The founding of Detroit
Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac, an energetic and ambitious young man in Canada dreamed of an oasis of French culture in the wilderness. He was a favorite of the wily Count Frontenac, Governor of the French possessions in North America. In 1694 Frontenac sent Cadillac to command Fort Michilimackinac (I know... that’s a lot of "..’ac’s in one sentence). There he spent three years and, returning to France in 1699, he established a stronghold at "Le Détroit." In June 1701 Cadillac left Lachine near Montreal accompanied by soldiers and workmen with provisions and tools. On July 24 they landed at the site of Detroit and began to clear away the woods and erect a stockade and buildings for "Fort Pontchartrain du Détroit." In so doing, Cadillac founded the modern-day city of Detroit.
Cadillac shrewdly selected a site ideal for the control of the Indians and the waterways, and for over 50 years Detroit was the center of French power in the Northwest and the cultural capital of inland America. Cadillac dominated it for a decade, planting it so firmly that his enemies could not uproot it.
Half a century later "Le Détroit" was still most of Michigan, and it still seemed very rustic. The outlying farms, "Settled in a String Along the Water Side," and estimated the whole population at about 360 families.
Modern-day Detroit
This page begins with some maps of the Detroit area.
Click for full sized image (550K)
And now this image of downtown Detroit, with the Detroit River in the
background.
Source:
Unknown
Population trends
For details on Detroit's population trends through time, go here: http://worldpopulationreview.com/us-cities/detroit-population/
This material has been compiled for educational use only, and may not be reproduced without permission. One copy may be printed for personal use. Please contact Randall Schaetzl (soils@msu.edu) for more information or permissions.