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Once home to over 56,000 residents in 1930, Hamtramck experienced a dramatic decline to just over 22,000 by 2000, a decline of over 60%. Originally incorporated to avoid annexation by Detroit, this enclave grew rapidly in the early 20th century due to the Dodge main factory, which employed up to 36,000 workers during WWII. The city became a hub for Polish immigrants, celebrated annually with its famous fat Tuesday punchkys.
However, with the plant's shutdown in 1980 and shifting demographics, residents moved to suburbs, and the city’s population dwindled. In 2013, Hamtramck made history as the first Muslim-majority city in America, reflecting its diverse evolution. Recent years have seen slight reborn growth, but the overall trend remains downward.