|
Detroit (pop. 951,270) is known as the Motor City and Motown's hometown. It's also an inland port that's on par with some
of the world's busiest (AAA, 2003). Incorporated as a city in 1815, Detroit spent the decades leading up to the Civil War
as the final U.S. stop on the Underground Railroad. The area also was earning a reputation for, among other things, the manufacturing
of cigars and kitchen ranges. So why did Detroit become the Motor City instead of the stove-making capital of the world? It's
in large part due to the influence of a farmer's son named Henry Ford. In 1896, Ford built his first car in Detroit - not
an entirely earth-shattering event since the automobile had already been around for a while. It was the method of building
cars that he would later devise - the moving assembly line - that put the world on wheels. Ironically, it was a former autoworker
that led the way for Detroit's other famous 20th century contribution - Motown. Founded by Berry Gordy Jr. with just an $800
family loan, the upstart record company introduced the world to Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Smokie Robinson, Michael Jackson,
the Temptations, Diana Ross and others. At the start of the 21st century, metro Detroit is starting to reap the rewards of
decades of work put into revitalization. You can learn more about Detroit - it's history and future - by contacting the Detroit
Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau at www.visitdetroit.com. Here's an example of the "Fun Facts" you'll find at
that website.
Did you know that Detroit...
. installed the first mile of paved concrete road in 1909
. installed the country's first traffic light in 1915
. is home to the oldest state fair in the nation, first held in 1849
. is the potato chip capital of the world, based on consumption
. has country's largest island park within a city - Belle Isle Park
. is home to the world's only floating post office, the J.W. Westcott II, can be found on the Detroit River
. is north of Canada
. is the true home of the "Boston Cooler"
. is also home to Vernors ginger ale, Sanders hot fudge, Better Made Potato Chips, Faygo soda pop, Stroh's Ice Cream
. was the first city in the nation to assign individual telephone numbers in 1879
|
