DETROIT: The 27 key dates in the history of what was once America’s FOURTH largest city

Detroit’s history begins with its founding as a French settlement, strategically located along the Detroit River to control fur trade routes and connect the Great Lakes to the Mississippi River.

• July 24, 1701: Founding of Fort Pontchartrain du Détroit: Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac (1658–1730), a French military officer and explorer, established Fort Pontchartrain du Détroit on the north bank of the Detroit River, naming it after Louis Phélypeaux, Comte de Pontchartrain, a French minister. Cadillac’s vision was to create a permanent settlement for trade and defence against English encroachment. The fort included Ste. Anne de Détroit, a Catholic church founded on July 26, 1701, which remains the second-oldest continuously operating parish in the U.S. Cadillac governed until 1710, attracting French settlers, Huron, and Ottawa allies, though his abrasive leadership led to his recall. Cadillac’s fort laid the foundation for Detroit’s strategic importance, fostering early trade and cultural exchange with Indigenous peoples.
• 1701–1760: Growth as a Trading Post: Under French control, Detroit grew as a fur trade hub, with a population of about 800 by 1760, including French farmers, traders, and enslaved Africans and Indigenous people. The fort faced sieges, notably during the 1712 Fox Wars, but remained a vital link in New France’s network.
• English Control and American Revolution (1760–1796): Following the French and Indian War, Detroit transitioned to English rule, becoming a contested site during the American Revolution.
• November 29, 1760: English Occupation: After France’s defeat in the Seven Years’ War, English forces under Major Robert Rogers (1731–1795) occupied Fort Pontchartrain, renaming the settlement Detroit. Rogers, a colonial ranger, facilitated the transition but faced resistance from local Indigenous groups. Rogers’ occupation marked Detroit’s shift to English control, setting the stage for tensions with Indigenous nations.
• May 7, 1763: Pontiac’s Rebellion: Pontiac (c. 1720–1769), an Ottawa chief, was provoked into leading a coalition of Indigenous tribes in a siege of Detroit from May to October 1763, protesting against English exploitation and the murder of tribe members. The siege failed to capture the fort but highlighted Indigenous resistance, leading to the Royal Proclamation of 1763, which limited colonial expansion. Pontiac’s diplomacy unified tribes, though he was later killed in Illinois. Pontiac’s actions underscored Detroit’s strategic importance and Indigenous agency, shaping early colonial relations.
• 1796: American Control: Under the Jay Treaty (1794), Britain ceded Detroit to the United States, with American forces taking control on July 11, 1796. The settlement, with about 500 residents, became part of the Northwest Territory.
• Early American Era and Growth (1805–1860): Detroit’s incorporation as a city and early growth were marked by challenges, including fires and immigration, with the Irish playing a significant role.
• June 11, 1805: Great Fire and Replanning: A fire destroyed most of Detroit, prompting a redesign by Judge Augustus B. Woodward (1774–1827), inspired by Pierre Charles L’Enfant’s Washington, D.C. plan. Woodward, a territorial judge appointed by President Thomas Jefferson, laid out a radial street grid with Grand Circus Park and Campus Martius, naming streets like Woodward and Jefferson Avenues. Woodward’s plan shaped Detroit’s urban layout, fostering growth as a commercial centre. 
• September 13, 1806: Detroit was incorporated as a city, at the time it had a population of about 1,200.
• War of 1812: Detroit was surrendered to the English by Governor William Hull (1753–1825) on August 16, 1812, without a fight, a controversial decision. American forces under General William Henry Harrison (1773–1841) recaptured Detroit on September 29, 1813, after the Battle of Lake Erie. Hull’s surrender damaged his reputation, while Harrison’s victory bolstered Detroit’s American identity.
• 1825 Erie Canal Completion: The Erie Canal’s opening facilitated migration from New England and New York, including Irish immigrants fleeing economic hardship. By 1830, Detroit’s population reached 2,222, with English-speaking settlers challenging French dominance.
• 1833: Establishment of the Catholic Diocese of Detroit: Frederic Rese (1791–1871), appointed Detroit’s first Catholic bishop in 1833, oversaw the diocese covering Michigan and parts of the Midwest. Rese purchased the First Protestant Society Church in 1834, founding Most Holy Trinity Parish, Detroit’s first English-speaking Catholic parish, serving the growing Irish population. Rese’s leadership formalized Catholic institutions, supporting Irish acculturation.
• January 26, 1837: Michigan became the 26th state, with Detroit as its capital until 1847 (when Lansing was chosen). The Great Famine (1845–1852) drove Irish immigration, with 4,000 Irish in Detroit by 1850 (one-seventh of the city’s 21,000 residents). Corktown, named for County Cork immigrants, emerged as an Irish enclave by 1853. Peter Paul Lefevere (1804–1869), coadjutor bishop from 1841 to 1869, built Saints Peter and Paul Church (1844–1848), serving Irish and French-Canadian Catholics. Lefevere’s infrastructure projects, including schools and orphanages, supported the Irish community’s integration.
• 1863: Detroit’s Population Growth: By 1863, Detroit’s population reached 45,619, fueled by Irish, German, and other European immigrants. The city became a manufacturing hub, with stove production and railcar manufacturing.
• 1903: Founding of Ford Motor Company: Henry Ford (1863–1947), a first generation Clonakilty man born in Dearborn, founded Ford Motor Company on June 16, 1903, in Detroit. His Model T, launched October 1, 1908, and moving assembly line, introduced in 1913 at the Highland Park plant, revolutionized manufacturing. Ford’s $5 daily wage (1914) and five-day workweek (1926) attracted workers, growing Detroit’s population to 465,766 by 1910 and 1,568,662 by 1930. Ford’s innovations made Detroit the “Motor City,” employing thousands, including Irish descendants, and shaping global industry. His Rouge Complex (1917–1928) in Dearborn became the world’s largest factory.
• 1908: General Motors Founded: William C. Durant (1861–1947) founded General Motors (GM) on September 16, 1908, consolidating brands like Buick, Cadillac, and Chevrolet. Durant’s vision made GM a Ford rival, further cementing Detroit’s automotive dominance. GM’s growth diversified Detroit’s economy, employing diverse communities.
• 1917: Dodge Brothers’ Impact: John Francis Dodge (1864–1920) and Horace Elgin Dodge (1868–1920), born in Niles, Michigan, founded Dodge Brothers Company in 1914, supplying parts to Ford before producing their own cars. Their Hamtramck factory, opened in 1917, was acquired by Chrysler in 1928. The Dodge brothers strengthened Detroit’s automotive ecosystem, with their factory shaping Hamtramck’s industrial identity.
• 1929: The Henry Ford Founded: Henry Ford established the Edison Institute (now The Henry Ford) in 1929, including the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village, opened in 1933, to preserve Americana. Ford’s cultural contributions, alongside industrial ones, made Dearborn a historical destination.
• 1937: Battle of the Overpass: Walter Reuther (1907–1970), a labour leader, was beaten by Ford security during a United Auto Workers (UAW) organizing attempt at the Rouge on May 26, 1937. Reuther’s leadership as UAW president (1946–1970) secured workers’ rights, strengthening Detroit’s labour movement. Reuther’s advocacy improved wages and conditions, empowering Detroit’s workforce.
• 1941–1945: Arsenal of Democracy: During World War II, Detroit’s factories, led by Ford’s Willow Run plant (opened 1941), produced tanks, jeeps, and B-24 bombers. President Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882–1945) dubbed Detroit the “Arsenal of Democracy” in 1940. The war effort solidified Detroit’s industrial might, with a peak population of 1,849,568 in 1950.
• 1943: Detroit Race Riot: Racial tensions over jobs and housing led to a riot from June 20–22, 1943, killing 34 and injuring 433. The riot exposed systemic inequalities, prompting early civil rights efforts.  Thurgood Marshall (1908–1993), NAACP attorney, investigated the riot, later becoming the first African American Supreme Court Justice (1967–1991). Marshall’s work highlighted Detroit’s racial challenges, influencing national civil rights policy. Post-war suburbanisation, racial tensions, and industrial decline reshaped Detroit, with significant social movements emerging.
• 1967: Detroit Rebellion: A police raid on an unlicensed bar on July 23, 1967, sparked five days of unrest, killing 43, injuring 1,189, and destroying 2,000 buildings. The rebellion, the most destructive of any U.S. city that decade, accelerated white flight, with Detroit’s population dropping to 1,203,368 by 1980. Coleman Young (1918–1997), Detroit’s first African American mayor (1974–1994), addressed post-riot challenges, promoting minority businesses and rebuilding downtown. Young’s leadership navigated Detroit through decline, though critics noted persistent racial and economic divides.
• 1973: Automotive Industry Challenges: The 1973 oil crisis and Japanese competition weakened Detroit’s Big Three (Ford, GM, Chrysler), leading to layoffs and factory closures. By 1990, the population was 1,027,974.
• 2013: Bankruptcy Filing: On July 18, 2013, Detroit filed for Chapter 9 bankruptcy, the largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history, with $18 billion in debt. Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr (b. 1958) oversaw restructuring, exiting bankruptcy on December 10, 2014. Bankruptcy enabled debt reduction and reinvestment, spurring downtown renewal.
• 2014: Grand Bargain: Gerald Rosen (1951–2024), Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court, orchestrated the “Grand Bargain,” raising $816 million from foundations (e.g., Ford Foundation) to protect Detroit Institute of Arts assets and fund pensions during bankruptcy. Rosen’s mediation preserved cultural assets and supported retirees, aiding recovery.
• 2018: Michigan Central Station Restoration: Ford Motor Company, led by William Clay Ford Jr. (b. 1957), acquired Michigan Central Station in 2018, restoring it as a mobility hub by June 6, 2024. The station’s reopening symbolizes Detroit’s revitalization, attracting tech and tourism.
• 2025: NFL Draft and Cultural Renaissance: Detroit hosted the NFL Draft in April 2024, drawing 775,000 attendees, a record. In 2025, events like the Detroit Auto Show (January 11–20) and St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in Corktown highlight ongoing revival, with a population of 620,376 (2023 estimate). Dan Gilbert (b. 1962), Quicken Loans founder, has invested over $5.6 billion in downtown real estate since 2010, revitalizing areas like Campus Martius. Gilbert’s investments drive economic growth, complementing cultural efforts.

Detroit’s history reflects resilience and reinvention, from its 1701 founding by Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac (1658–1730) to its 2025 cultural renaissance. Key developments include English control (1760), the Great Fire (1805), Irish immigration (1830s–1850s), Ford Motor Company’s founding (1903) by Henry Ford (1863–1947), and the 2013 bankruptcy managed by Kevyn Orr (b. 1958). Influential figures like Pontiac (c. 1720–1769), Augustus Woodward (1774–1827), Frederic Rese (1791–1871), Walter Reuther (1907–1970), Coleman Young (1918–1997), Gerald Rosen (1951–2024), and Dan Gilbert (b. 1962) shaped Detroit’s trajectory. The Irish community’s Catholic institutions, like Most Holy Trinity (1834), anchored cultural life in Corktown, while automotive giants and labour leaders defined its industrial peak. Today, Detroit balances its storied past with revitalisation, evident in Michigan Central Station and vibrant events, remaining a symbol of American innovation.