Detroit, Michigan

A first visit to Detroit makes clear its will to fight, come back from decades of decline, and be assumed down for the count. This comeback spirit is best embodied by the iconic sculpture of Joe Louis’ Fist, which sits along the main road that runs along the Detroit River. You also feel it in the abundance of stunning, historic Art Deco highrises that grace the city's skyline. It also is felt in the four beloved local sports teams in the four major American sports leagues. Detroit is the only city in the U.S. that has all major teams playing downtown.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, you feel Detroit's spirit in its musical heritage, which ranges from Motown to hip-hop and is the birthplace of techno. Few American cities have quite the same sense of place and history as Detroit. In addition, its founding in 1701 makes it one of America’s oldest and most significant cities, as does its position as the birthplace of the American automotive industry. One cannot overstate Detroit’s place and impact in American history, and its continued efforts at self-renewal and improvement demonstrate its continued desire to maintain and expand on that place.

The population of Detroit was severely impacted by deindustrialization, loss of jobs in the auto industry and the recession of 2008, as well as rapid suburbanization. The 2010s saw revitalization efforts ramp up and a new generation of people were moving to the city center. Residents have been trending younger in recent years, with both recent graduates from midwest schools as well as a population of young professionals who grew up in the city and are choosing to move out, but stay close to the city center. And you can’t forget about recently empty-nested suburbanites who once fled the city and are moving back downtown in search of nightlife that places like Troy, and other suburbs, definitely lack.

It might not have the largest population, but locals are often out enjoying the things that make Detroit unique. On top of the Riverwalk, you also have Eastern Market, the largest open-air market in North America, that features more than 250 independent vendors. You can get a great selection of fruit and veggies, fresh-cut flowers, specialty food products, and more. The city also features a huge pro-bicycle community. Detroit is home to the first paved road in America, Woodward Ave, and overall is pretty flat, making it easy to bike around. You won’t want to sleep on the incredible food scene in Detroit, either. It might be small and the restaurants you’ll go to might not have big investors behind them, but they can still find a place to open up in Detroit thanks to lower rent prices and the welcoming residents. Coupled with the large immigrant population, you can find big communities with great food you can’t find in the suburbs, like Bangladeshi food, or amazing Arab spots.

If you're curious about the weekend and year-long activities here check out the Detroit calendar of events:

Detroit has the second largest regional economy in the midwest. Famously known as the center of the US auto industry and the “Big Three” auto manufacturers (General Motors/GM, Ford, Stellantis North America), which are all headquartered in Detroit. Besides the auto industry, there are also a lot of great opportunities for high paying jobs if you're in tech, engineering, healthcare, or consulting. The top employers in the area are the Detroit Medical Center, the City of Detroit, and Quicken Loans. Other headquarters in Detroit include GM, Quicken Loans, Ally Financial, and Compuware. A large portion of the residents of Detroit work downtown, making up about ⅕ of the city’s employment. The other large chunk of residents work in midtown, where the Detroit Medical Center, Wayne State University, and Henry Ford health System are all located.