City Year Patch

About Detroit

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Detroit is best known as Motown and the Motor City, for its world class music and automobile industry. But today, Detroit is striving to turn the tide to be known as a world class city for more than that alone. Through aggressive revitalization efforts Detroit is undergoing a mass overhaul to improve schools, rebuild communities and boost the economy.  We are certain that as you discover Detroit you will feel inspired and be convinced that our city is a one of a kind place to be. 

General Detroit City Statistics

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  • Founded: July 24, 1701
  • Population: 951,270
  • Mayor: Kwame M. Kilpatrick
  • Altitude: 581 feet (177 meters)
  • Temperature High/Low (F): January 31/16, April 58/37, July 83/61, October 63/41
  • Average Snowfall: 41.1 inches

Detroit Firsts & Facts

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Detroit Ford Field
  • The first mile of paved concrete road was in Detroit, just north of the Model T plant, on Woodward Ave between McNichols and 7 Mile Roads in 1909
  • The country’s first traffic light was installed in 1915 in Downtown Detroit
  • Detroit built the nation’s first urban freeway, the Davison, in 1942
  • Based on consumption alone, we are the worlds potato chip capital
  • Detroit was the first city in the nation to assign individual telephone numbers in 1879We share the worlds first auto traffic tunnel between two nations – the    Detroit/Windsor Tunnel
  • Home to Vernors ginger ale, Sanders hot fudge, Better Made Potato Chips, Faygo soda pop and Stroh’s Ice Cream
  • Detroit is home to the oldest state fair in the nation, first held in 1849
  • Detroit has the most registered bowlers in the United States
  • Has the largest flower-bedding market in the world - Eastern Market

Fun Detroit Links

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