Detroit's Tragic Downfall | The Rise and Fall of Detroit Michigan

Once one of America’s largest cities, Detroit was famously both a behemoth in automobile production and the birthplace of Motown. In recent years, however, it has been amid a financial and social decline-but it was not always this way. Today we will discover the rise and fall of Detroit.
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IT’S HISTORY - Weekly tales of American Urban Decay as presented by your host Ryan Socash.
Chapters:
00:54 The early history of Detroit
04:27 Detroit's Industrial Boom
08:04 The Rise of Motown and Detroit's music scene
10:04 Detroit's beginning of the end
13:21 The corruption that finished the city off
14:57 A city on the rise once again
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» CREDIT
Scriptwriter - Imana Schoch
Editor - Karolina Szwata,
Host - Ryan Socash
» SOURCES
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» NOTICE
Some images may be used for illustrative purposes only - always reflecting the accurate time frame and content. Events of factual error / mispronounced word/spelling mistakes - retractions will be published in this section.

[@mikecann3220]

As a trucker that does automotive runs close to the boarder, I frequent the Metro Detroit area. The city and the wonderful people that live there have come a long way since the bankruptcy. There are community efforts to clean up the neighborhoods and city streets. Some previously abandoned buildings are being cleaned up and put to good use. The citizenry is a very proud bunch, and they collectively are working towards the common goal of making Detroit better every day.

[@jameshorton3692]

It’s getting worse. They lost another ten percent in population since the bankruptcy. They are in free fall.

[@christophejergales7852]

Here's the problem: infrastructure Where can the city find the means to maintain itself with 1/3 of its peak population? That money comes from taxes. Very scary situation. Unless everyone agrees to move to the center of the city, and abandon the rest, the future of the city is quite grim.

[@christophejergales7852]

@FelisDomina I'm glad to hear it. I hope for the best.

[@michaelhensley5019]

I live by Detroit... it's only getting worse...

[@christophejergales7852]

@@michaelhensley5019 damn, I'm sorry, bro.

[@BUTCH0120]

It brings tears to my eyes to see those lovely old homes decay.

[@MarkSmithhhh]

I know they're honestly beautiful, so sad

[@hobbysickness]

We're out here saving them, trust me! Mine is a 1926 brick house that was recovered. Since I've been on this block four more houses have been renovated and occupied.

[@freetolook3727]

For a while, Detroit gave title to abandoned properties to anyone willing to take care of them. Properties were so cheap, people were buying whole blocks and consolidating them into a single property.

[@SuleimanTheIndifferent]

my old weed dealer bought like 5 houses on his block for like 1-4k each three of them were right next to each other so he payed to demolish the old bandos and just fenced in the entire property had a huge ass pool and yard

[@markmitchell457]

My ex and I flew to Detroit 18 years ago when they had $1 lots. We deliberately went in winter. It's freaking cold. We were shopping $20k or less. We decided not to retire in Detroit. It's just cold and nasty in winter. I learned never to live anywhere the weather is called Lake effect. Burr!

[@prosthoplus]

@@markmitchell457 Detroit doesn't get lake-effect

[@VibeWithAshlie]

@@prosthoplus when the wind is from the east/northeast yes they absolutely do

[@TheChariot99]

@@markmitchell457 why the hell would you want to retire in Detroit? Are you ok ? 😂

[@DETSRC313]

I live in downtown Detroit And as of January 2023 there is, for the first time I can remember, a dozen crains in the air. And a half dozen being used to build the soon to be international bridge between US & Canada known as The Gordie Howe Bridge.

[@skynebula11]

You failed to mention the devastating effect that NAFTA had on Detroit. I, and soon to follow...my entire family,...left Detroit in 1973 for greener pastures in Texas and Florida. I loved being raised there as a child...it was fabulous (except for 1967.) I loved the music from Motown. My father worked for Wayne State University, so I was downtown often and loved the little cafes, the Art Institute, JL Hudson, ice skating rinks everywhere, and the big downtown Christmas parade...(just like the movie, "A Christmas Story.") I almost forgot to mention the great jazz...Bakers Club.

[@user-yv4mm6bx3c]

Other than the Hudson building of which they are building a new skyscraper on that lot, all of that is still there.

[@ironknightgaming5706]

The amount of history detroit has had within the past 400 years is insane.

[@Blox117]

and then one group destroyed it within years

[@Freddyonacid]

@@Blox117 💯💯💯

[@michaelwhite2823]

Population started falling in the 1950s and got worse after the 67 riots. The difference in abandoned Detroit and the rust belt of PA and OH is Detroit had some beautiful architecture compared to other abandoned cities.

[@dennistaylor5052]

And who did the riots?...oh yeah we remember, the same people that turn every neighbor hood to trash when they move into it. It's the same everywhere they go, it turns into a dump and crime.

[@Daledavispratt]

The Fisher building is a prime example. We removed the old Soda Fountain/lunch counter from what I believe was a Woolworth's store back in the 80's. Some fellow showed up with a work crew and large truck and paid us for the fixtures and had his crew remove them. Easiest good money I ever made.

[@johnb7499]

I'm glad you mentioned the city tax, bc that was a HUGE factor that contributed to the fall of Detroit. My family lived in Detroit back in the 1950's and 1960's. My grandma would always tell me how exciting it use to be . Shopping all day. Good food. Thankfully its making a come back. Many think it was the riots. But the city tax helped contribute to its down fall

[@Blatsen]

St. Louis also imposes a municipal income tax, that they call an earnings tax, which is levied on anyone who works in St. Louis regardless of where they live. This municipal income tax acts as an incentive for employers in the area to locate in one of the surrounding suburbs instead. It would be difficult for St. Louis to get rid of this municipal income tax as they depend on the tax revenue and don’t have any alternative revenues to tax instead.

[@sitdowndogbreath]

Philadelphia also has a local income tax which explains a lot of things I do think that money has been funneled out to the suburbs/townies.

[@skynebula11]

I still believe NAFTA had a devastating effect on Detroit...moved all the jobs to other countries

[@jennifersuzannebk5149]

Yes I agree.. born and raised in Warren Michigan on 8 Mile and I am still here . In the past 20 years they have turned my blue collar working area.. into a welfare zone they sabotage everybody into welfare anybody wealthy is paying high taxes and supporting all the welfare they blame welfare people but we are like cattle sent to the slaughter.. they need to defund the welfare and give back the tax money to the workingman so people can work and buy their own again

[@user-yv4mm6bx3c]

The tax is the primary reason my parents moved out of the city when they were old enough.

[@cartermoberg3092]

I think a more appropriate title would be the rise, fall, and rise again of Detroit. It is truly astonishing to see just how fast the city is starting to bounce back. It’s a snowball effect. As for the cities Beauty, she’s gorgeous. One of her nickname is the Paris of the Midwest. Some of the best art deco architecture in the country!

[@MissRB03]

YES! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 love Detroit my home away from home

[@jestinrobinson5115]

I said the same thing in my comment! For sure it’s been rising! Woodbridge, Corktown, midtown, Indian village, Belle Isle, and now the North End. Sad that I have to constantly put this out there because people still think Detroit is what it sad 15+ years ago

[@stephanedajtlich]

you have never been to Paris...

[@bellinghammond]

@@stephanedajtlich even Paris isn't what "Paris" used to be...and for the same reason

[@toiletseat777]

​@@stephanedajtlich lol, Paris is not some beautiful jewel, little euro

[@namelessone3339]

Stove manufacturing was a large industry in Detroit before the auto industry emerged; this past industry rarely gets mentioned. Detroit also produced salt and there are still salt mines operating under the city.

[@TheBaconKing32]

I love my city and I'm not ashamed of it. Detroit is a piece of art with a soul. It is full of fight and slowly but surely coming back better than ever!

[@randybest9187]

LOL!

[@randybest9187]

@Spiritual Soldier313 Can you afford to move out?

[@joenunya7409]

@spiritualsoldier313 Thank you for your comment and giving us an understanding of how Detroit fell.

[@joenunya7409]

If you believe your Detroit is a piece of art with soul, then by all means have at it and enjoy the art you hold so dear. Me personally and the rest of society that evacuated long ago... well, lets just say we will keep our art classical.

[@randybest9187]

They have been saying that for decades now.

[@woodencoasterfan]

You forgot to mention the Basilica of Ste. Anne de Detriot. It was founded in 1701 and is the second oldest continually operated parish in North America.

[@wmpetroff2307]

Wow How fabulous!!!

[@mikezylstra7514]

Detroit was once coined "Paris of the West." a reference to its neighborhoods, boulevards, central business district, its artists, nightlife, etc. The first stage of destruction was Dutch Elm disease. The city was once literally draped in huge luxurious elm trees, including its residential streets. Those elms were placed decades ahead of expansion. Our house had twenty year old elms in front of it even though that neighborhood didn't even build up until the late 1940's. Think about that.

[@kylef5993]

Every American city had those American Elms till the Dutch elm disease wiped them all out.

[@zombywoof7309]

So the elm trees are responsible for Detroit's fall. It had nothing to do with who moved into the city to work in the huge factories? Lol

[@bluntedafterdarkpod]

Detroit was not called the “Paris of the west” because of what was in it but the layout of the streets smh

[@mikezylstra7514]

@@bluntedafterdarkpod Oh? Who told you that?

[@michaelandrews9301]

I work quite frequently in mid town, Detroit. Out of the major cities in the U.S. I have either visited or lived in I will take Detroit any day of the week and twice on Sunday. The people there are some of the hardest working people I have encountered. They love their city with a ferociousity unrivaled except by New York or Chicago. Simply put, Detroit hustles harder.

[@allanmcelroy9840]

Detroit hustles harder...?

[@michaelandrews9301]

@@allanmcelroy9840 , yes.

[@bscottb8]

The welfare and incarceration departments certainly hustle harder.

[@michaelandrews9301]

@@bscottb8 , ya know the funny thing is that rural Michigan receives more welfare funding than all of the major cities in the state combined.

[@Evilnor7]

I've visited Detroit many times over the years, and the downtown area near Campus Martius and Greentown is definitely making a comeback. The financial district is thriving, and there's so many good restaurants, though some of my favorite places to shop were hit hard by the pandemic and had to close. Lots of the recent improvements to downtown Detroit can be attributed to Dan Gilbert and his family of companies.

[@jennifersuzannebk5149]

I delivered to Uber and I see many beautiful areas that are residential areas but it's the crime on the main streets that are ruining everything

[@jeromewade4110]

That's Greektown.

[@user-le4nd9bu5x]

Dan Gilbert Got government money and tax breaks to do anything, His promise to create jobs failed.

[@kachmantv6559]

Downtown Detroit has gone from "having to know where to go" to "nowhere to park" in just a few years. Detroit was voted best riverwalk in USA Today, and recently Campus Martius was voted Best City Square. Bob's yer uncle!

[@Seraphim013]

As a detroiter it's 70% nice for sure. The other 30% is abandoned or super dangerous because of that. But surrounding Detroit are a ton of awesome smaller cities that are amazing. Novi, Farmington, Bloomfield, Warren, ext

[@briangomez4963]

Is Dearborn good?

[@jennifersuzannebk5149]

I love my Detroit.. the people need love . The people need help.. the criminals need to be left in jail..

[@Not_You_2]

This is what happens to any city that becomes dependent on one major industry. Hopefully like most major cities, it can diversify and grow once again.

[@orlandofields1973]

We are now, and I couldn't be more proud to be a Detroiter

[@sickofguysnamedtodd2293]

Same can be said for another rust belt city on the shores of Lake Michigan, Gary Indiana. Their main industry was the US Steel Mill. When Deindustrialization hit, we saw what happened there. Same thing as Detroit, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Flint.

[@JeromeWade-lm8jh]

Then Detroit would no longer be "The Motor City"!

[@Not_You_2]

@@JeromeWade-lm8jh and it really isn't (anymore)

[@sharonsart]

I hope the corrupt don't ruin Detroit's progress.

[@FredMaples]

Nice video. I am actually in Detroit almost every day doing photography. There are a lot of beautiful parts of Detroit and obviously some rough areas. Overall Detroit is making a big comeback. There is a new international bridge being built (Gordie Howe International Bridge) and also a new skyscraper being built downtown. The people here are very friendly in my opinion and good service wherever I go. We have cold winters here but other than that Detroit is a great city.

[@yooperlooper]

I LOVE Detroit!!! Some of my fondest memories are of Greek Town, Tiger Stadium, and the river front festivals. Beautiful churches and buildings. It's getting a face lift and I'm glad.

[@jj6282]

I wish you would have also highlighted some areas that are currently rebounding. You touched on it at the end but barely. It's not all doom and gloom there. Corktown, the neighborhood around Ford's newly renovated Michigan Central Station and EV research district dubbed Mobility Campus, seems to have construction on every block. While not the answer to all of Detroit's problems, it's a glimmer of hope at least kzbin.info/www/bejne/i3mramiseLt-ntk

[@gingerWhimsy]

I went to college at Wayne State in Detroit. Absolutely a special, unique city with SO much history and culture. I LOVE Detroit!! ❤

[@YahuahIsKing1229]

Baltimore unfortunately Is very much the same. Breaks my heart to see to it..

[@karenryder6317]

Newark, NJ once had beautiful residential streets lined with cherry trees. Many cities had marble-filled cathedral like civic buildings, bus and train stations, banks, post offices, wide boulevards and booming downtowns. The fall of all these cities also has to be laid to suburban flight as well as to dependence on one industry.

[@YahuahIsKing1229]

@@karenryder6317 I’ve actually spent time in Newark. Beautiful old world city. Love the old theaters and buildings. So much promise at one time, hard working families. Destroyed by gangs and drugs. Very sad..

[@Skydrag.V60]

The title of this video should be the rise, fall, and rise again of Detroit. It may not be perfect here yet, but it’s getting better and better every year.

[@kennj321]

I miss the times when people used to proudly say they were from Detroit. Glad to hear that could be happening again

[@timr31908]

Hasn't that been 60 years ago

[@meyer8199]

how about a video on the rebirth of Detroit. You paint a picture using a very limited amount of colors. The downtown area is pretty great and we love it here.

[@Brew5603]

The history of Boblo Island amusement park in the Detroit River is really fascinating. Many structures still standing today

[@iamwill89]

As a native Detroiter… thank you for this video! I can’t wait until my city is on top again!

[@emmanuelmuzumara2411]

Detroit has improved quite a lot over the 2010's decade. As a Michigander who lives close to Detroit, it's hard to hear the slander Detroit gets and to see where the city used to be and then to see where it is now. But the city is improving at a steady rate, slowly yet surely. There's still many issues facing the city but I know there will be a day when Detroit will once again reach its peak population. Detroit is still America's motor city, and will always be, and with the rise of electric vehicles and the emphasis the government is putting on electric vehicles coming in the future, Detroit's comeback will occur over time.

[@emmanuelmuzumara2411]

But Detroit's downfall is so similar to other Midwest, rustbelt cities, I don't know if any of those will be able to make as big as a comeback that I predict Detroit will be able to. Cities like Buffalo, Syracuse, Cleveland, and Milwaukee.

[@sickofguysnamedtodd2293]

@@emmanuelmuzumara2411deindustrialization hit all those rust belt cities hard. Same as Gary Indiana when the steel mills shut down.

[@auaggoldbug4151]

Detroit was considered the Paris in America, due to it's similar building architectures

[@timothykeith1367]

Detroit has a hub and spoke street grid. It is easy for an out of town person to get around in Detrot. The hub of Detroit is Campus Martius. Many of the city''s most influential institutions were once near there.

[@auaggoldbug4151]

@@timothykeith1367 I grew up on the Westside of Detroit. Those "hub and spoke" streets downtown are one way only, if you get off the beaten path, get lost, wind up in the hood, your life is in jeopardy

[@tray-oq1nj]

Yes it was the Paris of America until the africans of America started acting out.

[@kleepo7733]

Seem to miss the part about all the riots in 1967?

[@julianshepherd2038]

We try to recycle our cities in the UK. Some are hundreds of years old. We like old shot.

[@jj6282]

It's the right thing to do. The infrastructure is already there

[@lorrainebennett7528]

A visit to Detroit has long been on my bucket list, I still hope to go there to see the amazing architecture and learn more about the city. Interesting video, thank you!

[@TracyII77]

One change to your information I would make is the myth that Detroit only started urban sprawl after WWII. Single family homes were the norm of the growth of the city going into the turn of the century and exploded with the auto boom of the 1910's and 20's. As more homes were built, Detroit's borders followed suit. What changed after WWII was that the new neighborhoods began to reject joining Detroit and instead became their own entities from cities to townships, aka suburbs. This was spurred on by the increase in home ownership, due to government policies. No longer would the residents continue to move ever further from the city center to escape the ever changing demographics (mostly racial). Instead they now had roots and so created political walls around their neighborhoods. Suburbs are not due to urban sprawl, but rather are the political demarcations of the otherwise natural growth of cities.

[@shawnbell3468]

Killing time and looking at homes for sale there were 2 old homes side by side for $7000 each, I almost bought them but I'm only a Canadian. They were smaller but still 2 story classic homes.

[@TheGbelcher]

$7K is probably too much

[@shawnbell3468]

@@TheGbelcher Probably, but didn't look like too much work on the outside. It just might be hard to fix up if the supplies keep getting stolen before they can be used.

[@chanhjohnnguyen1867]

They’re $7000 but are taxed like a $400,000 home

[@roaddog7542]

7k because in real estate it's about location, location, location, which in Detroit's case is at the bottom of the list.

[@TheBaconKing32]

Old land lord got nearly 15 houses for $20,000 in 2008. He sold one just before COVID for about $150,000.

[@orlandofields1973]

Detroit needs to be helped up, not pushed down. WE ARE THRIVING AND BUSTLING WITH ART, TALENT AND CONSTRUCTION. DETROIT VS EVERYBODY

[@lightningblue648]

I’m a huge car guy so of course Detroit is like Mecca to me. But I love going there. The history, culture, attitude, etc. are inspiring to me. A lot has changed for the better in the last few years. I really believe it’s in the cusp of something big.

[@c0ya1]

Detroit and other major areas perished back in the 1950s, when the great shift from cities into suburbia commenced, Top that off with jobs leaving for other countries, rising tensions in the 60s, and the oil crisis of the 70s, and Chicago hadn't recovered eversince.

[@TheClanAdventures]

You will tend to find that its government, local and national that leave places like this.

[@TheRandCrews]

Didn’t help either that in the oil crisis smaller European and Japanese cars were more fuel efficient than the US models that were being built in Detroit furthering on the decay of the US auto industry

[@MessiahProphylaxis]

It's the same story on a somewhat smaller scale for most of the old New England industrial towns. My town used to be a really nice place to grow up when my parents were children, with many nice areas for people to socialize. You could get fired from your job and walk across the street to get another decent job that same afternoon. Now it's just broken glass, used needles and long commutes to Boston if you want something better than working at a convenience store.

[@Witnessmoo]

Nope. By your logic every city should have met the same fate. What killed Detroit was socialism…

[@michaelwhite2823]

Most cities with major riots in the 1960s riots died.

[@nicholasfield6127]

Downtown and immediate surrounding areas are lovely. Move farther out and let it becomes a hellish landscape.

[@razgrizraven]

The city is coming along, slowly but surely. As a point of reference. The international symbol of the city's blight and downfall; Michigan Central Station, was recently bought by Ford and is being refurbed for use for various purposes and is set to open in 2024.

[@deejaykaydee]

I've been going to Detroit a lot more often the past couple years (from Canada) and i love it. as my friend said "its got good bones". there's obvious urban decay but that's part of what i find amazing. amongst that there's a real pride in Detroit. a perseverance of it's people.

[@jeffreysantner3717]

I was there in September on a freakish 3 day bus ride and a six hour layover in Detroit. There is a beautiful park downtown and of course The FOX. Detroit is not lost, it's a slump and it's looking to be great again.

[@AJCallowayLive]

Detroit is a beautiful City PERIOD.

[@nikolaisheremetev885]

King Lewis killed me ooof

[@Bobmcjoepants]

I love Detroit, it is my favourite city in the world and I'd go there any day. It has such beautiful architecture, with a blend of modern and art deco, and weird design quirks like the People Mover Of course by Detroit I mean metro, but still I mean what I said Yes there are tons of problems but one by one they're being worked through

[@georgejones4111]

I love the old houses there and I'd love to move there and restore them.

[@BreakTheMaytricks]

You should come and do it 🤟🏾💯

[@ScottAJacob]

Do it now while property and incentive development plans are affordable and in place!

[@boomcrypto8347]

I just opened a Mattress store on the Redford, Detroit Border, 8 Mile Mattress !! Great video

[@cheskydivision]

In the early 1990’s a lot of the old neighborhoods were coming back and even new houses being built but then a lot of factories/businesses I don’t know who exactly were trying to buy up all the land in Detroit. In a two year period these same neighborhoods fell into disrepair. Entire neighborhoods burned down. All the beautiful old brick homes were pulled down in the downtown area. Then the closing of the state fair just took more business out of the city. There was very obvious thought put into wiping out Detroit I just think a lot of the plans fell through. It’s quite sad.

[@stephenbeauman6290]

1992 it was 10s of miles of wasteland before you reached downtown.

[@Daledavispratt]

I worked in Detroit after my discharge from the Navy during the mid 1980's. The line of work I was in was one of the best gigs going around there at the time: Demolition. Our company tore a lot of old Detroit down, to include the Stroh Brewery on Gratiot. I was able to buy a Formula Firebird for cash just from the money we got from scrapping some of the copper and stainless from that place. Detroit was sad then.

[@Duececoupe]

I thoroughly enjoy your videos, top notch quality.... What I'd love to see, having a soft spot for Detroit, is (should you ever have the time) you do a series on iconic Detroit mansions, those still standing and those lost to history.... Keep up with the phenomenal work.... Wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year....here's to a even more successful 2023! 🍻

[@andrewtannenbaum1]

Put the wind and solar farms in places like Detroit, rather than our pristine environments. It can become even a cottage industry. Along with organic farming. Centralize business districts. Preserve and repurpose historic buildings. These are significant sources of employment and revenue.

[@maxswagcaster5315]

looking at these homes on google street view shows how quickly homes can fall apart if they aren't taken care of

[@gordtron]

Detroit is such a great place. so much talent and history; Detroit will be strong again. no where else is a better place to watch a live performance.

[@Altema22]

Correct title would be The Rise and Fall and Rise of Detroit Michigan. I saw the worst it had to offer, then watched it begin to recover and grow. The riverwalk is recognized as the best in the world, downtown is clean and feels safer than many other large cities. Although I live in the suburbs now, I drive to Detroit to go on bike group rides and hang out with friends almost weekly. One night I had a flat, and I walked three miles pushing a $2000 bike to my car on Cass Avenue in the dark, and I felt comfortable. Thanks for covering Motown Records. I'm a studio engineer who was personally trained by Berry Gordy's mastering engineer, Bob Dennis, and it was an amazing experience.

[@alexanderneu5436]

It's an absolute dump. I lived and worked in Detroit for about a year and a half and it was the worst of my life. I saw someone get mugged several times and it is one of the dirtiest cities I have ever had the misfortune of beholding...

[@orlandofields1973]

Your acting like getting mugged only happens in Detroit. Detroit isn't a dump, that pure fact.

[@alexanderneu5436]

@@orlandofields1973 Never said it was exclusive to Detroit. But you will never convince me it's not a dump...

[@jamesschulziii9098]

I am originally from Detroit now in Port Huron and it's been a while since I have had a chance to spend the day and take it all in. ❤️💯

[@TheBigCodeZero]

I think it’s time to do part 2, we are growing in Detroit!

[@henrysantos121]

Matatan.🤔. Ribirin HS, Great videos well done,

[@AMatofFact]

Traveled to Detroit for work recently. I work in transportation so I got to see the downtown area well, did a bit of sightseeing during the day. It's a beautiful city and very much reminds me of Newark. If the city wants improvement, they need to attract new younger families. Newark has seen fantastic growth recently but it's only because of its proximity to New York and the wealthy people moving out of Manhattan during covid. Detroit doesn't have that crutch, all it can do is incentivize developments, businesses, universities. Make it dirt cheap to live in Detroit and it will prosper.

[@revawilliamson5549]

You forgot to mention the riots.

[@psion]

If you had told me twenty years ago that Detroit was going to be a city full of life and people, I would have laughed in your face. I was just driving through last night, a Saturday night, and the place was packed with people. Back those many years ago, the people wouldn't be there, not we're there much for them to do.

[@timothykeith1367]

The decline of Detroit might have more to do with the success of the auto industry than in its decline. Globally, the American automobile industry was like a billboard that said: Unskilled workers come to Detroit and prosper! The majority of the low income people who flocked to Detroit did not find jobs in the automobile industry. The difficulties in Detroit came as the Great Society welfare programs encouraged many marginally employed low skilled people to remain in Detroit. They came to work, but many remained in a city with too few opportunties for unskilled workers because they no longer absolutely had to work. Where would they go? To jobs in the oil field? I don't know where the unskilled could migrate to find better opportunities, but too many low skilled persons in a city is not wholesome. Masses of people on government programs were able to remain in Detroit because as the middle class moved out, there was plenty of cheap housing. But, now much of the housing stock has so declined that even the low income people can no longer live in Detroit. Detroit was different from Chicago because many of the wealthy remained in Chicago, but by the 1920s many of the wealthiest families had already left Detroit. A city without wealthy residents is a city without a powerful advocacy to maintain its institutions.

[@StLouis-yu9iz]

This reminds me a bit of home ❤

[@shifty25_]

I live downtown Detroit, been living there for 2 years now. I travel a lot for work, and compared to other major cities, there’s almost no homeless (even the ones that are here aren’t tweaking talking to themselves), there’s always workers cleaning the streets, cops everywhere, apartments are sold out and they have to build more, everyone walking around is working folk, people my age (25y/o) fill the city. People have no clue how nice it is now. It’s got its issues, it is a city after all. The outskirts aren’t the nicest (but which outskirts of any major city is?). New buildings, local billionaires pouring money into the city, Detroit lions brining in money, a massive volunteering movement by tradesmen restoring electrical compatibility and updating plumbing in the old abandoned buildings. The infrastructure is weird in the downtown area, but it’s a small city, it doesn’t need to be grid style like more modern cities, and to be honest no one wants it like that. It’s perfect how it is, if you don’t believe it, that’s okay, stay out I don’t want it crowded:)

[@cherylcarlson3315]

I am in Danville, IL and the city government is doing the exact same thing to destroy this once cute, artistic, town of possibility... instead they brought in casino,pot dispensaries and ignore the people who called for illegal fireworks because it would be a bother to write 47 citations for state law and city ordinance, so much better to harass about grass height and triple the mayor's salary when there is 29% poverty rate...

[@puremichpaule]

Detroit is both beautiful lovely and a halish landscape at the same time. It all depends on where you go.

[@Mk99987]

7:57-the auto plants built tanks but no missiles in WWII.

[@Johnnywiseify]

I was in Detroit last summer. And I was driving on Gratiot Ave and what I saw was a carbon copy of the "wouldn't it be nice" scene from Roger and Me

[@misterhipster9509]

I'd pay more attention to the Dodge Brothers and Henry Ford, when Detroit was in the upswing.

[@zackphy]

I live in Tennessee and I don't know anyone who doesn't either have family that still currently lives in Michigan around the Detriot area, or they they have family that used to. My mom was actually born in Detroit despite my grandparents being from here in Tennessee and then moving back when she was around 3. They were there for about a decade or so in the 50s-60s. I believe nearly the entirety of my family moved there at some point in the mid 1900s and about half moved back. My wife is the same exact way, her grandparents both have family in Detroit area that moved there from here around the same time period. So there's always somebody going to Michigan, or them coming here, all year long for visits. My mom and grandmother tell me how nice the city used to be in the 50s, and how well the jobs paid at the time, but sometime after that they could get jobs back here paying the same amount without risks of layoffs(until the early 90s that was) with lower cost of living as Tennessee came out of the lows from the depression.

[@youdoofus]

@0:03 it was the biggest city in the world for a loooooong time btw...

[@flagmichael]

One of the factors that made Detroit into Motor City was the Great Lakes. Spectacular amounts of coal and iron ore came in through the lakes, so the steel that was needed for the cars was right there on hand.

[@Warszawski_Modernizm]

Hello from Warsaw, Poland!

[@adammetz135]

Witamy!

[@44excalibur]

There are actually two Detroits - the Downtown Detroit area that had billions of dollars invested in its recovery and today looks beautiful, and the outer areas of Detroit, which still resemble the hellish landscape that Detroit is unfortunately known for.

[@andrewblain9347]

Go back into the "hellish holes" and you'll find that they are even coming back to life. A rebirth does not happen overnight, but it's coming back faster than most would ever believe! I now live much closer to Chicago, I will take Deroit over Chicago anytime!

[@i8dan]

Detroit represents some of the best and worst attributes of American society. What was once a beautiful city is now largely lost. Had Detroit managed even Chicago-levels of stability (which Chicago also got hit hard by deindustrialization and suburbanization), the two most architecturally beautiful / well designed cities in the country would be in the Midwest. Now it's just Chicago :(.

[@adriankepler5254]

I think you're missing the fact that Detroit still has many structures of architectural significance, and is the second city in the Midwest.

[@pavelow235]

Detroit and Chicago most Well designed cities in the country? hyperbole much?

[@GEN_X_]

LOL Fake News. Downtown Detroit is beautiful and thriving. I've lived there, went to school there at Wayne State University and worked for General Motors World HQ among 10 other World Headquarters in Downtown Detroit. Keep your Fear Porn. Us Real Detroiters know what's up. They are even rebuilding the old Hudson's building downtown, along with the Shinola Hotel, Ford is rebuilding the iconic and beautiful Train Station from 100 years ago that rivals any in the world and they are moving their Headquarters there along with Compuware, Rocket Mortgage and too many to mention. Not to mention Detroit has invented half the things you all use today and still inventing things like roads in Detroit right now in Corktown charge Electric cars just by driving on them. It all starts in Detroit!

[@AV84USA]

How can anyone even utter the words “Detroit” and “downfall” without mentioning Detroit’s longest serving, racist, and divisive mayor, Coleman Young? Or mentioning the complete exodus after the 1967 riots? Those are the reasons Detroit has never recovered while other cities have.

[@trevordumais2117]

Was that videogame footage in the intro?

[@Mylene2023]

0:26 yup it is. This channel is getting lazy.

[@vespurrs]

Is that from Detroit: Become Human?

[@timr31908]

I'm pretty sure the same thing that destroyed Detroit can be said for Flint Michigan. I'm not at Liberty to say because I don't have freedom of speech if I hurt somebody's feelings so please comment and tell me what you think😊

[@ChrisSmith-rm6xl]

0:26 In the first 30 seconds you used an image from a video game and implied that it was detroit.

[@tomreicher455]

Detroit is my hometown, and I'll always brag about it, detroiters are tough people, we hang in there and one day my city will shine again...

[@jonnyminogue]

Who’s King Lewis?

[@SuperMomentai]

King of St. Louis of Missouri. 😜

[@glenncheatham1320]

They wanted the city, so they got it.

[@billkerns7959]

Having gone to Detroit almost every year since 2011, I have witnessed the city's vast improvement. The morale of the citizens has progressed in a positive direction. Detroiters are resilient, fun, and creative people. Like any urban and rural community, I am not downplaying that Detroit has plenty of issues to resolve. I know it makes for good clickbait to say the rise and fall of Detroit. That is the common narrative we hear. But the truth be known, it is the rise and fall and, once again, the rise of the Motor City.

[@Olliethelabradane]

Detroit is a really cool city with lots of beauty. It most definitely has serious problems but there are many areas of Detroit that are safe and thriving. My friend and I have spent at least a week exploring the city's abandoned buildings so there is no shortage of abandonment. With that being said Detroit is making a come back. It will never be as big as it was but I think one day it will become a much more desirable place to live.

[@larryn1929]

You gotta lose your mind in Detroit Rock city! Kiss

[@CommentLeaver.]

lol at video game assets in the intro

[@dgonthehill]

great video

[@darkpaw1522]

I work in a call center. Whenever I hear from Detroit it’s either people leaving or people stuck; never heard anyone genuinely happy to be there. It’s a very sad place.

[@anaveragebox883]

Speramus Meliora Resurget Cineribus We hope for better things It will rise from the ashes

[@danielellis4749]

It was mismanaged on various fronts. The city taxed-away many residents who left to the suburbs. Car execs neglected to shift to high mileage cars and lost market share to importers. Other states offered lower cost environments for plants. Etc etc

[@TheMightyCookieShow]

For me the reason I could never live in Detroit is just because it's going to be so cold there in the winter I mean I can't stand winter

[@johnerwin9024]

Some of the old houses in the city got saved; unfortunately house pictured in the opening too far gone-

[@TaDarling1]

Great video. I'd love to see something similar on the downfall of Gary Indiana which went downhill just like Detroit.

[@8corymix8]

The difference is Gary is still a complete Pitt. Detroit has absolutely rebounded

[@TaDarling1]

@@8corymix8 My interest is solely in how some of our US cities met their downfall. It matters little to me that Gary may be a pitt compared to Detroit.

[@shedrickwallace9363]

He said the growth is slow. I honestly believe slow and steady growth is better than unsustainable booms. I believe this city will return to iconic status.

[@RKingis]

Good thing Omni Consumer Products helped out!!!

[@Sunrise_Streaming_Services]

Down town is really nice along with by the river a lot of the abandoned homes and buildings have been removed. But a lot of the neighborhoods are sketchy A lot of them were left to fend for themselves

[@DaJuan681]

I'm sorry, I've must've missed that! Did the big three leave Detroit!?🤔 Where are you from?..