Detroit Flashcards
(25 cards)
Where is Detroit located and why is its location strategic?
Detroit is in Michigan, USA, along the Detroit River, connecting Lake Huron to Lake Erie. It has access to the St. Lawrence River and Atlantic Ocean, making it ideal for trade and industry.
How did Detroit’s topography support development?
Flat land and gentle slopes made construction easy, and French colonialists used waterways for trade and transport in the early 18th century.
Why was Detroit a key part of the Steel Belt?
It was well-connected to iron ore and coal supplies via railroads, roads, and canals.
What industry made Detroit famous, and which companies were involved?
The automobile industry; companies like Ford, GM, and Chrysler established Detroit as the “Motor City.”
How has Detroit’s population changed since 1950?
It declined by over 60%, from 1.85 million in 1950 to 627,662 in 2018.
What was Detroit’s ethnic composition in the 2010 Census?
82.2% Black, 7.8% White, 6.8% Hispanic, 1% Asian.
What are some socioeconomic issues facing Detroit?
High poverty (32% of families in 2010), low median income ($26,955), and high unemployment (14% in 2014).
What caused large-scale abandonment in Detroit?
Population loss led to 78,000 abandoned buildings by 2013.
What is the “urban prairie” effect?
Demolished neighborhoods turning into grasslands due to depopulation.
How has Detroit attempted regeneration?
Projects like the Detroit RiverWalk, Campus Martius Park, and Downtown redevelopment.
What caused the decline of Detroit’s car industry?
Global competition, oil crises, failure to innovate, and automation.
What was the negative multiplier effect in Detroit?
Factory closures → unemployment → falling tax revenues → cuts to public services.
What sectors is Detroit’s economy shifting towards?
Tertiary and quaternary sectors like finance, healthcare, and technology.
What events showed racial tensions in Detroit’s history?
The 1943 and 1967 race riots due to economic inequality and police brutality.
What is the significance of 8 Mile Road?
It marks a stark divide between poor, Black Detroit and wealthy, White suburbs.
How are racial patterns changing in Detroit?
Some Black families are moving to suburbs, while young White professionals return to the city center.
How did globalisation affect Detroit’s economy?
Jobs were outsourced to cheaper countries; automation also reduced employment.
What is the “donut effect”?
Wealth and jobs moved to the suburbs, leaving a hollow urban core.
When did Toyota overtake GM, and why is that significant?
In 2008, symbolising Detroit’s loss of dominance in car manufacturing.
When did Detroit declare bankruptcy and why was it significant?
In 2013, becoming the largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history.
What investment did JPMorgan Chase make in Detroit in 2014?
$200 million in affordable housing and business development.
What kinds of regeneration are happening in Downtown Detroit?
Development of new retail, office spaces, and public-private partnerships to attract professionals.
What was the Great Migration and how did it affect Detroit?
Between 1916-1970, millions of African Americans moved north for jobs; Detroit was a major destination.
What was “white flight” in mid-20th century Detroit?
White families left the city for suburbs due to racial tensions and economic decline.
