Which city is known as the Motor City?
Quick answer
Detroit, Michigan, is known as the Motor City because it became the center of the American auto industry in the early 1900s. Henry Ford, General Motors and Chrysler, the “Big Three,” were all based there. The nickname also inspired “Motown,” short for Motor Town, the famous record label founded in Detroit in 1959.
How Detroit became the Motor City
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1903 | Ford Motor Company founded |
| 1908 | Ford launches the Model T; General Motors founded |
| 1913 | Ford’s moving assembly line cuts the time to build a car from about 12 hours to about 90 minutes |
| 1925 | Chrysler founded |
| 1940s | Detroit’s factories become the “Arsenal of Democracy,” building tanks and bombers in World War II |
Detroit had a skilled workforce, nearby iron and steel, and easy shipping via the Great Lakes.
Motown
Berry Gordy founded Motown Records in 1959 with an $800 family loan. Its “Hitsville U.S.A.” studio produced stars such as Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross & the Supremes, Marvin Gaye, The Temptations and the Jackson 5. Gordy modeled his studio partly on an auto assembly line, polishing each artist and song.
Decline and comeback
After the 1950s, Detroit lost factories and population as industry moved to suburbs and abroad. Its population fell from about 1.85 million in 1950 to around 630,000 today. In 2013, Detroit became the largest US city to file for bankruptcy. Since then, its downtown has seen major investment and revival.
Other city nicknames
| City | Nickname |
|---|---|
| Pittsburgh | Steel City; see which city sits where two rivers form the Ohio |
| Denver | The Mile High City |
| Chicago | The Windy City |
| New York | The Big Apple |
| Nashville | Music City |
Michigan’s waterfront also gives it a record; see which state has the longest freshwater shoreline.
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