Chronological Timeline

Detroit./

The founding of Detroit Territory of Michigan is Created

On July 24, Antoine De La Month Cadillac establishes settlement in Detroit

A bill is passed in Washington D.C. that creates the Michigan territory, with Detroit as its capital. A few months later Detroit is completely destroyed by fire

1807./

The Rebuilding of Detroit Occurs

Shortly after the fire, Michigan’s first chief justice, Judge Woodward was designated as the central figure involved with the reestablishment of the city. After careful consideration, Woodward chose to adopt a hub-and-spoke design in order to totally reconstruct the city of Detroit with the help of architect and civil engineer, Pierre Charles L’Enfant who was a major planner in the Washington D.C. plan

1909./

1956./

Boom in the Ford Motor Company Last Scheduled Streetcars

Detroiters demanded better roads due to cars becoming more prevalent the Wayne County Road Commission answered the city’s demands and laid the first stretch of concrete high way in the nation. This monumental road, still apart of present-day Detroit, is located on Woodward Ave between 6 and 7 Mile road. A couple years later Detroit is considered the automobile capital of the world.

The last regularly scheduled streetcar operated its final run in Detroit, appropriately on Woodward Avenue. The Woodward line dated back to 1863.

1967./

12th Street Detroit Riot

What started as a police raid on illegal after hours at a drinking club soon escalated into a full scale riot. To stop the violence, over 9,000 members of the U.S. National Guard were deployed to Michigan.

Michigan’s First Railroad Michigan is Admitted to the Union 1833./ 1837./

The first railroad was the horse-drawn Erie and Kalamazoo. As business continued to prosper from the use of railroads, Ford Motor Company was created.

The state constitution forebode slavery and Detroit became an important stop on the underground railroad which helped slaves escape slavery from the south

1870./

Population Growth

Michigan’s population is 1,054,670 at this time and Detroit’s population grows to 79,577.

1989./

2013./

Oakman Boulevard Community Detroit Files for Bankruptcy

The neighborhood earned a spot on the Detroit Local Historic District list. The Oakman Blvd. community takes its name from master land developer and realtor Robert Oakman. As the automobile industry grew, there weren’t many roads for the vehicles to travel safely, so Mr. Oakman proposed a road that was similar to Grand Boulevard.

Detroit filed for the largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history. The city’s debt hovered around $18 billion. Detroit and its citizens were plunged into an intense debate about how to help the city recover.

2022./

Revitalization of Detroit

Detroit Invested $200 million on the Joe Louis Greenway project, a sprawling pedestrian and bike path loop that will circle the city when it’s complete. The Greenway’s framework plan lays out a vision to provide connected, equitable, and engaging spaces throughout Detroit and the region - where people and neighborhoods will find opportunities for empowerment, unification, and healing.