Detroit is the largest city in Michigan state. In the 20th century, Detroit boomed with an industrial powerhouse and automobile industry. Its population grew immensely, and in 1910 it became the 9th largest city in the United States. The “Great Migration brought large numbers of black Southerners into Detroit. The black population multiplied from 5700 in 1910 to 40,800 in the 1920s. Some other industries, including metal crafts, railcars, stove works, paints, iron, brass, and copper, progressed by leaps and bounds. Henry Ford built an assembly line at his Highland Park Plant in 1910. Later that decade, when World War I broke out, Detroiters fought valiantly.
Here below are some stunning historical photos that show Detroit city in the early 20th century from 1900 to 1910.
Used to be bustling a beautiful, flint too. All of it was trashed by corrupt people in power, and I regret missing it all.
It was once referred to as the “Paris of the Midwest” 🙁
It seems that once you call a place the Paris of anything, that’s the end of it Saigon, the Paris of Southeast Asia, Beirut, the Paris of the Mediterranean, Detroit, the Paris of the Midwest etc. There is a lot to support this.
What happened to Detroit? I’m inquisitive. It has been said that manufacturing jobs have left the city, but that doesn’t explain the rapid ghettoization
If you’re looking for a single tipping point, it was the race riots of the late 1960s
Now you’ll find Taco Bell & KFC with bulletproof glass…
When I was in Detroit, I visited the first fast food restaurant with bulletproof glass
These are also found in ghettos on the east coast. There were liquor stores everywhere, and all of them had a bulletproof glass.
Once, there were high schools with massive theatres and hand-painted ceilings. Now, there are abandoned mansions and violence. It’s sad to see what unchecked liberal policies lead to.
Seriously? Detroit was ruined by right wing dismantling of the social networks and harsh oppression of unions and minorities.
That’s such a weak statement. You used politics with zero facts. Detroits demise started from the very beginning with it being a one truck pony. Detroits biggest and most important industry IS and ALWAYS HAS BEEN the automotive industry. When the industry does well things are great and when it does bad everyone suffers. When the automotive industry started changing in the 1960’s-70’s Detroit started its decline.
Things like this make me wonder if progress is a good thing.
I’m sure some of you may be picturing a perfect society, but let me assure you that there was some terrible stuff happening in that city during that time.
Although it was a stunning and prosperous city, it was not without its flaws, including significant racism. Additionally, the city was heavily controlled by the Big 3 car companies, which led to the construction of freeways that tore through the city.
Your timing’s a bit off. he Big 3 car companies did not exist in 1900, and while racism was still present, there were very few African Americans in the city at that time. The migration of African Americans to the city did not begin on a large scale until a decade later. The construction of freeways began during World War II to facilitate transportation of people and goods, and was further expanded during the Eisenhower administration in the 1950s.
The city had a history of discrimination, with Jews, Poles, Finns, and possibly Italians being the primary targets of hate.
And Greeks
Not exactly 1900. Im talking about the era before the 50’s
There were also organized crime groups such as the Purple Gang operating in the city at that time. Additionally, I’ve heard stories about the challenges that Italian immigrants faced, with limited opportunities for work leading some young men to consider joining the mob. All of this is to say that Detroit was not a particularly peaceful city during that time period.
The Purple Gang was a significant threat in Detroit during that era, with a reputation that bordered on the legendary. My father was raised in the city and often spoke about their notorious activities.