• 1930 - Detroit-Windsor Tunnel construction completed.
• 1943 - A race riot, spurred by competition among black and white residents for wartime factory jobs, resulted in 34 deaths.
• 1950 - Detroit's population reached its height at 1.85 million.
• 1961 - Jerome Cavanagh was elected mayor, and launched a series of reforms.
• 1963 - Great March to Freedom.
• 1967 - On July 23 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).
• 1968 - "Focus: Hope" project was founded by Fr. William Cunningham.
• 1973 - Coleman Young was elected Detroit's first black mayor -- a position he would hold for 20 years.
• 1987 - Pope John Paul II visits Detroit.
• 1992 - On November 5, 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. The convictions were later overturned and the two Officers were set free.
• 1996 - In November, Michigan voters voted to allow the operation of three casinos in the City of Detroit.
• 1999 - The Detroit Tigers played their final baseball game in classic Tiger Stadium, which had opened in 1912. The team relocated to the new Comerica Park downtown in 2000. The status of Tiger Stadium remains uncertain.
• 2002 - The Detroit Lions football team began play in the new, state-of-the-art Ford Field, returning to downtown Detroit after 27 years in suburban Pontiac.
• 2004 - The "restored" Campus Martius Park opens in downtown Detroit. Featuring an ice-skating rink, it is the focal point of the city's new Winter Blast festival.
• 2006 - The city is scheduled to host Super Bowl XL.