Detroit is the largest city in Michigan. According to a 2007 census, Detroit was reported to have 916,952 residents, making it the country’s eleventh most populous city. The city is composed of 143 square miles.
There are several popular neighborhoods in the city. These include Eastern Market, New Center, and Midtown. Eastern Market attracts about 45,000 shoppers each Saturday. The New Center area and Midtown are centered and home to Henry Ford Hospital and Wayne State University. Museums and cultural centers in Midtown draw thousands of tourists each year.
Residents have a wide range of venues to go to at night for fun and recreation. DTE Energy Music Theatre and the Palace of Auburn Hills are two nationally prominent live music venues. There are several theatres in the area including the Fox Theatre, Gem Theatre, Detroit Opera House, and Orchestra Hall. Annual music festivals are huge in Detroit and bring in large audiences to the city. These include the Ford Detroit International Jazz Festival, the Motor City Music Conference (MC2), the Concert of Colors, and the hip-hop Summer Jamz festival.
Detroit’s economy is based in manufacturing. The city is home to the Big Three American automobile companies, General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler. Several Fortune 500 companies have their headquarters in Detroit. Casino gaming also plays an important economic role.
Public education in Detroit is managed by Detroit Public Schools (DPS). Consisting of 220 schools, DPS is the largest school district in Michigan. Notable colleges in the area include Wayne State University and the University of Michigan.