Detroit is the largest city in Michigan state. In the 20th century, Detroit boomed with an industrial powerhouse and automobile industry. Its population grew immensely, and in 1910 it became the 9th largest city in the United States. The “Great Migration brought large numbers of black Southerners into Detroit. The black population multiplied from 5700 in 1910 to 40,800 in the 1920s. Some other industries, including metal crafts, railcars, stove works, paints, iron, brass, and copper, progressed by leaps and bounds. Henry Ford built an assembly line at his Highland Park Plant in 1910. Later that decade, when World War I broke out, Detroiters fought valiantly.
Here below are some stunning historical photos that show Detroit city in the early 20th century from 1900 to 1910.
There is so much history that has been erased
I loved streetcars. They provided cheap, fast transportation for thousands of people. After the streetcars were sold to Mexico City, Henry Ford decided to stand the competition.
Streetcars were hyped up, but they actually disappeared for a variety of reasons. It is true that Ford and GM among others played a role in ending them. There was no consensus that they were safe. It takes a long time for a bicycle to stop compared to a car or bus, and accidents with cars and pedestrians were common. Some say Malcolm X’s father was murdered by one. They used a lot of electricity that day. To serve most streetcar systems, a power plant was required. It was expensive to maintain and replace the cars themselves. By the time the Great Depression rolled around, the original “streetcar suburbs” began to age and areas further from city centers became more desirable.
This looks older than the 50’s.
The 1900s were only… 25 years ago.
I love seeing old photos of Detroit, this was a nice collection, thanks!